Well, it is not a new episode of Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean - but Tejinder Randhawa, an analyst at Evolution Securities told onlinecasinocrawler that the industry was emerging with two, new niches: the European-listed companies, traded on the stock markets, and those looking to continue to market to the U.S., despite the ban. “There are huge opportunities, and all the private offshore operators are licking their lips,” said Randhawa.

The UIGEA seeks to make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to process payments to online casino firms. “But no doubt there will be operators that spring up to handle the payments,” Randhawa said. However, only 10 to 15 percent of the world’s 2,700 or so gaming websites will eventually block U.S. customers.

Privately-owned operators in and around the Caribbean moved there years ago to avoid these problems and now the islands are attracting even more business.