Here's my take:

I talked to some people who heard the same thing as Deeb did. Their understanding is as follows: the implication is that FTP will be marketed as a "clean" poker site with all "bad actors" (such as Isai or other people indicted on Black Friday) removed to the US market WHEN/IF regulation/legalization becomes a reality in the US. Meaning them re-opening to the US market is not understood to be an imminent thing, but something which will require future political/legal/legislative action.

Again, my friends said they are implying this based off some vague reports they've heard from insiders privy to information about the deal. It appears no one said anything explicitly.

The source probably just said DOJ will allow FTP to open for 2 weeks in US so US　players can cash out. And some people just misunderstood and thought US players can play on FTP again.

I don't think Stars would mind copy + pasting from their blog, since this is essentially a press release:

Pokerstars has always found a way to do things fair for its players...i wouldn't be too concerned about a monopoly. Even if Stars and FTP find their way into the US market (when the legal aspects shake out), I think we will see 4-5 big sites to play on. Party, Stars, FTP, and 2 others that will either gain traction or merge with other skins.

So Marco comes on to host and has no idea what's going on? GTFO

You guys need to stop putting your signature on NDA's....

I say it takes minimum 6 months before we see any online poker in US (even if this deal does immediately go through) due to gov't involvement

why do you guys ignore that isai is under indictment by a country that has extradition relations w so many other desirable countries. how about wanting to be able to leave the isle of man as a reason for settling w the doj. doesn't mean there is going to be a magic switch where online poker is legalized in the us. when party pokers owner paid the doj a hundred million or whatever was party poker instantly able to enter the us market. mike matusow is an idiot

Damn Cliffhanger!

They've been in discussions for over a year. We could be in for a long wait.

link to matusow please

First tourney should be a KO bounty with Ray Bitar playing. Would be awesome seeing everyone go after him. Lobster for the bounty.

so is there any conceivable reason PS's press release wouldn't deny the FTP connections if there was no truth to it? i can't figure out one, unless it's simply to torture us

Still all good news regardless. One time.

http://quadjacks.com/poker-radio/

hahaha,great ideea

I say more like 2 years plus.

Agree

Longer than that. There is absolutely zero chance UIGEA is repealed by Congress in 2012, which means that legislation to repeal wouldn't even be gin to wind its way through until sometime in 2013, and that's not assured either.

Well, nobody could argue against that...except Doyle....and his son Todd who claims he was repaid out of the trunk of his car.....

Im going to step in and use my one time....im pretty sure I have not used it yet

Looks like Stars already hired FTP Doug to output informationless updates.

+1. DOJ are the enforcers for Congress in this instance. You think they don't know what's going on behind the scenes (and there's obv a ton of action) in order to broker this deal?

I heard the rumor + the clarification that it was when/if US market is legalized. Don't throw me out to the wolves for no reason here :-P.

In other words, when they're ready... Christ, seems like it's a Full Tilt virus. (Red for irony)

Here's a crazy conspiracy theory: what if the DOJ just wanted to weed out the poker companies that were operating unethically. Meaning that they wanted to get rid of the companies that may do damage to the US players. Possible?