Although the online gambling took place prior to the 2006 passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, one online gambling site opted to pay an exhorbitant fine to the US in order to put the whole thing behind them. PartyGaming agreed to pay $1 billion dollars in order to end US prosecution attempts upon their executives and staff members. Now their employees can return to the United States without fear of arrest on illegal gambling charges, which has happened to other companies.
Amidst a storm of controversy, the US persists in going after and prosecuting those they believe were operating gambling concerns with Americans. Although all reputable gambling companies immediately ceased doing business with US citizens as soon as the UIGEA was passed, the Department of Justice is applying the law seemingly retroactively; their position continues to remain that internet gambling was illegal prior to the UIGEA. Several executives from foreign based concerns were arrested while on US soil after the passage although the charges stem from activities occurring prior to 2006.