Three largest online poker sites shut down by FBI

Comment #48

johnph77 — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:05:51 GMT

I'm not sure what the law is today, but, in my younger days, I was always perimtted to deduct my gambling losses from my gross income as long as I had proof on paper that I had actually lost the money. My winnings, of course, fell into the classification as taxable income. And this is the thing about online poker - can one get a written statement of winnings/losses? If you can't, you're screwed by law.

Comment #47

rdgrnr — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:13:06 GMT

This government can not stand the thought of someone making money without confiscating some as tribute to their gross mismanagement of the money they confiscate from us.

Comment #46

butterflykt — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:50:02 GMT

Is your friend ok? That's a great amount of extra income each month....but when it's gone households can change quickly. Glad I don't play poker and was a member of that site; winning that amount of money monthly...I would be totally devasted

Comment #45

unseen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:40:53 GMT

Why didn't you report it to the sites themselves so they can look at hand history. The police can't do a thing about offshore sites.

I didn't have such a problem. I won a lot, lost a lot....in the end won more than I lost.

Comment #44

mikeh51 — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:26:32 GMT

im so glad its shutdown i deposited about 1,500.00 on it and live on a fixed income i though i would try my luck on poker online at first it was ok than about4/1/2011 i could not win hardly win any hands it was like playing a comp.last monday after i lossed all my money monday date was 4/11/2011 i started to watch other players i noticed HWGDF playing at about 20 tables and winning on all of them this player was only playing 5.00 and up tour.and sit go tables B.S i have lots of other names,and h... [ More ]

Comment #43

unseen — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:22:26 GMT

I don't think they'll go after sportsbooks, with the exception of maybe Bodog. Sportsbooks aren't as big as poker sites. So far they're all up and running still.

Comment #42

TheOtherOne — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:57:32 GMT

Wow that is a shame.

I am wondering with all this and that going wrong and the government and businesses in turmoil if they will soon allow more states to have casinos.

Living near Nashville I can make it to Tunica MS or Metropolis IL pretty quick -- 2 or 3 hours (or even fly to Vegas via Southwest, directly), but it is still pretty far to go. But many folks are much further away than that.

I think every state, or maybe every other state should have a casino. They could regulate it, get... [ More ]

Comment #41

Eighty0uts778 — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:07:15 GMT

ya pokerstars is up and running but friday they no longer let United States players play for real money just for fun ...I have 40 dollars in acount but cant use it ,,,,,,,they tell me my money is safe so i guess i will be cashing out all my chips soon...you could still play for money friday night on fulltilt but come sat morning i could no longer get on sight to play for fun even,,,,, it asked me if i wanted to update account which is common just about every day and then it said it couldnt downl... [ More ]

Comment #40

rdgrnr — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:24:33 GMT

Some call it fraud.

Some call it being creative.

It's a dance that some learn in order to do what they want and keep what they have.

People in government think it's their job to keep people from doing what they want and they like to confiscate a portion of what they have.

They're obviously wrong but for some reason we put up with it.

Comment #39

Adesso — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:51:11 GMT

So many different comments, however, no one is commenting on the acutal charges of fraud these sites conducted in the transactions of money in and out. How come

Comment #38

Stack47 — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:10:03 GMT

It's called bad News reporting!

Pokerstars dot com, Fulltilt dot com, and Absolute poker dot com were all seized and shut down by the FBI. Their poker room sites never shut down and it's business as usual for everyone outside the U.S. I'm assuming you're playing for free money because Pokerstars won't let any U.S. player play for real money.

Comment #37

SouthAustinJim — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 03:17:37 GMT

I must have missed something because pokerstars is up and running fine, I'm playing on it as we speak? from what I read the top three sites including pokerstars was shut down? What's the story

Comment #36

RJOh — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:54:04 GMT

While during my taxes, I noticed that gambling and lottery winnings has been added to the list of monies that are subjected to my city taxes this year.

Until these online gambling businesses come up with a way to pay taxes same as legal local businesses, they are going to be illegal. Federal, states and local governments aren't going to allow them to take millions of dollars out of their communities and not give anything back.

Comment #35

Goalisamillion — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:15:36 GMT

This is some bullsh..t ! The government is always looking to get their greedy azz hands on everything ! I hate the fact that Online gambling is not legal here in the good old USA. If it were it would benefit the country in more ways then one. I hate the fact that this happened because I enjoy playing poker online because its much easier then going to a casino which for me is 8 hours away ! There is no gambling with the exception of State lottery here in boring azz North Carolina ! This luxuray o... [ More ]

Comment #34

dpoly1 — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:48:26 GMT

New York has won 2 Powerball Jackpots since 12/25/2010 5 Mega Millions Jackpots since 5/25/2010 !

