PartyGaming and the U.S. Department of Justice struck a deal today through which the company will pay the U.S. government $105 and the governement will in turn leave the company alone. As part of its coverage of this historic event, IGamingNews asked a handful of industry commentators--including me--to share their views.

Here's what I wrote:

I don't know what PartyGaming was hoping to pay, but they have to be relieved that this chapter is closed and that they are now a much less volatile entity in the markets. Also, the settlement better positions PartyGaming to participate in highly regulated markets and form strategic partnerships with companies already operating in those markets.

I'd really like to know whether the United States government intends to put the $105 million to good use. Legalizing and taxing Internet gambling would bring in much more money in the long term than a handful of one-time payoffs through negotiations with the likes of PartyGaming and Neteller. I'm not sure that chasing away licensed, transparent operations to leave the U.S. market open to shadier outfits is in the best interest of consumers. Which of course begs the question: What's the point of all this?

To read what the other what the others--Jake Pollard, Editor, eGaming Review; Todd Eilers, Analyst, Roth Capital Partners; Scott Longley, Business Editor, GamblingCompliance; Warwick Bartlett, Owner, Global Betting and Gaming Consultants; Ivor Jones, Analyst, Evolution Securities; and Richard Carter, Analyst, Numis Securities--had to say, check out the full article at IGamingNews.