[CrazyLou]

If it's until our legal issues are sorted, I guess the answer is not within the next 10 years.

All it may take is one or two to make an executive decision, and say piss on the American government, some of our industry comrades are servicing US players, we're going to as well.

If they have no business ties here and aren't afraid of prosecution by stepping foot on US soil, what's stopping them?

[durito]

Never.

Unless the laws are changed. Even then maybe not. It's not like betfair used to take americans and it's not like they need them.

These are licensed and regulated business in developed countries. The US gov't will stick it's hand any where it wants. The international banking community is all tied together. There's no way those companies will risk pissing off the US gov't. Even if the owners will never be in the US.

[HeeeHAWWWW]

Such a huge market, you have to imagine some book will try move at it. Probably not the established bluechip companies, because their senior execs would be far too scared of being arrested :-)

[fingas]

never untill the laws changes.

And no, they don't wait 10 years to re-enter in US market again, most of big companies such as betfair, sportingbet, party poker had US customers in the past and for example, betfair managed to persuade australians to bet at betfair, although they also had a monopoly in the horses tracks.

And others (bwin for example) are fighting those laws in the European Union too (not all european countries allow online betting), once this is aproved they will go to the further.

So they are just waiting for the law

[CrazyLou]

Originally Posted by durito

Never.

Unless the laws are changed. Even then maybe not. It's not like betfair used to take americans and it's not like they need them.

These are licensed and regulated business in developed countries. The US gov't will stick it's hand any where it wants. The international banking community is all tied together. There's no way those companies will risk pissing off the US gov't. Even if the owners will never be in the US.

You're right, the US does stick its nose into places where it doesn't belong, we needn't look much further than the Iraq situation as a prime example of that although lets avoid sparking up that kind of discussion. In any case the situation sucks for American residents, especially tennis bettors.

[max_asdf]

which euro countries not allowing online betting atm?

[max_asdf]

US still thinks they are king..

[Santo]

It's rarely that simple, most of the companies are parts of bigger conglomerates.. the big ones that would lead anyway.. Ladbrokes are part of the Hilton group, Skybet part of Murdoch's empire etc..

[RogueJuror]

Originally Posted by max_asdf

which euro countries not allowing online betting atm?

Italy tried to block it but they lost in the EU court, some German States are blocking it, its illegal in the Netherlands and some books refuse to service the Dutch because of it. They will all be defeated.

[EBK]

Well In Italy there is a sort of monopoly.

All italian ISP block the internet access to every not licensed gaming site (sportbooks,casino,etc..) but it's very easy to go behind the wall
Also the major euro books (including betfair) always provides new unblocked mirror website url

Anyway there are 2 important points regarding the italian gambling situation:

1- all advertising made by an italian of not licensed books are illegal
2- Even if the sportbooks has acquired the license, the italian gambling market are very very very limited and the sportbooks are forced to create a "dot IT"
(our national domain) website. Also all markets are closed at nigh (from 10pm to 7 am)

Many sporbooks with several italian customer have created the "dot IT" website (Bwin,Eurobet,Unibet,coral/eurobet,partybet/gamebookers,Will Hill) but each sportbooks apply their rules.

Some sportbooks allows italian citizen to play at "dot COM" website and other sportbooks forced us to play at "dot IT" website.

Anyway there is not a law to punish who plays at not licensed website,only the advertising is persecuted

And yes,like Rougue wrote, Italy has paid a fine becuase italian laws are not respecting the european gaming liberty.

However this fine doesn't remove the monopoly.

oh in Italy gambling laws are eccentric

...except for few books,Italian citizen can play as normal on every euro and not euro sportbooks.

[Jamie_UK]

Originally Posted by CrazyL

If it's until our legal issues are sorted, I guess the answer is not within the next 10 years.

All it may take is one or two to make an executive decision, and say piss on the American government, some of our industry comrades are servicing US players, we're going to as well.

If they have no business ties here and aren't afraid of prosecution by stepping foot on US soil, what's stopping them?

How would they process the payments legally ?

I was hoping (for bonus's ) if Obama is the next President , and he does not get assassinated, then busting the Costa Ricans may become less of a priority and a new payment system may come about?