The US Congress passed the SAFE Port Act into law in 2006.  The word SAFE is actually an acronym for the terminology “Security and Accountability for Every” Port.  It was implemented for the purpose of increasing port security.  Unfortunately, it was reworded at the last moment to include an anti online gambling measure.  As a result of this addition to the law, Part VIII of the act, known as the UIGEA – Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, became active.

Part VIII prohibits the transferring of any funds to any internet gambling site from a financial institution.  However, this section excludes the following:

- Fantasy Sports
- Horse and/or harness racing
- Online lotteries

The SAFE Port Act was passed into law by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 421 to 2 on the 4th May 2006 and the US Senate by a vote of 98 to 0 on the 14th September 2006.  President Bush signed the legislation, making it the law of the land, in October of the same year. 

The impact of the new law on the online poker gambling industry was immediate, as reflected by the tumbling share price of the gambling companies on the London Stock Exchange and other financial markets.  However, the online gambling industry has grown in popularity since and is generating much more revenue than it did initially prior to the passage of the legislation.