The Feds are once again going after poker sites without defining what “illegal gambling” is. Without a real law, or a working definition, this amounts to just a strong arm shakedown. “We are big tough guys so we will tell you what to do, even though we have no lawful basis to do so”
Excerpt from a press release I am sure that they are very proud of:
MANHATTAN U.S. ATTORNEY CHARGES PRINCIPALS OF THREE LARGEST INTERNET POKER COMPANIES WITH BANK FRAUD, ILLEGAL GAMBLING OFFENSES AND LAUNDERING BILLIONS IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING PROCEEDS
Multi-Billion Dollar Civil Money Laundering And Forfeiture Action Also Filed
Internet Domain Names Used By The Poker Companies Seized
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and JANICE FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an indictment today charging 11 defendants, including the founders of the three largest Internet poker companies doing business in the United States—PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker (the “Poker Companies”)—with bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling offenses. The United States also filed a civil money laundering and in rem forfeiture complaint (the “Civil Complaint”) against the Poker Companies, their assets, and the assets of several payment processors for the Poker Companies. In addition, restraining orders were issued against more than 75 bank accounts utilized by the Poker Companies and their payment processors, and five Internet domain names used by the Poker Companies to host their illegal poker games were seized.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “As charged, these defendants 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. Moreover, as we allege, in their zeal to circumvent the gambling laws, the defendants also engaged in massive money laundering and bank fraud. Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don’t like simply because they can’t bear to be parted from their profits.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK said: “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 Pokerstars Game of Your Life freerolls give you the chance to win your share of thousands of dollars in cash, plus the trip of a lifetime to any major sporting event in the world. You can bring your friends along too, with everything taken care of by us. Here’s what you can win:
* Front-row seats to the sporting event (or events) of your choice, anywhere in the world
* Invite as many friends as you want
* Travel and accommodation included
* Total prize package value of $100,000
* $1,000,000 in additional cash prizes awarded in freerolls running every week
Simply play any of the free daily qualifiers and advance to one of the six Freeroll Finals. The first five finals each have a prize pool of $100,000 in cash. The Grand Final in week six is where you can win the Game of Your Life prize package for you and your friends!
Pokerstars, world’s largest online poker site, has been very busy in Las Vegas over the last month. After announcing support for the passage of a new Nevada law that would bring online poker to the state and creating 500 new jobs if the law gets passed they have now formed a partnership with Wyn Resorts.
Wynn Resorts Ltd announced that they have entered into a partnership with online poker giant Pokerstars, and that the two companies would work together for the passage of a U.S. legislation that will define illegal internet gambling.
The companies plan to jointly operate a regulated, U.S. online poker site, PokerStarsWynn.com, if they can get the legislation to pass, Wynn said.
“We are convinced that the lack of regulation of internet gaming within the U.S. must change,” Wynn’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Wynn said in a statement.
Pokerstars is once again reaching a milestone when they deal their 60 Billionth Hand. So, by popular demand… Milestone Hands are back!
There will be 300 regular milestone hands leading up to the 60 Billionth, starting from hand number 59,700,000,000 – and then every millionth hand. You can see the current hand number in the top left corner of the tables you’re playing on.
The milestone hands could hit at any table, any stakes. Every player dealt into any milestone hand will win $50 and an extra $50 for every VIP Player Point (VPP) earned in the previous 50 hands played on that table. Even better, if you win one of the 300 milestone hands Pokerstars will double your prize money.
The player with the winning cards in the 60 Billionth Mega Milestone hand will receive at least $60k. Just make sure you’re playing on the day.
Since the signing of Isildur1 by Pokerstars and his being revealed as Viktor Blom, Pokerstars has been running a special, high stakes promotion: 2,500 hands, played at 50/100 NL, across 4 tables; each player puts up $150,000; whoever either busts or is in the negative after 2,500 hands loses.
Blom has played against 3 opponents up to this point, with a 3-1 record: he has beaten Anthony “Tony G” Guoga, Daniel Cates, Eugene Katchalov, while losing to his first opponent, Isaac Haxton. Through all of these games, Blom shows a net profit of just over $160,000.
His next opponent is someone who’s accomplishments are too lengthy to list here: the face of Pokerstars himself – Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu has been dropping hints for weeks now, discussing how he finds this Showdown a challenge he would like try. Now, Pokerstars is making it happen.
However, the rules are slightly different: instead of 2,500 hands in one day, they will be playing 5,000 across two! That’s right, they will sit down for their first 2,500 hands on Sunday, March 20th and for their remaining hands on Sunday, March 27th.
While Blom is clearly a favorite, with all of his high stakes heads-up experience, its hard to count someone out who has done what Negreanu has accomplished in the poker world. It should be exciting to watch the players battle it out on the felt.
Pokerstars has announced their upcoming Spring Championship of Online Poker.
PokerStars runs not one, but three series’ simultaneously. Each event has three sections: Low, Medium, and High. Each of these tournaments has a guarantee set to match the buyin amount.
