Statements From PokerStars & Full Tilt Poker

When I try to visit PokerStars.com, FullTiltPoker.com, and UB.com, I see the following image:

If you are in the United States, and don't already see the same thing, you should within the next 24 hours.

Both PokerStars and Full Tilt have issued statements about the situation. (Thanks to @Kevmath for posting screenshots of these statements on Twitter; I've transcribed them below in full.)

PokerStars:

Important Notice from PokerStars

As you may have heard, we have had to suspend real money poker services to people based in the US due to legal developments there. These developments are confined to the US and do not have any impact on your ability to continue using our services.

Please be assured player balances are safe. There is no cause for concern. For all customers outside the US it is business as usual.

The PokerStars website has been moved to www.pokerstars.eu, and our Support email address is now support@pokerstars.eu. We apologize to our players for any inconvenience caused by this disruption

Please be aware that we are currently experiencing a very high volume of emails, so our response times are delayed. We will answer player emails as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

Full Tilt Poker:

Statement from Full Tilt Poker Regarding Recent Check Withdrawal Issues

In light of recent events involving the freezing of certain accounts, Full Tilt Poker would like to assure all players that their funds remain safe and secure. Processing of both deposit and withdrawal requests is proceeding as normal and is still available to all of our players.

All players who were affected by the current situation have had their funds returned to their accounts and all new withdrawal requests are processing normally. We assure all players on Full Tilt Poker that your online playing experience will not change and that you will be able to both deposit and withdraw funds as needed. Your money remains safe, secure and accessible at all times.

Full Tilt Poker remains committed to the protection of our players’ security and legal rights, and will continue to provide the best and safest online poker room available worldwide.

Full Tilt Poker also issued a full press release:

Full Tilt Poker Supports Poker Players And Its Chief Executive

Dublin Ireland (April 15, 2011) -- Full Tilt Poker is saddened by today's changes against its CEO Raymond Bitar and offers its full support to Mr. Bitar and Nelson Burtnick.

Online poker is a game of skill enjoyed by tens of millions of people in the United States and across the world. And, Full Tilt Poker remains as committed as ever to preserving the rights of those players to play the game they love online.

Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal -- a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States. Full Tilt Poker is, and has always been committed to preserving the integrity of the game and abiding by the law.

"I am surprised and disappointed by the government's decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick's and my exoneration," said Mr. Bitar.

Unfortunately, as a result of this action, Full Tilt Poker has decided that it must suspend "real money" play in the United States until this case is resolved. However, Full Tilt Poker will continue to provide peer-to-peer online poker services outside of the United States.

There’s nothing too surprising in these statements. The sites are doing everything they can to assure their customers (especially their non-U.S. customers) that their money is safe so there isn’t a run-on-the-banks situation. In the United States, the run on the online poker banks has been underway since this story first broke in the afternoon.

Stay tuned for a post with my recommendations on what to do with your online poker funds.