PokerStars / Full Tilt Poker New Sites & FAQ About FBI Seizure

PokerStars and Full Tilt Closed in US: FAQ for Non-US Players
You’ve probably heard that PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have pulled out of the US market. Americans can no longer play for real money at either site. That’s pretty big news.
There’s been a lot of misinformation spread across the web about this situation, which has caused some confusion. If you’re a non-US player, you probably have some questions. Can non-US players still use PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker? Is my bankroll frozen even though I’m not in the US? Is this the end of online poker for non-US players? Read on below for the answers to these questions, as well as to find out exactly how the recent news affects you as a non-US player or use our quick links to find the answer to your questions.
 
Full Tilt Poker / PokerStars Shut Down FAQ – Quick Links

 
Did PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker Close to International Players?
No! It’s business as usual for both sites outside of the US. International players — including but not limited to those from Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK — aren’t affected by the recent legal happenings in the US at all.
If you live outside of the US, it’s like nothing ever happened. The only change will be a lack of American players at the tables and the new urls (Pokerstars.eu and FullTiltPoker.co.uk). FAQ Top
 
What About US Players? Where Can We Play Online? Why Can’t US Players Play at PokerStars or FullTiltPoker
For now, all US players are restricted from accessing the Full Tilt Poker software as well as the Pokerstars client. Both Pokerstars and Full Tilt have released official statements saying that players funds are safe and not to worry. No official date has been released for withdrawals. Online poker is not dead for US players. Sites like SportsBook Poker have confirmed that they will continue to accept American players and it’s business as usual. You can check this page for more information on why the US poker sites shut down. If you’re looking for a new home, we have listed all poker sites still accepting US players and update daily.
 
I’m Not a US Player — Is My Bankroll Gone!?
No! Your money is safe in your account. Really, it is — check for yourself! You can still deposit, transfer to non-US players, and play at the real money tables. You can also withdraw if you choose to, however be advised both PokerStars and Full Tilt are handling an enormous volume of cashouts right now; so you might have to wait a bit longer than usual for your withdrawal to be processed. FAQ Top
 
Are You Sure that Non-US Players Can Use PokerStars and Full Tilt?
Yes, non-US players can still play real money games at PokerStars. Here’s an official statement from a PokerStars representative:

“As you may have heard, PokerStars has had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the US due to legal developments there. These developments are confined to the US and do not have any impact on the ability of players outside the US to continue using PokerStars services.”

If you aren’t from the US, you have nothing to worry about!


Non-US Players are Still Safe at Full Tilt Poker?
Yes! The recent issues only affect US players. Here is an official statement released by Full Tilt Poker:

“Full Tilt Poker has decided that it must suspend ‘real money’ play in the United States until this case is resolved. However, Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide peer-to-peer poker services outside of the United States.”

It’s business as usual at Full Tilt for players outside of the US.
 
Can Canadians Still Play at PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker?
Yes. Nothing has changed for Canadians. You can still deposit, play for real money, and withdraw just as you were did before. FAQ Top
 
I’m From Ireland — Can I Still Use PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker?
Yes, all is well for Irish players. As both companies have stated, the recent decision to pull out of the US does not affect players from other countries. You are free to play as you wish from Ireland.
 
Can Australians Still Plat at  PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker?
Yes, Aussies are still welcome at both sites. Again, nothing has changed for non-US players.


Can I Play at PokerStars and Full Tilt in the UK?
UK players are still able to use both sites, as is normally the case. FAQ Top
 
I’m Not American — Why Can’t I Get To the PokerStars or Full Tilt Websites?
The FBI has seized PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker’s dot-com domain names as part of the ongoing investigation. Hence why when you surf to pokerstars.com or fulltiltpoker.com, you may find an FBI logo in place of content related to Stars or Tilt. This does not mean that the FBI has shut down PokerStars and Full Tilt as companies. Both poker rooms are still fully operational, exactly as they were prior to April 15th.
 