I would like to know the odds on that !

I sense something rotten

Comment #33

mikelot — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:13:50 GMT

If you check the poker news it says the sites are back up at www.fulltilpoker.co.uk and www.pokerstars.eu, it seems everything is back to normal except US players can't deposit for now. I really hope they find another payment processor soon.

Comment #32

Stack47 — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:01:18 GMT

Naw, we're not guilty until proven innocent, but I'm sure we'd be shut down during an investigation as well if we were suspected of breaking laws... let's just see what comes out of it.

You're confusing the Pokerstars website with the actual poker games site. The poker games site was never shut down and the information given to U.S. Pokerstar players was shown two pages ago. Simply put, Americans can't wager on that site or any other, but the rest of the World can.

Canadians and other co... [ More ]

Comment #31

mayhem — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:26:17 GMT

This totally sucks. Does anyone know if people in Canada or Mexico can play on betslips?

I wonder if it is as simple as setting up a bank account in those countries and then logging in with a proxy server located in canada. All of this can be had at minimal cost. I just know they are coming after the *other* site so I think its prudent to keep future options open.

Comment #30

gurlseven — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:16:26 GMT

Naw, we're not guilty until proven innocent, but I'm sure we'd be shut down during an investigation as well if we were suspected of breaking laws... let's just see what comes out of it.

Canadians and other countries are use to being censored from American websites and video games, etc... this is not new to us, and I'm sure some of us also find ways to skirt the laws for those, but you'd still have to expect to pay the piper if you get caught, or if they crack down.

They're not going to let... [ More ]

Comment #29

louise black — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:11:49 GMT

Where do you people get off talking about the New Black Panthers intimidating voter in a predominated Black polling place . Who were they trying to scare away Black People . Then they probably were working for the Republicans that their tactics.Neverless Black People wasn't afraid.Beside what's your worry, you people have all the guns. God knows you people( militia,tea party,conservatives and Republicans)build up an arsenal since the election of a Black President. You might as well fly the Confe... [ More ]

Comment #28

danyo1332 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:58:43 GMT

I went to download full tilt onto my new computer and it wouldn't let me..now I know why

Comment #27

Stack47 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:32:52 GMT

I thought that shutting down the illegal sites would be one of the steps they will take to bring back legal online gambling.

First of all the sites are legal foreign businesses and secondly the Justice Department has no jurisdiction to prevent anyone but Americans from playing. The Internet gaming bill purposed by Harry Reid would require foreign owned poker sites to not allow Americans to play after 30 of passage and another 16 months or until the time they are granted a U.S. gaming license... [ More ]

Comment #26

Stack47 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:21:43 GMT

They performed illegal actions to keep their business running.

Maybe Canadians are guilty until proven innocent but the U.S. Justice Department hasn't entered into the plea phase let alone a trial. What ever the poker sites did, it was to help Americans find a way to spend THEIR MONEY playing online poker. Those businesses are running fine today just without any American playing.

Comment #25

Littleoldlady — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:56:02 GMT

I thought that shutting down the illegal sites would be one of the steps they will take to bring back legal online gambling. Just thought I had read that. Oh well, doesn't matter. As soon as they shut down these three sites, six more will replace them.

Comment #24

bombay — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:08:28 GMT

Please, can someone tell me how to do the RB wheel for Texas

Comment #23

taxijohn — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:09:27 GMT

That stinks, I used to go on there to play for fun. I would never play online poker games or similar games becaue you don't know who is real and who is a robot.

Well, just removed it from my computer, 44 MB recovered, yippee!

You know, the Government can add a 5% tax per deposit, so let's say if you deposit $200.00 into your account, they get $10.00. Well, knowing this Government, it would be like 6.237 %, you know, some stupid number.

Comment #22

TheGameGrl — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:04:57 GMT

Thank you Gurl. I agree with your post entirely.

I sincerly do feel badly for the folks who had legimate monies due them to ever get them back. BUt then again, illegal is illegal and they were an accesory to this crime knowingly or not. I thank the Feds for stepping in, its no different then the Bernie Madoff scam, sometimes the Govt is looking beyond their noses at the bigger picture.

Comment #21

imagine — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:52:08 GMT

D. C. is trying to set up US poker in their cities.

Makes no sense to me.

Comment #20

gurlseven — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:12:11 GMT

I think some are missing the point. While I think online gambling should be allowed, and I play myself, the companies went about it the wrong way. They performed illegal actions to keep their business running.

