Players report that the popular online site owned by Danish poker champion Gus Hansen and licensed in Malta, Poker Champs.com, is closing it’s doors to U.S. players – possibly as a result of the Betonsports issue.
Poker Champs U.S. players have apparently been receiving emails from the poker room advising them as follows:
“As part of the recent upgrade, PokerChamps has performed a system change that begins the process of moving to a new platform.
“We have also incorporated geo-location software which enables us to implement a long standing and consistent group company policy of not permitting access to individuals in the United States.
“Affected individuals have until tomorrow 21st July 2006 at 12pm EST/5pm BST to withdraw funds after which time accounts will be locked and funds returned by arrangement with our customer service team. Please contact support@pokerchamps.com with any queries.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your contributions to the PokerChamps community, and we wish you all the very best in your poker playing future.”
We await a response to this report from Poker Champs.
Grand Virtual powered casinos, including Everest Poker, are also understood to be returning to a previous policy of not accepting US players.
William Hill gambling group, which had no problem with being identified in expressing an opinion on the US developments, told the Guardian newspaper that it was not unduly concerned by the events in the United States.
Chief executive David Harding said: “We are doing nothing illegal … It [the indictment against BetonSports and others] doesn’t worry me at all … If it gets the Wire Act into court and there is any evidence that casino or poker bets [over the internet] are illegal, then we will stop it.”
William Hill stopped taking sports bets from the US ahead of its flotation four years ago. It continues to take casino and poker bets.”