Firepay will cut off US when ban is signed

[Dr. Jack]

More gaming firms prepare to flee U.S. ahead of ban
Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:34 AM ET

By Pete Harrison

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Leisure & Gaming <LNG.L> and payment processor FireOne <FPA.L> joined the list of companies fleeing a U.S. ban on online gaming on Tuesday, as signs emerged that Europe is to open up its gambling market.

Leisure & Gaming said it would stop serving U.S. gamblers if President George W. Bush signed into law a ban that was unexpectedly passed by Congress at the start of this month.

Leisure & Gaming is in talks to sell its operations in the United States, it added.

Payment processor FireOne said it would stop serving U.S. gamblers after the ban. It warned this would have a "significant impact" on its business, knocking 26 percent off its share price by 1254 GMT.

The statements followed more bad news from the online gaming sector on Monday, with World Gaming <WGP.L> fighting for survival and sector-leader PartyGaming <PRTY.L> earmarked to exit the FTSE 100 index after losing 63 percent of its value last week.

World Gaming asked the London Stock Exchange to suspend its shares as it was unsure it could continue trading, while larger rival Empire Online <EOL.L> said it was looking to invest its $250 million cash pile outside the troubled sector.

EUROPEAN ACTION

The sector lost $7 billion in value last week after the U.S. Congress approved a bill making it illegal for companies to accept bets over the Internet or for credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

PartyGaming and 888 <888.L> were the first two big operators to signal a withdrawal.

By contrast, the European Commission's internal market chief, Charlie McCreevy, said on Tuesday that legal action would be launched against France, Italy and Austria this week for running gambling monopolies, and he said there were more to follow.

"It will be Austria, Italy and France on Thursday, if everything goes according to plan," McCreevy told reporters. "I reckon overall there will be 15 or 16 member states," he added.

France has been widely criticized by gambling firms for arresting the two heads of Austrian betting firm Bwin.com <BWIN.VI> last month to investigate alleged violation of its gaming laws. Bwin's shares were up 2.7 percent at 15 euros.

Meanwhile, Sportingbet <SBT.L> would probably not reduce its operations in the wake of a ban, its chief executive said in an interview with the Antigua Sun newspaper.

Sportingbet has yet to clarify its future strategy in the wake of a ban.

Chief Executive Nigel Payne, who is in Antigua for talks with government officials, was quoted as saying: "I can't promise ... but I can say that it is extremely unlikely that we would have to downsize our operations."

[Shark23]

Response from PokerStars regarding Firepay:

Thank you for writing us and allowing us to be of assistance.

Firepay will be removed from our deposit/cashout options soon. However,
will be able to process cashouts for a couple of extra weeks.

You may then direct your cashouts to Neteller or choose to receive
cheque.

Furthermore, we appreciate and share your concerns about the bill which
passed in the US Congress regarding the funding of internet gaming.

PokerStars' management and legal team are examining the bill and at
this time there has not been any decision made one way or another with
regards to accepting business from US customers.

All player funds are kept in a segregated account at a leading
European bank. Regardless of any developments, your money is safe and
accessible at any time.

As always, we thank you for playing on PokerStars.

Regards,

Kaylen
PokerStars Support Team

[Bobtheicon]

From Full Tilt (doesn't address FirePay, but thought it would be interesting):

Full Tilt Poker is here to stay!

As an online poker player, you have probably heard about the new legislation passed by the U.S. Congress earlier this week that attempts to prevent you from being able to transfer money to online gaming sites.

While this new law has prompted some sites to announce plans to abandon the U.S. market in coming days, we assure you that Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide all of its players - both inside and outside of the United States - with a full complement of real money ring games and tournaments for their enjoyment.

After consultation with numerous legal experts in this field, we want to make you aware of the following:

* Legal

The new U.S. legislation does not in any way attempt to criminalize the act of you playing online poker. By playing online at Full Tilt Poker, you are not breaking any U.S. Federal laws.

* Full Access

The passage of the new Internet Gaming law will not have any impact on your day-to-day experience at Full Tilt Poker. We will provide all of our players, everywhere in the world, with full access to all of our games and tournaments.

* Easy Deposits and Withdrawals

We will continue to provide our players with all of the safe, secure and convenient methods for transferring money to and from the site. In fact, in recent discussions with our payment processors, we have been assured that this new law will have no immediate impact on their day-to-day business. And as always, any monies that you have on deposit with Full Tilt Poker remain completely safe and secure.

Furthermore, we firmly believe that online poker is not encompassed by this new legislation. In any event, we will continue to lobby for an express carve-out for online poker and for your right to play a truly American game from the privacy of your own home and computer.

We are excited about the future here at Full Tilt Poker and in the coming weeks and months, we plan to roll out many new features designed to enhance your online poker experience.

We appreciate your loyalty to our site and, in turn, want you to know that we will remain loyal to our valued players in the United States and throughout the world.

We look forward to seeing you at the table.

Sincerely,

Full Tilt Poker

[BigFratDaddy]

email from firepay:


SUBJECT: New FirePay policy for US account holders

On September 30, 2006, the United States Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

Once President Bush approves the Act. FirePay (www.firepay.com) will no longer allow US consumer payments for online gambling merchants.

Beginning the day President Bush signs the Act, FirePay will decline any purchase transactions from US FirePay account holders at any gambling merchant site.
Ten days after President Bush signs the Act, FirePay will decline any transfer attempt made by any online gambling merchant to a US FirePay account.
All US FirePay accounts holders will continue to be able to make purchases and receive payments from non-gambling, online merchants, as well as “Deposit From” and “Withdraw To” their US bank account.

Click here for the latest news and opportunities for FirePay account holders.

** Please note:

This new policy will not affect FirePay account holders from outside of the United States


For any questions regarding these deadlines or policy, please email info@firepay.com

Sincerely,
FirePay
info@firepay.com

[huscroft6]

My ques is that I use Firepay to put money in and withdraw winnings. now what??

[huscroft6]

BTW I dont mean to sound like a rookie, just that Ive ALWAYS used Firepay...

Tks

[ryhenry09]

Originally Posted by huscroft6

BTW I dont mean to sound like a rookie, just that Ive ALWAYS used Firepay...

Tks

Sign up for Neteller bro. They are great

[pittviper]

Living in Canada, this whole thing will not effect me one bit... Will it? I have nothing to worry about correct?
PV

[huscroft6]

Originally Posted by ryhenry09

Sign up for Neteller bro. They are great

Oh ok RY, I thought it affected ALL of the money suppliers, IE Firepay, Neteller etc etc...... If it only involves Firepay then im fine, Ill sign up for Neteller....

Tks bro

[calray]

Anyone have a listing of other companies that will accept U.S. deposits now that firepay is gone? I know that Netteller is one. Any others still doing U.S. business?

[pittviper]

via creditcard.. that is what I do...
PV

[GFootsXtreme]

Is Netteller any different than firepay?

[pwherr]

Got my email today.Fukum!