Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved. Poker History. Editor: Erik Smith.
CEASED POKER ROOMS
It is safe to say that the UIGEA had a major impact on the online gaming industry. Big sports books, such as BetonSports.com, ceased operations.
The majority shareholder of Poker.com Network (now Merge Gaming) decided to sell his shares allegedly to some of the former owners of Paradise Poker. Read about the Poker.com Network sale. To date (2012) Merge Gaming network still accept US players.
Daniel Negreanu's poker room, Full Contact Poker, moved from Ongame to The Digital Gaming Network. However in the light of these events Digitial Gaming Network ceased operations in June 2007 and migrated its playerbase with PokerStars.
The affect of the UIGEA on the online poker industry was massive. To make matters worse for players and operators it was followed by several European governments attempting to ban online poker rooms not licensed and regulated by the government itself.
The European Union has not done enough to interfere with these affairs and when it comes to billions of tax money governments tends to protect its own interests by all means.