DOJ releases Stars Funds
PokerStars and the US Department of Justice have come to an agreement that will release funds from one of the several PokerStars bank accounts frozen on Black Friday.
All but $5.5 million in the account at the bank of Hapoalim Luxembourg belonging to Sphene International Ltd. will be released to the indicted poker company.
The $5.5 million that remains frozen was tagged as coming directly from real money online poker play from the United States. It’s safe to assume that Stars was able to prove the remaining unspecified amount didn’t come from real money poker play in the US.
That’s more good news for PokerStars who, despite their legal issues, have consistently done the right thing when it comes to getting players their money back. It makes the mess that’s going on with Full Tilt Poker and Covers/BetED even more pronounced. There’s still no word as to when Full Tilt Poker Players or those scammed by Covers/BetEd will have their long awaited money returned to them.
Las Vegas PR campaign gets underway
It’s no secret that Caesars Entertainment and the rest of the Las Vegas Casino corporations have been pushing for a protectionist federal poker bill that will exclude reputable operators in favour of the existing Vegas gambling giants. Senator Harry Reid knows where his election campaign dollars come from and he’ll continue to push the protectionist bills through the US Super Committees to address the American’s budget deficit.
Now, the heavyweight Las Vegas law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins will do their part in ensuring the Las Vegas Federal regulation message gets out. Greg Gemignani who is chairman of the Technology and Internet division of Lionel Sawyer & Collins’ gaming practice and his firm will host a workshop for Nevada’s media next week at University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Boyd School of Law.
Few details were given as to what will be covered in the September 7th workshop other than it will explain to the media how poker regulation works. It’s safe to assume in a state where Caesars wears the pants, the message of a Las Vegas-centric federal poker bill will be the only way regulation should proceed.
