Tag: full tilt poker

Online Poker the Day After

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Yesterday was quite the day for the online poker world with the US Department of Justice seizing the domains of the world’s largest online poker sites. There’s been many reactions and speculation as to what’s happening and what’s going to happen in the coming days. Many are angry that the US continues to go after online poker. This is not the case here; this isn’t about whether online poker is legal or whether or not it’s a game of skill or a game of luck. This is about money laundering and tax evasion that took place through the websites.

After reading the Civil Complaint it became apparent that the US Government had every right to do what they did. Here’s an excerpt that helps to better explain the crime:

“For example, defendants ISAI SCHEINBERG and PAUL TATE of PokerStars, RAYMOND BITAR and NELSON BURTNICK of Full Tilt Poker, and SCOTT TOM and BRENT BECKLEY of Absolute Poker, arranged for the money received from U.S. gamblers to be disguised as payments to hundreds of non-existent online merchants purporting to sell merchandise such as jewelry and golf balls.”

“By late 2009, after U.S. banks and financial institutions detected and shut down multiple fraudulent bank accounts used by the Poker Companies, CHEINBERG and BITAR developed a new processing strategy that would not involve lying to banks. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and their payment processors persuaded the principals of a few small, local banks facing financial difficulties to engage in such processing in return for multi-million dollar investments in the banks. For example, in September 2009, ELIE and others approached defendant JOHN CAMPOS, the Vice Chairman of the Board and part owner of SunFirst Bank, a small, private bank based in Saint George, Utah, about processing Internet poker transactions. While expressing “trepidations,” CAMPOS allegedly agreed to process gambling transactions in return for a $10 million investment in SunFirst by ELIE and an associate, which would give them a more than 30% ownership stake in the bank. CAMPOS also requested and received a $20,000 “bonus” for his assistance. In an e-mail, one of ELIE’s associates boasted that they had “purchased” SunFirst and that they “were looking to purchase” “a grand total of 3 or 4 banks” to process payments.”

They knowingly bought banks or bribed banks in order to circumvent UIGEA. We agree that UIGEA is ambiguous but it is still a law.

Andrew Feldman of ESPN has reported that the US DOJ is trying to shut down the sites globally. We don’t know how this can be done. Full Tilt Poker and Pokerstars operate in a jurisdiction where online poker is legal. They are both licensed in countries like the France and the UK. We suspect the only way this could happen is if the US DOJ has proof of money laundering or tax evasion in those countries and is sharing this information with countries world wide.

At Holdem Poker Chat we’re being optimistic about the whole situation. This is in fact exactly what the Las Vegas casinos wanted. They are now on a level playing field with online poker and can now make a strong case for legalizing and regulating online poker in the USA. In fact we expect this to happen rather quickly now that their competition is out of the way.

Black Friday Recap

Pokerstars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and UB we’re named in an indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice and their domains were seized and replaced with a warning page.

PokerStars has suspended real money play for US players. Players can log in but can’t play at the real money tables. The PokerStars website can be accessed by going to pokerstars.eu and player support is available at support@pokerstars.eu.
Steve Wynn has cancelled his partnership with Pokerstars for PokerstarsWynn.com
Pokerstars has already lost 25% of its traffic.
PokerStars dropped some of their guarantees, including Sunday Storm (from 300K to 200K) and Sunday Million (from 1.5M to 1M)

Full Tilt Poker has left the US market until further notice, and is ensuring that the money is safe with them. Players may send inquiries to support@fulltiltpoker.co.uk.
Fertitta (Stations Casinos) has ended their partnership with Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker will lose 40+% of its traffic.
Full Tilt Poker has Cancelled the Onyx Cup

Sources have told poker news organizations that UB and Absolute Poker will likely stay in the US.
As of this morning April 16, 2011 players could still play real money games on both sites.

