All US Players Accounts Closed? ... On Eurobet

[Jonboy]

Just had the following e-mail, worrying turn of events?

We have just received the following email from Eurobet.
We suspect they have taken this decision in light of the fact that they have a shared poker and sports book platform.

*** This is NOT a rakeback issue ***
*** ALL non-US Eurobet players will continue to get rakeback as normal through RTR for their play at Eurobet ***

For all our current US players on Eurobet we would suggest that you sign up with Hollywood Poker here (they are on the same network

*link removed*

If you are a US Eurobet player whose account has been closed, and you have any questions about the closure of your account please contact them directly on the contact details they give as we have no further information

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Dear Affiliates/Partners,



Please be advised that in the light of recent actions by US regulators, Eurobet has regretfully taken the decision to cease taking any business through its websites from U.S. residents with immediate effect. U.S. residents will no longer be able to transact with our websites and all accounts held by U.S. residents have now been closed.

We would therefore ask you to stop advertising our brand name with immediate effect if your website is addressed to a US audience.



Please see below the contents of an email which has been sent to all of Eurobet's US customers:

<<Please be advised that in the light of recent actions by US regulators, Eurobet has regretfully taken the decision to cease taking any business through its websites from U.S. residents with immediate effect. U.S. residents will no longer be able to transact with our websites and all accounts held by U.S. residents have now been closed.

We are contacting you because we believe that, based on the personal details you have provided us, you are a US resident and therefore affected by this decision.

Where we already have your payment details we will refund any outstanding balance using that method within 7 days from today. If we do not have the necessary details please contact us on +44 1483 773 224 or via email at  uscustomerservice@eurobet.com to confirm how you wish any existing balances on your account should be repaid including the appropriate financial details. We commit to processing such refund with 7 days of receiving your payment instructions.

On behalf of the entire Eurobet team we apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your previous

custom.>>

We would like to thank you for all your continued support and assistance and we apologise for any incovenience this might cause.



If you need further clarification do not hesitate to contact us.







Best regards,

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[AndrewT]

Not really worrying - they're just being very careful. As you say, it's because of the sportsbook issue.

Several poker rooms which are affiliated to sportsbook companies have disappeared completely (for example http://www.popularpoker.com).

Doesn't Ladbrokes and Betfair's decision not to accept US players look a very good one now?

[matt674]

Doesn't Ladbrokes and Betfair's decision not to accept US players look a very good one now?

Not really, imagine how much extra rake they could have made in the few years while this was still a "grey area" by allowing US players onto their site.

If the worst is to happen then they could have just closed the accounts of US players as other sites are doing.

[AndrewT]

Doesn't Ladbrokes and Betfair's decision not to accept US players look a very good one now?

Not really, imagine how much extra rake they could have made in the few years while this was still a "grey area" by allowing US players onto their site.

If the worst is to happen then they could have just closed the accounts of US players as other sites are doing.

1. It has kept their noses clean in the eyes of US law (which would be handy if US legislation were ever to move in favour of online gambling).

2. It also meant they had to concentrate on targeting the European market - meaning that Ladbrokes is now the biggest European poker room, with a subsequent knock-on effect that their betting operation has greater penetration in Europe.

Accepting US players would have had short-term rewards, with long-term risks. The company has been going for over 100 years - you don't stay around that long by being short-termist.

[AndrewT]

Here's another one - Pokerchamps are closing the accounts of all their US players at 5pm BST this afternoon.

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.

Yours Sincerely,

PokerChamps Management Team

Strange that this 'long standing and consistent Group Company policy of not permitting access to individuals in the United States' was never enforced before. Lucky that they had this longstanding policy to enforce today - lest anyone think they were panicking and over-reacting to current events.

[mikkyT]

Why are pokerrooms like pokerchamps panicking.... muppets! Sports books should worry. Poker rooms have much less to worry about.

[AndrewT]

Why are pokerrooms like pokerchamps panicking.... muppets! Sports books should worry. Poker rooms have much less to worry about.

Actually, now I think about it, isn't Pokerchamps owned by Betfair now? So they've just decided now to implement Betfair's 'No Yanks' policy.

[mikkyT]

Why are pokerrooms like pokerchamps panicking.... muppets! Sports books should worry. Poker rooms have much less to worry about.

Actually, now I think about it, isn't Pokerchamps owned by Betfair now? So they've just decided now to implement Betfair's 'No Yanks' policy.

Well thats fair enough I guess