Full Tilt Poker Suitors Now Having Doubts: Postpone Re-Launch Date

French firm Group Bernard Tapie (GBT) is now doubting the viability of Full Tilt Poker, once the second largest online poker room in the world.

The company revealed FTP’s financial woes were much worse than originally believed.  Group Bernard Tapie accuses Full Tilt Poker pros of owing approximately $17 million to the firm. 

“If the money doesn’t come in, it creates a serious obstacle to completion of the deal. This isn’t the only issue with the takeover, and the deal won’t end on any one issue, but this is a substantial item,” Behn Dayanim, attorney facilitating the deal, stated in an interview this week. 

One of those alleged to owe money is pro Barry Greenstein. 

“I don’t believe my debt has any impact on the sale to the Tapie group as they have alleged,” Greenstein said on the TwoPlusTwo.com posting forum. “I was concerned about taking money due to U.S. players and giving it to the Tapie group because it is understood that the Tapie group won’t be the one paying the U.S. players.”

GBT has put on hold its planned date to resurrect the Full Tilt Poker brand.   They had previously suggested the online poker might be back up and running on March 1.

“It’s very difficult to predict with any certainty when the start date will be,” Dayanim told PocketFives. “There are a few issues that are substantial and material. The debt owed to Full Tilt Poker by players is a significant issue. We are hoping we’ll be able to work through it. This is a significant issue that we’re trying to address and we’ve had limited success so far.”

- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher