Full Tilt Poker Claims Administration
Important Notice to United States Victims of Full Tilt Poker Fraud
This is the official website for the Full Tilt Poker Claims Administration, as authorized by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. This administration is the result of the settlement agreement and resulting forfeitures resolving the allegations in the amended civil forfeiture complaint in United States v. PokerStars, et al., 11 Civ. 2564 (LBS), pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
On March 13, 2013, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York issued a press release announcing that The Garden City Group, Inc. has been retained to serve as the Claims Administrator of the funds forfeited in U.S. v. PokerStars, et al. Click here to view the March 13, 2013 press release.
Summary of the Settlement Agreement and Forfeitures
In July 2012, the United States entered into settlement agreements with Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars - two of the three online poker companies named as defendants in a civil forfeiture action brought by the United States alleging bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling offenses. Under the terms of the settlement with Full Tilt Poker, the company agreed to forfeit virtually all of its assets to the United States (the "Forfeited Full Tilt Assets") in order to fully resolve the action. The amended complaint filed in that action alleged that Full Tilt Poker defrauded its players by misrepresenting to the public that player funds held by Full Tilt Poker were safe, secure and available for withdrawal at any time. In reality, the company did not maintain funds sufficient to repay all of its players and instead, utilized player funds to finance more than $400 million in dividend payments to Full Tilt's owners.
Under the terms of the settlement with PokerStars (the "PokerStars Settlement"), the company agreed, among other things, to forfeit $547 million to the United States and to assume Full Tilt Poker's liability for the approximately $184 million owed by Full Tilt to foreign players. The PokerStars Settlement also provides that PokerStars will acquire the Forfeited Full Tilt Assets from the Government and also precludes PokerStars from offering online poker for real money in the United States unless and until it becomes permissible to do so under relevant law.
Utilizing funds forfeited from PokerStars in this action, the Department of Justice will establish a process by which eligible U.S. fraud victims will be able to seek compensation for their losses ("Petitions for Remission"). The Garden City Group, Inc. has been selected as Claims Administrator by the United States to process Petition for Remission claims submitted by the U.S. Full Tilt fraud victims.
Information About the Claims Process
The victim claims process will begin shortly. Information about the claims administration will be posted on this website. Click here to register to receive email notification regarding the commencement of the claim process and other important information.
Please continue to check this website for updates regarding this administration. Once the claim process begins, claimants will be able to submit Petitions for Remission electronically through this website.
Last updated: March 13, 2013.