Inside Straight -- News

PPA ‘Disappointed’ by Seizure of Online Poker Funds
Southern District of New York Freezes Payment Processor Accounts
By Stephen A. Murphy

The Poker Players Alliance has condemned the action taken by the Southern District of New York in June that has left an estimated $30 million of online poker players’ money frozen.

“The PPA is disappointed that this unprecedented action has been commenced against law-abiding poker players,” said PPA Chairman and former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato. “The payment processor funds frozen by the Southern District of New York belong to individual poker players — not operators of poker websites — and do not represent the proceeds of any gambling activity, much less illegal gambling activity.”

Some online poker players began having trouble depositing and withdrawing money from poker sites using the popular eChecks option in early June.

According to the PPA, the Southern District has ordered three banks — Citibank, Goldwater Bank, and Alliance Bank of Arizona — to freeze the funds in question.

“This money should be immediately released by the Southern District to ensure that player payouts are not further disrupted,” said D’Amato. “To that end, the PPA is coordinating a legal strategy to appropriately protect PPA members who are impacted by the Southern District’s actions. Further, the PPA has contacted the affected poker websites and has been informed that deposit and payout issues of players are being addressed and will be fully satisfied.”

The news immediately sparked concern amongst poker players that they would have trouble accessing their funds. Full Tilt, however, issued the following statement:

“Full Tilt Poker would like to assure all players that their funds remain safe and secure. Processing of both deposit and withdrawal requests is proceeding as normal and is still available to all of our players in the U.S.

“The issue involving the freezing of some funds affected only one of the many check processors that Full Tilt Poker uses to support player withdrawals. We do not expect any further interruption in check withdrawals or any other withdrawal methods, and any player who wishes to make a withdrawal should expect normal processing times. All players who were affected by the current situation have had their funds returned to their Full Tilt Poker accounts and all new withdrawal requests are processing normally.”

Still, the PPA appears poised to fight the Southern District’s actions. “We will continue to pursue every legal course available to ensure that in this instance, poker players’ funds are not seized and their right to play online poker is protected,” said D’Amato.

Minnesota Backs Off Poker Censorship
Poker Players Alliance Claims Victory in Online Poker Battle
By Stephen A. Murphy

Minnesota poker players no longer have to worry about their favorite online poker sites becoming inaccessible.

The Poker Players Alliance announced in early June that the Department of Public Safety of Minnesota was backing off its initial order to try to ban Internet service providers from allowing their customers to access all gambling sites, including poker sites.

“Minnesota poker players made our voices heard, the state listened, and ended its ill-advised and improper attempt to circumvent the rights of Minnesota poker players,” said Matthew Werden, the Minnesota state director of the PPA.
Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety made news at the end of April when its Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division’s director, John Willems, announced that the state was ordering ISPs to block all gambling and poker sites for all Minnesota-based computers.

“We are putting site operators and Minnesota online gamblers on notice, and in advance,” Willems said at the time. “State residents with online escrow accounts should be aware that access to their accounts may be jeopardized and their funds in peril.”

Willems argued that since there isn’t a law that authorizes online gaming, it is illegal.

After lawyers argued that what the state was doing was unconstitutional, and the PPA organized efforts to protest the order, Minnesota’s government withdrew the ban.

The PPA sent out e-mails and activated its membership, iMega filed a lawsuit against Willems, and Rep. Pat Garofalo introduced a bill that would’ve prevented the state from carrying out its order.

“In the spirit of cooperation, and in recognition of the rescission of these notices, I am more than happy to withdraw my bill and in its place sponsor a discussion aimed at establishing a framework for regulating and licensing the online gaming industry,” Garofalo said.

“The fact is, online poker is not illegal, it’s not criminal, and it cannot be forcibly blocked by a state authority looking to score some political points,” said Werden.

Bodog.com is Back for All Poker Players
After Lengthy Dispute, Popular Poker Site Regains Domain Name
By Stephen A. Murphy

Bodog.com is back.

The popular online gaming site, which offers poker, sports betting, and other casino games, has returned to its original domain address, bodog.com.

Bodog told Card Player, “It was a great day for all who have come to know Bodog as a pioneer in the worlds of online gaming and online entertainment.”

The company originally secured its former domain name once again last April, but June 11 marked the official launch day for the domain.

The company was operating under bodoglife.com after a judge presiding over a patent-dispute case against the company shuttered Bodog.com in 2007. Bodog previously had run newbodog.com after the dispute prevented them from running bodog.com.

“It is with great pride that Morris Mohawk Gaming Group announces the official return of Bodog.com,” the company announced. “Starting today, Bodog.com will once again become the center of operations for the Bodog brand’s United-States-facing business.”

Bodog is approaching its 3 millionth new sign-up.

EPT Announces First Half of Season Six
New Destinations Added
By Rebecca McAdam

The first half of the sixth season of the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour schedule has been announced, with new destinations to look forward to visiting.

The Tour, which last season proved to be a massive success with prize pools totaling almost €55 million, kicks off in Russia on Aug. 17 and then moves on to Barcelona on Sept. 4. It then continues on to previous destinations, London and Poland, but stops in a new venue, Vilamoura in Portugal, on Nov. 17, before heading to Prague, and the Bahamas for the Caribbean Adventure.

EPT Chief Executive John Duthie said, “The new EPT season includes many events which have made the past five seasons such a triumph, with world-record-breaking fields and prize pools across Europe. We have set very high standards and we aim to improve still further in season six — with new additions to the schedule as well as a richer mix of games and buy-ins to cater to more players.

“Overall, the Tour will visit an unprecedented 13 countries — an increase of four events on top of last season. As well as Russia, the Tour will include new stops in Portugal this November, and other destinations are to be announced shortly.”

Online satellites for the EPT Moscow have started at PokerStars.com, with buy-ins as little as $2.22.

Take the Trip of a Lifetime!

SpadeClub.com is giving you the chance to travel the world, stay in luxurious accommodations, and play in one of the biggest poker tournaments of the year. On Aug. 15, SpadeClub.com will be awarding one of its members a WPT Cyprus $15,000 prize package in a special SpadeClub tournament. SpadeClub’s prize package includes accommodations at the five-star Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, round-trip airfare to Cyprus, SpadeClub apparel, and a $10,000 buy-in to the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. If your idea of fun in the sun also involves a trip to the tables, this is the getaway you’ve been waiting for.

Eligibility is easy — just become a SpadeClub VIP member today. Visit www.SpadeClub.com and sign up to become either a quarterly or yearly Exclusive member, which will grant you immediate VIP status. You’ll then be eligible to play in all VIP events for as long as you maintain Exclusive membership status. For as little as $16* per month, you could be playing in the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. Hurry, as the SpadeClub tournament that will award this spectacular prize package takes places in a little over one month!

*No Purchase Necessary; See Terms and Conditions at www.SpadeClub.com. Must be 18 Years of Age or Older to Play. Void Where Prohibited.