The regulations for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) came into effect on June 1st, 2010. The law was designed to prevent U.S. citizens from playing poker and casino games on the Internet, by forcing banks and credit card agencies to block player deposits to Internet gambling sites. Will anything change for the U.S. poker player?

It has taken nearly four years for the new regulations to come into effect, but the law passed in September 2006 is effectively up and running. The Poker Players Alliance is playing down any effect the new laws will have on the industry, referring to the regulations as; "more like a bump in the road rather than a catastrophic event for Internet poker." In fact, the UIGEA has admitted it would be practically impossible to prevent Americans gambling online with non U.S. companies, as it holds no jurisdiction over foreign companies.

The UIGEA has instead concentrated on pressurising financial institutions in the U.S. to block deposit payments. Poker players are a creative species though, it is part of the make-up of a poker player, and they have already found new methods to deposit/withdraw funds with few restrictions(some fees applied are minimal). A number of U.S. based journalists and poker players, have found very little resistance to depositing or withdrawing funds after the June 1st deadline passed.

Only players at PokerStars, the worlds largest online poker site based in the Isle of Man, UK, have encountered problems depositing funds through their usual bank account transfer methods. Easily overcome by a transfer through a reputable money transfer company(for a small fee), it would seem nothing much is going to change.

No reports of money transfer problems have come to light yet, from the other big player's Full Tilt, Doyles Room, PartyPoker to name a few.

Ironically, the state of California is looking to buck the trend, and are currently voting on the introduction of new gaming laws that would regulate and legalize Internet gaming in the debt-ridden state. The developments in California are being monitored closely by the other states in the U.S., who would be sure to follow suit if the legislation is passed.

The legislature will decide on the SB1485 proposal, has been marked as 'urgency status,'  meaning it could take effect immediately. The new laws would grant licenses for 5 years to three different Poker sites, to carry out its operation within the state. It is unclear at this stage, whether that would include foreign poker sites, or it would be limited to home based out-fits. Interesting times ahead!