Xpost from LBN - Feds Close, Indict Big Three Online Poker Sites. You know, I have to wonder,

[Skip Intro]

at reading of this move by the Feds - that clearly infringes upon my personal rights and choices, and pisses me the hell on many levels - if maybe there isn't some grain of truth to the other side's constant rants against the size and intrusiveness of our federal government...

Hey Feds, don't you have more important things to do than meddle in the private lives of we, the people?

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Online poker companies indicted for fraud

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The founders of the three largest Internet poker companies have been indicted for bank fraud and money laundering, federal law enforcement officials said Friday.

The United States Attorney in New York unsealed the indictment against eleven people, including the founders of PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker. In addition to charges of bank fraud and money laundering, the companies are accused of illegal gambling offenses.

The sweeping 52-page indictment alleges that the companies, based offshore, used "fraudulent methods" to get around U.S. anti-gambling laws "and to receive billions of dollars from U.S. residents who gambled through the Poker Companies."

The authorities also issued restraining orders against more than 75 bank accounts, and seized five Internet domain names used by the companies to host their illegal poker games.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/15/news/economy/online_poker_indictments/index.htm?hpt=T2

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Check on of the sites - fulltiltpoker.com or pokerstars.com - you land at an FBI page now.

Bastards.

[tridim]

1. You think fraud and money laundering should be legal?

WTF ever.

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4. No, I think a federal agent should visit every supposedly free man and woman in this country

and tell them exactly what they can and cannot do with their own damn money in the privacy of their own damn homes.

[tridim]

6. This doesn't have anything to do with you.

It's about fraud and money laundering by the owners of online poker sites.

[Skip Intro]

10. Of course it does. The government has told me, and you, that we may not participate in this activity

either through these companies, or any others. It is all about freedom, mine and yours.

[tridim]

16. It's about breaking the law. Sounds like you might have an addiction.

[AlabamaLibrul]

17. LOL

Yes, anyone who plays a game for money, who you know nothing about, and hasn't even indicated how often they play, has a gambling addiction. Is that a Bill Frist diagnosis?

Gimme a break. The only reason they're even being indicted is because UIGEA doesn't let you process online gambling at US banks, and well, they needed some US banks for their US dollars. UIGEA is a crock and this whole situation is ridiculous.

[tridim]

18. That's why I said "might"

I've seen addiction before and the signs are there. Ex. "Cocaine shouldn't be illegal, it's safe if you don't do it every day".

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21. Sounds like you might often engage your mouth before engaging your brain. Hey, I said "might."

:eyes:

[tridim]

22. That's a response I'd expect from an addict.

I'm trying to help you. Sorry if it pisses you off.

[FBaggins]

8. Nobody told you what you could or couldn't do.

They told people who were trying to rip you off what THEY could or couldn't do.

You're free to find someone else to rip you off at any time.

[Skip Intro]

11. Post #10. nt

[no limit]

9. I think the point is that online gambling should be legal

I'm not trying to excuse money laundering but that wouldn't have happened if we simply legalized online casinos.

[walldude]

14. I read the link.. it seems as though

both the fraud and money laundering charges stem from the fact that online gambling is illegal in certain places. It's not like they were laundering dirty money through the site,

[Ian David]

2. Good. Maybe it will reduce all the poker-spam I get. n/t

[lib2DaBone]

3. The politicians want in ...for their cut of the action....

[lob1]

5. They have better things to do, like closing down the

medicinal marijuana stores here in L.A. I'm not being sarcastic, I'm being very bitter.

[zazen]

7. so why no major arrests at Wachovia for Mex. drug laundering?

What a weird deployment of resources.

[Ignis]

15. Of course they won't go after the banksters. See the old banking proverb:

"If you owe the bank thousands, then the bank owns you. If you owe the bank millions, then you own the bank."

[jmowreader]

20. What is this Wachovia you speak of?

[bvar22]

12. Psssst!...Hey, Feds.

Take a look at the Wall Street Bankers.
THATS where you will find the REAL criminals.

[Exilednight]

13. It's also where they'll find real MONEY! We're talking trillions. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

19. I hope they didn't have to pull anyone off the prosecution of

medical marijuana operations in order to do this!

:crazy: