Two New Stories Emerge... More serious concern?

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

Neteller's cutoff of US Customers Seriously Affects online rooms, evidenced by dropoff in weekend traffic

US Dept. of Justice Takes Aim at British Banks

I don't want to start a panic, but it looks like things might be a little more serious than we anticipated when we all decided to calm down after the ban was signed.
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[BigSlick34]

I feel the number of fishes decreasing by the day...

[MrDarling]

Wow, those American do have the nerves - attacking UK banks for doing what is legal in the UK:

Damn.

[Fat Tony]

The banks mentioned in the article are pretty serious players on the world banking stage, the DoJ isn't going to be able to push the big boys around as easily as they have been able to the online payment processors. It will be interesting to see what happens when these major banks start pushing back.

[khaosanroad]

[General Sal]

This sucks.

[zinn0]

None of the charges against the NT guys will stand up in court. The US has no authority to go after the banks that are overseas. This is nothing more than intimidation at its finest.
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[lwestatbus]

[vyni]

I believe the UK bank subpeonas are just more scare talk. An article I read of it yesterday said that doj originally did this back in October or so... they've just reissued them.

The mtt decline of last weekend has also been compared to the impact seen immediately after the uigea was passed and so many major rooms bailed from the us market: We'll see the numbers recover as players move to other payment mechanisms.

Now I'm not saying this should all be blown off: this is still a big deal, but in the end all they're going to accomplish is push the dedicated players underground. Will it impact the number of fishies in the pond? Yes, but I doubt as much as people fear. There are a lot of dedicate fish playing: guys who have played for years and only think they know wtf they are doing.

[lwestatbus]

[Gunslinger]

It doesn't matter whether foreign banks do or do not stand up to the DOJ. There is only one important thing that matters to serious online poker players: FISH BEING ABLE TO REDEPOSIT MORE MONEY. If UK banks decide to fight some subpoenas, that won't help bad American poker players dump more recreational income onto poker sites. WE can find alternative methods to depositing and cashing out, but the majority of fish will not bother to jump through the hoops.

[raisebot]

[UrAteUp]

We just need to arrest and charge all US politicans with Behaviour unbecoming a politican and strip them of their office. Then elect all new people and start this damn government over again. Do away with the morally bankrupt SOBs and get some real fresh blood in their.

By the people and for the people.

Viva La Resitance!!!!!!!
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Urateup

So, is there any tread left on the tires? Or at this point would it be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway?

Stewie Griffin

[vyni]

What we're overlooking here though is that those beginner fishies where already jumping through a hoop to play: Neteller. These neteller accounts were created because they can't just toss a visa/mastercard. They found the credit/bank blocks, found the neteller option and proceeded. Right now, the hoop has just been moved. Same old problems, just different solutions.

So long as there is a deposit method, they will still be coming. I can see the phone card method becoming a far more common option before too long as we see alternate methods fall down.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I already noticed a sharp dropoff in "fish" activity at the $200 NL tables after the UIGEA, and following the Neteller ban it seemed like the only players I recognized at the tables were players I knew as being solid, probably semi-professionals like myself.

Online is a lot more covenient, but I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble since casino games are about 10x easier, and there is no telling who will cut off US transactions next.

When I first learned of the UIGEA, I panicked. Turned out that was a little premature. But now I'm getting worried again, and I think it's a little more well-founded. Online traffic may pick up again soon, but I think there will be yet another downturn in July right after the 270 enforcement period expires. I'm nervous enough about the security of my funds and the lack of fish at the tables that my online days may be through.
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