DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites

AcidMan27

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites : That sounds about right  - hope it doesn,t give our govenment any ideas Ps -  i got a delivery status notification today after sending an email to support at Pokerstars. i checked it and it was definately the right address. not sure what to make of it
Posted by MP33

 I'd imagine their mail client server is down if it's been seized so any e-mails for now won't be getting through.

GaryQQQ

Pokerstars have a new .eu e-mail address for support, it should be in the announcement that flashes up now whenever you start their client. I'm not posting it here in case it's not allowed, but you'll easily find it elsewhere on the web.

IRISHROVER

 just incase you guys/gals didnt see sticky above .


 We are aware of the recent news regarding action taken by the US Department of Justice against some poker sites who accept customers from the USA.

We want to reassure you that Sky Poker is not affected by this action and continues to operate as normal.

Sky Betting & Gaming has never accepted customers from the USA and operates fully within UK law. We are fully licensed to operate in the UK and are independently licensed and regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. Sky Betting & Gaming is part of the Sky Broadcasting Group, owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC, a trusted and regulated company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Trust is very important to Sky Betting & Gaming and we know that this is important to our customers at times like these. We have over 200,000 registered active players and provide a secure, safe and reliable way to play and experience online poker. 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us - here

IRISHROVER

Excellent  post on 2+2 Ok let me explain this nice and slowly for you. The accounts on the internet, do NOT MATTER. Your PokerStars and FT poker accounts are completely unrelated. When you deposit money into your account, that money has to go in to a real life bank account. Poker sites operate differently, some sites will : 1) Operate 2 bank accounts, one for the general funds and profits they recieve from the site. One for player funds, thus protecting all of the players money as the account is in no way shape or form attached to the business operations itself and no profits made from it. 2) Operate a single bank account where player money and general profits and funds are stored, this is NOT protected, the account is attached to the business. So if it was to go bankrupt, or the account was seized, all money would be classed as belonging to the business. The DoJ does not care if FT operate as said in example number two, they will take it all without considering the customers money and it will all go towards the 3billion they are requesting. So you better be hoping the sites you play on really do care about you and have segregated player money from their business account. For more information on this, read a page or two back somebody posted a similar quote from a FAQ on a license website. Just to make it clear again : YOUR INTERNET ACCOUNT DOES NOT HOLD ACTUAL REAL MONEY, THE POKER COMPANY OWNS YOUR MONEY IN A REAL BANK ACCOUNT.

SighKO

I've got a new desktop background..... just type in "www.pokerst*rs.com"..... and save to background.....hilarious.... love it

"The domain name has been seized by the F.B.I....................."

Highlight of the year so far......... I will sleep well tonight

barnsie

stars actually rang me to confirm that everything is ok for non us players

none the less i have withdrawn my roll there as whichever you shake it this isnt good news

GELDY

For those naive enough to believe that an internet poker site will segregate their clients funds appropriately

read this

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/PR/2010/089.shtml

I wish you all luck - but I'm with elsadog wrt how it might all go pearshaped

unknown_username

The first thing to get your head around is the amount of money the authorities are going after them for - $2.5 Billion.

That's an enormous amount of money by any measure. They have given details of all this in the full indictment which I've just trawled through (all 50 odd pages of it). They give all the banks at which assets are to be seized from - there are scores of them all over the world and they include - Barclays England, Barclays UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Ireland and a number of banks in the channel Islands.

The poker sites are accused of laundering illegal poker revenue by setting up bogus companies dealing in, amongst others, bicycles, green living products and on-line shopping companies. They also set up bogus monetary exchange companies to launder proceeds. They are also accused of bribing Bank officials and even buying into banks in order for them to illegally launder poker proceeds. Apparently the three poker companies all worked together in this.

The indictment finishes by saying that where illegal funds are mingled with other funds they will seize them all.

Upstanding, trustworthy and honest poker sites - yeah right!

One other point of interest is that the FBI have estimated these sums based on the rake. They estimate that the sites make a minimum of 35% rake in every dollar deposited - wow! Talk about money re-circulation - where's that RNG thread got to )

SighKO

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

The first thing to get your head around is the amount of money the authorities are going after them for - $2.5 Billion. That's an enormous amount of money by any measure. They have given details of all this in the full indictment which I've just trawled through (all 50 odd pages of it). They give all the banks at which assets are to be seized from - there are scores of them all over the world and they include - Barclays England, Barclays UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Ireland and a number of banks in the channel Islands. The poker sites are accused of laundering illegal poker revenue by setting up bogus companies dealing in, amongst others, bicycles, green living products and on-line shopping companies. They also set up bogus monetary exchange companies to launder proceeds. They are also accused of bribing Bank officials and even buying into banks in order for them to illegally launder poker proceeds. Apparently the three poker companies all worked together in this. The indictment finishes by saying that where illegal funds are mingled with other funds they will seize them all. Upstanding, trustworthy and honest poker sites - yeah right! One other point of interest is that the FBI have estimated these sums based on the rake. They estimate that the sites make a minimum of 35% rake in every dollar deposited - wow! Talk about money re-circulation - where's that RNG thread got to )
Posted by elsadog

Elsa lighten up man.......sit back and enjoy...... this is better than the 2nd coming (if you know what i mean)

d1mond

i'd get it out, mate struggled this afternoon. i think it will all have to be shut down and re set up within the EU or elsewhere to the US.

