Full Tilt Poker plays its last hand
The word is out: Full Tilt Poker is no longer allowed to offer poker gambling services to players all over the world. This shocking announcement has been met with dismay by poker fans and the Poker Players Alliance (PPA).
What started as an investigation into the legality of online poker gaming in the USA has resulted in a virtual nationwide ban on all online poker operations. FullTilt Poker is a major casualty of the ongoing litigation and rulings.
AGCC Weighs in With a Crushing Verdict
The decision to suspend Full Tilt Poker’s license was the result of a lengthy investigation by the US DoJ and the FBI. The AGCC announced from the Channel Islands on the 29 June 2011 that they had indeed pulled FTPs license. This means that the said online poker giant will no long be able to offer poker games to players anywhere in the world – effectively freezing the activities of FTP. The news has spread like wildfire across the poker world, raising eyebrows of poker aficionados and gaming pundits alike.
Lead Up to the Shut Down
While Full Tilt Poker was initially ambiguous as to why their website was down earlier in the week, everything was soon revealed in black and white – courtesy of the AGCC. The prepared statement read as follows:
“Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has today issued Hearing Notices under Regulation 46 of its Regulations to Vantage Ltd, Oxalic Ltd, Filco Ltd and Orinic Ltd, collectively trading as FULL TILT POKER…In addition, AGCC has issued Suspension Notices under Regulation 47 to the above named companies requiring them to suspend all operations with immediate effect.”
On April 15th 2011 – a day that came to be known as Black Friday – major US online poker sites faced indictments for what was considered activity contrary to the terms of the UIGEA. The resulting decision to suspend FTPs license was direct consequence of these investigations.
Full Tilt Poker Goes Silent
The decision to pull Full Tilt Poker’s license means they are no longer able to provide gaming services to players the world over. A full investigation is now pending and the AGCC has set the 26th July 2011 as the appeal date for a hearing by FTP. This news was not immediately available to poker players, owing to Full Tilt’s ‘Scheduled Maintenance in Progress’ message online.
But it is the players who fear the worst. FTP was by far one of the most popular online poker rooms with millions of registered players. The decision to cut all services has resulted in a tidal wave of concern among the playing community. Full Tilt Poker is yet to release details on how it plans to deal with withdrawals, the shutdown and the company’s future plans.