Poker sites shut down for real money play in US

[beantownmaniac]

Federal authorities busted the three largest online poker websites in the United States on Friday with charges of bank fraud and illegal gambling against 11 people, accusing them of manipulating banks to process billions of dollars in illegal revenue.

Prosecutors in Manhattan said they've issued restraining orders against more than 75 bank accounts in 14 countries used by the poker companies, interrupting the illegal flow of billions of dollars.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said the 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."

The companies, all based overseas, were identified as PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. The indictment sought $3 billion in money laundering penalties and forfeiture from the defendants.

3 online poker houses face fraud charges in NYC | General Headlines | Comcast.net

FUCK AMERICA AND THEIR CORRUPT POLITICIANS!!!!! HOW DO I APPLY FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP?!?!?!!!

 

[Automattic]

Can I have some of my money back?

 

[Slimpikins]

If the charges are true it isn't the politicians who are corrupt... this time.

 

[postmaster]

Can I have some of my money back?

No shit. I have around $350 on pokerstars that I have had in there for years.

 

[beantownmaniac]

If the charges are true it isn't the politicians who are corrupt... this time.

It seems you don't know the whole story. People were playing online for years. After Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP main event, the American casino's complained that they weren't allowed to have online sites and all the American players were playing on sites from foreign countries. They were even on 60 minutes. The US, instead of legalizing online gambling, created a new law banning it saying that if any American players had issues with the poker sites, the US government could help them because or jurisdiction. The poker sites only did what they did so they could give any American player their money if and when they wanted to cash out. This whole thing could have been avoided by legalizing internet gambling and the TAXING the profits made by it's players just like when winning at a casino. Other businesses are allowed to operate online like trading stocks, realty, banking, sales, why can't professional poker players earn their living online? The US created this problem, and thus created the crimes when it all could have been avoided years ago and millions, if not billions gained in tax revenue.

 

[beantownmaniac]

No shit. I have around $350 on pokerstars that I have had in there for years.

Your money is frozen, and may even be seized!!!! Great country we live in huh? Waste money going after innocent Americans who enjoy online poker, millions spent on prosecuting Barry Bonds, yet millionaires and billionaires get away with shit every day!!!!

 

[puckhead]

again? didn't this just happen 5 or 6 years ago?

 

[postmaster]

again? didn't this just happen 5 or 6 years ago?

They made it illegal and stopped banks from allowing money transfers.
I heard one of my friends tell me that I could deposit money so I put in $100 about 3 years ago and now apparently I am out the $350 from that deposit.

 

[beantownmaniac]

To anyone who is interested in writing your congressmen/women and senators, here's a link. I'm writing every single one of them!!!!

U.S. Senate: Senators Home

 

[fiberman71]

hmmm, what does this have to do with hockey?

 

[jstewismybastardson]

They made it illegal and stopped banks from allowing money transfers.
I heard one of my friends tell me that I could deposit money so I put in $100 about 3 years ago and now apparently I am out the $350 from that deposit.

for some reason visa or mastercards issued by cdn banks stopped allowing deposits to the site i use (and its a public company on the london stock excahnge)

Sucks ass, I used to get airmiles and aeroplan points on my deposits using my visa

I dont do poker on the site but its offered ... and its still up and running thankfully

 

[TexasMan]

Lame!

 

[Automattic]

hmmm, what does this have to do with hockey?

We play poker together sometimes. Is that ok?

 

[beantownmaniac]

To anyone who is interested in writing your congressmen/women and senators, here's a link. I'm writing every single one of them!!!!

U.S. Senate: Senators Home

Sorry, you're right, I'm sorry, I forgot to put OT in the title, but there's a few of use here who play online. Oh, and you DO have the option of NOT opening the thread.

 

[elocomotive]

It seems you don't know the whole story. People were playing online for years. After Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP main event, the American casino's complained that they weren't allowed to have online sites and all the American players were playing on sites from foreign countries. They were even on 60 minutes. The US, instead of legalizing online gambling, created a new law banning it saying that if any American players had issues with the poker sites, the US government could help them because or jurisdiction. The poker sites only did what they did so they could give any American player their money if and when they wanted to cash out. This whole thing could have been avoided by legalizing internet gambling and the TAXING the profits made by it's players just like when winning at a casino. Other businesses are allowed to operate online like trading stocks, realty, banking, sales, why can't professional poker players earn their living online? The US created this problem, and thus created the crimes when it all could have been avoided years ago and millions, if not billions gained in tax revenue.

I actually wrote a paper on this in law school. Beantown - I don't disagree with your argument - I think it should be legal and taxed. That said, gambling is not legal in the United States outside of certain forums carefully regulated by the government or in places (Indian land) where the federal gov't does not have jurisdiction. Online gambling is illegal under the 1961 Wire Act, though since the Internet didn't exist at that time, they have added further legislation in recent years to bolster it. More specifically, the legislation made it illegal for banks to transfer money to gambling sites. The sites have been trying to find backdoor ways around this ever since by avoiding Visa/MC transactions that are coded to the type of business.