Laws are there for a reason. YOU voted in your governement as I do mine. If you don't vote, you don't really have a say about the governement, and if you DO vote... well... =]

I'm more angry that the companies are being shut down due to poor management and illegal action. Blaming the... [ More ]

Comment #19

JezzVim — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:11:00 GMT

They taugh us this in college : To h*ll with the employees and what is good for the country, the company is more important. Big Business runs this country now, we don't have a fighting chance anymore with our votes. They buy the candidates before they run for office with back room deals, they support them with lobbying them with back room deals, and we lose.

Can anyone tell me how it made sense to give tax breakes to companines to send our jobs overseas? We lost the tax revenues from workers... [ More ]

Comment #18

thehitter — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 10:57:34 GMT

Holder says , no more Hold' em without us greedy snip s getting a cut D.C. is full of crap!

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Comment #17

Stack47 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:53:52 GMT

Its illegal to play online poker in the US.

If you mean to play online poker for money, it's illegal for banks and financial institutions to transfer or receive money. I read where several players have cashed out their accounts; I hope they realize the FBI is probably monitoring those transactions.

Comment #16

barbos — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:28:54 GMT

Its illegal to play online poker in the US. If Joe doesn't drive even to the nearest casino the bustards fooling with oil futures will be in a deep trouble.

Comment #15

baky — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 02:42:06 GMT

what in the hell they are still sticking their feet in people private business. This is the reason other country have problem with them.

Comment #14

fxsterling — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 02:36:55 GMT

back door way of getting taxes

Comment #13

baky — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 02:31:38 GMT

bam bo kla

Comment #12

Jordans121 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:18:29 GMT

there are more worse things happening in the world than trying to indict an online poker site. I NEED TO MOVE TO CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sick and tired of these federal Bullies spending our tax dollars on this type of ####!! Try catching the man that is killing people in NewYork, you snip s!!!!!

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Comment #11

joshuacloak — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:35:18 GMT

illegal gambling profits

my beep,this is my issue with govt, its not illegal to spend our money however we want......, its just govt being a biggest jerk on the block , aka a evil dictatorship of the rights of their own people.

how is it anyone else's business as americans in united states What i do with my own money????

None, you all have no business in my business onless am harming you somehow......

onless am hiring a freaking hitman or something etc , Ever other american has no bu... [ More ]

Comment #10

Stack47 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:02:12 GMT

The sites I saw are up and running fine too WITH NO U.S. PLAYERS.

When I tired to enter a tourney a pop-up said Sorry, do to government regulations playing for real money is not allowed in your area .

Comment #9

unseen — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:58:07 GMT

this is what most people are getting. You can log in but can't sit at a table to play

Comment #8

James1 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:52:10 GMT

The sites are up and running just fine for me.

Federal laws cease to amaze me. Greedy ba$tards

Comment #7

Stack47 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:51:55 GMT

The article estimates 15 million American online players. Who knows the amount of revenues being lost.

Comment #6

unseen — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:47:39 GMT

OUCH. I have a friend that plays at Full Tilt and he averages a good $1500-$4000 a month in extra income from poker. He's going to cry when he hears this news.

Comment #5

Stack47 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:44:33 GMT

Sounds like the oil companies. I filled my car in December for $33 and for that today, I can get a little over half a tank of gas.

Comment #4

dpoly1 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:22:48 GMT

New Black Panthers intimidate voters in Philadelphia in the 2008 Election Eric Holder determines that there was no crime, but somebody actually stimulates the economy and they are arrested !?

........................... that is why many Patriotic Americans fly the Don't Tread On Me Flag!

I have a friend that is a math genius ........ he earns allot of money from on-line poker ! Paying his way thru college without debt ............. but who would want that

Comment #3

JonnyBgood07 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:10:44 GMT

if i didn't know any better,I'd swear old sammy is trying like hell to turn america into a third world country...has anyone in congress done any estimates on how much potentially gets poured back into the economy from peoples won moneys? .... seeing as though they have an estimate for how many folks gamble online.

Comment #2

time*treat — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:56:25 GMT

The difference is whether or not Unscrupulous Scam has figured out a way to get 40% of the take for doing 0% of the work.

Comment #1

Stack47 — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:53:14 GMT

Is it just a coincidence the Justice Department moved against the foreign online poker companies days after Washington D.C announced they were entering the online poker business?

As we speak, nobody residing in the U.S.A can play online poker for even 2 cents. What exactly is the difference between playing online from our homes and playing in a casino

Three largest online poker sites shut down by FBI

Lottery Post — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:40:26 GMT

Executives indicted, arrested

The founders of the three largest online poker sites were indicted by the FBI on Friday in what could serve as a death blow to the thriving industry.

Eleven executives at PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker were charged with bank fraud and money laundering in an indictment unsealed in a Manhattan court. Two of the executives were arrested on Friday morning in Utah and Nevada. Federal agents are searching for the others.

Prosecutors are seeking to... [ More ]