The schedule is as follows: Sunday, 8 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 01-L*: $22 NL Hold’em [6-Max], $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 01-M*: $215 NL Hold’em [6-Max], $750,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 01-H*: $2,100 NL Hold’em [6-Max], $1,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 02-L*: $22 NL Hold’em, $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 02-M*: $215 NL Hold’em, $1,500,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 02-H*: $2,100 NL Hold’em, $1,500,000 Guaranteed
Monday, 9 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 03-L*: $5.50+R NL Hold’em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 03-M*: $55+R NL Hold’em (6-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 03-H*: $530+R NL Hold’em (6-Max), $750,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 04-L: $16.50 FL Badugi, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 04-M: $162 FL Badugi, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 04-H: $1,575 FL Badugi, $50,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 05-L: $11 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $75,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 05-M: $109 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $200,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 05-H: $1,050 PL Omaha (Turbo, 1R1A), $350,000 Guaranteed
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 06-L: $11 PL 5-Card Draw, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 06-M: $109 PL 5-Card Draw, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 06-H: $1,050 PL 5-Card Draw, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 07-L: $16.50 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up Match Play), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 07-M: $162 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up Match Play), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 07-H: $1,575 NL Hold’em (Heads-Up Match Play), $400,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 08-L*: $11 NL Hold’em, $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 08-M*: $109 NL Hold’em, $300,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 08-H*: $1,050 NL Hold’em, $600,000 Guaranteed
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 09-L: $22 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max), $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 09-M: $215 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 09-H: $2,100 Mixed Hold’em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 10-L: $33 7-Card Stud High, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 10-M: $320 7-Card Stud High, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 10-H: $3,150 7-Card Stud High, $100,000 Guaranteed
Thursday, 12 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 11-L: $22 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 11-M: $215 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 11-H: $2,100 PL Omaha (Heads-Up Match Play), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 12-L*: $27 NL Hold’em (Knockout), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 12-M*: $265 NL Hold’em (Knockout), $400,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 12-H*: $2,600 NL Hold’em (Knockout), $600,000 Guaranteed
Friday, 13 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 13-L*: $16.50 NL Hold’em (Ante Up), $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 13-M*: $162 NL Hold’em (Ante Up), $200,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 13-H*: $1,575 NL Hold’em (Ante Up), $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 14-L: $55 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 14-M: $530 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $125,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 14-H: $5,200 FL Omaha Hi/Lo, $225,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 15-L: $16.50 NL Hold’em (2X Chance, Turbo), $150,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 15-M: $162 NL Hold’em (2X Chance, Turbo), $400,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 15-H: $1,575 NL Hold’em (2X Chance, Turbo), $750,000 Guaranteed
Saturday, 14 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 16-L: $22 NL Hold’em – Quadruple Shootout (10-Max), $125,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 16-M: $215 NL Hold’em – Triple Shootout (10-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 16-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em – Double Shootout (10-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 17-L: $16.50+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 17-M: $162+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 17-H: $1,575+R PL Omaha (6-Max), $400,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 18-L: $22 Triple Stud (Turbo), $25,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 18-M: $215 Triple Stud (Turbo), $50,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 18-H: $2,100 Triple Stud (Turbo), $75,000 Guaranteed
Sunday, 15 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 19-L*: $22 NL Hold’em, $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 19-M*: $215 NL Hold’em, $1,000,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 19-H*: $2,100 NL Hold’em, $1,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 20-L*: $22 NL Hold’em, $350,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 20-M*: $215 NL Hold’em, $2,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 20-H*: $2,100 NL Hold’em, $2,000,000 Guaranteed
Monday, 16 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 21-L: $16.50 NL Hold’em / PL Omaha, $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 21-M: $162 NL Hold’em / PL Omaha, $150,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 21-H: $1,575 NL Hold’em / PL Omaha, $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 22-L: $33 NL Hold’em (4-Max), $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 22-M: $320 NL Hold’em (4-Max), $300,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 22-H: $3,150 NL Hold’em (4-Max), $500,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 23-L: $11+R NL Hold’em (Turbo), $250,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 23-M: $109+R NL Hold’em (Turbo), $500,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 23-H: $1,050+R NL Hold’em (Turbo), $1,000,000 Guaranteed
