Following the news of the U.S. government inflicting a ban on the online casino gambling industry, several noteworthy gaming companies have released statements regarding their interpretation of the internet betting prohibition measures and the prospects of conformation. Both Party Gaming and 888.com announced they would be monitoring the situation closely and that as soon as the law takes effect, would be suspending all U.S. accounts. The industry's primary payment processor, Neteller, on the other hand, announced a more reassuring  stance, stating that U.S. officials could take up to nine months to determine how to enforce the regulations, which at that time, Neteller will reassess the situation and consider all of its options.

Cryptologic - a major supplier of online casino software - was the most forthright in their actions, declaring they would cease taking U.S. bets effective immediately. Although Cryptologic primarily deals with the UK market, and most of their licensees target the European market, US interests will still be affected by the decision. Cryptologic's actions are not nearly as surprising as it would be for other gaming software companies, such as Microgaming and Playtech to announce a suspension of all U.S. accounts. Whereas Microgaming and Playtech derive the majority of their business from U.S. online casino gamblers, Cryptologic only pulls 30% of its assets from American business.

In fact, Cryptologic has become one of the most geographically diversified online gaming business in operation today, having shifted its business to the European market and reaping 70% of its online casino licensee revenue from outside the U.S. Included in their statement was an impact assessment showing the company would stand to lose approximately $24 million in profit from the U.S. market in the year 2006. However, continued gaming revenue growth by 20% in its non-U.S. focused business would greatly offset this loss and would be further nurtured by the recent launch of Playboy's Cryptologic-powered casino and poker sites, as well as future licensees.

Cryptologic's President and CEO, Lewis Rose, commented that despite a challenge for the online gambling industry as a whole, his company is poised to handle the future of a thriving online gambling business fueled by the UK, Canada, Singapore and Cyprus, and other global markets that are beginning to open up, which Cryptologic is already making plans to tap. Rose went on to say that the U.S. government's decision to pass an internet betting prohibition is an unwise move, and that the best way to control the industry is to regulate and tax it, as other countries are beginning to do. In the meantime, Cryptologic says they will continue to advocate regulation and expand their existing relationships with online casino licensees and gamblers in Europe and Asia.