eWALLET FIRM DEPARTS U.S. POKER SCENE

18 April 2008

ePassporte calls it a day, citing US enforcement activity


The California based e-wallet service ePassporte appears to be about to exit the United States online poker market, although as InfoPowa went to press Sunday this had not been confirmed by a general public statement from the company.

However, both Cake Poker and Full Tilt Poker have been advised by ePassporte management that "...a widespread investigation of Internet gambling, including poker" by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Southern New York" is responsible for the decision, according to online media reports from Poker News.com.

Back in the day when Eliot Spitzer controlled the New York AG's office it conducted a number of busts involving online gambling and ancillary services, such as the prosecution against Neteller.com's founders which was eventually settled for well over $100 million.

"Although we do not believe we have done anything illegal, we do not wish to be associated with anything that might be considered illegal by the United States Government," a communication sent to poker operators by ePassporte on Friday is understood to have read.

A Cake Poker email to players advised: "We have received notice from ePassporte today that they are unable to continue to provide CakePoker with merchant e-wallet services. We have since confirmed that this situation is not unique to CakePoker and is, in fact, industry wide."

Full Tilt Poker told its players: "We have recently been notified by ePassporte that they are no longer able to facilitate deposits or withdrawals between ePassporte and Full Tilt Poker player accounts."

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa