US versus the Three Poker Rooms

[onlineprime08]

We all know what happened just a few weeks/days ago, when US federal government made indictments against the three poker rooms, PokerStars, FullTilt and Absolute Poker.

After a few days, PokerStars have decide to make a separate domain in Europe so that it won't be affected by the closure of its domains in the US. They have also agreed to give back the US players money that has not yet been withdrawn from their accounts.

But Absolute Poker refuses what the US wanted, instead, they have said that what the US government did was illegal. They have found support with Antigua and Barbuda, well-known licensee of online gambling websites.

In you opinion, do you think Absolute Poker did the right thing?

[vinylweatherman]

We all know what happened just a few weeks/days ago, when US federal government made indictments against the three poker rooms, PokerStars, FullTilt and Absolute Poker.

After a few days, PokerStars have decide to make a separate domain in Europe so that it won't be affected by the closure of its domains in the US. They have also agreed to give back the US players money that has not yet been withdrawn from their accounts.

But Absolute Poker refuses what the US wanted, instead, they have said that what the US government did was illegal. They have found support with Antigua and Barbuda, well-known licensee of online gambling websites.

In you opinion, do you think Absolute Poker did the right thing?

They stood up to the bully, so in a sense did the right thing. It is possible that the DoJ have made secret demands in return for permitting the return of US players' money, and any operator that refuses will be publicly castigated for refusing to return the money belonging to US players when they were told they could.

I recall earlier incidents where the DoJ demanded that processors turn over all their records pertaining to US customers in return for an "easy ride" when it comes to making an orderly exit from the US. Neteller also had to sign an undertaking to stay out of the US market altogether.

I suspect that the "deal" offered is that the DoJ gets to keep the seized funds, the poker room has to turn over some of it's records, and sign an undertaking not to try to sneak back into the US market. They will then be allowed to refund US players from the proceeds of their worldwide operation.

When it comes to the mudslinging, maybe the US authorities (or their mouthpieces) will be the ones to sling the first damp sod regarding the decision NOT to immediately start giving US players back their money.

This is of course blackmail, or "business as usual" for the DoJ when it comes to their war on offshore operators.

Perhaps if Bin Laden had operated an online sportsbook, casino, and pokerroom, there would have been far more energy put into his eradication, and it would have taken place in 2006, not 2011

As pointed out elsewhere, the DoJ didn't shut down Wikileaks by shutting down it's domains without notice, and several terrorist friendly webdomains still operate, and are able to freely spread propaganda for their cause through the internet with little sign of the US security services acting to directly shut them down.

Either terrorism is less important than offshore gambling, or gambling operators made a huge mistake in how they set up their domain structure, and left themselves exposed to a simple procedure to shut them down, such as using an AMERICAN based registrar to start with, and never thinking ahead enough to suspect that the DoJ will spot this weakness, and go after it.

[Rhyzz]

I'm interested to see what Alderney thinks about Full Tilt operating in the States considering it's against their policies..

[pokeraddict]

IMO the reason AP/UB has still operated in the U.S. after the indictments is simply that they are broke. They posted notice US players could not play but never prevented them. My guess is their software cannot ban by country and/or AP/UB know they cannot cover the balances and need to rake the US player balances away.

When they had their accounts seized the ponzi scheme was discovered. They cannot negotiate their way out because one of the terms is to pay back their US players, something I do not think they can do even if they get their bank accounts back.

That is just a guess but it cannot be that far off.

[jetset]

I'm interested to see what Alderney thinks about Full Tilt operating in the States considering it's against their policies..

From Casinomeister News two weeks back:

Meanwhile, the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, where Full Tilt Poker is licensed, joined the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and the Isle of Man licensing authorities in issuing a statement on the US debacle.

The Commission's statement comments:

"[The] AGCC notes that its licensee, trading as Full Tilt Poker, denies all of the allegations [contained in the US federal indictments unsealed last Friday].

"Upon the grant of its licence Full Tilt Poker identified that it had obtained specific legal advice relating to its proposed activities. AGCC further notes the current public statements made by Full Tilt Poker to its customers and its recent decision to suspend “real money” play in the USA.

"AGCC is concerned that appropriation of Full Tilt Poker’s dotcom site is hampering and potentially adversely affecting its lawful operation elsewhere in the world."

[Rhyzz]

Seems Alderney were happy with the legal advice given to FTP then if they knew of their intentions before granting the license

[3mptyseat]

IMO the reason AP/UB has still operated in the U.S. after the indictments is simply that they are broke. They posted notice US players could not play but never prevented them. My guess is their software cannot ban by country and/or AP/UB know they cannot cover the balances and need to rake the US player balances away.

When they had their accounts seized the ponzi scheme was discovered. They cannot negotiate their way out because one of the terms is to pay back their US players, something I do not think they can do even if they get their bank accounts back.

That is just a guess but it cannot be that far off.

I concur... They are on their third ownership group since the 2007 superuser scandal, and one thing remains crystal clear to me: Different Umbrella, Same old Crooks trying to stay dry...

[lots0]

Crooks is crooks...

The folks behind AP/UB have always been the same people, no matter who held the title "Owner" and they have always been ethically challenged.
If I was associated with AP/UB, especially as an investor, I would be looking over my shoulder for the guys with badges.



Full Tilt... Interesting turn of events.
But the simple fact is that the US ignores the international rules that it does not like... Anyone remember the WTO gambling complaints after the UGIEA? and what happened to the WTO complaints... nothing.

I have a very strong feeling that IOM, Alderney, Kahnawake and any other similar complaints, will simply be ignored by the US.

[Diane]

I had the huge sum of $13.00 in my Pokerstars account, but got it paid within 2 days of request late last week.

I don't have funds owed at the other sites, but am wondering if the other site Full Tilt and UB, AP etc have paid their players yet?

Diane

[lottethedog]

I'm interested to see what Alderney thinks about Full Tilt operating in the States considering it's against their policies..

Yes I bet that bit them in the ass!

They knew all along, they gave them the license!