Players React to U.S. Online Poker Crackdown
The Twitterverse exploded this afternoon following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Justice had indicted the ownership behind such American-friendly online poker as PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, UB.com, and Absolute Poker. The DoJ has issued arrest warrants against 11 owners of these sites for several transgressions, including money laundering, bank fraud, and violations of the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“Ummmm this can’t be good… GG online poker,” asserted Christian “charder30” Harder over his Twitter feed.
Poker super agent Brian Balsbaugh commented over Twitter, “Words I’m hearing: ‘Interpol,’ ‘Seizure,’ and ‘Disenfranchise.’” Poker’s Godfather, Doyle Brunson, observed, “The DOJ must not have anything much to do. They just indicted 11 people from Full Tilt, UB, and PokerStars.”
The World Poker Tour’s “Raw Deal” host Tony “Bond_18” Dunst stated, “Seems s**t is hitting the fan in the U.S., be interesting to see how this pans out.”
Following the release of the indictment against the four major U.S.-facing sites, players began to notice that they were being blocked from access to PokerStars, Full Tilt, Absolute Poker, and UB.com. “PokerStars already blocking U.S. customers from real money games,” Jonathan “FatalError” Aguiar Tweeted on Friday afternoon. “The Mayans were only 18 months off predicting the end of the world, pretty impressive.”
Jeff “yellowsub86” Williams attempted to log in and play at PokerStars after the announcement of the DoJ action. Once he was unsuccessful in getting into a game, he Tweeted, “Can’t play MTTs/cash games or transfer funds on PokerStars anymore, will the other sites follow suit?”
“Every few months, people think the sky is falling in online poker,” Tweeted European Poker Tour champion Mike “Timex” McDonald. “For the first time ever, I’m one of them.” DonkDown Radio’s Bryan “The Icon” Micon seemed to sum up a majority of thoughts: “Holy s**t. In the back of my mind I always knew I might wake up to a s**tstorm like this.”
What may be particularly shocking about this afternoon’s actions is a somewhat cavalier attitude from many of the players who have been a part of the online poker community. Team UB’s Adam “Roothlus” Levy Tweeted, “I know I’m supposed to be mad about all this online poker hubbub, but I’m at Coachella bitches!”
The 2011 weekend of concerts in the desert of California seemed to be a popular destination, as Phillip “USCphildo” Collins (“Looks like online poker is going down. Glad I’m as far away from it as possible…on a bus heading to Coachella 2011”) and Peter Jetten (“Whoa crazy DoJ raid, no idea what is really happening just going to sort it out later and party at Coachella”) Tweeted their thoughts on Friday’s actions.
The actions by the U.S. government have left many in the poker community considering their options. Matt “All In At 420” Stout commented over Facebook, “Everyone else is freaking about online poker being shut down in the U.S….I’m just trying 2 decide between Vancouver and Amsterdam!” Aguiar had similar thoughts: “Move to Canada or become live poker grinder? That is the question.” Absolute Poker’s Trishelle Cannatella echoed, “Costa Rica is looking real nice right now.”
Two other pros took the DoJ announcement as a signal to head to the live poker arena. “Looks like it’s time to lace up those live poker shoes,” Victory Poker pro Jonathan “FieryJustice” Little Tweeted late Friday afternoon.
Jean-Robert Bellande issued a Tweet for those who are shut out of the online action: “Attn onliners! Perhaps its time to give live poker a try. Come play with me @ARIAPoker and ask about casino rate. I need to build my roll!”
On a final note, noted World Poker Tour live reporter B.J. Nemeth summed up the government’s actions on Friday by Tweeting, “For the record, today’s poker news has nothing to do with recent poker industry news or deals. This has been a long time coming.”
Related Poker News:
- Professional Poker Players React to Online Gambling Bill
- Bankers React to Online Poker Legislation
- How to Recognize Tells While Playing Online Poker
- Pigskin Diaries Week 3: Read and React
- Players React to the First Epic Poker League Event
- Americans React to Wall Street Crisis By Playing More Poker
- Parishioners React to Priest’s PokerStars Million Dollar Challenge Run
- $10/$20 Limit Holdem Strategy with CardRunners
- Anurag Dikshit’s Sale of Party Gaming Stock Receives Mixed Reaction
- New Tools for Online Poker Players in the New Year
- Players React to Full Tilt Poker Crackdown on Poker Tracking Sites
- Online Poker Player Cashes in WPT
Poker jargon:
- BAD-BEAT JACKPOT - In some cardrooms, a prize that is shared by the players in a game, when a very good hand (usually Aces full, or better) is beaten by a higher hand. Jackpots are usually financed by taking a drop ($1 is a common amount) from every pot. A typical division of the jackpot will give the losing hand 50 %, the winning hand 25 %, and the other players at the table share the remaining 25 % of the Jackpot.
- RING GAME - A standard game where players can come and go as they choose. The opposite of TOURNAMENT.
- OVER - A term used in describing two pair or a full house. "Kings over tens" means two pair, kings and tens. "Jacks over", also "Jacks up" describes a hand that is two pair: Jacks with an unspecified lower pair. Also used to describe a full house, distinguishing the three of a kind from the pair. The hand J-J-J-A-A could be described as "Full house, Jacks over Aces".
- TOP PAIR - In flop games, having a hole card that matches the highest card on the board.
- BUNNY - An eight. So named because one can easily draw "rabbit ears" above the numeral 8, "paws" in the middle and "feet" at the bottom. (Do this only at home, and not on cards that will be used for play.)
- LAY ODDS - To give favorable odds to an opponent.
RSS feed
