Breaking News..Poker sites charged by FBI

More here:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2011/04/15/goes-versus-online-poker-sites/

More here:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April11/scheinbergetalindictmentpr.pdf

This is massive for the future of online poker, amazed it hasn't attracted more interest. The websites for FTP, PS and AP have been frozen. Funnily enough the servers are still up though. I am currently playing a SNG at FTP.

The servers are not based in the US, that's why.

Same as that wykh. Turtle I think you have that the wrong way around. Does not matter where the server is if the ISP and/or naming providers take it down it is game over.
This is huge,cannot believe there are only 4 posts on it here and 1 thread

If the websites stay locked they cannot continue to operate for very long, thats for sure. Luckily I only have a few dollars tied up at those sites. If I had more I would be quite worried. Thank god I am not american too.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/15/us-poker-fraud-idUSTRE73E6SF20110415

I get it now. They were done for entertaining US customers by routing them through a proxy

If you are not American based you have no issue at all and are sure to get yuor dough back. If you are American not only have you done your dough but you are facing prosecution on at least 2 levels 1) gambling 2)dodging tax on winnings

Well I know for a fact the stars server is based in the IOM, I don't think the American authorities have any juristriction there and could presumably run the entire lot from there if they don't already. Also, in one of the articles it mentions that the domain name for one has been seized, leading to fed messages if you try to go to the site, well, that hasn't lasted very long as the normal info appears when I tried a little while ago!

(in other words, I think we may be panicking unneccessarily)

The websites have been seized. If you are still getting the normal stuff up its just because not all the nameservers have updated yet, or its cached in your browser.

It's too early to say yet what will happen. Being based outside the USA didn't help BP much did it?

Well, try logging on to all of the sites tomorrow, I doubt there will be any difference to now.

Pretty silly comparison with BP, I doubt if they could run their entire operation from the IOM, do you?

End of the day, they will find a way around it somehow, there are millions of people who want to play there, and there is too much money involved for them to just chuck in the towel.

Actually, you may have a point, I'm playing 4 sit and gos and there isn't a single american on any of them, nor are there any on all of the ones in the lobby

Try clicking on Withdrawal in the cashier at ftp. You will find that you cannot create a secure connection with the payment processor.

That may be because everyone is trying to withdraw their money all at once, overloading things.

Hope so anyway, I've got $1500 there

It's fine for me, probably just busy.

well I tried quite a few times and always got the same message. I assume you are also based in the UK is it?

Yep, maybe it has something to do with the ISP? If you are with AOL / Talktalk for example I'd guess that would be it.

No I use Sky broadband.

Very odd. I got to step 3, confirmation of withdrawl without any issues.

i dont think it will affect players in other countries tbh other than less players at tables ... similar to when block first put on it only concerns americans ...

There's an announcement from ps when you log in, only affects US customers.

To be honest I think the uk government needs to step in and force america to sort its affairs out.

Its getting ridiculous all this on and off police involvement. It affects all players even those outside america. In the Uk we have a regulated and enjoyable gambling industry and culture made up of sports betting and poker and casinos. These sites advertise on our televisions so we should expect that we can play on these sites safely and without worry. Apart obviously from losing our money at the tables. However once again theres this talk of FBI and seizing money and stuff. No one knows if the sites will go bust or shut down completely and I think its unacceptable for this type of situation to keep occuring. America needs to decide once and for all what the rules are for its players so the rest of the world can enjoy the game without these hassles.

they have strict rules in place ... sites/punters found a way round them ... now they've been found out

Hope you're right. I just tried to log in to FTP; got a message that new software to install. Then a message saying unable to connect to website to download. Anyone else have this problem?

PS also had an update, which went successfully. They are basically redirecting everything to a .eu domain outside US jurisdiction. They cannot stop the FBI extraditing the owners though so not sure if it will be business as usual.

as has happened previously the owners would be arrested if they set foot in america ... i would think that any issues with the sites just now for non americans is because they will have to change the software ... hope so

Poor Americans...
Any news on whether guarantees will/when guarantees change and if scoop will still go off as planned.
Why only the three major sites?

Thanks

Bottom line is not security or money laundering, it's all about the US getting a new source of revenue. As soon thy can make money out of it, US players will be allowed.

I listen to the Two plus Two pokercast  podcast each week and the way they were describing, things were moving along swiftly with online play. It's already been allowed in several US states where residents only can play and ps have been jumping through hoops to get US customers. This move seems very underhand by many that oppose online gaming.

Looks like a publicity stunt by the FBI to me.

maybe one of the fbi agents had his aces beat by 72o or something ...

hows this going to pan out in next few days? I see on PS there are no players from U.S. currently playing in any tournaments, though there are still some registered for million and warm-up tomorrow. Will there be no yanks playing for forseeable future and they just get unregistered from all events?

can someone who has been following this story on all the other poker forums answer a couple of questions for me please,

1.is this only going to affect american players and american poker sites?
2.could this affect use in any way on betfair?
3.should we keep the amount in our accounts to a minimum?

If all U.S. players are withdrawn from the big tournaments, surely P.S will withdraw their guarantees re min prize funds - otherwise there'll be a massive underlay (or is it overlay, never sure which is which but you know what i mean)

Also, its ok to say keep funds to a minimum, but if you were to enter a big tourney and get lucky and in line to win a 6-figure sum, surely there's a doubt as to whether you'll be able to cash it all in ?

they have already started reducing the guarantees

If you have an account at full tilt you need to go to fulltiltpoker.co.uk and download the software update from there

Chip couints on our 4 valiant warriors with 38 left in!

