The UIGEA poker regulations are set to come out within one week and possibly even tomorrow says a Poker Players Alliance board member along with the iMEGA President.

The US Office of Management and Budget has approved the proposed rules. Therefore these proposed rules and regulations could come out anyday but no longer than 1 week.

The regulations will first be published to the Federal Register.  This begins what's called a "commenting period".  Industry experts including a PPA spokesperson, Rich Muny and iMEGA President are estimating a 60-90 day commenting period.

During this commenting period banks will not yet be forced to follow any new rules or be subject to violations of the UIGEA.  As far as online poker players are concerned things will remain the same for the time being.

According to Ed Leyden of iMEGA,  "It is also possible (but not likely) that a public hearing will be scheduled to solicit commentary from industry, the public, and the bar. "

Finally, after the proposed 60-90 day commenting period ends a re-evaluation of the regulations will be considered.  Recommendations from the commenting period will be examined and used to ammend the rules into finalized regulations.  This re-examining period is expected to take up to 180 days.

Following this dubbed "grace period" activities amongst those who currently gamble online from the US will notice little to no change.  What has already been a prolonged release of these regulations will become even longer.  

It has now been almost 1 year since the signing of the UIGEA.  From beginning to end these regulations are likely to be finalized 2 years after the initial passing of the UIGEA making those gambling operators who stayed in the US market very wealthy.

News Sources:
Twoplustwo
Rich Muny (Poker Players Alliance Board Member)
Ed Leyden (iMEGA.org President)



Both the Poker Players Alliance (www.pokerplayersalliance.org) and iMEGA (www.iMEGA.org) are accepting donations to further their efforts to legalize online poker in the US.