More Doyle and UIGEA thoughts

The other day, I posted how Doyle Brunson was kind enough to make some sort of arrangement with Full Tilt Poker, in that there will be a dollar for dollar transfer for US Players. While I respect the fact that he thought of the US Player when this whole thing went down, I cannot help but recall the words he sent to each and every player shortly after UIGEA was enacted.

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Shortly after UIGEA was enacted, Doyle Brunson sent out the following email:

Hi this is Doyle Brunson,

I know many of you will be concerned and dismayed about the bill signed into law by the President today.I want to confirm to all existing and potential poker players that it’s business as usual here at Doyle’s Room and we continue to accept players from all over the world including the United States of America.

We at Doyle’s Room have taken extensive legal advice and believe that it is far too early to fully understand the implications of this bill on our industry. Based on the legal advice we have received, the new bill does not make internet poker expressly illegal nor does it take aim at players who enjoy online poker. However, there are some U.S. States that have existing regulations in place that may prohibit online gaming, so we encourage all of our U.S. players to review the laws of the State in which they reside.

Until such time as the law becomes clearer, Doyle’s Room will operate as normal with our full exciting range of games and tournaments at all limits. And finally, please rest assured your money is completely secure at Doyle’s Room.

I personally guarantee it.. "

Doyle makes the following claims in his email:

1. Biz as usual at Doyle's Room.
2. All players worldwide are welcome.
3. They've taken legal advice - based on said advice:
a. UIGEA does not make online gambling illegal for US citizens.
b. Certain states within the US prohibit online gaming.
4. Until the laws become clearer, this will be their posture.

With the sale of Tribecca to playtech, this puts Doyle's Room in a "spot." The network in which his poker room resides is moving to a non-US friendly poker network. This result is that US Players are no longer welcome to play at Doyle's Room. Thus, 1 and 2 above no longer apply.

To the best of my knowledge, three A and B are still relivant. Additionally, the laws in which UIGEA stands for are no more clear than they were the day it was signed into law. In fact, I would argue they're moreso vague than they were on the day of signing.

This seems to be moreso of a business decision to go along with exiting the US Market than a legal one. If in fact it was a legal decision - meaning he takes the posture of "this shit is just not legal, Later Americans..." he'd not have cut a deal with Full Tilt to take dollar for dollar transfer of Doyle's Room accounts belonging to the US Players.

Whatever his motivation, this is one less option for US Players still in the game.

What's next for UIGEA?

What now seems like stock speculation, rumours were circulating that Barney Frank (D-MA), Chair of the House Financial Services committee, was considering proposing a two year amnesty on UIGEA pending further study of the law and its effects. "Sources" who understand how our government operates, however, cite doing such a thing would make entirely too much sense for the government to actually propose and follow through on. For that reason, a two year study will most likely happen when common sense actually becomes something every household and member of government possesses.

Then there's the World Trade Organization... The enactment of UIGEA is not in compliance with the WTO's ruling in favor of Antigua over the protectionist policies of UIGEA. While the US will, in my opinion, dismiss the WTO "as is," things "could" get interesting if the European Union steps up to bat for Antigua. Such a move, however, is not a "high priority" on the EU's agenda. The WTO is expected to render their final ruling in March as to whether or not the US is in violation of trade agreements.

What does all of this mean?

Unfortuantely, I have no clue as to what this all means. I do know it's becoming more and more difficult to fund, play, and remove funds on online poker rooms. While the US Government, some online "money movers," and many poker rooms are posturing as if all of this is definitely unlawful, it still remains unclear whether or not online gambling is or is not illegal for the US player.

What does remain clear, however, is that the squeeze is continuing. Hopefully someone will wake up in position of power with the foresight and common sense to do something about it...

Mike

Related Posts

UIGEA repeal in the making?

Doyle Bailing on US

Tribecca headin to playtech

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Noble Poker email

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U.S. Friendly Poker Rooms as of 10/06/2006 11am EDT

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Received from Noble Poker.

Dear Michael,

In light of the new reality about to come into force in the USA with the “Federal Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act”, NoblePoker has regretfully decided to stop accepting new real-money players from the USA. As you are probably aware NoblePoker, is part of the Empire Online group (www.ep.com) and as a public limited company we respect the decision of the United States Congress and will abide by its ruling.What this means for you as a member of our poker room is that you will be unable to place any more bets or make any new deposits, however, you will of course be able to cash-out any money still in your account, in any way you choose. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank-you for choosing to play at NoblePoker, we appreciate your patronage and we look forward to welcoming you back at our tables, under better circumstances in a brighter future.Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us at support@noblepoker.com.

Yours sincerely,
Edward Spencer
ManagerNoble Poker
"The odds are in your favor".

