Written By: GamblingSites.com
It was first noticed at Pokerstars that echecks were no longer being accepted as a deposit option. It then spread to Full Tilt Poker and Doylesroom and seems to be affecting almost all major gambling sites. Players on twoplustwo noted around mid-day today that this problem began occurring and it crumbled down to other gaming sites.
The gaming sites are not releasing any news as to why echecks are no longer in use, but it is apparent it has something to do with US law. As banks begin to tighten the noose on gambling sites who accept US players, depositing will get harder and harder.
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Unfortunately for the average Joe, this deposit option was one of the most popular, except for the lucky ones who could deposit using a credit card. Basically echecks worked exactly as they sound, you entered your check details into the prompt screen and you were instantly playing.
This type of problem has happened in the past but never with such a widespread occurrence. It remains unclear if this stoppage of echecks will take a day to fix or it will never come back. As players scramble to deposit they will find other ways, but as for echecks, the option is currently unavailable.
It should be noted that at the end of 2009 banks will need be in line with the law labeled the UIGEA or face hefty penalties. As stated, this is likely an outcome of the banks finally cracking down on such things.
If Barney Frank’s bills which seek to push enforcement of the UIGEA back to the end of 2010 (instead of 2009) are successful, making deposits to play online poker will be easier.
Poker players are used to adapting to things like this. It’s been almost 3 years since the passage of the UIGEA which was supposed to stop online poker altogether. However, online poker continues to grow as poker rooms are signing up more players than ever.
Other than credit cards, players from the United States can use a variety of other deposit methods such as Diners Club, credit cards, Picclub, Western Union, Moneygram and all access visa cards. While it’s becoming more difficult to make gaming deposits, things will hopefully get better with upcoming bills and legislation to legalize online gambling.
For anyone who missed the recent bills released by Barney Frank to legalize online poker, I. Nelson Rose, a gambling law professor did a great review of them. His outlook was positive saying that legalization was imminent within a couple of years. He titled his article, “Bills Would Bring Back Internet Poker”. If passed, brick & mortar casinos like Harrah’s will have their own online poker sites catering to US players. With the hiring of Mitch Garber, ex CEO of Partygaming, some say this is currently what they’re looking to do. Not only that but Partygaming has been in talks with the US DOJ and has made settlements so that if online poker becomes legal in the US, they would have no problem being boughtout.
Coincidence? Not likely, considering Harrah’s lobbied for the UIGEA and now all of a sudden they are lobbying to have online poker and online casinos legalized.
We’ll keep you posted as new events happen.