I don't think it is corupt for them to enforce the laws that these poker sites are VERY well aware of and VERY aware they are running afoul of them. It's a business decision on their part - risk the federal fines, lawsuits, etc. for all the money they can make from the American market.

 

[puckhead]

hmmm, what does this have to do with hockey?

really? THAT's your first post?
off to a hell of a start.

 

[beantownmaniac]

I actually wrote a paper on this in law school. Beantown - I don't disagree with your argument - I think it should be legal and taxed. That said, gambling is not legal in the United States outside of certain forums carefully regulated by the government or in places (Indian land) where the federal gov't does not have jurisdiction. Online gambling is illegal under the 1961 Wire Act, though since the Internet didn't exist at that time, they have added further legislation in recent years to bolster it. More specifically, the legislation made it illegal for banks to transfer money to gambling sites. The sites have been trying to find backdoor ways around this ever since by avoiding Visa/MC transactions that are coded to the type of business.

I don't think it is corupt for them to enforce the laws that these poker sites are VERY well aware of and VERY aware they are running afoul of them. It's a business decision on their part - risk the federal fines, lawsuits, etc. for all the money they can make from the American market.

You and whoever else wants to say they have the right to enforce the laws, but these laws shouldn't even exist!!! Practically every other country allows internet gambling, EVEN CHINA AND RUSSIA!!! This all about the government worrying that they'll those income from their lotteries, nothing more. It's just another example of the government taking away our freedoms until they figure out how to get their greedy hands on a piece of the cake, nothing more. Instead of pulling their heads out of the sand and realizing just how much revenue they could make in taxes, they choose to take away one more thing we should have the right to do. that's my opinion, PERIOD. OUR GOVERNMENT SUCKS!!! You can bet if big time corporate CEO's, congressmen and women, senators, and such decided they enjoyed playing poker online, it would be legalized tomorrow!!

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

really? THAT's your first post?
off to a hell of a start.

He can still finish the day strong by saying "Fuck Dallas!" once.

 

[elocomotive]

You and whoever else wants to say they have the right to enforce the laws, but these laws shouldn't even exist!!! Practically every other country allows internet gambling, EVEN CHINA AND RUSSIA!!! This all about the government worrying that they'll those income from their lotteries, nothing more. It's just another example of the government taking away our freedoms until they figure out how to get their greedy hands on a piece of the cake, nothing more.

Like I said, I wish I could legally play poker online or wherever. I don't think the harm is so great and the fact is that while all gambling is illegal (outside of places given exceptions), the fact is it is rarely enforced beyond large conspiracies and criminal syndicates.

I disagree with you in part on the motivation. The foundations of our country have some groundings in puritanism, so our laws in the areas of drugs, sex, drinking, and gambling have historically been more conservative than many countries that are our economic and social contemporaries. This has frequently not been about profit. In fact, the Wire Act came about largely to break up mafia activity and the violence associated with it. The fact is the country's position on gambling is it is illegal. In fact, it would be more profitable (your greedy hands argument) for the government to legalize it and tax it. They haven't.

 

[beantownmaniac]

Like I said, I wish I could legally play poker online or wherever. I don't think the harm is so great and the fact is that while all gambling is illegal (outside of places given exceptions), the fact is it is rarely enforced beyond large conspiracies and criminal syndicates.

I disagree with you in part on the motivation. The foundations of our country have some groundings in puritanism, so our laws in the areas of drugs, sex, drinking, and gambling have historically been more conservative than many countries that are our economic and social contemporaries. This has frequently not been about profit. In fact, the Wire Act came about largely to break up mafia activity and the violence associated with it. The fact is the country's position on gambling is it is illegal. In fact, it would be more profitable (your greedy hands argument) for the government to legalize it and tax it. They haven't.

Ummm, sorry, but you're wrong. Ever hear of Las Vegas? Atlantic City? Foxwoods CASINO? It isn't illegal, our country just tells us when and where we can do it. Michigan has casino's, Mississippi has them. In fact, 25 states have them!! This all bullshit PERIOD!!! They could have made internet gambling legal and regulated it years ago, they just didn't want to because they were afraid that states would "lose" money from their lottery profits. There's already talk in congress of passing a law TO legalize it, their just going after these people now before it becomes legal so they can get their money in the form of fines first, then make their money off it when it's legal later. that's how two faced our government is. It's no wonder most other countries don't trust us, and I don't blame them!! By the way, I know all about the history of illegal gambling and the mafia and bookies by the way. I don't need a lesson.