FTP Discussion Thread (Everything but big new news goes here. Cliffs in OP)

[u cnat spel]

^ +1.

[EYESCREW]

Fwiw Jeff's answers really haven't amounted to much. I don't blame Mr. Ifrah and in fact applaud him for coming in and doing his best but unfortunately there's only so much he can say with litigation ongoing. If there's any huge news released you'll likely hear about long before clicking the link to this thread.

[DMoogle]

I'm an optimistic realist, definitely not a pessimist, but man, I'll be surprised if the statements aren't disappointingly lacking in information.

[Munchausen]

Hi Jeff,

Is the litigation holding back the process of being purchased?

As a player with a lot in the FTP cashier, what would you recommend?

[Hippy80]

Originally Posted by Jeff Ifrah

Do you mean other than paying the players back and settling with DOJ? Nothing, as far as I know.

Jeff, I was talking about how much if the company was being put up for sale, if any. If anyone was immune from redundancy, if there are any restrictions on company positioning and marketing and if the members of Team Full Tilt/FTP owners were going to be continued to be "sponsored" in events as they have been.
Also, have the previous actions if FTP been a sticking point in any discussions, given that the financial situation appears to have been mishandled?

[RazzSpazz]

Hi Jeff,

Just a thought here-

As the investor(s) seem a bit hesitant to fully refund the players account balances and pay the DOJ fines all at once, perhaps a deal could be made that would be contingent on the licensing and regulation of online poker in the USA. Once legislation was passed the investor would put up the $ owed, reopen FTP, and the players owed $ would immediately have an account with their balance available to them. Players could either cash out or begin to play on the newly opened site. (I'm assuming here that the investor would meet the qualifications to enter the US market as spelled out in the legislation).

This would allow the investor to have a fully functional site at the very start, begin making $, not have to pay transaction fees to cash all the players out beforehand etc.

If such a deal was made public, players would have the ability to put immense pressure on lawmakers and the DOJ to accept the agreement and speed up the legislation process. Congress members could also use it as an excuse to save face with some of their constituents (hey, we gotta legalize this online poker thing so Americans can get their $ back etc.) Heck, maybe congress could even ask the DOJ not to seek such a steep fine.

This idea doesn't address the ROW players, but I think that the terms of a deal for them would be much more easy to furnish.

[EYESCREW]

It's a pretty awesome feeling knowing that my country is mostly powerless in the fight against illegal immigration and illicit drugs but has all the resources needed to go after a company that victimizes nobody and who's actions would likely be 100% legal within the next eighteen months. Great job US government! Keep up the good work!.

With that said FTP is still very much to blame for all of this but I'd sure like to see our government get the ridicule they deserve for such unnecessary policing. Good looking out US government! Good effing looking out!

[ShipItYo]

Originally Posted by DMoogle

I'm an optimistic realist, definitely not a pessimist, but man, I'll be surprised if the statements aren't disappointingly lacking in information.

+1 to this... but hey ya never know, maybe they'll surprise us with a mildly good announcement.

[momo_the_kid]

Originally Posted by EYESCREW

It's a pretty awesome feeling knowing that my country is mostly powerless in the fight against illegal immigration and illicit drugs but has all the resources needed to go after a company that victimizes nobody and who's actions would likely be 100% legal within the next eighteen months. Great job US government! Keep up the good work!.

With that said FTP is still very much to blame for all of this but I'd sure like to see our government get the ridicule they deserve for such unnecessary policing. Good looking out US government! Good effing looking out!

Yeah, try to make some changes to your government as it is really really ridiculous. Even in communist China I can play online poker and the government doesnt just freeze people's money and take it.

[kieranf]

Mr. Ifrah,

I apologise if this has already been asked, as it's an obvious question..

Do you have an indication of what the total $ value of funds in player's accounts amounts to? Do you have an indication of what portion of the value of these funds FTP currently has access to?

[elstunar]

Originally Posted by momo_the_kid

Yeah, try to make some changes to your government as it is really really ridiculous. Even in communist China I can play online poker and the government doesnt just freeze people's money and take it.

one problem, imo, is that the US gov't isn't very fluid in that it doesnt adapt very quickly and it's hard to push through major changes or reform at all because it usually gets caught in red tape and eventually dies. this is one of the most frustrating things for me as a US citizen concerning our gov't.

[momo_the_kid]

Originally Posted by elstunar

one problem, imo, is that the US gov't isn't very fluid in that it doesnt adapt very quickly and it's hard to push through major changes or reform at all because it usually gets caught in red tape and eventually dies. this is one of the most frustrating things for me as a US citizen concerning our gov't.

Yeah, I understand. I still have faith in your government and democracy despite all the **** that happened to online poker in the past couple years. If history is any indication, I believe US government will eventually realize its mistakes and do the right things even though it probably will take some time as you said.

[sparky999]

Originally Posted by EYESCREW

Mr. Ifrah...

It's been mentioned that personal accounts of Ray Bitar have been frozen by the DOJ. If this is true how come personal accounts of Lederer and Ferguson have not also been frozen? Or have they?

Thanks for your time.

A list of accounts frozen is publically available as I recall Lederer and Ferguson were nto on the list but Bitar had multiple accounts frozen . It is just the amounts that are unavailable currently. Before you ask no I don't have the link, sorry.

[sabbywabby7]

Originally Posted by momo_the_kid

Yeah, I understand. I still have faith in your government and democracy despite all the **** that happened to online poker in the past couple years. If history is any indication, I believe US government will eventually realize its mistakes and do the right things even though it probably will take some time as you said.

I totally agree with your statement as long as you replace US gov with ceasers, wynn, ect and their lobbying efforts.

[Jeff Ifrah]

Originally Posted by Richard Nixon

Mr. Ifrah,

In July of this year you stated

"We can completely deny the reports that Ray Bitar is no longer CEO. In fact that [rumour] really ruined his day yesterday."

After participating here, do you now think this remark was insensitive towards the many players who feel their lives have been ruined by Ray Bitar's actions? Do you regret saying it?

Do you have any opinion as to how such a rumour got started?

Thank you.

I truly apologize for being insensitive. I am not absolutely certain how it got started.