Despite the recent delayed implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), MasterCard is once again attempting to block all online poker site MasterCard transactions, and at least for the moment, it appears to be working.

According to numerous sources, many of the major online poker sites as a result of this action are currently unable to offer MasterCard as a deposit option, forcing US customers to go back to using Echecks, money orders and other less efficient methods, to fund their online poker accounts.

Some of the sites that are currently unable to accept MasterCard from US players, according to a recent article from OnlinePoker.net include Doylesroom, Absolute Poker, UB and Bodog.

This is the second time MasterCard as a company has attempted this type of widespread blocking (some would say overblocking) of gambling sites from its customers.  The last time this was tried, it was literally only a matter of months, before gambling companies discovered how to recode transactions, so that the cards could once again be used by players wishing to play poker with their own money.


Story by Mark Anderson