No Active Investigation Into Merge Poker Network by Baltimore

The Baltimore US Attorney’s Office is not actively pursuing the Merge Poker Network contrary to reports that surfaced on Thursday. Merge Gaming has temporarily stopped accepting new US customers and is expected to re-enter the US market shortly. They will not be accepting new customers from the state of Maryland upon resuming business in the US.

The Baltimore Office was responsible for the seizure of several domain names belonging to online gambling websites back in May. They also orchestrated an elaborate sting operation over a two year time frame by setting up their own payment solutions company, Linwood, which Gambling911.com has since learned was set up by one of the first individuals (a payment processor) named in the early stages of the Baltimore investigation nearly four years ago (see report here)

The May action also resulted in the shutdown of BetED.com while other businesses including two online poker sites continued to operate without skipping a beat.

The state of Maryland has a history of aggressively going after online gambling establishments, particularly those that process funds. Popular payment solutions company Neteller was forced to shut down all Maryland accounts in 2004 after that state threatened legal action against them.

The Baltimore US Attorney’s Office recently filed a civil forfeiture complaint for the forfeiture of the value of all e-metal accounts recorded and maintained by e-gold, Ltd (EGL ), which at one time conducted business with some Internet gambling establishments.

I am not holding my breath on any thing when it comes to US players

I'm not sure how I feel about the precedent Carbon is setting. Basically they are saying, "If you give us enough problems, we'll leave you alone." That would be incredible motivation for the DOJ to simply say officially "We are going after any Merge network that decides to accept new U.S. players."

Makes sense on Merge's part though. There is no reason to run the risk of one little state being obnoxious if you can get the rest of the states anyways.

Hmm, only time will tell the truth I guess...

Everything is so shaky right now, sad part is there is more severe problems in our country other than on-line poker. Do you really think the guy living in the homeless shelter is worrying about on-line poker?? Do you think the single mother with 2 kids trying to keep her part time job to pay the bills is worrying about on-line poker???? This just goes to show where our government's priorities are at.

I think it is a smart move on there part

I am glad that this was a false alarm about the DOJ going after Merge.

This is great news! I was pretty sure even if they were investigated, they would be okay, but I also expected to be back on Full Tilt within a week of Black Friday.

Yeah poof i was thinking the same thing with ftp

does this mean no US players can deposit on Carbon?

I understand FULL TILT'S license is up for renewal on sept 15 2011 in UK,hopefully this means the site will reopen to US players.

Couple things.

#1 I think it's been pushed back to the 19th

#2 No chance they reopen to the US

#3 Be HAPPY if they open to the rest of the world.

Some states are forming legislation that will allow Online Poker to be played in State Regulated locations.

If you can remember an old OTB (Off Track Betting) site, fill it with Lottery, Simlicast, Keno, And Poker Cubilcles.

well i guess this is some good news. phew!!

This is very good news,,,,I really don't what I would do with myself without online poker.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Drywallman3

Everything is so shaky right now, sad part is there is more severe problems in our country other than on-line poker. Do you really think the guy living in the homeless shelter is worrying about on-line poker?? Do you think the single mother with 2 kids trying to keep her part time job to pay the bills is worrying about on-line poker???? This just goes to show where our government's priorities are at.

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100% agree drywall, much bigger things going on in the usa, need more jobs as well..

shut all them crooks down fuck it

Thanks Zab. I just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop for U.S. players and for us to have nowhere to play at all. Lucky for me a couple of brick and mortar casinos will be opening within an hour drive. It won't be as convenient, but at least it will be something.

yeah right!! Dont believe it for a second

I just wish they'd open up to more usa players soon. I want to start training/coaching some ppl, and need a site better than minted to turn em on too.

I think a bill has been presented or soon to be presented that will allow each state to vote on having online poker legal in their specific state.

and i bet most of them will pass the bill.

cookies can u train me? I need help, I want it for online, but its more for my live game. Im a donk and I want to change.

I think US player's are being outkast in online poker

F OFF MARYLAND, dont take our merge away, its all us US players have..well only one thats decent.

dont mess with merge its all we got dammit lately
but looks more promising that more are coming

Dam I hope they dont take merge dam,I believe i go jump off bridge lolz J/K !

Expect the US government to push to keep online poker illegal or only pass legislation to allow big players in the Casino world to operate legally in the US using US banks etc. It's all about control people. I AGREE WITH THIS.

It just seems that the online US players will be meeting the dinasours. And will eventually become extinct in the not so distant future

As long as the on line poker sites keep their own countries domain name they will be fine. In fact i don't think US can do anything if that's the case. {meaning they keep their own countries domain name}.

When they start using other countries domain names that country wants a piece of the pie, and if they won't share they go after them.

BUT, that does not count where it is illegal. If it is illegal that means it is ILLEGAL.