Das lange Warten hat endlich ein Ende. Heute gab PokerStars die offizielle Pressemitteilung über die Einigung mit dem Departement of Justice (DOJ) heraus. Hauptbestandteil ist die Übernahme von Full Tilt Poker. Full Tilt geht wieder online – und innerhalb von 90 Tagen werden alle Spieler ausbezahlt.
Die Pressemitteilung verspricht den offiziellen Abschluss des Deals innerhalb von sieben Tagen. Danach werden alle Spieler außerhalb der USA innerhalb von 90 Tagen ausbezahlt. Auch die Spieler in den USA werden ihr Geld zurückerhalten, allerdings ist dafür das DOJ verantwortlich.
Hauptpunkt der Verhandlungen war die Rückzahlung der Spieler. Full Tilt Poker wird zunächst wieder online gehen, um den Spielern die Auszahlung zu ermöglichen. Was genau mit Full Tilt passieren wird, steht noch nicht fest. Aber Full Tilt wird als eigene Seite mit eigener Software und eigenen Aktionen wieder online gehen und PokerStars wird sich darum kümmern, das Vertrauen der Spieler in die Seite und Online-Poker im Allgemeinen wieder aufzubauen. Die entsprechende Lizenz wird auf der Isle of Man erteilt werden.
Das Wichtiges ist aber – alle Spieler, die so lange gewartet haben, bekommen ihr Geld zurück. Was Full Tilt als „Konkurrenz“ zu PokerStars den Spielern bieten wird, wird die Zeit zeigen. Der Black Friday gehört damit schon fast der Vergangenheit an – auch wenn die Community lange darauf gewartet hat.
Die Pressemitteilung im englischen Original:
POKERSTARS SETTLES DISPUTE WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND ACQUIRES ASSETS OF FULL TILT POKER
ONCHAN, ISLE OF MAN – July 31, 2012 – PokerStars today announced that the Company has reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Southern District of New York. As part of the settlement agreement, PokerStars has also acquired the assets of Full Tilt Poker, and has committed to the full reimbursement of Full Tilt Poker customers outside the United States.
The total amount to be paid by PokerStars is USD$547 million which will be payable over a period of three years. The money paid to the US Government will in part be used to reimburse former Full Tilt Poker customers in the United States, through a remission process to be administered by the Department of Justice. PokerStars repaid all amounts owing to its own U.S. customers shortly after it closed its U.S. operations.
PokerStars will also make available in a segregated bank account, all outstanding balances owing to all non-U.S. customers of Full Tilt Poker (an amount totalling USD$184 million), with no restrictions on withdrawals, within 90 days of completing this transaction. PokerStars has remained open for non-U.S. players, with all its licenses in good standing, without interruptions.
Under the agreement with the Department of Justice, PokerStars does not admit to any wrongdoing. Furthermore, the agreement explicitly permits PokerStars to apply to relevant U.S. gaming authorities, under both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker brands, to offer real money online poker when State or Federal governments introduce a framework to regulate such activity.
PokerStars plans to re-launch Full Tilt Poker in most markets as a separate brand, following the appointment of a new, independent management team. Full Tilt Poker’s operations will continue to be run from Dublin, but regulatory oversight will be transferred to the Isle of Man. Further details of these plans will be announced shortly.
“We are delighted we have been able to put this matter behind us, and also secured our ability to operate in the United States of America whenever the regulations allow,” said Mark Scheinberg, Chairman of the Board of PokerStars. “This outcome demonstrates our continuing global leadership of the online poker industry, and our commitment to working with governments and regulators to ensure the highest standards of protection for players.”
“Acquiring certain assets of Full Tilt Poker strengthens PokerStars, brings welcome relief to Full Tilt Poker players who have been waiting over 12 months for repayment of their money, and benefits the entire poker community. Full Tilt Poker’s customers outside the U.S. can soon look forward to accessing their accounts and playing on the re-launched site, confident that they are supported by PokerStars’ history of integrity and our track record of delivering high-quality and secure online poker.”
“The way we have operated our business since the U.S. Department of Justice brought its claim has underlined our credentials as a responsible online poker operator,” Scheinberg continued. “In particular, the prompt repayment of our former US customers in as quick a time frame as possible demonstrated our industry-leading commitment to the segregation of customer funds. We continue to encourage jurisdictions all over the world to introduce sensible online poker regulation.”
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