Tag: poker

Absolute Poker Suspends Real Money Play in the US

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Following their indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice on April 15th, 2011, Absolute Poker has now stopped real money play for their American customers. The owners and operators of Absolute Poker were named as defendants by the FBI, but kept their site open and active as normal for the last few days. Many in the online poker community felt this may be a sign that they would remain open while fighting the charges brought against them but that does not seem to be the case. Absolute Poker has changed their homepage domain to www.absolutepoker.eu.

Absolute Poker is now officially banning U.S. players from all real money games. Users from the US who manage to connect to the Absolute Poker client are greeted with the following announcement:

Some US players are saying they can still play real money games on Absolute Poker.

Absolute Poker and UB Still Open for Real Money Play in the US

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It’s now been 5 days since “Black Friday” and Absolute Poker and UBPoker are still open for real money play in the US. All deposits and withdrawals have been temporarily suspended but players who have funded accounts are still playing online poker.

We’ve contacted the operators of Absolute Poker and UB Poker asking for a comment or announcement and we’re constantly told that there is nothing to announce yet.

We’re starting to get he feeling that Absolute Poker and UBPoker may be looking at ways to continue to serve the US. We’ll continue to  monitor the situation and keep you up to date but for now, They are Open for real money play.

Our list of USA Poker Sites has other poker sites that are still serving the U.S.

Licensing Jurisdictions Speak Out About Online Poker Indictments

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The Tuesday after online pokers “Black Friday” had some other big news in the online gaming industry. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission released a statement regarding their feelings on the sweeping indictments made towards four major online poker rooms. The United States Department of Justice seized online domains from Absolute Poker, UB.com, Full Tilt and PokerStars, not only did they seize domains, they arrested several people and charged them with felony crimes that could land the defendants in prison for 50 years.

Absolute Poker is licensed by the KGC, and the licensing jurisdiction wants players to know that they are concerned what will happen to players next, and they want to make sure that no player is affected by the decisions made by the USA DoJ. They also mentioned that they were in talks with Absolute Poker regarding player accounts and will release another statement in the near future.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been licensing online gaming operators for over a decade, and is located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, just outside of Montreal, Canada. They have recently been noted by huge player watchdog sites as becoming one of the leading licensing bodies available for online gaming.

Another licensing body is speaking out about the indictment as well. The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission made their presence known and plans to handle things as professionally as possible with PokerStars to protect players, and the business model as a whole. PokerStars is still holding the license from the Isle of Man as of today, so their licensing status remains unchanged.  Finally, it was also noted that players from the USA with funds in their PokerStars accounts will hopefully be able to withdraw their funds in the near future. As of now PokerStars suspended all cash game play for USA players.

USA Poker Sites for April 2011

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With recent developments for United States players we have decided to summarize the current choices for US poker online.  This is not meant to be a listing of every site that allows players from the Land of the Free, rather it is a compilation of the sites that Holdem Poker Chat has confidence in and that we feel comfortable recommending to you, the players.

 

 

 

Sportsbook PokerSportsBook Poker

Sportsbook Poker is a financially stable company.  They run the rapidly expanding Merge Gaming software.  As the name implies, you will run into poker players who are really just sports gamblers without a good grasp on poker fundamentals.  Soft play and easy marks are what you can expect with Sportsbook Poker.  The initial signup bonus is a liberal 100% up to $1,000.  No special code is needed to receive this bonus.

 

Luvin Poker

Luvin Poker is the only room on the growing Everleaf Network that Holdem Poker Chat recommends.   Ladies, if you are tired of the male dominated world of poker, Luvin Poker’s player base is 40% female.    They also offer a huge 200% bonus up to $1,000.  you must enter the code HPCMAX for this bonus.

 

Lock Poker

Lock Poker is on the Merge Network.  They have recently signed some poker pros to represent them at live events.  Lock Poker has some of the most rewarding monthly promotions.  Cash game players will especially like their rake races and challenges.  Lock Poker offers an initial deposit 200% bonus up to $1,200.  No bonus code is needed to get this deal.

 

Bodog Poker

Bodog Poker is one of the oldest and most respected names in online wagering.  Their core sportsbook business insures a steady flow of less than savvy players to the poker tables.  In the new order, Bodog offers some of the highest prize pool tournaments available to US players.  The initial deposit bonus of 110% up to $1,100 is nothing to sneeze at.  No bonus code is needed to get this great bonus.

 

Carbon PokerCarbon Poker

Carbon Poker is the flagship of the Merge Network.  They have perhaps the widest selection of tournaments available on a daily basis.  there is usually always a tournament starting in a few minutes.  There are a few high buyin events, but with the new influx of players expect more mid and high level buyin events to appear.  their $109 buyin $50k guaranteed tournament runs every Sunday.  Initial deposit bonus at carbon poker is 200% up to $500.  you must use the code HPC500 to receive this bonus.

