There is constant change going on in the US poker world and speculation as to whether online poker legislation will change is rife. Will the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act be revised?

As things stand presently, there are massive barriers to break down in terms of the opposition, the existing legislation and time constraints. At a federal level, analysts are skeptical as to whether anything is likely to change at this level.

Change is likely to occur on a state level, however. New Jersey will be the first to approve intrastate online gambling and online poker and depsite the strong opposition, other states will probably follow.

Analysts also think that the implementation of the UIGEA could be delayed again. This could give banks and online poker operators a grace period of at least 6 months. Internationally, a growing number of countries and regions are relaxing their online poker laws because they have realised how lucrative this could be.

Despite these predictions, poker tournaments are being cancelled throughout the US. A non-profit group in Cheyenne cancelled its poker fundraiser after city officials declared the game would fall under illegal gambling. A Texas Hold’Em tournament was planned as a supplementary event to the Hispanic Organisation for Progress and Education’s annual golf tournament.  A significant proportion of the money used for buy-ins and re-buy-ins would have gone towards scholarships. The city attorney’s office called to tell them that the event would be illegal under the new city regulations.

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