Firepay drops Canadians now.

**me_and_ed** · 16th February 2007, 10:51 PM

Effective February 21, 2007, FirePay (www.firepay.com) will no longer allow Canadian consumer payments to online gambling merchants.

Effective February 28, 2007, FirePay (www.firepay.com) will no longer allow Canadian consumers to receive payments from online gambling merchants.

All Canadian FirePay account holders will continue to be able to make purchases and receive payments from non-gambling online merchants, as well as to "Deposit From" and "Withdraw To" their Canadian bank account.

Click here for a listing of non-gambling merchants that accept FirePay: http://www.firepay.com/_stores/default.asp

For any questions regarding these deadlines or this policy, please email info@firepay.com.

Sincerely,
FirePay
info@firepay.com

**casinocide** · 16th February 2007, 11:12 PM

Why did they do this? Can we now assume that Neteller will no longer be allowing Canadians to maintain accounts as well? Is this because of perceived "widespread promotions abuse against our merchants" or is it because of DOJ bullying? Thanks.

**winbig** · 17th February 2007, 12:39 AM

Maybe because a good % of Canadian accounts are registered to use USD? Neteller is also having problems with any USD account.

**jetset** · 17th February 2007, 09:25 AM

This is certainly an intriguing development - there may be investor pressures behind it because FirePay is a subsidiary of Optimal Group which is quoted on the Nasdaq in the States = possible vulnerability to bullying by the good ole DoJ.

It's not very professional to just make an arbitrary announcement like this without a supporting press release explaining why, yet so far I have been unable to find such a release.

If anyone sees one please post it so we can all keep up to speed on the why's and wherefore's of this move.

**me_and_ed** · 17th February 2007, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by jetset

This is certainly an intriguing development - there may be investor pressures behind it because FirePay is a subsidiary of Optimal Group which is quoted on the Nasdaq in the States = possible vulnerability to bullying by the good ole DoJ.

It's not very professional to just make an arbitrary announcement like this without a supporting press release explaining why, yet so far I have been unable to find such a release.

If anyone sees one please post it so we can all keep up to speed on the why's and wherefore's of this move.

I have looked high and low but have found nothing as well, that is why I have no posted any responses as why this has happened, however I do think your assumption is bang on.

**jetset** · 18th February 2007, 09:18 AM

Since my last post we lodged a formal media enquiry on this with both Firepay and Optimal.

Their common response was that there were "no further announcements at this time" so obviously they are not comfortable with having to explain why Canadians are now being buggered around as well.

Perhaps the coming week will see a statement.....

**lojo** · 18th February 2007, 11:48 AM

NasdaQ attempts LSE, fails. The writing was on the wall all along? NT got pinched. Historically, this might not seem a conspiracy theory.
MGM is cotai now as a puppy, #3 hmm? no #1? Not a puppy?
We are now in the true global trip, and it ain't bally nor harrah nor capn kerk, it's the princess. Welcome to the chinese eco-nomical civil war, brought to you by bushco.

dollars to donuts, that's what happened to online play

**darkpixie** · 21st February 2007, 05:14 PM

Say WHAT?
Now I have heard everything! Online gambling is not illegal in Canada nor is it taxable.
Our government has the good sense to know that any form of Gambling is just a poor mans tax and they make zillions a year off of us as it is so its not concerned with the few bucks it may be missing out on with online gambling.
Why are we being painted with the same brush as the stick in the muds down south... Unbelievable.