|
The following story has been circulating all weekend on the poker/poker forum sites and throughout the poker community. We have gathered the information from several sources that have responded to the situation.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An advocacy group for online poker says the federal government has frozen the accounts of payment processors that handle the winnings of thousands of online poker players.
The Poker Players Alliance says those winnings are worth upward of $30 million.
The alliance tells The Associated Press that the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York told three banks to freeze the accounts.
A document obtained by the AP shows that a judge in the district issued a seizure warrant last week for an account at a Wells Fargo bank in San Francisco.
The Justice Department has long maintained that Internet gambling is illegal, a view that the poker group challenges.
June 9th, 2009
By Poker Players Alliance
Information for PPA Members on Actions by the Southern District of New York
As of June 9, 2009
In light of recent events by the Southern District of New York (SDNY) to freeze payment processor accounts containing pay-outs to online poker players, the PPA would like to clarify the facts as we know them today. Be assured, the PPA is keeping close tabs on this situation and is doing everything possible to protect our members’ money and rights.
● On or about June 4, 2009, a federal agent working with a federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York contacted at least two banks in the Los Angeles and Scottsdale areas and requested that accounts containing approximately $19 million in player deposits and payouts be immediately frozen until a seizure warrant could be obtained from an appropriate judicial officer.
● It is important to underscore that in at least two cases, the prosecutor acted and the banks responded without a warrant being issued. Two days prior, the same agent and prosecutor team sent a seizure order to Wells Fargo freezing at least $14 million in accounts at that bank which were designated as pay-outs of winnings to Internet poker player.
● In most cases, the pay-outs were the return of initial deposits made by players.
That same prosecutor sent two subpoenas to two individuals associated with one of the payment processing companies.
● The seizure notice and subpoenas appear to allege violations of the Wire Act and the Illegal Gambling Business Act, even by .com sites that are exempt from Wire Act liability and by .net sites that do not accept money.
● These actions are not related to enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA.).
● At least 24,000 player accounts have been affected directly or indirectly by the SDNY action.
PPA has been in touch with the affected poker Web sites and has been assured that all players have been or will be appropriately reimbursed.
● On Monday, June 8th, the PPA sent a letter to the Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York asking to be part of any future warrant hearings. The letter is available at
The PPA is working closely with legal counsel on this issue to determine the appropriate course of action and will keep members updated as events warrant.
This is yet another example of misguided efforts to prohibit online poker. A more effective way to provide important protections while allowing individuals the freedom to play poker online is to regulate and license the industry. We need your help to make this happen. Send a letter to your member of Congress asking them to support licensing and regulating online poker.
|
|
|
Statement from Full Tilt Poker Regarding Recent Check Withdrawal Issues
In light of recent events involving freezing of certain poker players’ money in the United States of America, Full Tilt Poker would like to assure all players that their funds remain safe and secure. Processing of both deposit and withdrawal requests is proceeding as normal and is still available to all of our players in the US.
The issue involving the freezing of some funds affected only one of the many check processors that Full Tilt Poker uses to support player withdrawals. We do not expect any further interruption in check withdrawals or any other withdrawal methods, and any player who wishes to make a withdrawal should expect normal processing times. All players who were affected by the current situation have had their funds returned to their Full Tilt Poker accounts and all new withdrawal requests are processing normally.
We assure all of the players on Full Tilt Poker that your online playing experience will not change and that you will be able to both deposit and withdraw funds as needed. Your money remains safe, secure and always accessible at all times.
Full Tilt Poker remains committed to the protection of our players’ security and legal rights, and will continue to provide the best – and safest – online poker room available worldwide.
|
