FBI seizes domains of pokerstars, full tilt, ub.. (UPDATE: FTP MONIES!!!!!11)

[LuckySlevin]

so where will Americans play?

[rong]

So how come I can see so many yanks playing on FT & PS as we speak?

[StarGrinder]

Just requested a wire transfer for everything but $50 on Stars. Moving on to Tilt. Fuck these cocksuckers, fuck em!

[Alexos]

hmm good point Bode.

[LuckySlevin]

So how come I can see so many yanks playing on FT & PS as we speak?

Probabally because they haven't logged out yet, i'd guess the system checks residency when you try to sit at a table, and since they sat, ps updated the systems. Ftp haven't done it yet. But ps have judging from Spenda's pic earlier.

[Alexos]

Just requested a wire transfer for everything but $50 on Stars. Moving on to Tilt. Fuck these cocksuckers, fuck em!

whats the procedure to do this? email?

nevermind

[StarGrinder]

FTP isn't allowing cashouts or tranfers atm. I can sit at a table, but when attempting a cashout, it says they can't establish a connection. 2p2 is also down again. wtf

[kevster]

The sites are fucked. These fucking retards actually went and did actual bank fraud that could get them in real trouble. Everybody indicted will either take a plea agreement, or tell the FBI to fuck off and never enter US ever.

PS already left US, FTP will soon, UB/AP might. There is some hope for Cereus since leaving US would practically crush their business; they could become smaller than Cake or something if they left US, yet PS and FTP will still be the two largest with Euro alone

My understanding was that execs had been arrested and whilst
I know all the money is registered in off-shore accounts/businesses - I just wondered what effect this would have on the long term life of Stars, regardless of US etc.

[a500lbgorilla]

Tom Dwan (Tom_Dwan) on Twitter

Mr Tom Dwan says: I'd guess ftp/stars is worth more than 93c on the $ (almost 100% u get paid but could take 2-3mnths n worst case more)

[a500lbgorilla]

Nate Silver (fivethirtyeight) on Twitter

One Mr Nate Silver says: Somewhat ironically, the only place in the US where you can play poker online may soon be ... Washington, DC. DC becomes 1st in US to offer Internet gambling - Forbes.com

[kevster]

On a personal (greedy) note: games are now harder to fill but easier to beat?

[philly and the phanatics]

so dwan thinks we will get our money?

[Alexos]

obv he wants to calm everyone down so they don't cash out, this way he has more chances to get his millions out before :P

What does he know anyway, I agree though not like the money will POOF dissapear (stars and FT that is)

[givememyleg]

pretty sure people don't have to worry about money being confiscated, think neteller. it just might take a while.

[givememyleg]

^ but then again, who fucking knows.

[LuckySlevin]

Even without confiscations... If a large proportion of player pool stop playing (because they can't play anymore as per ps rules) and another percentage cash out because they don't like what's going on... this could srsly screw up day to day cashflow on the site - i mean they would lose a huge proportion of profits almost overnight. It'll just come down to how well structured the business is I would imagine, as to if it can sustain that and if so, if it can sustain it indefinately.

So I would definately be organising some kind of direct bank transfer if they offer that facility if you have any decent sum of money on there.

[kevster]

who fucking knows.

I'd imagine that this pretty much nails it for the whole sorry tale.

[philly and the phanatics]

i nailed your moms sorry tail last night

[WeaselT]

hahaha!

[BooG690]

This hasn't been posted here yet. Figured I would.

[Press Release] PPA Comments on Federal Action Against Online Poker Companies (04/15/2011) | Poker Players Alliance

[Illfavor]

This is strange to me. I can access Pstars.com and FTP.com w/o and problem, can play online w/o any problem, can make xfers, and just submitted a withdrawal...I live in Texas, U.S.A...

If it weren't for this thread I wouldn't really have any idea something happened.

[kevster]

This hasn't been posted here yet. Figured I would.

[Press Release] PPA Comments on Federal Action Against Online Poker Companies (04/15/2011) | Poker Players Alliance

Props to these people but if the feds are anything like the equivalent over here, they won't give even a percentage of a shit.

