Update – Check this page for up to date list of online poker sites accepting US players
Despite being considered illegal since the UIGEA was introduced in 2006, the US online poker industry still continued to thrive mostly due to the presence of the two largest sites in the world, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker.
Prior to 2006, PartyPoker was the world largest online poker site and chief operator in the US market. However, since PartyPoker withdrew from the US and agreed a $105 million fine, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker were quick to fill the online poker vacuum left behind.
The two sites then managed to capture around 70% of the US market share and 50% worldwide, earning $1 billion in revenue from the $30 billion gambled in illegal US online poker rooms each year.
Up to 15 million Americans are thought to have continued playing poker online for money but since what has now become known as ‘Black Friday’ in the poker world, PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker have now been shut down by the FBI, charging the sites with bank fraud, money laundering and violating gambling laws.
As FBI assistant director Janice Fedarcyk explains:
“These defendants, knowing full well that their business with U.S. customers and U.S. banks was illegal, tried to stack the deck. They lied to banks about the true nature of their business. Then, some of the defendants found banks willing to flout the law for a fee.”
“The defendants bet the house that they could continue their scheme, and they lost.”
The Department Of Justice is now seeking more than $3 billion in penalties and forfeiture alone from these sites, and have already arrested 11 individuals, as well as frozen 76 bank accounts across 14 countries.
This has also prompted many of PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker’s US customers to fear for the money they already have in their online accounts. This even prompted online poker prodigy and Team Full Tilt member Tom “durrrr” Dwan to write on his Twiter page:
“I’d guess ftp/stars is worth more than 93c on the $ (almost 100% u get paid but could take 2-3 mnths n worst case more).”
How this latest situation in the US online poker market plays out over the coming months remains to be seen, but in the meantime there are still a number of poker rooms still accepting US players, which can be viewed here.
http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/online-poker-news/full-tilt-poker-shut/10318
It is only a matter of time before US corporate assets are frozen world wide by “other Countries Laws.”
Kuddos to the FBI and authorities who finally had enough courage to shut these guys down. I was in college in 06 when I noticed that so many of my friends had began playing poker online. Many became reclusive and Totally dripped studies, noting that this would be how they make their living. They would have multiple games going at once (5 tables), their buddies in the same rooms and all talking over cell and messaging each other whose got what. Ok, well I’m sure this epidemic has been pretty costly to those who are inclined to bet!
notice every state has a lottery time to shut the states down total hypocrites
The Federal Reserve, an actual private Delaware corporation, is the same group who initiated the beginning of the CIA, FBI, ATF, ICE, and several others that we slaves must fund. They want a piece of all revenue generating behaviors. That’s how the mafia and unions operate. The masonic members of the Federal Reserve, who have accelerated toward the “secret” society
I suspect this was mob owned but the developers were likely smart guys. Hopefully, these guys can find something legal to apply their brains toward something good & productive.
This is just one more freedom taken away by people with nothing better to do. With the things the way they are right now in this country you would think there would be more productive things these people could be doing.
Everyone should stop complaining and recognize that our government is doing this FOR US!!! They LOVE us, and protect us from EVIL!! I don’t know and have never known the difference between right and wrong or good and evil, and freedom and democracy is too much responsibility for me to handle! I hope they start just appointing leaders soon because voting is just too much work… I have better stuff I could be doing.
Let the people who know what they are doing run things, I just want to go work and do what they tell me to do, I don’t mind paying taxes, because I sure couldn’t handle the responsibility of caring for the people like they do. Our government is so selfless to care so much, and all we do is yell at them. We are the one’s who are wrong, not them!
If it wasn’t for the United States, the whole world would be overcome by Satan, the world needs to start appreciating what they do instead of pointing out how “free” they are compared to us! Instead of complaining, write your senator and tell him/her Thank You!! for easing the burden that “freedom” put on us. I hope they give us a list of what we can and can’t eat soon, and a schedule for appropriate times to sleep and use the bathroom, because I need that kind of structure! Maybe they’ll even help me file a trip plan any time I go anywhere too, that way, they know where I am at all times. Do you know how many people get kidnapped and nobody knows what happened? At least that will never happen if they know where I am at all times!!!!
So Thank You America! I never liked freedom anyway!
If the United States is suppose this great land of the free why on Earth would the government shut down online poker? Gambling in my opinion is not a good thing but it is a decision people make on thier own that only affect those individuals. Its not the governemnts job to fight this battle when the economy is in the state it is in at this time. Fight for thing that matter more. Fight to have a Free America and stop pushing the money to other countries. Online gambling will always be around the money just want be here in America anymore.
some of these comments appear to be made by morons, i can understand the stopping of money laundering through these poker sites, why not just limit the amount that can be deposited by any player in a week/month. and monitor the big spenders
one thing every1 missing ..it woz in 2006 it became so called illegal??? for usa players n non usa reg poker rooms…so the usa gov want a biggg slice..obv…why wait so long ..esp after party poker pulled out on a agreedee 100+mill fine…nuff $$$$
for every1 ..except the majority of poker players it seeeemzzz..g nite…poker warriorz….lol..
Anyone been successful in getting their money out of Full Tilt Poker?
Why does the FBI care how a foreign company conducts business? They don’t care about slave labor in China making virtually ALL of their exports, but yeah… online poker. there’s a real problem in the world. LOL.
just exactly how did the FBI seize accounts in poker stars? Their server is in Costa Rica and offices in Isle of Mann. FBI has no jurisdiction in these or any other country. I am very interested in the procedure used shut down the US accounts. Any ideas?
they will stop online poker but keep a unjust war going. Looking for weapons of mass destrution LMAO They spend more money in one day than is lost on poker sites in one year??? I dont care what happens to Iran-Iraq or any other country but the good ole USA. Save us from these MORONS who think they know it all.
i have had no problem with full tilt i won $6000 and all the money came through
i owe full tilt money and now I don’t yeah
Curse you uncle Sam! Scooped all the “fish” outta my pond!
you know I find it funny that they would shut online poker down.. full tilt pokerstars and absolute poker but There are still at least 5 poker sites that you can play online poker and gamble on.. lol in the US. Why shut just 3 down?
I currently have money online so whats the deal will i ever get it thats so unfair and absolute bulllllll SHAT
Im absolutely thrilled that the poker sites are getting their due.
I was a victim of collusion that cost me thousands of dollars and the sites did nothing; I have no sympathy for them. good riddance pokerstars and full tilt.
This sucks…I rather enjoyed playing online poker at FT after work…this is bull s**t.
This is complete crap, evil?? The government are the ones sacrificing people in california!!! Another way they can control and manipulate our freedom.