Unexpectedly, the Congress of the United States approved last Saturday a law project with which it would become illegal for banks and credit card companies to do online payments to the gambling sites. The Senate and Chamber have approved the measure and have sent it to president George W. Bush for its signature. Most of the analysts think that the approval is a sure thing.

Online gambling companies are facing the biggest crisis in their history due to the American Congress approving the measure in an unexpectedly. This is threatening the jobs of the workers and is provoking the fall of the shares in a 70%.

This law was a hard punch for companies such as the British Party Gaming, owner of Party Poker, and its rivals Sportingbet and 888 Holding, which have a big part of their business set in the United States. The companies said that they are suspending the activities in the country for an undetermined period of time, once the president signs the project and it becomes a law, which would happen probably in about two weeks.

The firms will also be affected in their future gaining. Their stocks fell a 59%, while Sportingbet fell a 64%, 888 the 45% and the software provider for Playtech games fell a 55%.