PokerRoom.com Bids Adieu to the States

The one major online poker room that had yet to make an official statement regarding it’s U.S. intentions prior to the signing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) has announced that it will, in fact, stop accepting American customers. That room, PokerRoom.com, through its parent company, bwin Interactive Entertainment AG.

bwin issued a lengthy statement on its website, but the meat is as follows:

Following an in-depth analysis of the situation and extensive legal consultation, bwin has decided to comply with the new legislation and will no longer accept any new US-resident customers for its real money gaming products, effective immediately. The company is working on technical arrangements that will prevent existing customers from accessing its real money games. Until further notice, bwin will only be offering a ”play money“ line-up to the US market. The greatly increased risk of prosecution by the US authorities, the considerable pressure on banks and payment providers coupled with the requirements for publicly listed companies leave the company no other option.

So, get in there and play now before the software locks you out!

Originally published October 13, 2006