We’re not online poker players ourselves, but today we heard that the FBI have closed down a number of Poker sites using the .com suffix.
The FBI have started using a law that allows them to seize the domain names – in this case those of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker. If you try and visit them you’ll see a message from the FBI instead of the poker Website.
Charges filed
Alongside this they’ve also filed charges of bank fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling against Full Tilt Poker CEO Raymond Bitar, PokerStars president Isai Scheinberg and Absolute Poker boss Scott Tom.
It’s understood that US authorities are looking to recover $3Bn from the companies and a federal court has issued an order restraining approximately 76 bank accounts in 14 countries containing the proceeds.
Winnings inaccessible
Many online poker players are finding that their own account holding money are also currently inaccessible.
Gambling in most US states is illegal and it’s been known as a frustration to US authorities that millions of US citizens were playing Poke online.
For general Internet companies and users it’s interesting that it’s possible that even though companies using the .com domains might not be able on US soil, the US officials still have the authority to seize the domains.
Have any Islanders been hit?
We know that there’s online poker players all over the world. Have you been hit by this or know anyone on the Island who has?
