Full Tilt Poker Grand Jury Investigation
It has been reported that a federal grand jury in Manhattan is investigating Full Tilt Poker. Allegations of money laundering violations seem to be one of the biggest concerns according to information in an article in the Financial Times. Chris Ferguson and Howard Lederer seem to have been specifically targeted by this probe and could possibly face indictments.
A company spokesperson for Full Tilt Poker said that reports by Financial Times regarding an alleged Manhattan grand jury investigation is news to them. “We are not aware of any grand jury investigation of Tiltware or any related individual or entity, and the company’s position is that it has done nothing wrong. We are not going to comment about a speculative grand jury investigation that we are not aware of and we have no idea what, if anything, they are investigating.”
Kentucky Tries a New Angle on Legal Issues with Online Gambling Domains
Kentucky has been in the news in regard to their attempt to seize 141 online gambling domains and now it seems they are also trying a new angle. They are claiming that Pocket Kings owes them monies “lost between March 25, 2005 and September 25, 2009 by persons located within the borders of Kentucky.”
Pocket Kings is the owner and operator of Full Tilt Poker, which is one of the domains being targeted. The court filing calls for Pocket Kings to refund the state of Kentucky “the amount of money lost between March 25, 2005 and September 25, 2009 by persons located within the borders of Kentucky,” as well as any legal costs.
It has been recently announced that they have decided to sue Full Tilt Poker and other online poker sites including Absolute Poker, UltimateBet, Doyles Room, PokerStars to name just a few.
“The Full Tilt Defendants have done, or have caused to be done, tortuous acts in the Commonwealth for which the Commonwealth has a substantial and compelling interest in exercising personal jurisdiction,” the comlaint says, using an oral statement made by the IGC before an earlier court of appeals hearing that over 13,000 people in Kentucky play online poker.
An Online Poker Player’s Feelings on the Legal Issues with Online Gambling
The United States really needs to get a grip when it comes to regulating online gambling, especially poker. These claims and allegations seem to be a way for states facing huge deficits to try and fleece some money from online poker sites to try and plug the holes in their budgets. These are frivolous claims as far as I am concerned and it will not stop me from logging on to PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker or PDC Poker anytime I may be in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
If you are an online poker player, do not let these states influence how you feel you should use your hard earned money. I believe that sites such as PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and PDC Poker should be applauded for continuing to allow players from the U.S. to play poker for real money on their sites. Be assured that you can continue to deposit and withdraw real money from these sites as well as several others including UltimateBet.
Stand up for your right to use your cash the way you want to. If you are an online poker player, join the Poker Player’s Alliance now. Then contact your local U.S. Senators and Congressman and tell them to support poker.
