In anticipation of legalized and regulated online casino gambling in the United States, former MasterCard executives are betting that the changes will come fairly soon. The three ex-MasterCard executives hold key positions in UC Group Ltd.

UC Group Ltd has launched a subsidiary for operations in the United States, Secure Trading. Along with this, the company released a statement to let interested parties know that they plan to offer “safe financial transactions and required consumer protections,” in anticipation of the expected federal legislation in the US.

The move has come at a time when US online casino players are somewhat frustrated over the developments that are taking place with the successful blockage of both MasterCard and Visa credit cards from processing online gambling transactions.

Chris Thom is Secure Trading’s chairman. He was employed by MasterCard for 11 years, and was the chief risk officer at the large credit card company. Ted Friedman is the Chief Operating Officer. Friedman was previously employed at Europay International in Belguim, and at MasterCard in New York. The head of customer sales and support at Secure Trading is T.J. Sharkey. Sharkey had worked at MasterCard for 17 years, and more recently held the position of group head of Global Merchants and Acquirers.

Chris Thom said, “Momentum for regulating Internet gambling in the US has been building for some time now.” He continued to note: “As Congress prepares to take the final step, Secure Trading Inc.’s turnkey system is primed to enable our customers to go live the moment Internet gambling is regulated.”