USA Online Poker Still Controversial

March 28, 2013

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has set the playing field for the rush to dominate the USA online gambling market by various online casino operators. But for the purpose of this article, we want to take a closer look at PokerStars, the specialist online poker casino site.

Around a year ago, PokerStars was one of the online casino sites specializing in online poker that was effectively forced out of the USA. Fast forward to today, and PokerStars is trying to get its foot in the door by applying for a Nevada online gambling license. PokerStars is also trying to acquire a real world casino in the USA, namely the Atlantic Club Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey.

However, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has raised some legal concerns, and has gone so far as to publish a legal letter, and accompanying brief, that states that PokerStars has been operating its online casino site illegally, by continuing to operate within the USA, despite the fact that online poker and online gambling in general is illegal in the USA. PokerStars has responded by stating that as online poker is not a game of chance, it is different to other online casino games. Players go head to head at a virtual online poker table, competing with each other.

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has responded by saying that this is utter garbage, and that PokerStars has done everything possible to bend, and even break the rules when it comes to online gambling in the USA.

So on the one hand we have PokerStars, that is actively trying to get back (legally) into the USA online casino market, and is even going so far as to acquire a real world casino to complement its online poker site. On the other hand we have the American Gaming Association (AGA) screaming foul play.

However, many online casino sites have continued to operate illegally in the USA, and many third party providers have supported these online casinos. Some of these have already applied for an online gambling license in Nevada. So will they all be vetoed in this way?

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