Earlier on in the week, UK bookmakers, William Hill, responded to the recent gaming legislations in the US by making their online casino and cardroom inaccessible to American punters.
And now, just a couple of days later, 888 Holdings have gone to similar extents by indefinitely shutting out their American customers - a move that could well prompt others to follow suit.
Believed to be making an official announcement on their position in the very near future, 888 Holdings are expected to suspend the online accounts of all American players, thereby resulting in any monies and gaming deposits being returned to the customer.
The online gaming legislation was passed late last Friday as part of the port security bill. Whilst many are outraged by the 'underhand' way in which the bill was passed, it still remains just a Presidential signature away from becoming a national law.
If officially confirmed, the new laws on online gaming will result in banks taking on the responsibility of denying any transactions that take place between players and the online cardroom. Whether or not this includes other forms of payment, such as Neteller, remains unclear, but what is assured is that the inability to pay by cheque, bank wire or credit card will undoubtedly see a decrease in numbers, and the potential destruction of online gaming.
It is clear that those responsible for pushing the bill through have another agenda and ulterior motvies, possibly centred around forcing people back into the casinos. Online poker is an industry that could easily be taxed and regulated for billions of government income, but this potential has never been realised, with the predominant intention continuing to be focused on total censorship.
The main concern with the legislation is that not only does it appear to go against a supposedly 'free America' in which 3/4 of the country backed the existence of online gaming, but it will inevitably push the game underground where players will lose the security and regulation that the official online companies currently offer.
Seeing as though the bill fails to identify online poker as illegal, the only issue stopping people from playing poker will be the complexities involved in transferring money into their account. However, there are ways around most things, and I believe online poker will be no exception.
The debate continues, more news as we receive it...