The one thing the companys are using is that the law that is currently blocking the US from playing online is on appeal and going through the courts, will get very complicated quickly

d1mond

ty

IRISHROVER

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

The first thing to get your head around is the amount of money the authorities are going after them for - $2.5 Billion. That's an enormous amount of money by any measure. They have given details of all this in the full indictment which I've just trawled through (all 50 odd pages of it). They give all the banks at which assets are to be seized from - there are scores of them all over the world and they include - Barclays England, Barclays UK, Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Ireland and a number of banks in the channel Islands. The poker sites are accused of laundering illegal poker revenue by setting up bogus companies dealing in, amongst others, bicycles, green living products and on-line shopping companies. They also set up bogus monetary exchange companies to launder proceeds. They are also accused of bribing Bank officials and even buying into banks in order for them to illegally launder poker proceeds. Apparently the three poker companies all worked together in this. The indictment finishes by saying that where illegal funds are mingled with other funds they will seize them all. Upstanding, trustworthy and honest poker sites - yeah right! One other point of interest is that the FBI have estimated these sums based on the rake. They estimate that the sites make a minimum of 35% rake in every dollar deposited - wow! Talk about money re-circulation - where's that RNG thread got to )
Posted by elsadog

elsa legend !

AJW1976

hope all gies well i had 2 accounts on fulltilt,2 accounts on pokerstars ,and ive had my acccount shut down with absolute poker,.,...still down a few k$$$. doubt ill ever see that $$$ again!.. feel totally conned.

funny thing they are still up and running some 12 hours later after update ie now .

has anyone else got accounts on absolute poker or pokerstars here?/?

IRISHROVER

 fox news >>

  http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/Feds_Bust_Online_Poker_Sites

GaryQQQ

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

hope all gies well i had 2 accounts on fulltilt,2 accounts on pokerstars ,and ive had my acccount shut down with absolute poker,.,...still down a few k$$$. doubt ill ever see that $$$ again!.. feel totally conned. funny thing they are still up and running some 12 hours later after update ie now . has anyone else got accounts on absolute poker or pokerstars here?/?
Posted by AJW1976

Multi-accounting FTW.

How many have you got on here?

delaney09

this is all crazy im still listening to the QUAD JACKS show on ustream they are 27 hours in

on another note i have $70 on stars and i plan to take advantage of the overlay in tournaments tonight make as much as possible and run

yb

I have money on stars but don't have their software on my laptop and can't seem to download it from their website, every time I try to download it I get the message:

The requested URL /PokerStarsInstall.exe was not found on this server.

Does anyone know a way around this so I can withdraw?

IRISHROVER

ps is starting to look very dirty >>>
 

By
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Posted: Apr. 16, 2011 | 4:13 p.m.

A state lawmaker and former U.S. attorney in Nevada called for federal and state investigations into the political activities of PokerStars, one of three Internet gaming companies whose American operations were shut down and seized Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice.

State Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, questioned PokerStars' presence in Nevada in light of the company's use of a political action committee to dole out campaign contributions last fall.

PokerStars, whose founder is among 11 individuals charged with bank fraud, money laundering and operating illegal gambling businesses in a nine-count federal indictment unsealed Friday in New York, is the primary backer of Assembly Bill 258, which seeks to legalize Internet poker in Nevada.

Two members of the Assembly, including the bill's primary author, traveled to England last year to see the online gambling company's facilities.

According to a filing with the Secretary of State's office, PokerStars' political action committee made $272,000 in contributions to 68 legislative candidates, constitutional officers, political party PACs and legislative caucuses. The contributions, made between Sept. 23 and Oct. 18, ranged from $1,000 to $10,000.

Brower, who was U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada between 2007 and 2009, said federal law prohibits foreign contributions to federal, state and local campaigns, but Nevada law is unclear.

"The fact that a foreign company, which has been charged with operating a criminal enterprise, could play such a large role in Nevada campaigns is troubling," Brower said. "I will be discussing this matter with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Nevada enforcement authorities to determine whether federal and state investigations into PokerStars' activities in Nevada are warranted."

