Poker Players Alliance says US Govt Froze $30 Million in Players Withdrawals

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SlipperyPete

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I dont know this sucks though, I was in the middle of a cashout and stars sent me an email while the check was already on its way saying it was denied. Why does the U.S. government have to be so goddamn retarded. If gambling is so horrible why the **** do they have video poker and scratch its with zero skill. Frustrating.

Best thing we can all do is start firing off emails. There is nothing else we can do.
 
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SlipperyPete

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jamesdenson said:
no what they siezed was from online processors like ewallet clicktopay and such if you have them send you a paper check your bank can cash it
I had cashed out prior to the freeze but as my paper check was en route I got this email. So it is not just payment processors that are frozen. Stars actual bank accounts are frozen at the moment.

http://img191.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pokerstarsaccount.jpg


So although you are correct, check cash out will work for now, you are wrong about what the government has seized. Also I wouldn't just keep going about my business playing on stars carefree, at some point something is going to get worse than it already is and we will not even be able to cash out with checks. Start sending out those emails cardschat friends.
 
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NoWuckingFurries

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This is tiresome BS! Why must they control everything we do. Why don't they just legalize it, take their cut like the bloody thieves they are and be done with it. I'm tired of them taking our freedom and the citizens giving it to them. I sware, every day they give us a new reason to leave this country before it becomes just like every other that slowly succumbed to Socialism.:mad:
You don't need to leave the country. All it needs is people that are not simply content to cry about it in a thread like this, and are actually willing to get up off their backsides and fight it.

No way is this a "tin foil hat" type of issue, such as deporting all immigrants, or legalizing cannabis. This is a serious infringement of your civil liberties. The reason they are succeeding is because so many gamblers have low self esteem, and simply let them get away with it. Fortunately poker players tend to be a little more aggressive and assertive than your average gambler, so hopefully you guys will start to stand up and fight back!
 
Crummy

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Ok.... so maybe I'm a little slow this morning.... The US Government JUST recently froze $30M in withdraws, or is this just a followup to the whole thing that happened months back?
 
zachvac

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I just heard on a major New Network and also, read the CC threads, that the US Government has seized or frozen on line poker accounts to the sum of 34 Million dollars or so.

It appears they are attempting to put a stop to On Line Poker in the USA.

Does that mean, that all this on line poker playing is now just for play money, since no one is going to get a payout?

mange
No, payouts are back up again. Furthermore it's obvious to just about everyone that what they did was illegal (remember the UIGEA regulations even say that cashouts are still 100% legal and only attempt to stop deposits, and of course they need warrants to do anything) and the PPA has already said they are going to fight this case in court. Obviously this stuff takes time and who knows how long it will take. The bigger concern in Stars/FTP seeing all the trouble (they're currently eating the money) and deciding serving the US market isn't worth it like partypoker.



I had cashed out prior to the freeze but as my paper check was en route I got this email. So it is not just payment processors that are frozen. Stars actual bank accounts are frozen at the moment.

http://img191.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pokerstarsaccount.jpg


So although you are correct, check cash out will work for now, you are wrong about what the government has seized. Also I wouldn't just keep going about my business playing on stars carefree, at some point something is going to get worse than it already is and we will not even be able to cash out with checks. Start sending out those emails cardschat friends.
No Stars bank accounts are not frozen. Their bank accounts are in foreign countries where the US has absolutely no jurisdiction. The accounts frozen were the accounts of the payment processors in the United States which is why the US-based checks were bouncing. The one thing I do agree is sending those emails and getting to action.


Ok.... so maybe I'm a little slow this morning.... The US Government JUST recently froze $30M in withdraws, or is this just a followup to the whole thing that happened months back?
They recently froze it as in within the last week or two.
 
Crummy

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No Stars bank accounts are not frozen. Their bank accounts are in foreign countries where the US has absolutely no jurisdiction. The accounts frozen were the accounts of the payment processors in the United States which is why the US-based checks were bouncing. The one thing I do agree is sending those emails and getting to action.

They recently froze it as in within the last week or two.

Thanks for the response.
Yeah to add to what you said about the PS bank accounts..... All online sites use some sort of payment processor in the US to allow our US banks to cash the checks..... If you walked into your bank with a $12,000 check from some oversea's country, your bank probably would start asking questions and possibly not cash or deposit your check. Last time I made a withdraw from bodog, the check came from NY.