We do not at this time think that this will trickle down to other online poker sites that accept US players like those on the Merge and Cake networks. There are many rumors flying around that other sites including sportsbooks will be next but those are just rumors. Again, this is about money laundering and tax evasion. Not about whether poker is legal or not. We’re slowly updating our review pages to reflect the changes. If you’re looking for a new place to play, we suggest you try Lock Poker where we’ve secured a very nice bonus for all new players.

Stay tuned to Holdem Poker Chat for all the latest Online Poker News.

Full Tilt Poker has Suspended Real Money Play in the US

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Full Tilt Poker just released a statement regarding Friday’s indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice announcing that it is suspending real money play for USA players until the situation is resolved.

Click here for Poker Sites Accepting Players from the US

Full Tilt Poker™ Supports Poker Players And Its Chief Executive

Dublin Ireland (April 15, 2011)- Full Tilt Poker is saddened by today’s charges against its CEO Raymond Bitar and offers its full support to Mr. Bitar and Nelson Burtnick.

Online poker is a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States and across the world. And, Full Tilt Poker remains as committed as ever to preserving the rights of those players to play the game they love online.

Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal – a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States. Full Tilt Poker is, and has always been committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law.

“I am surprised and disappointed by the government’s decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick’s and my exoneration,” said Mr. Bitar.

Unfortunately, as a result of this action, 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 online poker services outside of the United States.

Feds seize Poker Domain Names

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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 whole press release can be found here:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/April11/scheinbergetalindictmentpr.pdf

Full Tilt Poker Take 2

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Full Tilt Poker introduces Take 2. This painless promotion requires you to only opt into it. Take 2 is a cash ring game promotion. There are two parts to the promo. One side of the coin gives you double Full Tilt Points for playing either two standard ring games at the same time, or one Rush Poker game any time from April 08-April 17, 2011. The second part awards cash for playing multiple days. The qualifying is still the same, two standard rings or one Rush game, but the number of days played determines your cash. Play 5 of the 10 days and get $5 cash. If you play 9 of the 10 days you will receive an additional $20 cash for a $25 total. There is a certain number of points to get the double points and the “day” recorded.

How to Participate in Take 2
Follow these steps to participate in Take 2 and claim your cash and bonus points:

If you haven’t done so already, download Full Tilt Poker and set up an account.

Log in to Full Tilt Poker and click on the red Cashier button in the game lobby.

Click on the My Promotions box and then the Take 2 link.

This will lead you to your personal Take 2 page. Follow the instructions on this page – you must elect to participate in this promotion or you will not receive cash or double points for your play during Take 2

The Full Story from the proverbial Horses Mouth:
Take 2 at Full Tilt Poker to earn up to $25 AND double the Full Tilt Points that you’d normally receive for playing in your favorite ring games.

Running from Friday, April 8th to Sunday, April 17th, play at least two standard ring-game tables at the same time or any Rush Poker* table during Take 2 to receive double the Full Tilt Points. Play as often as you can during Take 2 and we’ll also reward you with up to $25 in cash, depending on how many days you play.

Earn up to $25 in Cash
The more you play during Take 2, the more you’ll earn. Earn at least five Take 2 bonus points on any five days during Take 2 to get $5 in cash. Do so on nine of the ten days to get an additional $20, for a total of $25:

Level 1: Play on any five days during Take 2 and receive $5
Level 2: Play on nine of the ten days during Take 2 and receive an additional $20, for a cumulative total of $25
Earn Double the Full Tilt Points

There are two ways to earn double the Full Tilt Points during Take 2:

Play TWO standard ring-game tables at the same time and receive double points at BOTH tables. For example, if you earn 60 points while playing on one table and 40 points while playing on the other, you’d normally receive 100 Full Tilt Points for your play. During Take 2, you’ll earn a total of 200 points – 100 points for your play and an additional 100 bonus points.
Play any table of Rush Poker* – the world’s fastest poker game – and receive double the points. For example, if you earn 100 points while playing at a Rush Poker* table during Take 2, you’ll get an additional 100 bonus points for a total of 200 Full Tilt Points. Rush Poker* is the fastest way to earn double points during Take 2.
You can use your bonus points to get some great gear from the Full Tilt Poker Store, including plasma TVs, iPods, custom Full Tilt Poker jerseys and more. You can also use your points to enter special Full Tilt Points Sit & Gos and Multi-Table Tournaments.

