One of the biggest questions in online poker in the US is whether it is legal to play. The US has a grey area in this area. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 and the 1961 Wire Act apply to online poker in the US. In response, the Poker Alliance was created. With more than a million members, the group has expanded its efforts over the years to meet the needs of the industry. As a result, online poker is still legal in most states, but some states and jurisdictions have passed laws that make it illegal to play in certain states.
Several years ago, online poker had experienced a period of unprecedented growth, and online poker rooms were constantly seeking new ventures to expand their player base. A certain event in 2008 called Black Friday made online poker rooms rethink this strategy. A large amount of money was at stake, and online poker was in a position to take advantage of this. Fortunately, poker rooms have since recovered and many have gone on to attract more players. This is an opportunity for the average player to make some serious money playing online.
Online poker has been around for decades, but in the US, only a handful of sites were accepted by the government. After Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003, the unregulated online poker market grew rapidly. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) forced some sites out of the U.S. market, but PokerStars continued to accept U.S. players for years. So it is important to remember that the United States government is only one of the states that regulated online poker.
Although online poker is legal in most states, its existence in the USA is still a controversial issue. UIGEA, which passed by the Bush administration in October 2006, prohibits the activity in the US. Many believe that the new administration will amend UIGEA. However, online poker is legal in a few other countries and is regulated well in the United Kingdom. This is because of its widespread popularity. In the United States, there are currently only four states where online poker is legal.
However, most states are evaluating the issue of online poker regulations, and many predict that the process will begin in 2020. The DOJ is also reviewing the OLC opinion. If it is enforced, this will prevent the expansion of the online poker industry across states. This is great news for players who want to play poker in their home state. In addition, newly-elected President Biden has expressed his support for online gambling. In the meantime, the future is bright for the online poker industry.
Besides legalizing online poker, there are many online poker operators that host reputable live festivals and tournaments. PokerStars, 888poker, partypoker, and Unibet have all sponsored highly-regarded live tournaments throughout the world. These poker sites offer attractive packages to enter these tournaments and festivals. In addition to the convenience of using cryptocurrency to play poker, you can also benefit from instant transactions and no extra charges.