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US Poker Players Face New Non-Payment Threat by Authorities
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12 June 2009
June 12 - Federal prosecutors in the United States have demanded that several top banks freeze payment to thousands of players who regularly take up online poker as a form of leisurely entertainment.
The four banks involved, including Citibank and Wells Fargo, were asked to withhold the payment constituting around $35 million to 27,000 online poker players.
The Executive Director of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), John Pappas, told the media that in the last fortnight, the banks had been approached by the authorities, asking them to freeze the accounts of two companies - Account Services and Allied Systems - who process payouts for online poker sites.
While the authorities in New York refused to comment on the matter, there is no denying that this has been the case since a spokesman for Citibank confirmed that a request of this nature had been received. The bank will comply with the request, said the spokesman.
The problem first came to light after echecks issued to online poker players by sites such as Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker started to bounce over last weekend.
It was quickly discovered that the government was behind the problem, although, as noted, no confirmation has been forthcoming.
John Pappas said that he has been assured by the poker sites that they would pay poker players whatever they were owed by their sites.
The government`s new move has been described as "very aggressive" by Prof. I. Nelson Rose, a specialist in gambling law. "I think it`s a gamble on the part of the prosecutors," he said.
The PPA issued a letter to the assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York, saying: "The PPA will pursue every legal course available to ensure that poker players` funds are not seized and their right to play poker online is protected."
Posted by: Renee at 01:03
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