by Edward Rogers, News Staff Writer

September 13, 2009

If you've been around long enough, or perhaps I should say, gambling online long enough, you would surely know just how finicky it has been in the past for U.S. citizens to use credit cards for making deposits at online casinos. Before the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), there was no problem whatsoever. However, post UIGEA, using credit cards at online casinos has become a tricky matter.

These days, while you might think it would be even more difficult to use credit cards, considering how long the UIGEA has been in "operation", it has apparently gone the other way. According to recent reports, no to mention testimonials direct from U.S. facing online casinos, credit card processing has actually become easier. Casinos such as Cherry Red and Golden Casino make no qualms whatsoever about letting the general public know they have the ability to process U.S. credit cards.

Being fully regulated offshore destinations, these online casinos truly make for havens in the eyes of U.S. players, especially those players who know the difference between a sham establishment and one that is truly regulated. In other words, casinos that offer fair odds and can guarantee safety in processing gambling funds.

As for the credit card companies, unless you're American Express, the business is simply too good to pass up. In many ways, there's really nothing the credit card companies can do, as evidenced by the American Banking Association's strong resistance to taking up the slack of the UIGEA and creating ways of identifying "legitimate" online gambling transactions, which is essentially the crutch of the matter. The UIGEA doesn't ban all forms of online gambling - just some. Many would say the one's it finds to be a threat to lobbying land-based gambling interests.

The fact of the matter is that "responsible gaming practices" are ultimately the responsibility of the online casino and player. For those players who are prone to addiction and who begin to demonstrate problem gambling behavior, i.e., maxing out credit cards, online casinos should be held accountable first and foremost by putting a block on these players and contacting the appropriate banking bodies, not to mention help groups such as Gamblers Anonymous.

Is it surprising that credit cards are increasingly being accepted at US facing online casinos? Not really. What's more surprising is that the U.S. government continues trying to fight a battle it will never win. But then again, that sounds familiar, doesn't it?

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