Full Tilt Poker Onyx Cup

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It has been rumored for weeks now that Full Tilt Poker has been working on venturing into the live tournament market. Today, all of their planning and work has been made available to the general public.

Kicking off on May 11, 2011 in fabulous Las Vegas, Full Tilt Poker’s Onyx Cup will bring some of the best players in the world to play for stakes that are, quite honestly, insanely high. There will be 6 events in this series, played in the United States, Europe, and Asia, all of which will have a buyin of no less than $100,000.

This event is guaranteed to showcase some of the sickest action in the poker world. Already home to some of the highest stakes online cash games, Full Tilt is again upping the ante, showcasing itself as the premier leader in the biggest games played around the world.
To see more, simply click the Full Tilt logo in this post to go to the announcement video.

One must question, though, the timing that Full Tilt is choosing to launch this. These events are bound to coincide with Annie Duke’s recently launched FS+G Pro’s series, and the first event overlaps Pokerstars EPT Madrid event. This is bound to continue the fighting between the two juggernaut sites that has already led to each segregating their players from the other tournaments. Whatever happens, though, one thing is sure: Phil Ivey is going to make a lot of money.

Full Tilt Poker Launches 2011 WSOP Qualifiers

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FullTiltPoker has launched a wide range of online qualifier tournaments offering $12K prize packages to the 2011 World Series of Poker* Main Event – including eligibility for the $10 Million Main Event Mania bonus.

Winners of FullTiltPoker’s $12K Main Event Prize Packages receive more than just their buy-in to poker’s most prestigious event. They also receive $2,000 in spending money and gain access to the exclusive Pro’s Choice suite, where they will get the opportunity to meet members of Team Full Tilt Poker and other FullTiltPoker pros.

In addition, any player who wins their 2011 Main Event seat at FullTiltPoker is eligible for the following benefits:

– A massive $10 Million Main Event Mania bonus if they go on to win the Main Event
– A free seat at the 2012 WSOP* Main Event if they finish in the money at this year’s Main Event
– Five days free accommodation at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the Main Event

Players can chose from a diverse range of WSOP* Qualifier Tournaments running now through June 27th. Options include ‘The $1 Main Event Seat’, up to ‘$1K Thursday Direct Qualifiers’. Players can also take part in the popular ‘Steps to the Main Event’, which starts at just $3.30.

This year’s WSOP* Main Event kicks off on July 7th in Las Vegas, and Prize Package winners will strive for a repeat of last year’s success, when seven of the nine players at the Main Event final table were sponsored by FullTiltPoker.

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (“Harrahs”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with FullTiltPoker.com or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

Erik Seidel Wins 2011 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship

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The NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship has just concluded and the player that is on one of the best runs on recent history has made his way to the top of the list yet again. Beating out 63 of some of the best players of the poker world (and some celebrities that have a love of the game), Full Tilt Poker Pro Erik Seidel has claimed yet another title in 2011 and collected $750,000 in the process.

In the final match versus Pokerstars Pro and WSOP Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker, Seidel left little room for Moneymaker to have a shot. While the format requires the winner to win the best two out of three contests, Seidel decided to make it quick and easy by simply winning the first and second matches to secure the title.

Seidel did not have an easy road to travel to his title. He first match was against the recently quiet Allen Cunningham. In the round of 32, he faced yet another Full Tilt Pro Jennifer Harman. In the round of 16, he was up against fellow Full Tilt Pro Phil Gordon, busting him with AQ versus the Tiltboy’s A4. In the quarterfinals, he had to overcome another Pokerstars pro in Vanessa Selbst, who has also been on a tear the last year. In the semi-finals, he faced Andrew Robl, maybe more well known as “good2cu” in the online world. There was not a soft spot anywhere in Seidel’s road to victory, pitted against fellow pro’s every step along the way.

