As Microgaming casinos continue to make headlines, online gamblers in the Portland area continue to look elsewhere for their online casino gaming. All the while, an overwhelming cry emanates across much of the United States – when will the US regulate online casino gaming for Americans?
Just this week, Microgaming – the leading provider of online casino software – celebrated a major milestone in the industry. Introducing three now online slots machines, Microgaming increased it’s already massive collection of casino games to over 300 online slots alone. The three new online slots integrated into most every Microgaming Online Casino was “King of Cash”, “Alaskan” and “Dance of the Masai”.
It’s interesting that Microgaming would choose to develop a new “Alaskan” online slot machine, since actual residents of Alaska, like their nearby Portland neighbors, are absolutely prohibited from playing placing real-money wagers at any Microgaming powered casino.
Microgaming chose to distance itself from the US market, which had previously made up a substantial portion of its overall player traffic, after a senseless debacle with the Kentucky court system in 2008. The Commonwealth of Kentucky, lead by state Governor Beshear, issued an order for the seizure of 141 Internet domains said to be “devices” used in connection with illegal gambling.
Most of the domains in questions belonged to online casinos, but Microgaming.com was also among the list. A Kentucky Judge, Thomas Wingate, ordered all domains in question to prohibit IP addresses coming from within Kentucky.
Although Microgaming does not operate online casinos in the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, a number of online casinos licensing its software were involved. Thus, in November of 2008, Microgaming chose to comply with the court order, even though the case was still under deliberation. One month later, Microgaming further disappointed its American fans by dropping from the entire US market, not just Kentucky.
In the end, the Commonwealth of Kentucky lost its case. The court of appeals decided that domain names were not defined as “devices”, therefore could not be seized. Regardless, Microgaming has upheld its stance to avoid the US market.
Knowing that Microgaming is the number one developer of online casino games, licensing its software to more casino operators than any other brand, all we can say is that – until the United States government finally realizes the true potential of legalizing and regulating online casinos in the US - Portland gambling enthusiasts and their fellow Americans will have to look elsewhere to participate in their favorite online casino games.
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