A FOREIGN CORPORATION

PokerStars, which is based in the Isle of Man, a British dependency, is said to control more than 50 percent of the online poker market.

The company hired Richard Perkins, former speaker of the Nevada Assembly, to lobby for passage of AB258. In addition to Perkins, the company hired former Nevada gaming regulators Randall Sayre and Scott Scherer, public relations experts and financial experts to help gain support for the bill.

Perkins said Saturday the activities of PokerStars' political action committee took place "before my company became involved with the client."

Through Reel PAC, PokerStars gave $10,000 contributions on Sept. 29 to Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval and his Democratic opponent, Rory Reid.

Mike Slanker, who worked for the Sandoval campaign, said Saturday the donation was returned last week after an internal investigation showed the PAC had one contributor "who was not an American citizen."

Also receiving $10,000 contributions from PokerStars were the campaigns for Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, and Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas. PokerStars gave $10,000 to A Better Nevada PAC, the Assembly Democratic Caucus, Leader­ship 2010 PAC, the Assembly Republican Caucus and the Senate Republican Caucus.

Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, who introduced AB258, received a $7,500 contribution from the PAC on Sept. 29. Horne and Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, traveled to England last year on a trip arranged by Perkins. Atkinson received a $5,000 contribution from Reel PAC.

Brower, who was appointed to the state Senate in February, said he might introduce legislation to close any loopholes in state law concerning foreign campaign contributions.

SUSPENDED IN THE United States

An agreement between PokerStars and Wynn Resorts Ltd. to seek the federal legalization of online poker and to operate a for-money gambling website was terminated by the casino operator after the indictment was announced Friday.

PokerStars and FullTilt Poker, which was also shut down by the Justice Department, told American gamblers late Friday that any money they had on account with the websites overseas was secure.

"Please be assured player balances are safe," PokerStars said in a brief statement posted on the company's free-to-play website. "There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the U.S. it is business as usual."

PokerStars told customers it was suspending its American online poker activities due to "legal developments."

In a statement issued late Friday, FullTilt Poker CEO Raymond Bitar, one of the 11 individuals indicted by federal prosecutors, said he would be "exonerated."

"Unfortunately, as a result of this action, FullTilt Poker has decided that it must suspend 'real money' play in the United States until this case is resolved," according to the company's statement.

The companies' free-play websites, designated by the .net URL, were still available Saturday morning.

The nine counts in the 51-page indictment charged the 11 individuals with violating the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Act, which prohibits banks and financial companies from processing Internet gambling transactions. Violations can bring up to 30 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. The U.S. government also filed a civil lawsuit seeking $3 billion in money laundering penalties from the website operators.

"I am surprised and disappointed by the government's decision to bring these charges," Bitar said in a statement.

Bitar called online poker "a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States and across the world."

He said FullTilt believes online poker is legal, "a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States."

FALLOUT in poker community

PokerStars sponsors more than 100 professional players and Internet poker prodigies. The last two World Series of Poker Main Event champions ­-- Joe Cada and Jonathan Duhamel -- are sponsored by PokerStars. Celebrity players, such as actor Jason Alexander and former Major League Baseball pitcher Orel Hershiser, are on the website's team.

FullTilt's roster includes poker professionals Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson and Jennifer Harman.

Many of the players were relatively silent about the indictments on what quickly became known as "Black Friday" in the poker community.

Brian Balsbaugh, who operates Poker Royalty, a Las Vegas-based agency representing players, said via Twitter that he advised clients sponsored by FullTilt and PokerStars to decline comment on the indictments.

That didn't stop some opinions from surfacing.

Poker standout Daniel Negreanu, who is sponsored by PokerStars, posed a question on his Twitter page Friday night: "Anyone know if Aria has good vegan options on the room service menu? Strangely, I kinda feel like playing live poker this week."

Poker legend Doyle Brunson, a 10-time World Series of Poker individual event champion, wrote on his Twitter page, "Now maybe we will see if these online 'superstars' can play real poker. Ante up suckers!"

Brunson's for-pay poker website, doylesroom.com, which is licensed in Nicosia, Cyprus, was still operating Saturday.

Poker professional Jennifer Harman, who is sponsored by FullTilt, tweeted on Saturday, "Don't know what to do with my time today. Usually on @FullTiltPoker right now."

A few minutes later, Harman tweeted, "Yep. I'm too scared."

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.

AJW1976

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites : Multi-accounting FTW. How many have you got on here?
Posted by GaryQQQ

NO ITS NOT WHAS ITS  USED  FOR./  THE ACCOUNTS WERE DOUBLES COS THEY SEEM TO LET U HAVE MORE THAN 1 ACCONUNT VIA MULTIPLE EMAIL ADDRESES ,THEY DONT BOTHER TO CROSS REFERANCE  IP ADDRESES..

