PartyGaming settlement to avoid prosecution

Found this news from PartyGaming, any thoughts?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/apr/07/partygaming-partypoker-prosecution-deal

looks like there paying, but looks like us USA players still cant play there, or am i wrong,??? buck

I guess I don't understand why there was a problem to begin with. Are other sites being prosecuted in the U.S. right now? I read that they admitted to some US laws violations - which ones?

Why does the article say internet gambling is against the law in the US? I thought the UIGEA just says it's illegal to process payments with banks and credit cards but doesn't start until Dec. '09.

There must have been something else illegal going on that I hadn't heard about?