Seidel continues his historic 2011. It seems like every week that Seidel is collecting yet another title. In this tournament where there is always a discussion as to who has been slighted or disrespected for not being invited and for who does not deserve to be there, it is nice to have a sense of calmness with a winner who undoubtedly deserved to be there.

Congratulations Erik. We will soon be calling 2011 the Year of Erik Seidel.

NFL Great Emmitt Smith Signs With FullTiltPoker.net

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FullTiltPoker.net announced today that Emmitt Smith, the National Football League’s (NFL’s) all-time leading rusher, as the latest “Friend of FullTiltPoker.net”.

The three-time Super Bowl champion will represent FullTiltPoker.net at a selection of live events, starting with this week’s “National Heads-Up Poker Championship” at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, from March 3rd to 6th.

During his glittering football career, Emmitt amassed 18,355 rushing yards and 175 total touchdowns. He became the first player ever to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Super Bowl MVP awards in the same season, when his 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped the Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

The former Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals running back is also looking to add a coveted World Series of Poker* bracelet to his collection of silverware, by representing FullTiltPoker.net at this year’s World Series of Poker* (WSOP).

Emmitt got his first taste of WSOP* action in July 2010, one month before his induction into the “Pro Football Hall of Fame.” He earned his seat at poker’s biggest stage by winning a Celebrity Invitational Charity Tournament that he organized in support of the charity he set up with his wife: “Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities”. He won his WSOP* seat by beating out world renowned poker player and Team Full Tilt Poker Pro Phil Ivey.

Now, as part of poker’s most elite roster of celebrity and professional poker players at FullTiltPoker.net (including actor Don Cheadle, actor Mekhi Phifer, Tennis Player James Blake, Former UFC Champion Matt Hughes, UFC announcer Bruce Buffer and others) Emmitt is looking to transfer his skill on the gridiron to prowess at the felt. Look for Emmitt at the tables – exclusively at FullTiltPoker.net.

*World Series of Poker and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah’s License Company, LLC (“Harrahs”). Harrah’s does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with FullTiltPoker.net or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.

The Big Little Tournament is Back

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Full Tilt Poker is bringing back The Big Little tournament starting July 18, 2010. For only $2.20 play in a tournament with a $100,000 prize pool. These tournaments run on Sundays, but not every Sunday. And there will only be eight of them so do not miss out. They are turbo tournaments so there will be a luck factor. Still, for only $2.20, it is a hard deal to beat.

Buy in directly to any Big Little Tournament for $2 + $0.20, or satellite your way in for as little as $0.10 or 10 Full Tilt Points. Each Big little Tournament will start seating at 12:30 server time. Play will begin at 13:00 server time. There is a 30 minute seating period. Registration for each $100K tournament is limited to 100,000 players.

The Schedule
July 18th
August 1st
August 15th
August 29th
September 12th
September 26th
October 10th
October 24th

Big Little Tournament Satellites
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.30 + $0.05
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL 100 Full Tilt Poker
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.70 + $0.10
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.70 + $0.10
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.70 + $0.10
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.70 + $0.10
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.70 + $0.10
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL 100 Full Tilt Poker
9 Plr SnG Hold’em NL $0.30 + $0.05
180 Plr SnG Hold’em NL 5 Full Tilt Poker *
Jul 14 2010 09:48 ET Hold’em NL $0.55 + $0.05 *
Jul 14 2010 10:08 ET Hold’em NL $0.50 + $0.05
Jul 14 2010 10:28 ET Hold’em NL 50 Full Tilt Poker

Remember, 12:30 seating starts, 13:00 play begins. let us know of your successes in these events.