Don't be surprised if some US Poker Rooms have even slower payouts soon; Funds Seized

Just when poker players and operators thought it was safe to go back in the water, the USA has again dropped the hammer on another couple of payment processors. The Greenville South Carolina US Attorneys Office and the Secret Service have seized the assets of two international money processing firms. The announcement points to over $2m in “criminal assets” from Prime Investment Ltd. and Trading 24/7 Ltd. whose principals are accused of illegally processing transactions associated with online poker operators.

After tracking he transactions officials said they contacted South Carolina residents to whom the funds were traced. The players confirmed the money was connected to online poker winnings. The sheriff’s office had five officers work with the Secret Service to contact online poker players in upstate South Carolina who were receiving payouts. Nettles said the focus of the investigation was not on the players, but to prevent any money laundering from taking place.

Two foreign-based companies sent more than $40 million into the United States to make payments to players in South Carolina and elsewhere in the country. The names of the two companies were not mentioned.


http://www.online-casinos.com/news/news1410936.asp

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/...et-service-seizes-funds-epic-poker--11221.htm

The USA continues to crack down on online poker in its efforts to wipe the slate clean and get on with legalizing and regulating online gambling in America.

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I'm so sick of this bs. It's nothing but a money grab by the government to get as much as they can from any and all sources and they get to keep it.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has been violated said, US Attorney for the District of South Carolina Bill Nettles adding that other federal laws that deal with fraud and money laundering have also been breached

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Please bring one case-just one-of money laundering to court.

Go figure.. the government at it again....

As it appears the clouds were lifting, again comes the thundering shrieking Hammer of the government to crush all in it's path.
Money Laundering ?
Give us a break and stop crucifying a game and a way of life that once was.
Just another slight set back.

Hoping the future brings promise to online poker in the USA.

I think it's only a matter of time before ALL governments
take over online poker (all gambling) and regulate and tax it.
There is too much money involved for them to ignore.

What is apparent I think, is that the Govt is continuing its assault on online poker, and will not be stopping at PS, FTP and UB/AP. Just a matter of time until they strangle all the others in one way or another. Even if the places stay open, not much fun if you have no way to get the money.

I am currently playing, but any multi-thousand win will immediately send me to withdraw window. Just can't keep money you need for life, online at the moment, or risk large amounts of money parked on the US poker sites.

Hmmm, maybe it's time to make a withdrawal from merge and bodog?

Guys, before the sky comes crashing down on all of you, you might want to consider that payment processors have been seized and funds confiscated for years now. Happened with FT and PS processors quite frequently, often peoples' checks would bounce and they've have to wait for another one to be issued.

Obviously online poker in the US is a risky proposition, but was pre-BF too. A couple more processors going down isn't necessarily the end of poker in the US. It's as risky as every, but not necessarily any more so. Just food for thought...

Hmmm checks might be the best answer or Western union.
I think the REAL mistake was when the bank asked were the money came from the players told the bankers " OH i play ONLINE (illegal) POKER!!! and won it cute stuff, want to go out tonight?" " no im married, security?" hahah

I wish we knew who the processors were, and there is no way I would tell anyone where I got my money from. To be honest it's no bodies business, as long as I didn't steal it or perform a criminal act against another person I should not be obligated to say where it came from. I wish the government would go after the drug dealers and live us poor folk alone

Just got a $200 check from Bodog. It took 12 days from the day I requested it to my door FedEx. I have received checks from them a few times this year and they are very good about it. One of them bounced a few months ago due to a processor out of canada. I wonder if they had some money seized. At any rate, Bodog was quick to have it replaced for me. All good for now. I personally have never left any sizable amount on ANY site for the 7 years I have played. I ALWAYS withdrew large prizes right after the tournament. I have never understood why anyone would leave more money on a site than what they needed for immediate play. Besides you get bonuses for re-depositing! Keep your balances small.

PrinceSheba said:

I have never understood why anyone would leave more money on a site than what they needed for immediate play.

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BRM. If you plan to play at the same stakes forever, then you can withdraw whatever is above your nominal BR for those stakes. But if you're doing well enough to win "big prizes" and withdraw them regularly, then you should be moving up in stakes which dictates leaving a larger amount online.

let's all get together and blow up the white house, give these fools some of their own tactics

I always get my funds by check. I also have a seperate account that this is depoisted in and then withdrawn.

Tinfoil hat on: I wonder if this is all part of an elaborate DOJ plan to eliminate competition before opening up DOJ-sanctioned poker for US players through something like Harrah's -- which of course will be on the hook for reporting players' winnings to the IRS, giving the govt their cut of the $$$.

^^^ There will obviously be tax implications for legal US poker sites. But people get way too caught up in thinking the DOJ is in cahoots with the IRS on anything, or vice-versa. They are independent agencies who don't really work together nor do they typically share jurisdiction. DOJ is Justice, IRS is Treasury, and they typically avoid each other and prosecute their own cases.

Anyone who works with the government will tell you that the big agencies are heavily silo'ed and seldom cooperate. This was one of the big lessons learned after 9/11 between the various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and it still isn't completely resolved.

yeah, it's unfortunate ... i've scraped up $50 on Carbon and well now back to $10 on inter all with freerolls and micros

i just do not feel comfortable depositing in this environment ... but im still having fun and that is why i play

i do feel for those who either play for a living or would like to

i guess the only way to safely do that is casino card rooms