'Internet Poker Sites Seized For Fraud'

Nix said:
Right, just so I've understood this correctly: these sites have been seized because it's illegal to bet in America? Or have I missed something?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. They aren't allowed to process gambling profits in the US so are concealing where the money comes from. That's how I read it anyway.

I'm not comfortable with the FBI being allowed to seize the domains so easily.
 
Nix said:
Right, just so I've understood this correctly: these sites have been seized because it's illegal to bet in America? Or have I missed something?
Click to expand...
Alas, it's a lot more complicated than that. This NY Times article does a pretty good job of detailing the specifics of the case.

To summarise, the legal status of online poker under United States federal law is disputed. One argument proceeds that the game requires skill, and is thus not gambling. However, certain states (such as New York, where the charges have been filed) have laws of their own that, if I understand correctly, explicitly prohibit poker.

Federal authorities in this case are skirting around the issue by filing charges that don't actually hinge on whether or not poker is illegal. Instead, they have accused a number of individuals of committing fraudulent acts such as misleading banks and effectively bribing payment processing companies to channel funds deposited by U.S. customers out of the country.

Whether or not the countries in which the indicted individuals reside (including British crown dependencies such as the Isle of Man) will permit extradition proceedings remains to be seen.
 
Nix said:
Right, just so I've understood this correctly: these sites have been seized because it's illegal to bet in America? Or have I missed something?
Click to expand...

As I understand the UIEGA, it's illegal to place a bet on servers hosted in America. Full Tilt and PStars are hosted in Isle of Man/Somewhere English so therefore not illegal to place a bet.

It is illegal however to process transactions that facilitate the bets, and both sites used offshore banks and the like so that deposits/cashouts don't show up with taxes and stuff.
 
nydryl said:
Pretty much. They aren't allowed to process gambling profits in the US so are concealing where the money comes from. That's how I read it anyway.

I'm not comfortable with the FBI being allowed to seize the domains so easily.
Click to expand...

But surely being located in another country and operating from there means they've done nothing wrong and shouldn't have to cover up where the money comes from?

edit: ah I see.
 
This is all a smoke and mirrors exersice. The US needs cash and is trying to find a way to tax it. Its that simple. Recently some of the vegas casinos have started linking or offerering online services. Its just a question of finding a way to regulate it and start getting a slice of the pie. It will start to happen in other countries too. In spain bwin sponsorship of Real Madrid has been taken to court by a spanish bingo and betting company.
 
Anyways these companies having being playing with fire by operating in the Usa. After it was basicly made ilegal a lot of the poker sites just left the us market all together.
 
Online poker - get your money out now

Short of info but some US legal stuff is gathering momentum that you could get your funds frozen

sorry its vague , more info to come
 
Folks need to wise up to this

I am our $300 but have a mate that as done $10k if it all goes down
 
Thankfully I only had $10 in my account, I do feel sorry for those with more in there however who have become a victim of the US government.
 
I haven't used any American sites for a few years anyway. Since i tried to withdraw £400 from Full Tilt, and they made me jump through hoops, claiming that i wasn't the account holder. I had to email and fax documentation to them and finally got my money about 6 months later.
It was a quick button press to deposit money, but months of paperwork to withdraw it!
That's why i use Ladbrokes. Click on withdraw, enter amount, it's in your account in 2 days

Most British players know to stay away from the American sites now anyway
 
What I don't understand is how the FBI shut down a company based in the Isle of Man, were they stupid enough to host the business in the USA?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom