The FBI has shut down three major online poker sites, leaving thousands of players, including British-born Mark Buchan, unable to access their accounts. The sites—Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Absolute Poker—now display notices stating their domain names have been seized by the FBI.
US attorney Preet Bharara has charged the executives of these sites with bank fraud and money laundering, alleging they concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme to circumvent US gambling laws. The charges target Raymond Bitar of Full Tilt Poker, based in Ireland, and executives from PokerStars and Absolute Poker. A civil suit seeks to recover $3bn (£1.8bn) in allegedly illegal profits.
Bharara accused the defendants of tricking some US banks and bribing others to ensure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits, flouting the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. 'Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don't like simply because they can't bear to be parted from their profits,' he said.
Full Tilt Poker responded by stating its belief that online poker is legal, a position supported by some US legal experts. The company said it remains committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law.
Experts suggest the crackdown is driven by both moral concerns and a desire to collect tax revenue. Michael Burke, a former gambling addict and author, noted a huge increase in people seeking help for online gambling problems. He argued that the government's real issue is an inability to tax online gambling effectively. Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University highlighted specific risks of online gambling, including anonymity and disinhibition, but noted that most players do not develop problems.
