Internet Gambling Bill - Official Statements from Poker Rooms

[Mika Ollila]

The United States Congress recently passed legislation that aims to make it illegal to process payments between U.S. customers and internet gambling companies.

It is important to note that once signed, the legislation:

1. Does not make online poker illegal.
2. Allows the goverment 270 days to come up with new regulations.

Collected here are press releases and statements from online poker and related companies regarding this legislation.


PartyGaming Plc:

• 02-Oct-06 London Stock Exchange Regulatory Announcement United States legislation
  "Board of PartyGaming has determined that if the President signs the Act into law, the Company will suspend all real money gaming business with US residents"

Full Tilt

• 02-Oct-06 Full Tilt Poker Blog An Open Letter From Full Tilt Poker Regarding the State of Your Online Poker Experience
  ""In the short term, we assure you that your online experience at Full Tilt Poker will not change"
• 12-Oct-06 Website Statement Full Tilt Poker is here to stay!
  "we assure you that Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide all of its players - both inside and outside of the United States"

Cryptologic Inc.

• 02-Oct-06 Press Release U.S. Internet Gaming Legislation Validates CryptoLogic's Global Strategy
  "Licensees will no longer take U.S. bets"

888 Holdings plc (Pacific Poker)

• 02-Oct-06 London Stock Exchange Regulatory Announcement Announcement Re: US Legislation
  "Board has concluded that it is appropriate to suspend participation by US based customers in activities covered by the legislation ... immediately upon the legislation taking effect"

Pokerroom.com

• 03-Oct-06 Website News Official Statement regarding US legislation
  Undecided

Sportingbet Plc

• 02-Oct-06 Press Release US Legislation
  Undecided

Boss Media AB

• 02-Oct-06 Press Release American ban on Internet gambling payment processing in the United States about to become law
  "As the bill...turns into formal law, Boss Media AB will immediately take action to block American players resident in the United States"

NETELLER

• 01-Oct-06 Member News US Member Update: 1st October 2006
  "It is currently unclear how NETELLER, a European company, with no assets, presence or employees in the US, would be affected by this bill."
• 02-Oct-06 Press Release US Congress Passes Safe Port Act (PDF)
• 19-Oct-06 Update on US position (PDF)
• 30-Oct-06 Third Quarter Trading Update (PDF)
  "NETELLER is constantly re-examining its position with regard to the US market and its provision of services to that market is currently under review. As previously stated, NETELLER, a company registered outside the US, will comply with the Act and its related regulations as if it were subject to the Act’s jurisdiction. We will keep our shareholders, merchants, customers and employees informed of any developments during this challenging period."

Absolute Poker

• Absolute Poker Business as normal!
  "we continue to welcome all Poker Players! "

Cake Poker

• 04-Oct-06 Website Statement Official Policy Statement from the CakePoker Team
  "CakePoker will not restrict access to our players from the United States."

True Poker

• 01-Oct-06 Website News Can I make a Deposit to TruePoker from the United States?
  "Yes, you can legally deposit to TruePoker from the United States. TruePoker does NOT make or accept bets or wagers in which it has any stake in the outcome. So, our games and tournaments, and your deposits, are not covered by this UIGE Act of 2006."
• 04-Oct-06 Website News US Legislation Update
  "Conclusion: TruePoker is not covered by the UIGE Act, and will continue to offer games for play by US players."

FirePay

• 11-Oct-06 Website News News
  "US account holders can no longer use FirePay for online gambling payments"

Pokerstars

• 12-Oct-2006 Website Statement Our business continues as before
  "our business continues as before - open to players worldwide including the US"

Betcorp Ltd

• 02-Oct-2006 Website Announcement Statement Regarding United States Internet Gaming Legislation (PDF)
• 12-Oct-2006 Website Announcement Statement Regarding US Operations (PDF)
  "if the Act is signed into law by the US President as presently drafted, the Group will no longer be able to accept funds transfers from customers resident in the United States."

[Mika Ollila]

Pokerroom.com statement added.

[Mika Ollila]

Added:
Absolute Poker
Cake Poker

[Scribe4264]

Added:
Absolute Poker
Cake Poker

It sounds like there will be plenty of places for US players to play online after all.

[kelkat]

What I don't get is how on earth the government would ever police such a thing. I mean, get real. Don't they have more important things to be doing? It's like a cop giving a ticket for jaywalking when there is a guy on the corner getting beat. Priorities man, priorities!

[Mika Ollila]

Here is an email I received today from Pokerstars:

We received an email from you during the last two weeks inquiring about PokerStars' position with regards to the recently enacted Internet Gambling Act.

PokerStars has received extensive expert advice from within and outside the U.S. which concluded that these provisions do not alter the U.S. legal situation with respect to online poker. Furthermore it is important to emphasize that the Act does not in any way prohibit you from playing online poker.

Therefore, our business continues as before - open to players worldwide including the US. You may play on our site as you did prior to the Act.

PokerStars believes that poker is a game of skill enjoyed by millions of players and we remain committed to providing you a safe and fun environment in which to play. We value your loyalty to PokerStars, and look forward to continuing to serve you with the best online poker experience, as we have for the past five years, six billion hands, and 40 million tournaments.

PokerStars Management

[pinnie]

OnGame (owned by Bwin) bans U.S. players:

"Bwin has decided to comply with the new legislation and will no longer accept any new U.S.-resident customers for its real money gaming products, effective immediately," the firm said in a statement published on Friday evening.


Bwin only gained access to the U.S. online gambling market in spring when it took over Swedish online poker site Ongame.


http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/arti...ISURE-BWIN.xml

[hdbadboy1997]

It is interesting that Poker sites say that they are open for gaming from residents of the US. I believe that they are since nothing precludes them from staying in business. The real question is how do players in the US fund an account at the sites that still allow US residents to play. I used to use Firepay and they now exclude US residents from making deposits to Poker Sites. I believe Netteller excludes residents of the State of MD (maybe others). What funding options are availabe that allow for the transfer of funds to sites, i.e., Poker Stars.?

[ladygirl99]

What I don't get is how on earth the government would ever police such a thing. I mean, get real. Don't they have more important things to be doing? It's like a cop giving a ticket for jaywalking when there is a guy on the corner getting beat. Priorities man, priorities!

Exactly. I really disliked the Bush admin. and some of them be posing their morals on others too much. I mean just because gambling is wrong that doesn't mean that they should telling others especially grown folks not to gamble.