Playtech/ipoker officially pulls out of the US Market

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Reuters is reporting that British Gambling software firm, Playtech would stop licensing and supporting U.S. Focused operators in light of the U.S. gaming ban - news. Furthermore, "playtech will wave its right to any license fee with respect to any revenue generated from U.S. Players (from the date of implementation)."

Once again folks, it's time to bail on playtech and ipoker... pull your money out of the ipoker rooms, who are:

Kiwi Poker,
CD Poker,
Noble Poker,
Titan, Poker,
Poker Ocean,
USA Poker,
Prestige Poker,
BetFred Poker,
Centrebet Poker,
Diamond Club Poker,
Fair Poker,
Poker 770,
Playgate Poker,
Sports Interaction Poker,
Dafa Poker

CheckRayz did not support or promote many of those poker rooms, however, I wish to convey the message to all players in as thorough a manner as possible.

Anyone needing a new poker room to play in can feel free to contact me, either through the CheckRayz website, or via the Poker Pub comments section.

Thanks,

Mike

Abandon ship on Kiwi Poker...

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I'm pulling the abandon ship drill on Kiwi Poker. Apparantly, the rep at Kiwi failed to mention to me that our tourney efforts were suspended. She writes:

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your email. Our latest affiliate private events have been put on hold due the recentUS legislative issues. We could still go ahead with the Checkrayzevents but we will have ask that your tournaments be reconfigured totarget your non-US players.Do you think that this will be possible?

Please let us know and we can help you work out a new schedule.

Regards,
Le

--- Read: they're ditching on us...

Additionally, I've not seen anything indicating our next week's tourney is a go at Noble. I'm hesitant to say it's not going to happen, but I see no reason to believe it will.

More on this as it unfolds.

Mike

Noble, CD Poker talk on US Ban...

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Just received from Empire.

In light of the new reality about to come into force in the USA with the “Federal Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act”, Empire Online has decided to stop accepting new real-money players from the USA. This will come into effect immediately upon President Bush signing the legislation.

We want to assure you that in spite of the changes rippling through our industry we intend to continue our business relationships with all our affiliates. We have been aware of the possibility of this happening for some time now and have taken steps to ensure that the necessary tools and personnel will be available to geo-target traffic from Europe and the rest of the World. There are many emerging markets and these changes provide us with a great opportunity to develop our business further and maximize affiliate profit.

Empire Online has been a market leader within the online gaming industry for many years now, and since our formation in 1998 we’ve evolved and adapted to numerous changes in what has always been a turbulent industry. Empire Online is a solid and stable company with huge resources at its disposal, and we will continue to deal with our partners in an honest and fair manner.

A partnership based on trust and integrity with a shared common goal, should be strong enough to last not only through the good times but also through the bad. We are open to new ideas and will do our best to support you during these uncertain times in any way we can.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact your account manager or our support team at supportcenter@tradal.net.

Yours sincerely,

Affiliate Team EmpireOnline

Titan Poker and Hollywood Poker

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Email from Titan

Dear Michael,

Due to the recent passing of the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act by the United States Senate on September 30, 2006, and its imminent enactment as federal law, we will no longer allow real money gaming activities from United States residents. We regret to inform you that, consequently, we are closing your gaming account at Titan Poker. Your balance is available to you. You may access your account and request the withdrawal of such balance, subject to any conditions that might apply, including bonuses received. We appreciate your patronage, and apologize for any inconvenience caused. We hope to be able to offer to you our services again in the future.

Robin Steele
Manager
Titan Poker

BeerGuy Response: Pussies!

Hollywood Poker Email

Dear imhere4beer,

On September 30th the US Senate passed a bill that would restrict US consumers’ ability to deposit funds to an online gambling business. HollywoodPoker is currently reviewing this recent development.

There are still many unanswered questions and we will notify you with any possible change in our policies or any restrictions in your ability to play on the site as the matter evolves. There are three key items that we can tell you right now:

1. Your money is completely safe at HollywoodPoker. Your money is kept in a segregated account at one of the largest International banks.

2. You always have 24/7 access to your account funds. You will always be able to get to your money.

3. Your satisfaction is our primary goal and we will continue to keep you apprised of the situation and welcome your feedback.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at the support forum (http://forum.hollywoodpoker.com) or contact us by email at support@hollywoodpoker.com

Sincerely,

The HollywoodPoker Team
support@hollywoodpoker.com
www.HollywoodPoker.com
Where the "Stars" Come to Play

BeerGuy response: thanks for sticking with us guys!

