| because the appeared to have created dummy accounts, thereby using fraudulent means to trick financial institutions into carring out their transactions for their US players. Due to these events restraining orders were issued against over 75 bank accounts in different countries and their five Internet domain names used for their poker games were freezed by the FBI; PokerStars.com, Fulltiltpoker.com, Absolutepoker.com, Ultimatebet.com and ub.com.
All the US players who have recently tried to access their accounts was welcome by an FBI logo and a statement saying "This domain name has been seized by the F.B.I. pursuant to an Arrest Warrant," these unravelled the world of many American players, as thousands of them earn their living on the sites according to the players advocacy group, there has been an estimate that 8 - 10 million American players participate in these online poker for real money and these sites makes over $500 million yearly from them. Players involved are already panicking, as to what happens next? What happens to the money in their online account? can they cash their money? The status of what happens to their money or account is still yet undecided.
Although some have claimed to have had successfully wire transfers while others said their accounts are frozen, and repeated attempt to withdrawal their money are futile.
The 2006 Internet Gambling Act made it a federal offence for businesses to collect payments for unlawful online gambling and futher stating their definition of what is unlawful to others, these sites instead moved locations and continued their operations outside US in other to circumvent these law and the eyes of the US authorites.
"They thought — and for five years they were right — that no one would go to the trouble of going overseas to try to bring them back to this country," said Chuck Humphrey, a Colorado lawyer specializing in online gambling.
Now if found guilty on the account of violation of UIGEA, operation of illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy, there could face a jail time of 5 – 30 years plus fine.
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