So I just went to Click2Pay.com to maybe sign up an account (or at least get the details on the service) and it just told me that I'm using an IP not that is not in the US lol..... Got to love Level3!
 
Debi

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Yea - the deposit dept at pokerstars said I could use Click2Pay but it wouldn't let me sign up either. I sent them an email and got this response:

Thank you for contacting the CLICK2PAY Serviceteam.

Unfortunately it is not possible to register with CLICK2PAY from the US.

We would like to ask for your understanding in this matter.

Should you have further questions about the information given above, please
reply directly to this email including our original text and ticket number.
This will help us to deal with your inquiry much faster.

Please note: CLICK2PAY will never ask you via e-mail to disclose your login
details on the Internet or to disclose or confirm your login details via
telephone or fax.

Thank you for using CLICK2PAY.

Kind regards

Anne Winkler
CLICK2PAY Serviceteam
 
Crummy

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lol ok... Then why have a US phone number (which is still an international DID) and say that registration is limited to the US, UK, ect.. Either we are confused, or they are....
 
MrMuckets

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Does anyone know the trick of using a Canadian address and a shadow IP? I read how to do it once on a site but don't know where it was or how to do it.
 
buckster436

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yup was just gonna post this,it is in my local paper today,, guess its another blow to us Law Abiding U.S. Citizens, were over 21, obey the law, (most of the times,lol ), pay taxes, and are generally good people, and they dont want us to play poker online, its a Shame you cant do what you want in your own home, were not selling drugs or murdering people, Ah, the good old U.S. Govt. SUX,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, buck:mad:
 
cool32steve

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I have tried contacting my State Senator, and this is what I recieved:

Thank you for contacting me about Internet gambling. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

As you may know, Internet gambling websites operate primarily from foreign countries, despite that a majority of customers reside in America. Placing bets online violates state law, and to date no state has authorized citizens located within the United States to place bets with offshore websites. Additionally, current federal laws—the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act, the Travel Act, and the Gambling Devices Transportation Act—reinforce state gambling laws, and make any violation of state gambling laws a federal offense. In addition, a provision was included in the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act (P.L. 109–347) that would prevent the use of credit cards, and fund transfers for unlawful Internet gambling.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers relevant legislation during the 111th Congress. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator





517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

Please sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/newsletter.

So, anyone from Texas, I guess you know who not to vote for..........:cool:
 
zachvac

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Does anyone know the trick of using a Canadian address and a shadow IP? I read how to do it once on a site but don't know where it was or how to do it.

Nothing pisses me off more than Congressmen who don't understand the laws and try to pretend they do.
 
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Frustrating!

I have two thoughts... One, I've never made a deposit. My starting chips were granted from the pokersite. Therefore, all of my play is based on $0 risked and is not gambling, it is play.

Two, I think the real reason they want to stop this is the uncontrolled transfer of funds that players from anywhere are capable of doing. I send you FT $, you send it to Osama_straightflush and he can then ship it where ever his needs are. Nobody is controlling the transfer of funds etc.

I don't think that they really give two sh!ts about US poker players. Just review the money transfers from the 2p2 thread on UB from last year. Huge sums of $ were flying around and nobody was watching the shop.

Unfortunately our backwards elected reps. don't understand that it would be better to legalize it for US players at established US sites only, keeping all the $ inside the borders along with the profits, jobs, ad dollars, etc. He11, they could even make a few tax dollars off of it. Stupid government thinking.

Sorry for the rant.
Mkuz
 
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mange

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Not playing against the house.

I wonder if these idiots realize that in On Line Poker, we are not playing against the house. But, against each other.

The poker sites get their revenue through rakes.

Not like the "brick and mortar" where one plays against the house.

Just my two cents worth.

mange
 
Crummy

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I wonder if these idiots realize that in On Line Poker, we are not playing against the house. But, against each other.

The Poker Sites get their revenue through rakes.

Not like the "brick and mortar" where one plays against the house.

Just my two cents worth.

mange

As far as poker goes weather its brick and mortar or online its all the same, your playing against each other. Unless your playing 3 card poker, then your playing against the house.
 
PUMA_2010

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So, anyone from Texas, I guess you know who not to vote for..........:cool:

Wow...you would think members of the Texas Government would lean more towards legalizing and supporting online poker players. As A Texas citizen myself, I am VERY disappointed in the response you received. Who are they to tell me how the hell I can spend MY money?!

