April 17th 2011 10:41 pm

Summary of Poker Black Friday

Last April 15 of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice and the federal authorities released an indictment charging founders of the so-called “big three” in the online player scene – Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and PokerStars – of illegal gambling, bank fraud and money laundering . There are 11 defendants named in that particular indictment. They are Raymond Bitar and Nelson Burtnick (representing Full Tilt Poker), Brent Beckley and Scott Tom (Absolute Poker), Paul Tate and Isai Scheinberg (PokerStars), and John Campos, Bradley Franzen, Ryan Lang, Chad Elie and Ira Rubin. The latter names are folks who allegedly ran certain payment processors for those three online poker giants.

 

The online poker sites shut down are said to have violated the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 as well as the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1955. These online poker giants, according to the indictment, supposedly used methods that are deceptive just to get around the federal law and that they have tricked certain U.S. banks into processing payments even after the UIGEA was passed. The defendants are facing charges with four counts. Those are: money laundering conspiracy, operation of illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, and violation of UIGEA. Elie and Campos were already arrested last Friday morning.

 

Poker Players Alliance (PPA) Chairman and former Senator, Alfonse DAmato, released a statement following this news and said that it’s a great shock that the U.S. Department of Justice has took action against online poker companies. The chairman stressed that this statement was on behalf of the hundred and millions of American poker players who have every right to participate in this particular game that they enjoy. DAmato further commented and emphasized that online poker is no crime and that it shouldn’t be treated as one.

 

Another key personality from PPA, John Pappas, the Executive Director, released another statement pointing out that this action by the authorities is a clear indication that the government is declaring a war against players of poker and their freedom. He recounted that online poker is not just a game that over a hundred million individuals enjoy to play but it’s also a source of income or part of those people’s livelihood. According to Pappas, the PPA will continue to work hard in protecting the poker player’s interests and rights.

 

Recent news regarding the “big three” include PokerStars blocking Americans from playing real money games and Full Tilt Poker does not offer usa poker games. They also issued respective statements regarding the issue. PokerStars emphasized that there is still the usual and ongoing business for their customers outside America and that legal developments are restricted to the said country. PokerStars has also assured that the balances of their poker players are safe and sound.

 

In Full Tilt Poker’s statement, the online poker company explained its decision of suspending its “real money” poker services and, just like PokerStars, reassured its clients outside the United States that their poker services will still continue. Full Tilt Poker also said that they are firm in their belief that online poker is a legal game. The company also noted that this is supported as well by some of those best legal minds found in the U.S. itself. Meanwhile, Absolute Poker has yet to comment on the issue.

 

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