Full Tilt Poker Players Investigated

In Washington State, a number of Full Tilt Poker players have been questioned by the FBI. Full Tilt is one of the biggest online poker sites available. Players are concerned why the questioning has taken place, although do not seem to have reason to fear at this time.

Washington State is the one state in the United States in which players need to fear questions from the FBI regarding their online poker playing, since Washington’s anti-gambling laws are particularly harsh when it comes to the individual. In fact, unlike in other states, where the online gambling companies, or the financial service providers would be targeted, Washington state’s anti-online gambling laws can have charges brought against people in their individual capacities.

Although those questioned were nervous about being questioned, there were no charges leveled against them at this time. The questions seemed to center mostly around how exactly their online poker financial transactions went through.

The questioning of Washington State citizens may simply be in preparation for the possibility of the introduction of the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act). However, one does wonder why Washington State would, all of a sudden, be the one that was hand-picked to be investigated with regards to online poker.

Players were asked questions regarding their finances at full tilt, including the deposit of money into their account, and also questions regarding how they would withdraw winnings. From the line of questioning that has taken place, it looks like the FBI may not be going after these individuals, but rather, that they may be trying to gather information in order to find a way to stop the financial transactions from taking place in the future.

Should the UIGEA become reality, and if Barney Frank does not succeed in having his online gambling bills passed in Congress, the FBI will want to be ready to uphold the terms of the UIGEA. At this time, the future for online gambling in the United States is still unclear.

  Share on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace...