"Full Tilt Money in My Bank Account! I Really Would Have Bet Against It."
Over 1,000 days after Full Tilt Pokervacated the US market on Black Friday, players in the United States have finally been reunited with their funds. Following a muddled deal with Groupe Bernard Tapie that didn’t work out, PokerStars swooped in and bought its one-time rival as part of a settlement of over $700 million with the US Government, all leading to Friday’s first round of repayments to US players.
Whereas many players who utilized credit unions received Full Tilt funds in their bank accounts late Thursday night, the greater masses had access to their bankrolls on Friday. “It actually happened,” longtime PocketFives member Chris FoxWallace posted on Twitter. “Full Tilt money in my bank account! I really would have bet against it.” Mike SowersUNCC Sowers (pictured) echoed those sentiments, Tweeting, “No more sweats. Ty @PokerStars.”
For World Series of Poker bracelet winner Blair blur5f6 Hinkle, a chop on Full Tilt took nearly three years to pay out. Hinkle posted earlier this week, “Almost exactly 3 years ago, I chopped the FTOPS ME. Today, I got an email confirming I will get that $$$!”
Dan “jungleman” Cates, who reportedly had a large chunk of his bankroll stuck in Full Tilt, Tweeted on Friday, “I must be dreaming. I got the wire for my FT balance.”
The poker community has begun adopting the term “Green Friday” to describe the day the first round of payouts came from Garden City Group and the US Department of Justice, in stark contrast to Black Friday in 2011. On the fiduciary-inspired nickname, Adam Roothlus Levy (pictured) joked, “Really dropped the ball with Chipmas. Green Friday definitely the play. Next time, guys. Next time.”
In a thread on PocketFives, posters were talking about the arrival of their long-lost bankrolls. One US player joked, “$7,760 here, was in my account early this morning. Kind of sucks knowing your day can’t get any better!!! (Just kidding) Enjoy the day fellas!” Ken isuck123 Goldin, who has been a member of PocketFives since May 2005, four months after we launched, said, “I got my wire today. $11,000 and change for those keeping track.”
The Poker Players Alliance, the main lobbying group for online poker players on Capitol Hill in the US, reminded the community to thank PokerStars, which fronted the money for US refunds: “As @fulltiltpoker refunds begin arriving, let’s not forget to thank @pokerstars for making it happen.” PokerStars’ $731 million settlement with the DOJ in 2012 included $547 million that, in part, was used to repay US players.
The PPA also reached out to the media, with PPA Executive Director John Pappas (pictured) commenting in a press release, “As we approach the three-year anniversary of Black Friday, this is a long time coming for the player community and we are pleased that in coordination with Garden City Group, the DOJ has acted in the best interests of players to ensure that 100% of undisputed claims are being returned into the rightful hands of the players.” The PPA added that 30,000 people received around $80 million total on Friday.
US Full Tilt account holders with disputed payments, as well as affiliates and former Red Pros, have not yet been reunited with their funds. Another round of payments is due after March 13, the deadline for those with incomplete or inaccurate bank account information to update their details.
We’ll continue to keep you posted on the latest Full Tilt Poker news.
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