Online Poker Players Dealt A Blow To Gaining Their Gambling Funds
Online poker players who have had their winnings held for the past several years by the US government, were expecting that they would be receiving those winnings soon. Now, it appears that the process may be delayed by a couple of years.
The US government encouraged all online poker players who had money in accounts with PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, among others, to apply for their winnings. They told the players that now that they would be able to claim the money.
On Thursday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Judge Jeffrey Miller denied the request of lawyers from Account Services Inc. and the Poker Players Alliance to return the funds. Now, according to the story, "After Miller ruled against them, it could be years before they see any of their money."
The government began seizing bank accounts that were used to pay oyut US customers ain the early part of the summer. They then moved quickly to indict Douglas Rennick, from Account Services, on money laundering, bank fraud, and illegal gambling charges.
There are several legal issues that need to be worked out in this case. First, the Poker Players Alliance is contending that poker is a game of skill, so therefore it is not illegal. Account Services is arguing that the seized money from the bank accounts was taken without a warrant.
The two arguments will be key moving forward to determine how long the poker players will have to wait to receive their money. The other issue is that some of the sites, such as PokerStars and Full Tilt, have already reimbersed their customers for the funds that were lost.
August 29, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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