The Beginning of the End

Here it is, my first thanks, but no thanks from a poker site that has decided that the religious-right-pandering USA market is not worth their time. The first of many, no doubt. Lou Krieger had a good and clear summary of what all the sites have said. Here we go. Strangely, I have been busy at work and haven't had time to log onto a site since Saturday. I wonder if they will be there when I have time.

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From: "Adam [SunPoker]" <adam@sunpoker.com>
To: <PLAYER@EXAMPLE.COM>
Subject: IMPORTANT: Your SunPoker.com account

Bradley,

I'm not sure if you're aware of the recent developments in US online gaming industry. In short, the US government has passed a law that would prohibit banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions from processing gambling funds. This controversial act was attached to a popular and completely unrelated bill regarding Port Security (HR4954) early Saturday morning. In this way, the act was passed because representatives were more concerned with the major bill being made law and knew only in the final minutes of the attachment.

It does NOT make it illegal for US citizens to play online, however drastically affects your ability to enjoy your favorite poker and casino games by making it difficult to send and receive your deposits and winnings.

In light of these events, our software and ECash provider for SunPoker.com, CryptoLogic and ECashDirect, have made the decision to no longer service US registered accounts.

Consequently, all accounts with US based addresses will no longer be able to play in the casino or poker room as of 12PM EST today October 3rd.

Your account will however be available for you to log into and request a withdrawal of your available balance.

All other accounts with non US based addresses will remain unaffected.

Currently it is unclear as to the longer term ramifications of these events at CryptoLogic and should the position change, we will notify you.

In the meantime, we are hoping to make provisions so that you are able to continue to enjoy playing and enjoy the same levels of service and bonuses you've come to expect from us. We will keep you updated.

Thanks for your time, and we do sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Regards

Adam
Poker Room Manager
http://www.sunpoker.com

PS: We continue to maintain that it is your individual right to be allowed to play online responsibly in another form you see fit. We therefore invite you to contact your Congressman (or woman) to express your dismay as to not only the bill itself, but as to the underhanded way in which it was passed.

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Online poker is more or less done for a long time if there isn't a repeal before the 270 days are up. The casual player just won't use it, and that's where the money is. I always sort of figured that when the poker boom crashed, it would be casino poker games — where former casual blackjack and Caribbean Stud players have switched Hold'Em because it's more fun and you meet more people — that stayed good while everything else left.

I guess if this weren't coming up after the NYC games getting busted over and over, and then robbed a few times, it wouldn't feel like my favorite leisure-time activity was being ripped from me forcibly. But it is. I won't get on a Greyhound, so I guess I'll just wait for the high speed train to be built.