Why the About-Face?
In an announcement that actually fully surprised many within the online casino
gambling industry the American Gaming Association, or the AGA for short,
announced fully support for a regulated and legalized US internet gambling
industry. The AGA has remained on the fence for years now where the internet
gambling sites were concerned and has never previously lobbied the US government
in favor of reversal of the controversial UIGEA. Now however, the land gambling
interests that make up the AGA have finally concluded that support of the online
casinos is really in there best interests.
Land venues have been scared that a fully legal and regulated internet gambling
industry in the US would make their businesses obsolete and unsustainable. The
fear was really born from the trend that really is in place – gamblers prefer
the convenience of playing poker and games of chance from their homes and the
online casinos rather than destination venues. This is a growing trend around
the world and there is no denying that it’s happening. The thing is, the
gambling companies represented by the AGA were taking an ostrich approach to the
situation – pretend the trend isn’t true and refuse to acknowledge that the
online casino industry is a viable and strong industry that cannot be contained
by US blocks and bans.
This is no longer the case though, and just this month the AGA announced
official support for a regulated US online casino gambling industry. This about
face can be attributed to a reality check at the major gambling groups. Although
the UIGEA is in place, it’s not curbing internet gambling and the only thing
that blocks and bans ensure is that no US companies (and this includes the US
land gambling groups) are able to compete and gain revenue from the lucrative
industry – all money is funneled offshore and thus perpetuating the fear that
land gamblers are losing business and revenue opportunities. |