At one time, the only means of gambling entertainment was a trip to Las Vegas. However, with the internet, access and reach to casinos has been made much easier. All you will need is a computer and an internet connection. There is no need of making any trip to a casino or of spending any money as hotel expenses, entrance fees to the casino and the food and drinks you need while playing bingo.

Internet gambling is both advantageous and disadvantageous. To the occasional gambler, who has a control on the amount of money that is being spent through gambling finds internet gambling advantageous. This is because they need not travel to a casino, and can play online games in the comfort to home. There is no need of spending any money trying to reach the casino as it is available in your home. Moreover, those who find it rather difficult to find a holiday to visit a casino need not wait for a holiday as online games can be played anytime.

However, with its easy accessibility anyone and everyone can play online gambling games. A child of 13 can play without the computer knowing the age of the player. So small children will be exposed to the evils of gambling at an early age with this easy accessibility to online casinos. Moreover, as online gambling is accessible any time, it is very possible for a gambler to spend more than is necessary, to end up in debt. There will be a lower percentage of control on accounts in online casinos.

So in a bid to curb online gambling in United States of America, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006 was enacted in the year 2006. It was passed by the Congress government wherein the supply of U.S. gambling funds to foreign internet casinos has been cut off. This law was passed after seven difficult years of perseverance on the part of the government to pass the law.

Of course, with the passing of the bill, the online gambling world has fallen into a shock, wherein share prices have gone plummeting and online gambling operations closing their avenues in U.S. business. Of the total internet online gambling revenue, more than 50% is generated by U.S. citizens alone!

With the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006, it proves to be difficult for anyone who is interested in gambling to send money to internet gambling sites. This is because all the internet casinos have been banned from accepting credit cards, internet bank transfers and other forms of illegal gambling payments. Moreover, web site operators cannot provide links to gambling websites in accordance to the law.

And according to Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006, violators of the law will most probably have their gambling licenses revoked. With this, any land or water based casino operator having a gambling website will only end up having its casinos shut down.

However, according to the law, free games are not considered to be a form of gambling. This is why the law does not affect free bingo games that much. There is a provision in the law that provides for online casinos offering free games like free game to offer points or credits to players wherein no money is offered as a prize. Instead, extra free games are offered as prizes. Though all other operators of free games have to stop giving points that can be redeemed as cash, free bingo sites can offer small cash prizes that are availed from the advertising budget.

With the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act 2006, at least a single major online casino has pulled out from the U.S. market. Many more, like the greatest bingo hall are expected to follow suit. They intend to start operations in other countries like the United Kingdom, Italy or any other internet gambling friendly jurisdiction. These countries generally pass legislations legalizing and regulating the fundamentals of internet gambling.

So though European countries will be able to play online gambling as a gambling option, those in America will still be permitted to play free bingo as a form of entertainment and excitement in their website as before. The game and the entertainment it provides is the same; the only thing that is lost is its gambling vise!

By Richard Sharp
Richard Sharp is the owner of a popular online bingo directory http://www.bingo-reviewer.com. His site offers free online bingo and has many useful resources. To join free today send a blank email to mailto:bingo-reviewer@aweber.com