Online Gambling

Effective immediately, NETeller can no longer be used by US account holders at online gaming sites. This announcement follows a similar announcement by Firepay in October 2006.

This announcement should come as no surprise, given that:

1. the NETeller Group is a publicly-traded company that needs to protect its shareholders and executives from prosecution under the UIGEA
2. the US detained two former NETeller executives earlier this week 

In fact, if you read my blog, you’ll see that I outlined why the clock was ticking for NETeller back in November 2006.

In any event, NETeller exiting the gaming market for US account holders will be a temporary roadblock for US players. If recent history is any guide — and it should be — US players will quickly find a way to play the games the want, at the stakes they want, at any site that will accept them.

Just a quick heads up that Mayagaming has been newly added to The Online Casino Gambling Directory. It accepts all US players, and is a combination casino, poker room, and sportsbook. They have a decent first deposit bonus — not great, but decent — and I encourage you to give them a try if you are looking for a new place to play.

Too drunk to gamble? That’s almost like saying that you’re too drunk to fish… it is just not possible. 

But we’ve all been there… too many drinks, too many losing bets, and wanting just one more bankroll to keep playing. We were smart when we left the house without credit cards and ATM cards, but now we could really use them.

In cases like these, the casino is usually more than willing to extend you credit — even when you are hammered. One Indiana lawmaker has proposed that casinos extend more than $1000 credit only to players that pass a breath test.

This seems to be a good idea. Breath tests can be given in a private area so they’d be minimally intrusive. Since results are available in less than a minute, the test would also be minimally inconvenient.

One problem that I forsee is that I, for one, may not be able to muster the volume of exhaled air needed to activate the test after smoking two packs of Camels during my 8 hour losing streak that led to me needing credit in the first place.

If you have any money in a Party Poker account and can no longer play at the site, you’ll want to get it out of there ASAP. The Party Poker Inactive Account Fee of $5 a month will be deducted from your account each month until all your money is gone.

After you take your money out of Party Poker, drop it into an online poker room that still takes US players, like Mansion, FullTilt, or PokerStars. These three sites take players from any state in the US, and offer at least a 100% bonus on your first deposit.

Note: Props to the ACPW for the heads up on this story.