[thelorax]

FUUUUUUUUUCKKKKK

[daven]

On a personal (greedy) note: games are now harder to fill but easier to beat?

that's the word on the irc right now.
the higher the stakes, the more this applies

[bigspenda73]

This is strange to me. I can access Pstars.com and FTP.com w/o and problem, can play online w/o any problem, can make xfers, and just submitted a withdrawal...I live in Texas, U.S.A...

If it weren't for this thread I wouldn't really have any idea something happened.

I'm in Texas and can access their sites, but cannot sit at Stars

what site can you play and transfer on, FullTilt or Stars?

[Illfavor]

Can Sit, xfer and play on FTP.

[bigspenda73]

ya FullTilt seems poised to stay open for Americans

Stars not so much

[bigred]

There was never a major push for online poker legalization since the online poker supply never really dissipated. It may have changed hands somewhat (party poker leaving, etc) but as we all well know, you could play if you really wanted to play.

It looks like the supply of online poker is all but gone. Sure some of the smaller sites may supply some services but we can't be sure. They'll be next on the FBI list if they make any kind of substantial gain.

On the plus side, when there's a high demand for something and little to no supply, an entrepreneurial mind usually comes along and finds a way to create that supply. In this case, online poker legalization. While this may be a short term nightmare, it could be a medium/long term dream come true for those of us remembering the golden days of online poker.

[Numbr2intheWorld]

I'm in Texas and can access their sites, but cannot sit at Stars

what site can you play and transfer on, FullTilt or Stars?

I can play on ftp. I can't transfer on either one.

[BankItDrew]

Canadian here, with 5 figures on Stars.

I'm tempted to withdrawl $1000 just for curiosity purposes, but I'm not going to. Some of my friends (online Canadian pros with gross 6-figures annually) are jumping ship completely by transferring everything to a Moneybookers account then to a smaller unaffected poker site. I think it's too early for that.

I'm leaning towards optimism for players such as myself because I'm a Canadian playing on a European website who have funds in European and elsewhere.

I'm going to wait out this shit storm and make an informed decision in a few days.

Best case scenario: U.S. is temporarily banned but soon after there are legalized websites.

Worst case scenario: The US Government destroys PokerStars, FullTilt etc. I think there's a 15% chance of that happening.

[Roid_Rage]

Ok so, I withdrew $1550 a weekish ago, via check (didn't have a bank account connected to my account on the site) from FTP. Should arrive in like a weekish.

What are the odds of me being able to cash this, or will my money just be gone.

[stonyman]

You won't be able to transfer or cash out money at this point. If you read through the PDF that was linked they also seized the payment processors.

[BennyLaRue]

Well...fuck.

[Shotglass]

FUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roid_Rage]

I said I already cashed out before this shit went down. So what will happen, will the check just be no good? Will FTP refund my account? :/

[StarGrinder]

I said I already cashed out before this shit went down. So what will happen, will the check just be no good? Will FTP refund my account? :/

The check will bounce, and your bank will charge you a returned check fee. I would hope they would refund you.

[ensign_lee]

Canadian here, with 5 figures on Stars.

I'm tempted to withdrawl $1000 just for curiosity purposes, but I'm not going to. Some of my friends (online Canadian pros with gross 6-figures annually) are jumping ship completely by transferring everything to a Moneybookers account then to a smaller unaffected poker site. I.

DO THAT. NOW. From what people are saying, transfers to moneybookers are still going through flawlessly.

BUT, based on what I'm reading from 2+2's thread, pstars, fulltilt, etc may be FULLY shut down within 48 hours.

[Shotglass]

It'll prolly bounce.

[Warpe]

Yeah, FTP and Stars clients working fine for me here in Canuckistan. Don't have a lot of money on there so gonna let it ride.

[donkbee]

I said I already cashed out before this shit went down. So what will happen, will the check just be no good? Will FTP refund my account? :/

You're from Canada right? You might be okay...

I cashed a PS cheque yesterday that I hope that doesn't bounce. I'll let you guys know if it does

Some of my friends (online Canadian pros with gross 6-figures annually) are jumping ship completely by transferring everything to a Moneybookers account then to a smaller unaffected poker site.

