Full Tilt Poker

Full Tilt Poker
Industry Online poker
Founded June 2004 (2004-06)
Founder Raymond Bitar and 9 others[1][2]
Headquarters Ireland
Area served
 Worldwide
Parent Amaya Inc.
Website fulltilt.com

Full Tilt Poker is an online poker card room and online casino that opened in June 2004. Formerly privately owned by Tiltware, LLC and later by the Rational Entertainment Group, the site was acquired by Amaya Gaming Group in a deal where Amaya acquired all of Rational's assets, including PokerStars. A statement by Amaya said the takeover would not affect the activities of Full Tilt Poker.[3] The deal was closed on August 1, 2014.[4]

Just prior to the close of the purchase, Full Tilt Poker redirected and rebranded its domains from FullTiltPoker.com and FullTiltPoker.eu to FullTilt.com and FullTilt.eu. A company spokesperson stated the change reflected the fact Full Tilt had "expanded to offer a range of single and multi-player variations of casino games".[5]

Full Tilt has gaming licenses in Malta and the Isle of Man.

Games offered

Full Tilt offers both play and real money cash games and tournaments. Freeroll, satellite, sit-n-go, and multi-table tournaments take place throughout the day and often included participation from Full Tilt’s sponsored professionals. The site offers the following poker variations in limit, pot-limit, and no-limit: Texas Holdem, Omaha, and Omaha 8 or Better (a.k.a. Omaha hi/lo). The site also offers limit Razz, Stud, Stud 8 or better, Draw poker variants and mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E. Stakes offers ranged from $0.01/$0.02 blinds to $500/1000 blinds in big bet games and up to $2000/4000 limits in limit games.[6]

In early 2010, Full Tilt introduced a new poker variation called "Rush Poker" designed to increase the number of hands a player can play per hour. In "Rush Poker" players do not remain at a specific table. Instead, they join a pool with hundreds of other players. Whenever they fold their hand, they are instantly transferred to a new table and dealt a new hand.[7] Full Tilt Poker also launched Rush Poker Mobile for iOS and Android devices.

Full Tilt Online Poker Series

The Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) is Full Tilt's premier tournament series.[8] It was established in August 2006 [9] and is held approximately every three months.[10] The FTOPS consisted of multiple tournaments in a variety of different poker games and formats, each of which was hosted by a different Full Tilt professional.[11] Throughout the series, Full Tilt offered a number of challenges and prizes that rewarded players for accomplishing certain feats.[12]

Full Tilt also sponsored a Mini FTOPS, which took place one month later and featured the same events at 1/10 the buy-in.[13]

History

Full Tilt Poker initially opened as an online poker card room with the involvement of poker professionals Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman and Chris Ferguson.[14]

Full Tilt Poker was launched by parent company TiltWare, LLC in June 2004 and began full operation on July 10, 2004.[15] On April 15, 2011, Full Tilt Poker was one of several online poker operators to have its .com domain seized by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of a series of indictments of the sites' owners and employees.[16] The license of Full Tilt Poker was suspended by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission on June 29, 2011 and revoked on September 29, 2011.[17]

The previous Tiltware ownership group was involved in several legal disputes.

Clonie Gowen

In late 2008, Full Tilt was sued in Nevada by Clonie Gowen, prominent poker professional and former Full Tilt endorser. She claimed that during Full Tilt's formative year of 2004, she was offered a 1% ownership in the company in exchange for her promotional efforts. The suit was dismissed by a trial court, but later partly reinstated on appeal.[18]

James Hicks

On April 29, 2009, James B. Hicks filed a civil complaint against Tiltware, LLC (d/b/a FullTiltPoker.com), TiltProof, Inc., and Chris Ferguson generally alleging unfair and unlawful business practices including illegal Internet gaming and violations of the UIGEA.[19] Hicks is seeking injunctive relief to prevent Full Tilt from operating its website, soliciting players, or funding or accepting payments for illegal gambling in California.[19] No monetary damages are being sought save reasonable costs and attorneys' fees.[19]

Jason Newitt

On September 11, 2009, Full Tilt was sued civilly in Nevada by Jason Newitt in the case of Jason Newitt v. Tiltware; Full Tilt Poker; Pocket Kings Ltd.; Pocket Kings Consulting Ltd.; Ray Bitar; Howard Lederer. Mr. Newitt alleges that he was unfairly fired and that his distribution payments were unfairly ceased.[20]

Lary Kennedy

On October 1, 2009, Lary Kennedy and Greg Omotoy filed suit against Full Tilt Poker, Tiltware and several individual members of Team Full Tilt alleging fraud, libel, slander, false advertising, and racketeering.[21] Kennedy and Omotoy filed suit following unsuccessful attempts to have Full Tilt refund $80,000 which it had seized from Kennedy’s and Omotoy’s accounts asserting a violation of Full Tilt’s Terms of Service for using "bots". On October 17, 2009, Full Tilt responded to Kennedy’s lawsuit by claiming the suit was baseless and frivolous and stating that it “has never knowingly allowed ‘bots’ to play on its site.”[22]

