It looks like the US government might finally be coming to their senses in regard to regulating Online Gambling.

This past week, the US Treasury Department granted a delay in the implementation of the very ambiguous Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Several politicians had written a letter to Treasury suggesting that a delay of these rules was needed.

I’m still amazed they can implement the rules at all considering that what is considered ‘Unlawful Internet Gambling’ is not even defined or mentioned within the act! Surely you have to explain what something is before you can legislate against it? Only in America….

Also, Representative Barney Frank announced on Tuesday Washington will begin discussing his proposed legislation that would overturn the UIGEA. After hearing the UIGEA delay announcement, Frank issued a statement saying that he would “continue to work hard to overturn the ill-advised law”.

Another piece of legislation has also been proposed by New Jersey lawmaker Robert Menendez, that would regulate online poker. Over the past couple of years, internet poker has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment for American citizens and the government sorely wants a piece of the action through taxing the online poker companies that are currently located offshore.

The USA may finally be ready to use common sense and shed the nanny state mantra of the previous Bush government. It’s unbelievable to the rest of the world that things like online poker and sports betting are not regulated in the USA. Especially considering that the USA is considered the world’s home to such pursuits via the casinos of Las Vegas & Atlantic City!

Clearly my October of drinking, holidaying, and being sick rendered me almost blind. I’ve only just noted that BetUS, one of our favorite sportsbooks here at OG, has a new section called BetFlix. It’s a collection of: video tips of upcoming sports events, drunken ramblings, interviews with people of import, and scantily clad women advertising the site.

Best picture for the search 'hungover gambler'

Most importantly to me, they even have the occasional video for MMA tips, which is a welcome change from all that talk about major sports like football and hockey. I mean, who cares about football and hockey? The other bloggers here, sure… Okay, plenty of people care about football, hockey, basketball and all the other most popular sports in the world. If you’re included in that group, then BetFlix will be even more enjoyable for you than it is for me, as most of its videos cover major sports and betting opportunities.

I really like it when sportsbooks expand their coverage to more than just the odds. It shows that they value the community that visits the site, and contributes to the fun of making a pick. Obviously, I’d like to see much more MMA coverage – as much as possible – but I understand that most people like more than just combat sports. What can I say, I’m a simple creature that likes a very complex and violent subset of sports.

Be sure to check out our Strikeforce: Fedor vs Rogers preview if you want to find out more about some of the big fights on that card. Also, if you want to place a bet on any of the Strikeforce main card fights, consider joining BetUS where you can benefit from a 50% bonus on first and second deposits, plus much more.

Wow, two posts in one day? WTF is going on?

I saw this article linked on my fav poker site and had to have a comment on it as well.

More reporters need to speak up and highlight what is currently going on in the USA with regard to the regulation of online gambling. It’s a disgrace that Obama still lets the DoJ run around doing whatever it pleases without any regard for the actual law, or the opinion of the constituency. They are doing some really bad things under instructions to never reveal that they are cracking down on online gambling, because it will further hurt Obama’s popularity as the majority of the population want to be able to gamble online.

It’s so, so strange that  sports betting is illegal, except in a couple of states. Especially when everyone knows the interest in the NFL would be a fraction of what it currently is without fans being able to bet on the games – everybody bets anyway! (It’s one of Sportsbooks.com’s slogans even)

In the rest of the world sports betting is a perfectly acceptable activity. It takes more skill than picking a lottery number or a winning horse! In the UK there are betting shops on every major street. In Australia, the sports news websites are covered in ads for online bookies. In Europe the football teams are sponsored by the sportsbooks!

Why does America insist on doing things half assed backwards? Sports Betting is never going away and they should just regulate it, like the seemingly more intelligent governments of the world have already done a long time ago to collect the tax revenue and ensure their citizens have safe places to gamble.

I’m not American, but I’d be really pissed with my government if I was! Get it together already Barry. And good on you Michael Hiltzik for speaking out about it.