Chad Elie Marries a Playboy Bunny One Day After Online Poker Indictment

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One of the men facing criminal charges stemming from the “Black Friday” online poker indictment didn’t waste any time after he made bail that same day. Chad Elie is facing major criminal charges including fraud, which is being prosecuted by the Federal Trade Commission. He was one of the several arrests made on April 15th, following the online poker crackdown against Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute Poker/UB.com.

Elie is said to be behind over $275 million dollars of illegal monies spent on online poker, but he didn’t let that get him down. Wasting no time, he quickly married his Playboy Playmate girlfriend in a small ceremony at Little Church of the West, in Las Vegas Nevada. Destiny Davis is the new blushing bride and has a business model of her own. While it has nothing to do with online poker, readers may know what her online career consists of since her background as a Playboy Bunny isn’t exactly privileged information.

This wedding may have come to a surprise to those following the case and charges against Elie and nearly a dozen of others as of April 15th. One thing is for sure; if a federal indictment with looming criminal charges, a possible 50 year prison term and multi-million dollar fines won’t stop the happy couple, it’s likely nothing else will.

Barney Frank Speaks Out Against Poker Indictments

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Barney Frank, the Democratic Congressman, let the Obama Administration know how he felt regarding Black Friday and the indictment that led to several arrests and the seizure of four well-known and big names in online poker on April 15th, 2011. He told them in so many words that this indictment and the criminal charges against the founders of these online powerhouses were a waste of the governments time and energy. The persons charged in this case are facing huge prison sentences and multi-million dollar fines.

Barney Frank has gone public with his feelings following the recent actions in online poker when Absolute Poker, UB.com, Full Tilt and PokerStars were shut down and taken out of the US market this last Friday. Frank is none too happy about the incident and has been interviewed by quite a few media outlets. Frank recently told Thehill.com that this was an “incredible waste of resources” by the American government and the time and energy spent on taken the poker rooms down could have been spent more wisely.

Barney Frank is a big name in congress and most notably for his own bill to legalize the game of online poker at the highest of levels. This bill and what it stands for, only mocks what the Feds are trying to do, which makes Frank even more passionate about his beliefs. He has stated more than once that the government is not helping the USA players by trying to come down on poker rooms; they are actually pushing players into the hands of an unregulated, unlicensed industry. Frank says the government shout try to find those responsible for the real estate market crash and other financial disasters the USA faces, rather than work so hard to make it a crime to play online poker.

He went on the record with the Hill asking the government to “Go after the people responsible for empty houses, not full houses.” While he is not giving the go ahead for USA players to break the law, but simply asking to place the online poker industry further down on the list of priorities for the federal government. Not all of those in the White House are against legalizing online poker, and Frank also mentioned that there were quite a few Conservative Republicans that are ready to back up his bill to regulate online poker, not only to legalize it for the players, but to license USA poker rooms online, giving the player some recourse during disputes. As it stands now, the player has little to no recourse should an issue arise while they are playing online.

Pokerstars has Suspended Real Money Play in the US

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Pokerstars has finally issued an announcement to last week’s indictment and their leaving the US poker market. Several big name pros have come out and said that players should give the poker sites some time to get things worked out and that they would get their money as soon as possible.

Poker Sites that Accept Players from the USA

“As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the U.S. due to legal developments there.”

“The developments are confined to the U.S. and do not have any impact on your ability to continue using our services. Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the U.S. it is business as usual.”

“Please be aware that we are currently experiencing a very high volume of emails, so our response times are delayed. We will answer player emails as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.”

April 17, 2011 Update:

  • Both the PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge and PokerStars.net Big Game have been cancelled.

Cake and Merge the Next Big Names in Online Poker?

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Black Friday was a day the poker community will not soon forget. The largest names in online poker were indicted and had their domains seized by the US government. Since then players have been asking themselves; what’s next? Which poker sites are safe for those USA players looking to get a piece of the virtual felt action? The answer is simple really, there are several poker networks still serving USA players, and some play host to well respected brands.

Many players are upset about the happenings at Full Tilt, Absolute Poker/UB, and PokerStars; and for good reason. It is time for players to find other avenues to play their online poker sessions for now, as it doesn’t seem likely that these sites which were seized will allow USA players back anytime soon. How long these alternative options will be available nobody knows, but it’s unlikely to see this scandal trickle down into the smaller brands online.

