The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) has affected players and online casinos in many different areas, not only in the United States. The most recent online casino casualty, as a result of the UIGEA, is Intertops Casino.
The online casino wanted to re-enter the US market, and devised a two-casino system to do so. The basic plan is that Green Casino, their Microgaming operation, would be available for non-US players, and a new division of Intertops Casino, the Red Casino, would be powered by Real Time Gaming software, and therefore open to both US and non-US players. Real Time Gaming online casino software remained in the US market when Microgaming chose to pull out because of the mounting pressure place on them since the UIGEA was passed. Microgaming, however, felt that they could not accept the two-casino option and have announced that they will be severing ties with Intertops Casino. It seems likely that the decision taken by Microgaming was made because the licensee is hoping that when the expected changes take place in the US regarding legalization and regulation of online casinos, that they will have a clean slate as far as the US government is concerned, and will be granted a license to operate within US borders. The fact that Microgaming will no longer allow Intertops Casino to use their software affects all Intertops players since they will now no longer be eligible for the larger progressive jackpots, such as the Mega Moolah jackpot that, when reset, begins at one million! |
