Online Casino Poker Version Could Circumvent UIGEA
30 Nov 2006
With the UIGEA, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, firmly in place, many online casino companies have gone out of business, or have closed their virtual doors to bets made by US online casino fans. However, the future might be a bit brighter for these online casino firms. Recently, a new online casino group, considered by many as the center for investment information on Internet gambling, highlighted the positive aspects of a version of online poker claiming that it could be just the thing to circumvent the UIGEA.'These two private companies may be in breach of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, although there have been arguments bantered about that poker is a game of skill. Nothing could be further from being correct. Whilst nobody could ever dispute that Poker doesn't involve a great deal of skill, the simple fact that cards are drawn randomly from a deck precludes this fact, and defines the game as one of chance,' said the online casino company. The online casino company announcement recalls that in 2001, Randy Peterson, a court accredited gaming expert, then working for the RCMP, invented a new version of poker that could be played at online casino sites, and meet the strict definitions needed to be a skill game, could thereby be legal in most American states. Upon leaving the force, Peterson began marketing the online casino poker game with an online gambling operator. However, he found it difficult to compete with existing operators and the project stayed on the back burner until last month.
Peterson's concept is not designed to replace conventional poker. It is designed as a tournament methodology that would lend itself to legitimate online casino poker play, while also exemplifying skilful play in broadcast events. Peterson is looking for quality partners to help market his inventions. There has been some interest expressed from both online casino and land-based operators who see the upside potential.
