It wasn't long ago since MasterCard announced that they are going to block Americans from making transactions to online casino sites (See MasterCard Cuts Off Online Casino Payments In US). Now, MasterCards biggest opponent VISA follows and block their Canadian customers as well. That both the credit card giants VISA and MasterCard have decided to block Canadians from making transactions to online casino is a clear sign that UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) will soon come into effect in June 1, 2010.

Canada seemed to be untouched by the block, but it has recently come to our attention that similar hindrances are taking place here. When you are going to enter your VISA account number into online casino, the error message indicated that the financial institution by which the card was issued would not allow the transaction to take place. We are uncertain whether the block was caused by VISA or the bank, but one thing was clear: we were unable to fund our online casino account. Considering the fact that Canadian Visa is usually governed by US regulations so it is very probable that most of us are blocked with that payment option as well.

Most people have pointed to the fact that both companies are probably getting prepared for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to come into effect. If this legislation and that getting fully enforced, activity at online casino will be considered illegal within the United States and Canada and these credit card companies want to distance themselves from any illegal activity.

If you encounter this situation, it may be frustrating but there are very simple solutions to this problem. It may seems as though the next available option would be an e-wallet, however these systems take quite some time to authenticate. So, the quickest option is to register for an online credit/debit card.

Companies like VISA Electron allow players to make payments online through a web-based card. Because the card has no attachment to a financial institution, banks are not able to intercept payments to online casino. Transfers are instant and secure, as players are never required to give out their own personal bank account or credit card information.

The registration process is quick and easy. The VISA Electron took less than 10 minutes. Within 15 minutes, your online casino account was funded and we were ready to play!

Among the U.S. States whom would be interested in legalizing and taxing online casino if the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was overturned and regulatory mandates were passed, i.e, Senator Jim McDermott and Barney Frank’s companion bills – the Internet Gambling Regulation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act and the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act – it’s a good bet to add New Hampshire to the list.

As the fight for gaming in the Granite State continues Governor John Lynch now says he may consider a plan to allow online gambling in the state. New Hampshire Governor John Lynch may have expressed his opposition to legislation recently introduced that would have seen the legalization of 17,000 slot machines and table games such as poker in the state, he has surprised his opponents with his own idea to close a growing budget deficit - the introduction of online casino and other forms of gambling online.

Moreover, the New Hampshire Governor John Lynch will be unveiling a plan next week to help New Hampshire close a fast-growing budget deficit during trying economic times. Of the many options in this plan, one of them is online casino. However, on the other hand, the Governor Lynch’s critics, or rather, those who oppose online casino for one reason or another, have already spoken out against the prospects of online casino legalization.

“The governor is worried about proliferation of gaming, but it sounds like he’s going to make every computer terminal in every home and every BlackBerry - including those BlackBerrys held by kids in high school - a gambling facility.” Said Senator Bob Clegg, who just so happens to be a lobbyist for a golf club seeking to build a casino resort in the city of Hudson.

But Governor Lynch says he's still working out specific pieces of the plan. "At this point really we're in the conceptual stage. At this point we're discussing with legislative leaders, different ideas in terms of how to close the budget gap," Said New Hampshire Governor John Lynch.

As such, New Hampshire Governor Lynch can expect tough opposition to his alternative plan. It is being argued that online gambling and poker playing would allow for unchecked addictions and that this type of entertainment does not provide for as many jobs as the construction of land casinos. A planned casino in Hudson, for example, would bring in as much as $10 million in tax revenue and create 3,800 jobs.