Eurobet and PokerChamps Ban All U.S. Players

[mollila]

Following the arrest of BetOnSports.com CEO David Carruthers this Monday 17th, other online gambling operators seem to be asking "Who's next?". Eurobet and PokerChamps are two sites that decided to close the door on players from United States.

Here are the emails sent out to their U.S. customers:

EUROBET

Please be advised that in the light of recent actions by US regulators, Eurobet has regretfully taken the decision to cease taking any business through its websites from U.S. residents with immediate effect. U.S. residents will no longer be able to transact with our websites and all accounts held by U.S. residents have now been closed. We are contacting you because we believe that, based on the personal details you have provided us, you are a US resident and therefore affected by this decision. Where we already have your payment details we will refund any outstanding balance using that method within 7 days from today. If we do not have the necessary details please contact us on +44 1483 773 224 or via email at uscustomerservice@eurobet.com to confirm how you wish any existing balances on your account should be repaid including the appropriate financial details. We commit to processing such refund with 7 days of receiving your payment instructions. On behalf of the entire Eurobet team we apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your previous custom

POKERCHAMPS

As part of the recent upgrade, PokerChamps has performed a system change that begins the process of moving to a new platform. We have also incorporated geo-location software which enables us to implement a long standing and consistent Group Company policy of not permitting access to individuals in the United States. Affected individuals have until tomorrow 21st July 2006 at 12pm EST/5pm BST to withdraw funds after which time accounts will be locked and funds returned by arrangement with our customer service team. Please contact SUPPORT@POKERCHAMPS.COM with any queries. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your contributions to the PokerChamps community, and we wish you all the very best in your poker playing future. Yours Sincerely, PokerChamps Management Team

[duece7off]

I am from the US and the crack down on online gaming here is just getting way out of hand. I do not like the government or anyone else for that matter telling me how I may spend my hard earned money. There are times when I just do not feel like or do not have the extra money to make the 2 hour drive to the nearest casino and that is when I take $20.00 and play online. The thing that really gets to me is our bank has already banned access to these sites using my debit card, even before the laws have been changed?? Seem a little premature if you ask me.

[Verndroid]

You really need to take your government by the balls and hang them out to dry. The stuff they are trying to press through congress is just downright stupid. I thought US was the land of the Free?
--
Verndroid

[winningedge]

yeah, theres been a lot of this stuff going around lately.. you're free, as long as there isnt someone who disagrees with what you're doing.. I feel like if it doesnt have a detremental effect on somoeen other than yourself, there shouldnt be a law for it, but, thats just me..

[r8rpwr]

I wonder if this (the bank restrictions on sites, that is) has more to do with issues of identity and credit card theft than the government trying to police what we do. I know that even though my credit card does not restrict these transactions, I have gotten calls from them just to double check that it was valid.

Apparently a large number of stolen cards are used for online gambling? I don't know if that's for sure true, but it seems logical I guess.

[winningedge]

I came up with a possible solution to get around this law, though I dont know how effective it would be. Places like Netteller should work on getting a relationship with a company like Western Union or something like that, which already has locations everywhere. Then people could go to Western Union locatoins to reup their accounts. Sure, its far more inconvienent, but It might be a viable way to give them the finger, and I'm all about that

[marcos]

when PokerChamps announced the closure of the US player accounts, they said to email support if you want your money back [insert a chorus of "duh" here]. This was followed by the same original email several times, now included a request for patience as they sort out everything.

Today, I get an email with instructions on how to prove I am not in the US if I would like to reinstate my closed account.

[mindzero]

I actually have a problem with the US government and people telling me what to do with my money and how I spend it. I think online gambling is fine if you can find a trusted site it is ok.

[outofbreath]

Horrible, but not unexpected news for sure.

However, this would be an excellent opportunity for a smart out of US based company to provide services to the masses of US players by setting up European (or Carribean, et al) proxies and payment processors. There's always a way .

[Rowena105]

Well, I can certainly agree with all of you that the banning of U.S. Citizens is a little bit overboard. However, being from Canada I cannot register with BoDog because I'm Canadian so I do understand how you feel. As far as the legislation is concerned I'm beginning to think you are living (as we Canadians seem to be lately) in a Dictatorship.

[Avian]

I just don't understand why the U.S. government thinks that they are the thought police. Their policy for the last year has been focused on "preserving" family values. They don't rule my life. Why are they trying to decide what I can and can't do, what I can or can't watch. Their censorship and bans are really starting to just sicken me.

[ester11]

I am having problems understanding the arrests. So now the US is not allowed to play online poker? What in the world is the problem. Why is the US being singled out? There's all kinds of gambling in US, why not online gambling. I will google to find out more about these arrests. This is interesting subject.

[mollila]

Originally Posted by ester11 So now the US is not allowed to play online poker?

U.S. players are still allowed to play online poker. Keep in mind that this proposed legislation does not criminalize online gambling, it is targeted at payment processing companies.

[winningedge]

Originally Posted by Rowena105 I'm beginning to think you are living (as we Canadians seem to be lately) in a Dictatorship.[/color][/b]

well, not so much a dictatorship as a theocracy really.. ah, what can we say.. we Americans have our zealots too..sometimes I cant help but wonder about what our zealots are going to do if they ever finish seizing control of our government.. but thats another topic entirely

[mollila]

Originally Posted by outofbreath this would be an excellent opportunity for a smart out of US based company to provide services to the masses of US players by setting up European (or Carribean, et al) proxies and payment processors.

Neteller is already the preferred payment processing company of many poker rooms, and it is European with no offices or staff in U.S. I actually bought Neteller stock this week, since the huge gambling share price drop on Oct 2nd should not have affected Neteller that much imho.

NETELLER Share Price Chart | NLR.L | GB0034264548 | Yahoo! Finance UK

[Avian]

Neteller should be able to survive this one. They could get hit too though. I know that paypal was heavily sued because it didn't actively fight fraud.

I am having problems understanding the arrests. So now the US is not allowed to play online poker? What in the world is the problem. Why is the US being singled out? There's all kinds of gambling in US, why not online gambling. I will google to find out more about these arrests. This is interesting subject.

The reason that they're doing this, is because of the pull that the major casinos have in Congress. Online gambling is hurting their industry, so they lean on a few Congressmen to attach this rider onto an important bill about port regulation. It is really quite sickening. The government also doesn't like to see money going overseas, when they could be receiving taxes on it if the person would just go to Vegas.

[ladygirl99]

I suggested to not vote for the ones who are for this bill. I am getting fed up with this admin preaching about moral and family values, trying to force their beliefs on other people, and it is sad that Democrats aren't standing up for Bush and his bullies and Americans aren't speaking out of how this admin is slowly taking away out freedoms based on their thinking of immorality.

[blf2much]

Well Im sick and tired of this. We should be ALLOWED to spend our money on these activities. Dont they understand that it could be the only way that some of us will ever be able to participate in such entertainment??