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In an ironic twist, some European and Canadian customers left hanging by Full Tilt Poker’s abrupt closure on June 29 may be heading to Absolute Poker
Canadian and European customers of Absolute Poker and its sister website UB.com are reporting payouts on a more frequent basis of late. This appears to be based on the amount of action provided to the online poker site.
From the TwoPlusTwo.com forums:
“My friend's $500 cashout via instadebit was approved yesterday, had been pending since July 7th.”
“After waiting well over 2 months for my $123 Visa withdrawal from UB I lost patience and decided to cancel it and blow it all on the slots. I ran it up to $350 in half an hour with some $10 spins on 'Space Invaders' and then made another withdrawal request for $250 (via check this time). Now, 5 days later, I've just received an e-mail saying it has been submitted.”
“Today my $1k visa payout from AP on 5/25 was finally processed. My first and only cashout since BF, non-US account.”
A customer rep for the company revealed that “action” is a factor in determining who gets paid first.
Dear XXXX,
Recent game play is a factor when determining what pending requests are approved first. Have a great weekend.
Lola
Customer Support
But another poster was quick to point out he had received five cashouts already in the past three months without playing at all on the site.
Another AP customer service rep has noted that payouts are based on the order of request.
Despite its many faults and inability to pay out US customers, Absolute Poker is viewed by many as a far more superior software platform than most of what is out on the market today.
Absolute Poker was one of three online poker companies whose co-founders were indicted by the US Justice Department on April 15, charged with bank fraud and money laundering. Absolute Poker still has access to some offshore bank accounts and has been able to pay out non-US customers, albeit with long delays. US customers are yet to receive payment as the company’s legal counsel continues to negotiate a “payment arrangement” deal with the Justice Department. There are, however, liquidity questions that have many American customers on edge wondering if they will ever receive payment.
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Last week, there were indications that Absolute Poker had been testing its software to allow Americans participation in “real cash” games.
When US customers begin to receive payouts is anybody’s guess.
One poster on the TwoPlusTwo.com forum emailed Absolute Poker and received this rather terse response:
Dear XXXX,
As soon as we begin to pay out to US players, you will be notified. Lola
Customer Support, AbsolutePoker.eu
One member of the TwoPlusTwo.com posting forum revealed that he/she had been in contact with a woman from the US Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York, which oversaw the investigation into Absolute Poker. The US Attorney’s Office spokesperson informed that they believed Absolute Poker had bank accounts overseas with “significant monies in them”, according to this poster.
The Absolute Poker slow – and no – payout dilemma has been overshadowed by the much larger Full Tilt Poker’s inability (or unwillingness) to pay out any customers since its license was yanked on June 29.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
