No, this is not a technical on PokerStars problem, or a problem on FullTiltPoker or Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet. It is rather a very sad surprise to poker players who are now unable to access the poker sites online PokerStars, FullTilt, Absolute Poker or Ultimate Bet.
Indeed, the FBI confiscated the domain names of several online poker sites, including that of Giants PokerStars and FullTilt Poker. .Net sites were not captured and it is still possible to access it, but it is now unable to connect to PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, AbsolutePoker.com than UltimateBet.com.
Some users will still be able to access some of these sites (this is due that the time for new DNS changes propagate around the world - it can take up to 48 hours for your internet service provider to do the DNS update), but it is only a matter of time before you see this page:
It is now impossible to access sites .com's several big poker sites online due to the seizure of domain names by the FBI.
11 people, including the founders of the 3 biggest poker networks online still doing business in the United States, have charges of bank fraud, money laundering and having operated a brought against them online game site. The accused are the following: Isai Scheinberg (PokerStars), Raymond Bitar (FullTilt Poker), Scott Tom (Cereus network), Brent Beckley (Cereus network). Others, either Nelson Burtnick, Paul Tate, Ryan Lang, Bradley Franzen, Ira Rubin, Chad Elijah and John Campos, are identified as those who cared for the payment processors. The charges are based on, among other things, the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1955, and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.
In total, 76 banks in 14 countries would be referred and the US Federal authorities are trying to get their hands on more than $ 3 billion.
You can find the official document of the Department of justice US here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April11/scheinbergetalindictmentpr.pdf . You will also find the criminal prosecution and the civil suit by clicking the following links:
Criminal prosecution by the U.S. Government against the online game sites
Civil suit by the American Government against the online game sites
Funny "coincidence" that a few days earlier, it was announced that D.C. would become the first State to allow online gambling (see article about this here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-04-12-DC-Internet-gambling.htm ).
Wynn, who had a few weeks rather reached an agreement with PokerStars (see article the Wynn joins PokerStars), has just announced that they had cancelled the agreement. Immediately, Fertitta Interactive (an entity created by Station Casino Inc., owner of 18 casinos) to announce that the arrangement they had with FullTilt Poker is now cancelled.
The Poker Player Association has responded to the actions of the FBI. Former Senator Alfonse of amto, Chairman of the PPP, announced:
"On behalf of millions of players across the country, we are shocked by the measures taken today by the U.S. Department of Justice against the companies in online poker. The app will continue to fight to ensure that Americans have the right to participate in the game they love. Poker is not a crime and should not be treated as such. We are trying to gather all the information about today's announcement and we will offer a detailed analysis when all the facts become available."
For the techno-wises wishing the same access PokerStars or your cashier at FullTilt Poker, here is how:
FullTilt Poker: access to FullTiltPoker.com and the Cashier despite the warning by the FBI.
PokerStars: accessing PokerStars.com despite the warning by the FBI. You can also visit simply PokerStars.EU rather than .com.
FullTilt expresses saddened by the charges against Raymond Bitar. They decided to suspend the game in cash to the United States, until the case is resolved. They do not however specify when and how US players will be refunded, but will continue to offer parts in real money people to non-US jurisdictions.
PokerStars, for its part, issued a statement as what they are operated in the Isle of Man legal entity and that they comply with the laws in force. They say that the current situation only affects US players. They will continue to offer their services to players of all other jurisdictions, but they withdrew from the U.S. market. They say that the funds of players are safely on PokerStars and that players can withdraw their background at any time.
Meanwhile, PokerCollectif recommend you withdraw your funds on the sites that still accept the Americans (Merge Network & Cake Poker Network). You are however safe on other sites having respected American law (IPoker, PartyPoker, Ongame, Everest, etc.).
PokerCollectif will give you additional details as soon as we have. In the meantime, you can follow the news on the forum by clicking the following link: the FBI enter PokerStars.com, FullTilt Poker.com, Ultimate Bet.com and Absolute Poker.com