I'm trying to decide whether to do this. I have a bunch on PS right now too. I might transfer a portion of it and leave the rest in PS, I don't know :S

[kevster]

On the plus side, when there's a high demand for something and little to no supply, an entrepreneurial mind usually comes along and finds a way to create that supply. In this case, online poker legalization. While this may be a short term nightmare, it could be a medium/long term dream come true for those of us remembering the golden days of online poker.

Yeah. Or, more likely, the govt says "this is fine but we're going to tax the shit out of you/provider". Not sure that equals golden days of online poker.

[wufwugy]

BUT, based on what I'm reading from 2+2's thread, pstars, fulltilt, etc may be FULLY shut down within 48 hours.

where are you reading this?

Shutdown overseas even?

[mbiz]

Sigh. I usually defend america because it has as much awesome as it does suck, but this is really too much.

I'm leaving my roll on there for now and hoping i can withdraw later, since i haven't withdrawn before and would have to do the whole identification process. GL all!

[boost]

so win.

[Warpe]

NEWS RELEASE Carolyn Kemp
For Immediate Distribution [email protected]
(202) 617-3074

PPA Comments on Federal Action Against Online Poker Companies

WASHINGTON, DC. (April 15, 2011) – Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide, issued the comment below on today’s announcement on federal action taken against online poker companies.

“On behalf of the millions of poker players across the country, we are shocked at the action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice today against online poker companies and will continue to fight for Americans’ right to participate in the game they enjoy. Online poker is not a crime and should not be treated as such. We are currently gathering all of the information around today’s announcement and will offer detailed analysis when the full facts become available.”

###

About The Poker Players Alliance
The Poker Players Alliance (www.theppa.org) is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of over 1,000,000 online and offline poker players and enthusiasts from around the United States who have joined together to speak with one voice to promote the game and to protect poker players' rights.

[kevster]

Anyone draw parallels between this and the banking crisis? Everyone draws on their money and makes the whole thing a lot worse?

Also, are Stars really likely to hit the wall? Aren't they owned by some rich Arab family. Flame me if I'm way off here.

[ensign_lee]

where are you reading this?

Shutdown overseas even?

From the 2+2 thread? Apparently someone at espn_poker tweeted about how even international operations were going to be shut down in 48 hours.

I guess credibility of the source could be called into question, but then again...it is espn...

[mbiz]

Rich Israeli family i believe. Its on their wikipedia.

[BennyLaRue]

DO THAT. NOW. From what people are saying, transfers to moneybookers are still going through flawlessly.

Negative. Well, I was able to complete the cashout request but got a message saying it would take up to 72 hours to process whereas MB cashouts are usually instant.

[LuckySlevin]

Pretty ridic when you consider the things they could be spending the man power on and obvious millions of dollars it's going to cost to even take these to court, whoever decides policy should lose their job.Even ignoring the fact this is a pro poker forum. Of all the things they could pick to 'sort out in America' they choose this...

[wufwugy]

From the 2+2 thread? Apparently someone at espn_poker tweeted about how even international operations were going to be shut down in 48 hours.

I guess credibility of the source could be called into question, but then again...it is espn...

I bet the only way the sites shut down their Europe operations (which is bigger than US) is if their commissions dump them. Which they actually could if they're viewed as operating illegally. That could be why PS dumped US so quickly. I fully expect FTP to follow soon. I kinda don't expect UB/AP to, however.

But there are many other problems in that banks might now stop doing anything poker related. My bank, for example, knows that the stuff I send them is from poker sites

[Fnord]

Worst case scenario: The US Government destroys PokerStars, FullTilt etc. I think there's a 15% chance of that happening.

I'll take the over on that. Want to give action?

[BankItDrew]

DO THAT. NOW. From what people are saying, transfers to moneybookers are still going through flawlessly.

BUT, based on what I'm reading from 2+2's thread, pstars, fulltilt, etc may be FULLY shut down within 48 hours.

Cashout request time: 2011/04/15 19:11 ET

Cashout amount: USD 5,000.00


USD 5,000.00 (CAD 4,799.25) will be credited to your MoneyBookers account ([email protected]) within 72 hours.

update

[Shotglass]

Any coincidence that this occured on April 15, normally tax day?

[BankItDrew]

I'll take the over on that. Want to give action?

This is neither the time nor the place to be making -ev bets.

[Jack Sawyer]

From the 2+2 thread? Apparently someone at espn_poker tweeted about how even international operations were going to be shut down in 48 hours.

I guess credibility of the source could be called into question, but then again...it is espn...

ESPN is some disney shit

[kevster]

I'll take the over on that. Want to give action?

I nearly woke my wife LOL'ing

[Jack Sawyer]

Should others worry as well? Or is it only the US that got hit this time (again)? It's a torrent of information coming this way, and not sure what is fact or fiction.

[JoeOE18]

For those of you wondering about the info from ESPN. It's Andrew Feldman who passed on the information he apparently got from GamblingCompliance. No word on their source that I could find.

Here's the tweet itself:

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPN_Poker/status/59009874633310209

[Warpe]

Welcome back, Fnord!

[Fnord]

Party Poker sure looks damn smart right now.

Best case right now is they partner with Wynn or something and get something legal in the US. But that's a long shot.

[donkbee]

Cashout request time: 2011/04/15 19:11 ET

Cashout amount: USD 5,000.00


USD 5,000.00 (CAD 4,799.25) will be credited to your MoneyBookers account ([email protected]) within 72 hours.

update

I did it just now too... tried for $5.3k... we'll see :S

[BankItDrew]

I did it just now too... tried for $5.3k... we'll see :S

Let us know when/if it goes through. I plan on moving everything over eventually.

[Fnord]

I did it just now too... tried for $5.3k... we'll see :S

No US customers + US DoJ + Bank Run = PS, FTP, Abs, UB, etc. busto.

If we see them again, it will be run by the guy who bought the domain name in bankruptcy court.

The guys running the site have got to be trying to figure out how to get as much of the loot as they can right now...

[bigred]

Party Poker sure looks damn smart right now.

Best case right now is they partner with Wynn or something and get something legal in the US. But that's a long shot.

Crossing my fingers!

Party Pokah!

[daven]

The guys running the site have got to be trying to figure out how to get as much of the loot as they can right now...

activate superuser accounts + turn on boomswitch
get on the games that are running
etc

[boost]

No US customers + US DoJ + Bank Run = PS, FTP, Abs, UB, etc. busto.

If we see them again, it will be run by the guy who bought the domain name in bankruptcy court.

The guys running the site have got to be trying to figure out how to get as much of the loot as they can right now...

Is this "SKYISFALLINGOMFGKDHGKSH!" conjecture really necessary and or productive in anyway?

[BennyLaRue]

How are Howard Lederer and Phil Ivey not named in this legal action? Do they not have significant ownership stakes or was that all lies?

[Fnord]

How are Howard Lederer and Phil Ivey not named in this legal action? Do they not have significant ownership stakes or was that all lies?

I recall it being mentioned in 2+2 before that these companies are structured in very creative ways. It's really hard to tell who owns what.

[Ash256]

No US customers + US DoJ + Bank Run = PS, FTP, Abs, UB, etc. busto.

If we see them again, it will be run by the guy who bought the domain name in bankruptcy court.

The guys running the site have got to be trying to figure out how to get as much of the loot as they can right now...

Aren't customer funds 100% ringfenced?

[C00T]

Player to player transfers are not allowed anymore. All us players are not allowed to play anymore. They are shutting the servers one by one and will get them all by this time tomorrow.

[bigred]

Play money tourney? Who's in?

[Fnord]

activate superuser accounts + turn on boomswitch
get on the games that are running
etc

Nahh... the real money, not just bits in their game database....

[celtic123]

Ive tried to cash out to my neteller account, It appeared to be successful, but no confirmation e-mail has arrived yet.

From neteller , i can transfer to UK . is neteller still safe ?

Does any one know ?

[Lukie]

I'll take the over on that. Want to give action?

Sure thing.

I bet my pokerstars bankroll

In all seriousness, I agree with you unfortunately.