Online gambling among young people has fallen from 5.8 percent to under 2 percent since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act became law.  It stops credit card payments to off-shore gambling sites. Dan Romer with the University of Pennsylvania believes the numbers are down because banks and law enforcement are working together to set up roadblocks for young people who gamble online illegally.

“What apparently has happened is it’s harder to do. You can’t just get on and give a credit card anymore.  So that’s probably slowed down the enthusiasm on the part of some young people.”

Romer says the law is working, and that’s good news for those at risk of becoming hooked on gambling.

“We’re glad to see it come down; we didn’t like the fact that it was rising so quickly, and from our own personal view, of just what’s good for adolescents.”

UIGEA has forced some gambling sites to shut down, causing some website owners outside the U.S. to demand compensation.  Nevertheless, Chad Hills with Focus on the Family Action praises the new law because it gives problem gamblers a chance to rethink priorities.

“People would play for 48-hours straight or even longer. If anything, this is going to reduce the accessibility and availability of gambling to people who might not otherwise gamble.”

The online gambling drop among college age men is even more pronounced.