Skill Games Site Closes to Americans Following 'Net Gambling Ban

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 17, 2006 - 1:34pm.

London - GameAccount, a provider of person-to-person online skill-based games, announced on Friday that, after consulting with attorneys, it has closed its site to U.S. citizens to comply with the letter and spirit of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006.

London-based GameAccount noted that the law specifically refers to "games, subject to chance," and did not carve out an exception for skill-based games like blackjack, backgammon, solitaire and gin rummy -- as it did for fantasy sports games.

"Skill-based online gaming is and will remain a grey area under the UIGEA until tested under federal U.S. law," said GameAccount CEO Kevin Dale. "It is extremely hard to argue that games of skill, such as those provided by leading skill games operators, have zero element of chance influencing the outcome of real money tournaments. Closing access to U.S.-resident real money players was a hard decision, but a sensible one."

Other skill-based gaming sites still operating include WorldWinner.com, Skilljam.com and King.com.

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/ur5mk
http://www.gameaccount.com