A Way to Piggyback Into the Asian Market

I recently read an interesting interview with new Cryptologic head honcho Brian Hadfield which he gave to Ireland’s Tribune and found it a very good indication of where the online gaming industry is heading in this post-UIGEA world. (you can read a summary of the interview in Bingo Street’s online bingo news section today)

Cryptologic’s software is used by a number of online bingo halls in the UK and the company is now expanding its reach into the Asian mahjong market in line with its strategy of going global to compensate for the loss of the US market.

Watching Cryptologic is a good indication for online bingo games operators to see how the developing Asian market fares and if there will eventually be a bingo online market of any note to take advantage of. My guess is that as long as the US continues to pursue its damaging UIGEA policies, forward thinking online gaming companies will continue to probe other, more friendly markets. Those operating free online bingo games using Cryptologic-based software may have the chance to piggyback on Cryptologic’s expansion into these exciting and exotic new markets.

The controversial and downright destructive piece of anti-online gambling legislation known as UIGEA is to get its day in court in the form of a US Congressional hearing into its continued viability.

As those in the bingo online community who have been following this blog know, the online bingo games industry was hit hard by the arrival of UIGEA in late 2006 with many online bingo halls having to exit the US market to avoid legal issues with US authorities. UIGEA seeks to disrupt the financial transactions between online gaming operators and US-based customers.

The April 2 hearing looking at the practical implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act (UIGEA) gives our industry a perfect opportunity to educate US legislators as to the destructiveness of UIGEA. I hope that those in the US fighting UIGEA take this opportunity to really put a spoke in the UIGEA wheel and promote a more favourable solution along Barney Franks’ proposals.

Let’s see what happens over this week before we get our hopes up, but at the same time let’s hope this hearing heralds a return to sanity in the US online gaming market.

Written by Charlene Gary