banks into processing 'billions of dollars in payments' by 'arranging for the money received from United States gamblers to be disguised as payments to hundreds of non-existent online merchants and other non-gambling businesses,' according to the complaint. The indictment accused the companies of deceiving U.S. The federal indictment unsealed in April charged 11 people, including the founders of the three largest Internet poker companies in the United States - PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker - with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling offenses.Īn accompanying news release said the government expected Full Tilt Poker to return money that 'U.S. Ivey, who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets but never the Main Event, claims in Clark County Court that Manhattan federal prosecutors have jeopardized his livelihood as a professional poker player. LAS VEGAS (CN) - Phil Ivey, regarded as the 'best poker player in the world' and one of the celebrity faces of the online poker website Full Tilt Poker, seeks at least $150 million for 'loss of reputation' after Full Tilt execs were indicted on charges of sidestepping banking restrictions.