Sure these brands aren’t as big as the four poker rooms currently facing courtroom battles, but the fact remains that they are still viable options for USA players. Merge Gaming Network recently took on Lock Poker, Sportsbook Poker, PlayersOnly Poker and their traffic is comparable to some of the bigger names online. Carbon Poker is another big name under the Merge Network, and the traffic on the network makes them a possible contender to take over the USA market.

The Cake Poker Network has also been aiming to become one of the bigger networks in online poker and while their traffic has taken a hit as of late, they may be the one’s to give other poker networks a run for their money. Cake Poker had a pretty solid reputation in the online poker world, however; they have seen their fair share of both good and bad luck lately. They were once becoming one of the biggest names in online poker but began to lose traffic to their competitors over the last couple of years. They sold their skins to other smaller operators, which in turn caused them to lose earnings and a bit of their reputation.

Cake Poker may soon prove to be once again a big name in online poker, bigger than ever before. If their poker rooms stay facing the USA (Power Poker and Victory Poker will no longer accept US players), the chances of them becoming one of the leading poker networks online are very high. They were recently given a little push towards bettering themselves, and have big names like PokerListings.com backing their product; which brings more sign ups and leads to more traffic.  Our sources at Cake Poker have confirmed that they plan to stay in the US market and have never had as many signups as they’ve had in the last 2 days.

“Black Friday” as many are referring to the indictment on the four poker rooms, is sure to have a positive impact on Cake and Merge networks. Players living in the so called “Land of the Free” will be forced to look elsewhere for their online poker needs, at least for now; which will put players right into the hands of other networks online. This is going to be a fierce competition among these online poker sites, and it will be interesting to see which comes out ahead in the USA player community in the next several months. Many players from the four poker rooms that were indicted have already been seeking an alternative for their game play, and these networks mentioned here have been seeing a big rise in their traffic seemingly overnight.

There are also other poker rooms online, but none as well-known as Cake and Merge. It will be interesting to see if any of the smaller fish grow into bigger names as well. It is sure to be a bumpy ride, but for now USA players can still enjoy the action of their favourite poker game online. Luvin Poker, which is on the Everleaf network, told us they’ve had thousands of new players signing up over the last 48 hours.

Bodog Poker is another site that has already seen a 20% jump in traffic. Bodog will continue to grow but we don’t think that Bodog will come out on top because they do not allow peer to peer transfers. We have similar concerns about Sportsbook Poker and Players Only. No poker sites that also have sports betting allow peer to peer transfers.

Solid poker rooms like Lock Poker and Carbon Poker are still taking registration from USA players. They have many ways to deposit and generous promotions, check out the US poker sites listed here for the best choices American players have today. Keep a look out for the happenings regarding everything about this latest development in online poker.

888 Poker is Doubling Major Tournament GTD Prizepools

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888 PokerOver the past year 888poker, formerly Pacific Poker, has built new state-of-the art software, launched exclusive PokerCam table technology, released an innovative TV campaign featuring Shane Warne and completely revamped their promotions and offers, including free $8 registration bonus for new customers.

888poker’s continued commitment to the new “we play different” strategy and focus on customer safety and experience is gaining momentum with online poker players and has brought the site a rapid 45% increase in liquidity.

More long term plans also show to be paying off for the poker network. As the USA market continues to show signs of legalization and licensing for online gaming, 888 has made several strategic moves and partnerships to ensure the best position for entry into the major market. The company’s decision to leave the USA online poker market immediately after the passing of the 2006 UIGEA and its continued focus on safe and legal operations, has opened several doors for 888. One very positive move has been the recent approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission to work with USA operator, Caesars Interactive, the online subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation. As other major sites begin to struggle with the changing landscape in online gaming, 888 remains in a  prime position.

To keep up with the growth, 888poker has doubled  their major guaranteed tournaments including the Sunday Challenge which is now a staggering $100,000 guarantee. Players can take advantage of these huge guarantee tournaments and other promotions such as, new Team Poker Tournaments (win money as part of a team and as an individual) and  Play More Win More (the more you play, the more big $$ guaranteed freeroll tickets you receive).

Players can also try a more social online poker experience when they play the new PokerCam tables.  PokerCam tables use webcam technology to bring you a face to face interaction with other players. You can catch bad bluffs, meet new friends and maybe find a new crush all while playing poker.

For information about 888poker’s software, interactive community, online store, new innovations, such as, PokerCam tables, and constantly updated promotions, go to www.888poker.com.

With over 5 million registered users and winner of Socially Responsible Operator of the Year 2010, EGR Awards, 888 is a gaming company you can trust.

Existing 888 Poker Players can now take advantage of a 100% up to $150 reload bonus by using deposit code APRIL150.

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.