Before the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA), NETELLER was one of the most popular and reliable payment solutions for US online poker players. However, NETELLER was forced out of America in 2007 after two of their founders were arrested for operating as an unlicensed money transmitting business (due to UIGEA). But now, seven years later, NETELLER is being relaunched in the US.
UK-listed Optimal Payments Plc, NETELLER’s parent company, have partnered with an American federally-insured financial institution to offer both NETELLER services and the Net+ Card. Optimal Payments Plc already have their foot in the door since they’ve been processing payments for the New Jersey and Nevada online poker markets. Now, they seek to offer even more services to the US online gaming market, as Joel Leonoff, Optimal’s president and CEO, explained with the following:
The NETELLER service and the Net+ Card being launched in the U.S. are brand new services that have been developed to meet the unique needs of the U.S. marketplace. With our U.S. financial institution sponsor, we are leveraging NETELLER’s flexible deposit and payment options and with our expertise, resources, and management are offering something truly unique in the U.S.
It’s definitely nice that NETELLER is re-entering the US online gaming market, given the lack of payment options in New Jersey and Nevada. Depositing with credit cards has been a nightmare for players in these states, with 35% of Visa users, 50% of MasterCard users and 100% of American Express users getting rejected.
In regard to eWallets, Skrill is currently the only choice available to New Jersey and Nevada players. So NETELLER would give residents of these states yet another good option for depositing and cashing out. At this time, there’s no word on if we’ll be seeing NETELLER enter Delaware, the United States’ other legal online gaming market.