Game Changer to End the Year

The New Year 2012 is already promising in terms of legal gambling online. Denmark is the next European market to open up to online casino operators - licensed and regulated, of course.

Now, with the recent news from the United States, expectations for 2012 are even higher: Will 2012 finally bring online gambling to the US?

The Law

In accordance with the UIGEA which banned online gambling in 2006, any form of inter-state, cross-state borders gambling is forbidden. Intra-state, however, gambling within state borders, is legal.

The trick, it seems, is to verify that gamblers are located within the state's borders, and that they are of legal age (21 or older).

The Field

While New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, is fighting to prevent online gambling within his state's borders, it is Nevada, home of casino capital Las Vegas, which is advancing online poker.

Nevada, behind Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), has received concession from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel that even if communications do cross state borders, online gambling can be regulated by the state under state law.

In this case, online lotteries can sell tickets to people in Nevada over the Internet, and online poker and online casinos can basically do the same; excepted is sports betting online, which is addressed by the separate Wire Act of 1961.

The Future

Moving ahead and approving regulations for online poker in the state, the Nevada Gaming Commission is working in the favor, among others, of the casinos based in the state.

According to the regulations, companies already licensed by the state can apply to expand their current status onto the internet. Aside from existing companies expanding operations, technology companies are also expected to enter the "local" market, i.e. online gambling in Nevada.

Cause for Optimism

If nothing else, the positive vibes from the US at this Holiday season gives us reason to be hopeful for a return of online gambling in 2012.