Celeb, Kiwi Poker Pulling out of US Market

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Celeb Poker - US Players advised to withdraw ASAP

Dear US Player,

We regret to inform you that as a result of legislation regarding internet gambling in the US; from the 12th October 23:00 GMT we will not be allowed to process US transactions. In light of this we urge all our US players to withdrawal all funds from their accounts as soon as possible.
This decision has been made by the network, Boss Media’s general counsel. Please find attached the official notification.

We are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience this causes, and would like to wish all our US players the very best.

Kind regards,

CelebPoker

Official Notification from Celeb Poker/Boss Media

To all CelebPoker (Boss Media) players 2006-10-05

We regret to inform you that Celebpoker.com will no longer be allowed to let US players access its products and services due to the forthcoming ban on Internet gambling payment processing in the United States.

This means that US players resident in the United States will not be allowed to play on any of the casino, poker or lottery products licensed from Boss Media, or use any payment service provided by Webdollar.

Boss Media will implement this policy by blocking all US registrations on Boss Media licensed products by Friday October 6, 23.00 (GMT). The second step in the implementation of the policy will be taken Thursday October 12, 23.00 (GMT), by blocking all US players from playing on any Boss Media licensed products.

In addition to this, deposits by US players will be blocked on Friday October 6, 23.00 GMT, and on Thursday October 12, 23.00 (GMT), Boss Media will block all withdrawals from Webdollar accounts by US players.
In the light of the above we urge all US CelebPoker customers to withdraw any funds held in their Webdollar account as soon as possible.

The formal ground for Boss Media’s actions can be found on this link:

http://investors.bossmedia.com/index.php?p=press&id=1050800&lang=en.

General Counsel

Boss Media AB

BeerGuy Note: This gives us time to act... feelings aside.

---

Here's a letter I received from the marketing end of Kiwi Poker regarding how I'm compensated on US Play going forward:

Kiwi Poker

Hi Michael

We would just like to reassure you that you will still receive a
percentage share of revenue from your US traffic until the Federal Unlawful
Gambling Enforcement Act is signed into law, however we will no longer
accept NEW US players on a CPA basis from midday today (October 5, 2006
12:00 EST).

Kiwi Gaming has been making inroads into new markets in anticipation
that this move was on the cards, and we are now in a unique position to
move forward, with your help, and capitalize on this in a number of
different ways.

Over the last six years Kiwi Gaming has built one of the largest and
most successful online bingo communities in the world. On the back of
this success we have moved into the lucrative UK bingo market, where the
Blackpool Bingo and Kiwi Bingo brands are instantly recognizable. In
fact Blackpool Bingo is the only independent UK Bingo Network running on
Playtech’s sophisticated software.

We have also taken the same successful formula that saw Kiwi Casino
named Online Casino of the Year in 2001 and expanded into the rapidly
growing Japanese, European and UK online casino markets, which has also
proved very receptive to our other brands including FastWin Casino, Tiki
Bingo and Kiwi Poker.

As you know Kiwi Gaming forms part of the land based Christchurch
Casino in New Zealand, and this affiliation brings with it over a decade of
experience in the gaming industry while Kiwi Gaming’s six years online
make it one of the industry’s pioneers.

We will work closely with you and provide all the tools needed to
operate successfully in these new markets. You will still receive a
percentage share of revenue from your US traffic until the Federal Unlawful
Gambling Enforcement Act is signed into law.

If you have any questions about this or how we move forward together
from here then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind Regards

Gaming Partners and Kiwi Gaming

BeerGuy Note: They're pulling out and I'll be surprised to hold 1 tourney there this month.

More as it comes... On the agenda today, rearranging the promotions page, sending a mailing out regarding our status and poker rooms, and finding potential replacements for our tourneys...

More as it develops,

Mike

more poker room letters

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Hollywood Poker

HollywoodPoker is currently reviewing the recent developments in the US. There are still many unanswered questions and we will notify you with any possible change in our policies as the matter evolves.There are five important key items that we can tell you right now:

1. We continue to accept players from all markets.

2. You and your players’ monies are completely safe at HollywoodPoker. The money is kept in a segregated account at one of the largest International banks.

3. You and your players’ always have 24/7 access to account funds. You will always be able to get to your money.

4. Payouts remain unchanged and occur twice monthly.

5. Your satisfaction is our primary goal and will continue to keep you apprised of the situation and welcome your feedback.

Regards,

Michael Hales
Hollywood Affiliate Relationship Manager



Jungle Poker

Dear Poker Player,

With the recent developments in the US, we wanted to let you know that JunglePoker will continue to service new and existing players from the United States. Our business will continue to run as usual.

JunglePoker is a privately held business located wholly outside the United States. JunglePoker operations are 100% legal under International and Costa Rican law. New legislation will not criminalize individuals for playing poker online. Instead, the bill will eventually attempt to prevent the transfer of funds to online gaming.