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 24-L: $11 Triple Draw 2-7, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 24-M: $109 Triple Draw 2-7, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 24-H: $1,050 Triple Draw 2-7, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 25-L: $22 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $25,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 25-M: $215 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 25-H: $2,100 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo, $150,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 26-L*: $11 NL Hold’em, $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 26-M*: $109 NL Hold’em, $300,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 26-H*: $1,050 NL Hold’em, $600,000 Guaranteed
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 27-L: $22 Razz, $25,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 27-M: $215 Razz, $75,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 27-H: $2,100 Razz, $150,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 28-L*: $11+R NL Hold’em (Big Antes), $200,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 28-M*: $109+R NL Hold’em (Big Antes), $400,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 28-H*: $1,050+R NL Hold’em (Big Antes), $600,000 Guaranteed
Thursday, 19 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 29-L: $33 8-Game, $50,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 29-M: $320 8-Game, $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 29-H: $3,150 8-Game, $250,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 30-L: $11 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 30-M: $109 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $125,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 30-H*: $1,050 PL Omaha Hi/Lo, $250,000 Guaranteed
Friday, 20 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 31-L: $22 NL Hold’em (1R1A), $300,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 31-M: $215 NL Hold’em (1R1A), $500,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 31-H: $2,100 NL Hold’em (1R1A), $800,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 32-L: $55 FL Hold’em (6-Max), $75,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 32-M: $530 FL Hold’em (6-Max), $150,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 32-H: $5,200 FL Hold’em (6-Max), $250,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 33-L: $22 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (Turbo), $50,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 33-M: $215 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (Turbo), $100,000 Guaranteed
20:00 ET, Ev 33-H: $2,100 NL Omaha Hi/Lo (Turbo), $150,000 Guaranteed
Saturday, 21 May 2011
14:00 ET, Ev 34-L: $55 PL Omaha [6-Max], $100,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 34-M: $530 PL Omaha [6-Max], $300,000 Guaranteed
14:00 ET, Ev 34-H: $5,200 PL Omaha [6-Max], $500,000 Guaranteed
15:30 ET, Ev 35-L*: $270 NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play], $300,000 Guaranteed
15:30 ET, Ev 35-M*: $2,600 NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play], $450,000 Guaranteed
15:30 ET, Ev 35-H*: $25,500 NL Hold’em [Heads-Up Match Play], $600,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 36-L: $22 HORSE, $50,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 36-M: $215 HORSE, $100,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 36-H: $2,100 HORSE, $150,000 Guaranteed
Sunday, 22 May 2011
13:00 ET, Ev 37-L*: $22 NL Hold’em (6-Max), $300,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 37-M*: $215 NL Hold’em (6-Max), $1,000,000 Guaranteed
13:00 ET, Ev 37-H*: $2,100 NL Hold’em (6-Max), $1,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 38-L*: $109 NLHE Main Event – L, $1,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 38-M*: $1,050 NLHE Main Event – M, $3,000,000 Guaranteed
17:00 ET, Ev 38-H*: $10,300 NLHE Main Event – H, $5,000,000 Guaranteed
No matter your bankroll, this tournament series is sure to offer you something. Get ready, satellites begin Monday, March 14th.
PokerStars has a new promotion that will award a Lamborghini Gallardo to the winner. The best part is that it is free to enter. Every day starting July 25, 2010 Pokerstars will be running 24 freerolls that award entries to a weekly qualifier. Well they say 24 freerolls a day yet the chart below says they run every 2 hours. You do the math. We probably will have to wait and see on July 25, 2010.
The top 2,000 players in the weekly finals get into the Grand Final. I know, it sounds like a longshot, but here is the other shoe. The weekly finals will have $100,000 prize pools! There is a buyin path to these weekly finals for those wishing to avoid the crowds. Granted, with freerolls every hour and buyins every two hours, the Weekly finals will be a bit congested, but it is a $100,000 tournament, after all. Post in this thread about your progress in these games each week. Holdem Poker Chat wants to know how everyone does.
Win a Lamborghini Gallardo!
It’s the ride of choice for rock gods, sports stars and fashion royalty, and now you can own one too. Play the Pokerstars Lamborghini Freeroll and you can win your very own $200,000 supercar. Tournaments are running now and there’s more than $1,000,000 in cash up for grabs along the way. The Lamborghini Gallardo is one of the most famous and iconic cars in the world – win yours now!
There are 24 freeroll qualifiers running daily, plus $1.10 and $11 cash satellites. Qualify for a Weekly Final and you’re one step away from the Grand Final, where the Gallardo goes to the winner. But that’s not all. Each Weekly Final has a $100,000 prize pool, and the Grand Final has an incredible $250,000 in cash to be won.
This is one of the biggest prizes Pokerstars has awarded, and the tournaments are perfect for new and existing players alike. If you haven’t played at the world’s largest poker site yet, now is a great time to get started. It’s easy to download Pokerstars free poker software and open an account. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to register, and you can also take the Virtual Tour which shows you all of the great features.
How to Play the Lamborghini Freeroll
Freeroll and cash qualifiers are running now at the times stated below. You can find all of the tournaments in the Pokerstars lobby by clicking the ‘Tourney’ and ‘All’ tabs, or by typing ‘Lamborghini’ into the Tourney Filter.
The Feds are once again going after poker sites without defining what “illegal gambling” is. Without a real law, or a working definition, this amounts to just a strong arm shakedown. “We are big tough guys so we will tell you what to do, even though we have no lawful basis to do so”