They say they are trying to prevent people from "losing everything", "becoming addicted", and from being "compulsive gamblers", but if I recall, doesn't investing in stocks, betting on horse racing, and playing the lottery have the SAME DAMN POSSIBILITIES!?!?!? :mad: :banghead: :mad:
 
zachvac

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I am just curious... would it be bad right now to buy into a poker site?

No. If your bank does not block your transaction you are legally allowed to receive cashouts and that will not change any time soon. However if the government insists on attempting to break their own laws it is possible you may not get it as quickly as you should. So if it's money you will likely need on short notice then don't deposit imo but if it is expendable money that you can wait a few weeks to withdraw then deposit imo. Also note that even though the checks were bouncing the sites had new processors and were sending out new checks in under a week I believe. Also all people who had checks bounce were compensated for it by I believe 10% but obviously that doesn't help if one relied on the payment to pay a bill or something.

Anyway long story short not bad to buy in unless you rely on poker cashouts to pay bills on short notice.
 
undone

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Okay so you are sure that is 100% legal for me to deposit at this time? i know i am sounding stupid.. but i would rather not get into legal trouble for something i love so much...
 
zachvac

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Okay so you are sure that is 100% legal for me to deposit at this time? i know i am sounding stupid.. but i would rather not get into legal trouble for something i love so much...

Well I am not a lawyer and there are some who claim the laws say depositting is illegal. There is likely to be a court case in the near future to basically decide once and for all who's right. From what I've read we are extremely likely to win that.

However, millions of people have depositted and played online and there has yet to be one single lawsuit. The bigger trouble you have is the bank not allowing you to send money to poker sites. The government's current approach is towards the banks, not the players. The one exception is also if you live in a state where it is illegal such as Washington where I believe it is actually a felony to play. But barring a state law, it is my opinion that you are perfectly fine depositting and keeping money online. I've done it, hundreds of others here from the US have done it, and at this point in time you basically have nothing to worry about.
 
undone

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Okay.. yea i am actaully going to deposit with a Simons gift card... so i guess i will not be going through my bank.. this is just crazy.. and i really wish we did not have to worry about this... poker is a skill... and its a fun game for people to play... i dont really intend on making millions playing poker... just playing for money and having a good time winning a little and losing a little and learning the game as best as i can...

thanks for your help zach... i really appreciate it
 
PattyR

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this is such horseshyt.....

how do they not have anything better to do than this....

such a shame....

hopefully this isn the end of online poker? :(
 
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SlipperyPete

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No Stars bank accounts are not frozen. Their bank accounts are in foreign countries where the US has absolutely no jurisdiction. The accounts frozen were the accounts of the payment processors in the United States which is why the US-based checks were bouncing. The one thing I do agree is sending those emails and getting to action.
my bad, jumped to conclusions. I was just pissed when I heard the news and didn't do my research. However the important thing is right now to fight this like you've said.

this is such horseshyt.....

how do they not have anything better to do than this....

such a shame....

hopefully this isn the end of online poker? :(
For real, in a time where the economy is down the drain, states are scrambling to find money, wars going on overseas, we decide ending online poker is a priority. I would rather be taxed on my withdrawals than not be able to play at all.
 
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Baby Jesus

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Does anyone know the trick of using a Canadian address and a shadow IP? I read how to do it once on a site but don't know where it was or how to do it.
Don't know about a shadow acct but change your proxy to a anonymous proxy, that's what i do when me and my wife what to play in the same mtt and when Doyles Room band my ip last year during this same sh_t.
I hope it works it self out again.I wonder how much there going to get this time.They do this with a few other industries they deem them illegal and seize everything but don't tell you to close down,they give you a court date that gets pushed back.Then they come to you and say that if you forfeit your property they won't prosecute you.They do this all the time to many different industries.ITS A SHAKE DOWN.Then a year our two later they come back and do it again its f...ing amazing.Even the FBI guy was shaking his head and apologizing and said that the order comes from the high ups....tax it so we can play with out delay...There going to get there money anyway..
 
pokermajick

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Hopefully All this gets sorted out soon.
It is crazy though where I live there are a dozen casinos and the government is okay with that.
Then again most of these are Native American Casinos so the US doesn't hold all the power.
Maybe that is what should happen here in the US. Maybe they should open up Native American ran online poker rooms. I just might work.

Just my .02
See you at the felt.
 
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