It appears the U.S. Department of Justice is trying to make good on their word to enforce the UIGEA, despite the obvious resistance from foreign, offshore online casino operators. The DOJ is now trying to finagle its way into the financial affairs of some of the largest online gaming and poker sites on the Web, including Party Gaming and 888 Holdings. Having floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2005, both gaming companies have done very well for themselves, with the bulk of their playing base having previously come from the U.S.

Although not directly attacking Party Gaming and 888, for it would seem they are now in the clear, the DOJ is trying to apply the other major enforcement protocol of the UIGEA - going after the companies with the money. In the case of Party Gaming, this would be Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, who have both been advisors to the company since at least the time of their flotation in June 2005. In the case of 888 Holdings, their financial advisor has been HSBC Bank.

All three companies, as well as Credit Suisse, have been issued subpoenas by the DOJ, which was recently made public by DOJ. As reportec by the Sunday Times of London, the subpoenas are requesting information in the form of emails, paperwork, financial trails and telephone records. Just what the DOJ plans to do with this information is anyone's guess. Considering the company's involved as well as the DOJ's limited reach in enforcing the UIGEA, some analysts believe the U.S. is putting on a feeble attempt at a "scare-tactic" against online casino operators.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which is where all media questions are being handled, would not - ironically - comment on the case. What is known at this time is that the subpoenas were issued shortly after the passing of the UIGEA back in October of 2006, and have now been publicly reported following the arrests of Neteller's two former founding directors, both of whom are now free on $5 million bail in NYC. Neteller was the leading eWallet of choice for many online casino gamblers.