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Pokerstars has returned more than US$100m to US online poker players from its “past US-facing operations” nearly a month after 'Black Friday', the operator has told eGaming Review.
In a statement released this afternoon Pokerstars said it had returned the money and that it would continue to “service requests” following the company’s agreement with the US Department of Justice on April 20 that allowed US customers to cash out their balances with the Isle of Man licensed operator. It is unknown if Pokerstars owes any further funds to US players.
An official release from Pokerstars on 27 April confirmed the company had begun the process of returning player funds and that “the funds to cover these withdrawal requests are readily available”.
The founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker were among 11 people accused of alleged bank fraud, illegal gambling offences and money laundering in an indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors on 15 April.
The 52-page indictment and civil complaint seen seeks the forfeiture of at least US$3bn in civil money laundering penalties from the three companies and their defendants, alleging they “deceived or directed others to deceive United States banks and financial institutions into processing billions of dollars in payments.”
Restraining orders were also issued against 76 bank accounts in 14 countries used by the poker companies and their payment processors. Five internet domain names used by the poker companies in the US were also seized. An FBI notice of the indictment charges greeted players seeking to access PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UltimateBet.com, UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com this evening.
Since the indictments only four individuals, all payment processors, have been arrested, charged and bailed.
Full Story Here
In a statement released this afternoon Pokerstars said it had returned the money and that it would continue to “service requests” following the company’s agreement with the US Department of Justice on April 20 that allowed US customers to cash out their balances with the Isle of Man licensed operator. It is unknown if Pokerstars owes any further funds to US players.
An official release from Pokerstars on 27 April confirmed the company had begun the process of returning player funds and that “the funds to cover these withdrawal requests are readily available”.
The founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt and Absolute Poker were among 11 people accused of alleged bank fraud, illegal gambling offences and money laundering in an indictment unsealed by federal prosecutors on 15 April.
The 52-page indictment and civil complaint seen seeks the forfeiture of at least US$3bn in civil money laundering penalties from the three companies and their defendants, alleging they “deceived or directed others to deceive United States banks and financial institutions into processing billions of dollars in payments.”
Restraining orders were also issued against 76 bank accounts in 14 countries used by the poker companies and their payment processors. Five internet domain names used by the poker companies in the US were also seized. An FBI notice of the indictment charges greeted players seeking to access PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, UltimateBet.com, UB.com and AbsolutePoker.com this evening.
Since the indictments only four individuals, all payment processors, have been arrested, charged and bailed.
Full Story Here
