UIEGA – Sports Betting Online Not Illegal

UIGEA is an acronym which stands for Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. It was a dubious last minute addition to the larger SAFE Port Act. The UIEGA act itself stands for interference with an individual’s choice of which deposit and withdrawal institutions he/she may work with, and it obviously stands arrogantly against freedom.

Bet Online with USA Credit Card

What the UIEGA does not – I repeat – does not do is make U.S. online gambling illegal. U.S. banks and credit unions are affected by it, but the bill did not change any laws.

Whether or not online sports betting is illegal, or not, has been a gray area in US law for some time. Nowadays it seems more widely accepted that it is illegal to be “in the business” of online gambling, but not to actually be a recreational sports bettor. This is still up for legal interpretation, but in a 2006 Forbes Magazine article a US Department of Justice official references an old blue law when he says “under Title 18, Section 1084 of the U.S. Code which forbids using telephones or other communication devices in interstate or foreign commerce in order to take bets. Online gambling, whether it is located offshore or not, is illegal when it comes to the United States and its citizens,”.

As far as actually being a gambler goes, to our knowledge no one has ever been charged with a crime for placing a bet online. It is our non qualified opinion that there are in fact legal methods of deposit and withdrawal completely safe for US citizens interested in gambling online. You can find this information right here on our website.

UIGEA Passed as a Late Addition

In September 2006, in another last minute addition to a major bill, some members of Congress decided to set yet another limit to American freedom: UIGEA. A loophole allowed the SAFE Act to be voted on without this new addition read. Major Internet poker sites met the real George Bush when he signed legislation to prohibit banks and credit unions from paying off online gambling companies. This was not in the interest of the American people; whether such consideration even mattered to those who entered the addition, it appears too evident that someone else’s interest was realized. In simple yet obvious words, it wasn’t fair.

While many leaders didn’t know about this addition and were upset about it, it is important to state that those elected to office are not the rulers of the people; they are representatives. The word “represent” has not taken on a new meaning, except perhaps in the minds of the few who audaciously sneak in these last minute additions. The leadership which allows such things was certainly not in the hand of the man who held that pen.

Shortly after this law passed, many sportsbooks left the USA market. The site most vocal against UIGEA and the one for this reason we love to support the most is Bodog. The founder of Bodog, Calvin Ayre appeared in a Forbes article around the time of UIGEA which was titled “Catch Me if you Can”, where he flaunted the success he had taking bets from Americans and was committed not to back down over such a frivolous law. Kudos to Calvin Ayre for his bravery and commitment to the USA market, and going forward we wish Bodog the best success and give them our full support as a recommended USA sportsbook.

UIGEA Banking Methods

Since UIGEA passed, it has become noticeably difficult to deposit at most online sportsbooks. One site doing the best job with workaround is PlayersOnly. As of March 2010, PlayersOnly has an over a 90% approval rate on deposits made via USA credit card.

For more information, see our page: USA Banking Methods