It has not been a fun few months for Full Tilt Poker customers. Firstly, on April 16 Full Tilt Poker closed its doors to American-based customers thanks to the intervention of the American Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and then on June 29 the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) suspended Full Tilt Poker’s operating licences forcing them to completely shut up shop.
Since all games ground to a sudden halt on June 29 none of Full Tilt Poker’s customers have been able to gain access to their accounts, with reports of some players having upwards of six-figure balances tied up on the site. Official statements from Full Tilt Poker have been few and far between but a hearing between Full Tilt Poker and the AGCC scheduled for yesterday was seen by many as a chance to see what was really happening with the former online poker giant, especially in the light of rumours about possible takeover bids from European investors.
The hearing started at 1000 yesterday at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel in London and straight away it was apparent that the lawyers of Full Tilt Poker were trying their best to keep the hearing from being under the scrutiny of the public. All mobile phones, laptops and any other electrical device that could be used for sound recording had to be turned off and within two hours of the hearing started, everyone involved was ushered into a private room where extensive negotiations took place, away from the army of journalists and members of the public.
Then at around 1800 a spokesman from the AGCC announced that the hearing had been adjourned and would now take place no later than September 15 and in complete privacy. The decision behind this was made because the AGCC says it is in the best interest of Full Tilt Poker’s customers and to “allow FTP licensees ‘to further pursue advanced commercial negotiations which could lead to a more beneficial outcome for player interests.”
The only piece of new information that was made available was that Full Tilt Poker owe the AGCC around £250,000 and they agreed to pay in full, and within seven days, if the AGCC agreed to holding the meeting in private and there was at least some chance of Full Tilt Poker being licensed by the AGCC again at a later date.
The saga continues.