NO I DONT HAVE MORE THAN  1 ACCOUNT WITH SKY IF I DID IM SURE THEY WOULD BE THE  1ST TO KNOW ABOUT IT.INCIDENTALLY FULLTILT HAVE NOW CLOSED MY OTHER ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT ,...NOT ENTIRELY  FOR THE USES OF MUTLIACCOUNTING ,THAT WAS BE CALLED  PERFECT COLLUSION BIT LIKE SOME OF THE PLAYERS ON THIS SITE AND MOST OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING I STRICTLY  ADHERE TO NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT DOING .!!

MAYBE THEY WILL  GO AFTER GETTING THE SERVER DATA THAT CONSISTS OF IP NETWORK TOOLS AND IP NETWORK PACKET FILTRATION  DATA BECAUSE I FEEL  THIS IS BENIFICIAL TO THE INVESTIGATION SO THAT THEY CAN COMBAT FRAUD AND MALWARE CONTROL ETC...IF NOT THEN LOOKES LIKE HALF THE PEOPLE WITH POKER ACCOUNTS IN THIS COUNTRY WILL BE FORKING OUT FOR NEW HARDDRIVES       ...

AJW1976

WHEN AP/UB  BLEW UP MY COMPUTER VIA REMOTE ACCESS ,I COMPLAINED AND IT COST ME OVER £300 TO GET FIXED ,WHO DO THINK  ENDED UP PAYING THOSE COSTS?? IT WASNT  THE SITES I ASSURE YOU.  THEY DONT LOOK AFTER THIER CUSTOMERS AT ALL.

Mod_Nosey

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

Hi Dohhhhhhh I have had to delete your post as it gave a direct link to another poker site. Mr White I have deleted your post as it was a reply to Dohhhhhh's which included the same link. Thank you for your understanding Steve
Posted by Mod_Kiwini

I've had to cut a few posts. As per this earlier post by Steve (and the forum rules post sticky in each forum), direct links to competitors sites are not permitted and will be removed.

delaney09

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites : I've had to cut a few posts. As per this earlier post by Steve (and the forum rules post sticky in each forum), direct links to competitors sites are not permitted and will be removed.
Posted by Mod_Nosey

no worries.. was just trying to help someone who wants to get their money out the site and there was no other way to say how to do it other than post their 'new site'

AcidMan27

 In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

WHEN AP/UB  BLEW UP MY COMPUTER VIA REMOTE ACCESS ,I COMPLAINED AND IT COST ME OVER £300 TO GET FIXED ,WHO DO THINK  ENDED UP PAYING THOSE COSTS?? IT WASNT  THE SITES I ASSURE YOU.  THEY DONT LOOK AFTER THIER CUSTOMERS AT ALL.
Posted by AJW1976

How did they remotely blow up your computer ?

loonytoons

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

this is all crazy im still listening to the QUAD JACKS show on ustream they are 27 hours in on another note i have $70 on stars and i plan to take advantage of the overlay in tournaments tonight make as much as possible and run
Posted by delaney09

Ha Ha, i reckon any overlay, underlay, or anyoldlay for that matter will be swept up by the feds, good luck getting your 'winnings'

pryce6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdYJ1lgn-rU

unknown_username

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdYJ1lgn-rU
Posted by pryce6

Saw this yesterday - brilliant

AJW1976

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

 In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites : How did they remotely blow up your computer ?
Posted by AcidMan27

its amazing what  u can do to somesones computer if  u have fulcontrol  remote access to it and its files/settings etc /managment tools... but they did ,woke up in morning harddrive bios wouldnt load.,had to   get complete new harddrive and new windows  set up.

bluff1991

Well ive been listening to Quadjacks live, best show atm talking about the situation, highly recommend listening to it, they say 80% chance on stars $$ is safe but only 25% on tilt.

Also I would love to put more on skypoker but realistic i would be missing out on thousands of pounds every month from rakeback... really need to get the system sorted as thats why most people i know dont play here

MrWh1te

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites:

In Response to Re: DOJ indicts U.S. poker sites : its amazing what  u can do to somesones computer if  u have fulcontrol  remote access to it and its files/settings etc /managment tools... but they did ,woke up in morning harddrive bios wouldnt load.,had to   get complete new harddrive and new windows  set up.
Posted by AJW1976

Now I have heard everything

TommyD

For crying out loud...

I go on a little break on Thursday, decide to totally de-tech myself (no Internet whatsoever)  and I get back to this?!?!?

Will comment when I figure out what the heck is happening.  One thing I will say is that PS recently registered a UK domain name and have moved to a .EU domain since the DOJ intervention.  Seems they had at least a contingency plan and are running fine at the mo.

Party must finally feel vindicated for being the one 'big' site to immediately go along with the Internet Gaming Act from the start.