The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was attached to the Safe Port bill in 2006. The results have been disastrous for online poker.

Most online gambling sites have stopped taking US customers, however the major sites such as PokerStars, Ultimate Bet Poker and Full Tilt Poker still allow US players – after all, half of their pro representatives are US citizens!

Many people have the misconception that online poker is illegal in the US – this is not the case. While the UIGEA does stop many banks accepting transfers from online poker sites, the act of playing online poker itself is not against the law. If it were, do you really think that Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan and others would still be doing it so publicly?

Almost every US-friendly online poker room will allow you to cash out via a major US bank; the question is will the bank allow the transfer? Many will not. Therefore, there are a number of ways in which you can deposit and withdraw funds online.

PicClub

PicClub is an increasingly popular method of funding and cashing out an online poker account. Pic stands for the Player’s Investment Club. Using PicClub, poker players may transfer funds to and from their poker account. Pic-Club accounts may be loaded by way of Visa and MasterCards of all types. As a member of PicClub, you will additionally become eligible for many of the exclusive offers and private tournaments set up through partnered poker rooms.

EwalletXpress

Another deposit alternative can be found at ewalletxpress.com, run by Navaho Networks, which is a general online payment processor. The disadvantage is that deposit amounts are limited – initially, you can fund your account between $50 and $150, then a further $300 once it is verified. This disadvantage is made up for by poker sites not charging fees for a withdrawal – paper checks can carry a fee of up to $50!

So, if you are a US citizen worried about the legality of online poker then fear not! After your initial troubles with deposits, you can play as often as you like.

Unfortunately, it looks like the UIGEA is here to stay – while Rep. Barney Frank and the PPA (Poker Players’ Alliance) are trying their best to lobby against it, with Frank’s bill to “legalize” online poker imminent, the new Obama administration has inherited bigger problems than online poker. However, Obama is a keen poker player himself and rumors suggest the UIGEA will be going at some point.