3pm - April 16, 2011
PokerStars begins calling players to assure them in person that their money is secure, as reported by a forum poster on Two Plus Two.
11am - April 16, 2011
Working Full Tilt Poker client available for download on new FTP domain.http://www.fulltiltpoker.co.uk/
10am - April 16, 2011
Full Tilt Poker addresses withdrawals and money in players' accounts.
Statement from Full Tilt Poker Regarding Recent Check Withdrawal Issues
In light of recent events involving the freezing of certain accounts, Full Tilt Poker would like to assure all players that their funds remain safe and secure. Processing of both deposit and withdrawal requests is proceeding as normal and is still available to all of our players.
All players who were affected by the current situation have had their funds returned to their accounts and all new withdrawal requests are proceeding normally. We assure all players on Full Tilt Poker that your playing experience will not change and that you will be able to both deposit and withdraw funds as needed. Your money remains safe, secure and accessible at all times.
Full Tilt Poker remains committed to the protection of our players' security and legal rights, and will continue to provide the best and safest online poker room available worldwide.
8:30pm - April 15, 2011
PokerStars releases a pop-up in their poker client.
Important Notice from PokerStars
As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the US due to legal developments there. The developments are confined to the US and do not have any impact on your ability to continue using our services.
Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the US it is business as usual.
The PokerStars website has been moved to www.pokerstars.eu and our support email address is now support@pokerstars.eu. We apologise to our players for any inconvenience caused by this disruption.
Please be aware that we are currently experiencing a very high volume of emails, so response times are delayed. We will answer player emails as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.
7pm - April 15, 2011
Full Tilt Poker drops a press release addressing the situation.
Dublin Ireland (April 15, 2011)- Full Tilt Poker is saddened by today's charges against its CEO Raymond Bitar and offers its full support to Mr. Bitar and Nelson Burtnick. Online poker is a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States and across the world. And, Full Tilt Poker remains as committed as ever to preserving the rights of those players to play the game they love online. Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal - a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States. Full Tilt Poker is, and has always been committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law. "I am surprised and disappointed by the government's decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick's and my exoneration," said Mr. Bitar. Unfortunately, as a result of this action, Full Tilt Poker has decided that it must suspend "real money" play in the United States until this case is resolved. However, Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide peer-to-peer online poker services outside of the United States.
5pm - April 15, 2011
In response to federal charges Wynn Resorts pulls out of its partnership with PokerStars.com and Station Casinos pulls out of its partnership with Full Tilt Poker.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704628404576265060852516194.html
4pm - April 15, 2011
PokerStars.com relaunches site on http://www.pokerstars.eu/
2:30pm - April 15, 2011
Cash play is locked for US players on PokerStars.
The FBI seizes the domain names PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, AbsolutePoker.com, UltimateBet.com and they are locked by the registrars.
2pm - April 15, 2011
The US Attorney's office in New York communicates in a press release that federal charges including bank fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling have been brought against the three biggest online poker rooms, PokerStars.com, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute/UltimateBet.
Click here for our news story with quotes from the US Attorney.
Visit www.pokerlistings.com