So what does that means guys? That PS, FTP, UB and poker places like that will not be regulated cause they were running while the ban on online poker was going?

We've discussed this a lot on the Poker Legislation forum.

The bottom line is that some sort of amendment on this was a given. After all, Congress isn't going to license sites that have openly violated U.S. laws, such as sports betting sites. Sites wanted was an amendment that did not shut out the current U.S. facing poker sites arbitrarily, and that's what they got.

Sites have legal opinions stating that they are violating no U.S. laws. They feel confident that they can prove this to the satisfaction of a licensing board.

Also, it's important to remember that the final bill will look nothing like today's bill. If we do get something through Congress this year, it likely will not even include casino gaming.

The important thing for the political game is that we secured a bipartisan victory with a large margin of victory. That gives us the momentum to continue pressing forward.

To catch up on the amendments to the bill, read Non-Cliffy Notes on the Markup of HR 2267

What happens IF FTP or PS sells itself and its customer base to someone else after regulation happens(if it does)? Would the new ownership be able to get a license?

If PS/FTP are barred from getting a license on the basis that they permitted "illegal gambling activity", then anyone that buys their customer base would also be barred from getting a license under the provisions of the current bill (which is far from final form).

Wouldn't they have to prove this permission of illegal gambling activity first? Sarcastic responses aside, they can't just say they did it and deny them without merit, can they?

I am not a lawyer. But you answer is going to "that depends."

Who knows? This is government beaurocracy we're talking about.

I personally believe that PS/FTP won't be barred from getting licensed under the provisions of the current bill.

The sites in question have something to bargain with, specifically records of player's winnings. What I think will happen is the sites and the DOJ will hash out an agreement, a la Party, where the sites cough up a bunch of money in exchange for a quick and certain bill of health.

There haven't been any indications yet that the government is after past player records. I think just bringing the large active US player base under licensing is enough enticement to let them in. It is, after all, where most of the money is and therefore the biggest source of tax revenues for the government (to begin with, anyway).