As poker is a game of skill rather than pure chance, we hope that it will not be affected by this new bill. JunglePoker will continue to offer United States customers the very best in Online Poker with the fastest secure deposit and payout solutions.

All new and existing customers should be 100% confident in playing with the very best at JunglePoker. You will still be able to deposit and withdraw money from the site and your money will remain completely safe and secure.

JunglePoker assures you that your online poker experience at JunglePoker will not change, and that you will be able to continue to enjoy our wonderful pokerroom.

Thank you,

Team Jungle Poker

ipoker network

Filed under: Poker News, iPoker Network

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Just when I thought I was ready to begin singing the ipoker network praise... It was discovered by my CheckRayz membership that ipoker has a new policy in place, seemingly in place since Sept 21st. This policy affects all ipoker rooms, Titan Poker, Kiwi Poker, USA Poker, and Noble Poker, among others. This policy allows for players (going forward) to have only 1 real money poker account per player. This means that anyone who downloaded any of the ipoker clients and registered a real money account through any of us at the SPN will not be permitted to open new accounts in the future at other poker rooms.

On a personal note, I think this policy sucks! For one, it restricts one's freedom of choice. What if, for example, someone downloads kiwi poker, has a bad experience with their top notch customer support desk, and wants to go to another ipoker client, such as Noble poker? They're stuck if they wish to play on this network. Additionally, the ability to bonus whore, compete in leaderboard events (such as mine) or move to newer poker rooms with a certain nitch market within the ipoker network are no longer an option. They might as well make 1 huge Ipoker room, and forget about the various brands at this point. Everyone wear uniforms, as you're all the same now... Garbage.

I have contacted ipoker and am awaiting a response. I suspect I will hear something about "blah blah blah, best interest of the customer, blah blah blah, protecting the brand, blah blah blah (insert blowing smoke up a$$ statement of choice here).

I can understand a policy similar to that of microgaming (sorry Norm), where they require everyone to have 1 screenname, yet allow the poker players access to all microgaming rooms. I'm known as the same player at 32 red as I am at River Belle Poker... but I am allowed access to both rooms. I cannot understand the logic behind restricting my freedom of choice...

More on the ipoker situation

In comments, Mitch writes:

Yeah, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. At work we have several
websites that basically accomplish the same goal just aimed at different
markets
and have slightly different structures. However if someone signs up
at one site
we aren't going to restrict them from having another account at
one of our other
sites. The only thing we try to keep them from doing is
from having multiple
accounts at the same site.

That's almost like
saying to a Sam's Club member that you can only go
to the store you signed
up at and no where else ... Not the best example, but
all I can think of.

Mitch

To which, I respond:

I agree Mitch. A poker room joins the network so they can have other players that help to seemingly fill their tables and play in their tourneys (giving me "action" so to speak without too many growing pains).

Said poker room is independant of one another within the network, only coming in contact with one another's players. Theoretically, I am and should be free to choose which poker room/rooms I wish to access the network through.

The networking concept is similar to a co-operative, where a group of companys form a group to increase their buying power and the co-operative negotiates favorable rates for all their members within a network of vendors. Each member of the co-op may purchase as he/she sees fit (within the rules) from any approved vendor. Each vendor in turn, may market to each member of the co-op as they see fit (within the rules).

Now, if the group of companys formed one huge company, as opposed to a co-op, then we're really only dealing with one massive corporation, not a group of companies. So, which is ipoker, a co-op network of sorts or is it a big company?

Mike

More Comments from the Trenches...

I've still not directly heard back from any ipoker reps. It does seem that the Poker Pub reader's voices are speaking up though. The comments continue to pour in...

Joey from EatSleepPoker writes:

I have noticed Titan's email support to be a little sketchy but wow I was
not aware of this. This is horse shit! I agree with all your points above and if
they are going to do this, why don't they just make one big hoplah room and call
it good.

Regards,

Joey

I respond:

From my experiences, Titan's support is not really strong, though they did come through for me the one time I needed them (took them six tries, but they came through no less). They probably benefit the most from this because they have been the monsters in marketing of the ipoker rooms.

I suggest people begin writing the poker rooms they have an account with in protest of this. In fact, I'll work on organizing a list of contacts and their email addresses.

Mike

Little Bro writes:

What's really lame about the whole thing is the fact that they cannot link
back to the one real money account. Also, from their error messages it really
isn't clear why I can't play with real money. All it tells me is that I already
have a real account and the cashier is not available. It's bad design
really.

Steveman

I reply...

No one ever accused the playtech software of having a superior design and/or feel, though they've come quite a long way... I'm still waiting for the four color deck...

Again, I do agree this is lame.

Mike

More to come as it's received...