VIP, Nine and Gameday today announced that they will not accept any NEW players from the US or Canada. One of the biggest reasons is fraud control.

“As a result of recent events, we are being forced to deal with new, less experienced payment processors with less advanced systems in place. As a result, data regarding charge backs and returns is not being received in a timely manner, ” according to an email from VIP management earlier today.

In addition, all brands will no longer take phone wagers, though customer support is available via the phone (except for Poker). This change has come not because of new laws in the US, but as a cost savings measure, as a number of call center employees have already been let go.

VIP, Nine and Gameday remain open for business for all existing US players, and for Canadians for another month so that players can play out (or withdraw) their balances. All other countries are completely unaffected, and they will continue to offer all products as normal.

The bottom line is that in today’s climate, offshore gaming houses have to make a choice, and VIP has “chosen to focus on our core, loyal existing customers.” They did not rule out reversing this policy in the future.