Some Poker Sites Announce, 'We're Staying!' While Others Close Their Doors to U.S. Customers

As soon as President Bush signed the Safe Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, online poker changed forever. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist succeeded in having the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act attached to this legislation (see the full story). Now, for the first time, there is a law on the books to limit the ways online poker players can deposit money onto sites.

Some sites – including PartyPoker, ParadisePoker, 888.com, Cryptologic sites (including WilliamHill, Interpoker, BetFair, ClassicPoker), Ongame network sites (including RoyalVegasPoker, TheGamingClub, BetonUSA), PokerRoom, FullContactPoker, HollywoodPoker, and all PrimaPoker network rooms (including BossMedia, TitanPoker, and VictorChandler) – have blocked American real-money players.

Other sites – most notably, PokerStars, AbsolutePoker, Bodog, FullTilt, and UltimateBet – have announced that they are not going away. They all have made the decision that they are not going to be bullied or intimidated by our government. This loyalty to U.S. players has increased traffic on nearly all of these sites. Card Player applauds these entities for standing up for the millions of United States citizens who enjoy online poker.

With PartyPoker's departure from the U.S. market, PokerStars can now wear the crown as the largest online poker room in the world. PokerStars was riding a wave of momentum after a very successful World Championship of Online Poker, in which its 18 events topped more than $18 million in prize money. J.C. Tran, a very dangerous player, won the championship and the biggest prize in online tournament history. Check out the full story on J.C., who is arguably one of the most consistent players in the game.