Does PokerStars or Full Tilt Poker Have New Websites?
Yes. PokerStars has moved to pokerstars.eu for international players, and Full Tilt Poker has moved to fulltiltpoker.co.uk for the time being. These are basically the same as the old dot-com websites, just linked to different domain names. FAQ Top
 
The Full Tilt Poker Software Isn’t Working — Why!?
Don’t panic! You have not been locked out of your account. Your bankroll is still safe, and you’ll be able to play again in a matter of minutes. Full Tilt has simply updated its software client to prevent US players from accessing the real money games. All non-US players can still play at Full Tilt, including players from Canada, Ireland, Europe and the UK. You will just need to install the latest software update.
 
How Do I Download the Newest Full Tilt Software?
If you need to reinstall the Full Tilt Poker software, follow these steps:
Step 1: Uninstall the old Full Tilt software from your computer.
Step 2: Visit fulltiltpoker.co.uk
Step 3: Download the newest software update by clicking “Download.” The button is at the top left-hand corner of the page.
Step 4: Run the installation package on your computer (works for both PC and Mac).
Once you’ve completed these steps, just fire up the Full Tilt client on your computer. Voila — you can now play at Full Tilt as usual, as long as you aren’t located in the US. FAQ Top
 
I’m Not American — Where Can I Download the PokerStars Software?
Non-US players can still download, install, and run the fully-functional PokerStars software. Follow these steps to do so:
Step 1: Uninstall the old PokerStars software from your computer.
Step 2: Visit pokerstars.eu
Step 3: Click the “Download” link on the new PokerStars site; it’s located at the top left-hand corner of the screen.
Step 4: Double-click the downloaded PokerStars installer, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once you’ve completed these four steps, simply open the freshly-installed PokerStars client on your computer. You can now play real money poker just as you did before Black Friday. FAQ Top
 
Can I Still Deposit at PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker?
Yes, all non-US players can deposit at both sites just as before. Here are some country-specific deposit methods still available at Stars and Tilt:
Canada: Moneybookers, EntroPay, Instadebit, and certain VISA cards.
Ireland: Moneybookers, Ukash, Neteller, Visa/Mastercard
Australia: Neteller, Moneybookers, Ukash, VISA/Mastercard
UK: VISA/Mastercard, Neteller, Moneybookers, EntroPay
Note that this is only a selection of the most popular non-US deposit methods available. You’ll find that pretty much all your deposit options pre-April 15th are still available now. FAQ Top
 
What Actually Happened to PokerStars and Full Tilt in the US?
The FBI has indicted the founders of PokerStars and Full Tilt with money laundering and bank fraud. To understand why, we need to know a bit about the infamous UIGEA.
In 2006, US Congress passed a piece of legislation called the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The UIGEA restricts businesses from facilitating transactions related to online gambling in the US. Note that the UIGEA does not make the act of playing poker illegal; the law is aimed at banks and payment processors, not players.
In practical terms, the UIGEA’s passing meant that banks in the US were obliged to decline any business from online gaming companies. This posed a problem for poker sites serving the US market: how to get money from American players’ bankrolls and into their bank accounts?
Indeed, both PokerStars and Full Tilt found ways to get money to and from US players. Unfortunately, the FBI now alleges that these ways were illegal.
Thus on April 15, 2011, the US Attorney in Manhattan alleged that 11 defendants, including the founders of PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, “concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits.”
Given the seriousness of these charges, Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars decided to cease all US operations for the time being. FAQ Top
 
Did the FBI Shut Down Games at Full Tilt and PokerStars in the US?
No. PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker have voluntarily decided to pull out of the US market. The FBI shut down the poker sites, not the actual games. Due to the websites being shut down, Full Tilt and Pokerstars felt it necessary to pull out of the US market.
 
More Resources for Pokerstars Full Tilt Poker Shutting Down USA Players

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