Klup 28k
Vaino 56.5k
Fergie28 25.5k
Alex 15k

LOL sorry wrong thread.

This is just nevada protecting its interests with its bricks and mortar casinos. All seems a bit to much like sopranos and goodfellas ' give us your money or we close down your business'

The daily mail, with their usual attention to accuracy:

......


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377470/Poker-websites-shut-FBI-probe-end-online-gambling.html

I see they've changed their headline from "Game over! FBI shut three of largest poker sites in probe that could end online gambling" to "Game over! FBI warning replaces three of largest poker sites in probe that could end online gambling

It's still cobblers

you've got to laugh ... the daily mail at first suggesting the fbi could stop online gambling in the world ... hope they dont invade us

Yes, be carefull, the end of online gambling is nigh....

Well, an interesting development, I'm currently playing in a tournament on ft, and there are two americans on my table

be careful they could be fbi agents ... switch off your chat ... remember loose talk costs lives ...

Americans can still play provided they stayed logged in from before the indictments were issued. Mind you it is pretty pointless because they cannot withdraw any funds...

Aha, so the cunning plan to beat the fbi is to....not switch your computer off. Genius

Just in case anyone is wondering about the latest ft update, and the error message when you download it, all you have to do is uninstall the whole client, go to the .co.uk address, and download it again from there. It works fine then

Cheers for that turtleshead, was having problems getting on, but thanks to you have now withdrawn most of my cash, ta again.

You must admire the Americans. They preach to the Chinese Government to give their people full access to the internet.In the meantime they prevent their people from people from accessing sites like Betfair and now Pokerstars an Fulltilt. Am I glad I don't live in the land of the Free.

Then again, cosindering Betfair moved their operations to avoid paying too much tax, I wonder how long it will be before her Majisty's Revenue & Customs will decide to go down the same route ...

Bit disturbing that Betfair have decided not to post any reassurances, but then again...That's customer service, and I forgot that they don't do that.. Silly me.

Maybe an interesting case for the future considering the World Trade Organisation has already found against the USA when some W. Indian nation brought a case against them for restricting access to their sites. Classed as protection.

@ Maggot

Bit disturbing that Betfair have decided not to post any reassurances, but then again...That's customer service, and I forgot that they don't do that.. Silly me.

You want reassurances from a company that is in no way affected by the events ?? BF has never operated in the US and as such the only impact will possibly be an influx of new users leaving stars.tilt/absolute etc.

Explain ?

The players here a daft enough some of them to have probably withdrawn their funds, so a statement saying that it does not affect BF in the slightest would not go amiss.

this does seem pretty serious. From what I understand the US gvnt are seeking $3billion from the owners of the three big boys and looking to extradite them from Ireland and the Isle of Man to the US.

They will face federal charges of defrauding the banks into thinking US customer credit card transactions were not gambling related.

Hopefully they can plea bargain and offer a seat at a 10k freeroll for any FBI agents interested and the whole affair will be swept under the carpet.

Hi everyone

I know there has been lots of discussion around the implications of "Black Friday"
Whilst we cannot comment on other operators actions I can tell tell you that Betfair Poker has not been affected by the recent indictments in the US against various poker sites.

As a company, we have never accepted customers or funds from the United States and will not do so until there is a regulatory regime in place that allows this.

Betfair Poker continues to operate as normal and both existing and new customers can be confident that their funds are secure with us.

If you have any questions/comments please continue to post and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Betfair funds are ringfenced which means they are 100% secure.
It is explained below.

Ring-fenced customer funds: Betfair holds all customer moneys in separately managed bank accounts,
which are safeguarded independently of Betfair’s corporate funds, under the terms of a Trust Deed

If a customer makes use of the Betfair Group’s betting and gaming services, whether by
placing an offer to bet or accepting a bet or otherwise, the Trustee shall hold such amount
of that customer’s share (the ‘‘Staked Amount’’) as is necessary to cover the customer’s
exposure for the benefit of the Company and/or the Betfair Group and the customer will
not be able to withdraw the Staked Amount. The customer’s available to bet balance will,
in turn, be reduced by the aggregate of his/her Staked Amount unless the bet to which the
Staked Amount relates is cancelled or voided or the customer wins the relevant bet. The
Trustee will transfer any betting winnings (subject to the deduction of any Fees) or betting
losses by way of addition or deduction from the amounts representing each customer’s
share following receipt by it of a confirmation from the Company or the Betfair Group of
a final result for each bet.

Funds may be withdrawn from a customer’s account, subject to the provisions of the Trust
Deed, by the customer submitting a valid notice of withdrawal in the manner specified in
the relevant pages on the Betfair Group’s website(s).

Are betfair going to do anything proactive to capitalise on black friday/try to lure me back?

Party Poker seem to be advertising everywhere PS and FT used to
888 have doubled guarantees
Ladbrokes are offering 50% rakeback for a few months
I keep getting ever-increasing rakeback offers for cake and carbon
Betfair are ...

No problem onewheel, glad to have been of assistance.

Lets hops the traffic doesnt increase too much or the server will crash!

interesting to see that WHills bought into nevada last week ... they bought one company outright and the race and sportsbook of another ... the total purchase consisted of some technology, including automated betting machines,  which is licensed to various casinos and also 104 sportsbooks and kiosks ... the deals are subject to some WHills senior managers being granted licences by the nevada gaming commision which wont happen til next year ... the turnover of these companies is at a level where you wonder why WHills bought them (purchase price $40m) and to my mind is simply a foot in the door exercise although they tried this in both italy and spain recently without success and walked away ... wonder if it will allow them to accept poker players eventually