After the case was removed to the United States District Court for the Central District of California, on April 26, 2010, Judge Margaret Morrow dismissed the case with leave stating that Kennedy had failed to "detail many portions of her case regarding state violations and, in particular, there could be no claim under the RICO Act. However, as the case was dismissed with leave, Kennedy may re-file the complaint in federal court if she is able to correct the deficiencies in her original complaint.[23]

Grand jury investigation, indictment, and website seizure

On April 5, 2010, the Financial Times reported that a federal grand jury in Manhattan was investigating Full Tilt Poker and individuals associated with the company, including Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson, for violations of gambling and money-laundering laws.[24] Although neither the Manhattan United States Attorney nor officials with the United States Department of Justice would comment on the matter, it was reported that such an investigation “would fit the federal law enforcement strategy by trying to make an example out of prominent targets”.[24] The Department of Justice maintained that online poker violates the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 (Federal Wire Act),[24] but later changed their opinion on that matter.

On April 15, 2011, the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment, dated March 10, 2011, against two of the owners / employees (Ray Bitar and Nelson Burtnick) of Full Tilt Poker, along with some of the owners / employees of PokerStars and Absolute Poker.[25] The defendants were charged with fraud, money laundering, and violation of United States federal gambling laws, and certain domain names for the sites were seized by the FBI.[26][27] The Full Tilt Poker homepage was reinstated six days later on April 20, 2011.

On September 20, 2011, the U.S. Justice Department accused certain Full Tilt principals of defrauding poker players out of more than $300 million. The U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York filed a motion to amend an earlier civil complaint to allege that company directors Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Rafe Furst, and Ray Bitar operated what the Justice Department claims was a Ponzi scheme that allowed the company to pay out $444 million to themselves and other owners, which included other famous poker players.[28][29] A lawyer for Ferguson has denied the allegations, suggesting that the issues may have been the result of mismanagement rather than malice.[30][31] Bitar surrendered to authorities on July 2, 2012, to deal with the civil and criminal case that is pending against him in New York .[32] On April 15, 2013, Bitar reached a deal with prosecutors to plead guilt to criminal charges, and was sentenced to time served and ordered to surrender his assets, rumored to include various homes and $40 million in cash.[33]

A companion civil case, U.S. v. PokerStars, et al. (11 Civ. 2564)[34] was filed on April 14, 2011, and includes Full Tilt and its related entities as defendants.[25] On July 31, 2012, the US government dismissed with prejudice all civil complaints against all PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker companies after coming to a settlement with PokerStars which included PokerStars purchasing Full Tilt.[35] PokerStars and Full Tilt admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which ended all litigation between the government and the companies. The criminal indictments remain in place for the named individuals.[36][37]

Ex-members of Team Full Tilt

Full Tilt's team of professionals was an integral part of the company's marketing strategy, its slogan being "Learn, Chat and Play with the Pros."[38] "Team Full Tilt" was composed of fourteen noted professionals who played regularly on the site and were considered full-fledged members. In addition to Team Full Tilt, several other pros were "Full Tilt Pros," who were sponsored by the site but were not full-fledged members made up of two teams, CardRunners and The Hendon Mob, there were also an additional 164 "Full Tilt Pros" and 41 non-members made up of authors, celebrities, announcers and commentators, they were known as "Friends of Full Tilt" whose names were also highlighted in red text on the site. Paul DeRosa was last added.

Sports sponsorships

Full Tilt was a major sponsor of the Formula One racing team, Virgin Racing.[39][40] It also sponsored a Driver in Formula D Joon Maeng along with the Bergenholtz Racing crew, as well as Taylor Barton Racing[41] and the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League.[42]

Full Tilt on television

Full Tilt Poker is or has been the principal sponsor of a number of poker television programs, including:

References

  1. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker Founders". Roger S. gamblingsites.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "History of Full Tilt Poker". Roger S. gamblingsites.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Canada's Amaya acquiring PokerStars owner Rational Group for $4.9bn". Montreal News.Net. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Wall Street Journal: Amaya Completes Acquisition of Pokerstars and Full Tilt Poker
  5. ↑ Bluffeurope.com: Revamp for Full Tilt
  6. ↑ "Poker Games". Fulltiltpoker.com. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker Introduces Poker Variation Rush Poker". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  8. ↑ "210k Overlay in FTOPS Main Event". Poker-king.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  9. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker FTOPS - Qualify for the FTOPS". Pokersite.org. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  10. ↑ "FTOPS Schedule Explained by Howard Lederer". Pokernewsdaily.com. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  11. ↑ "FTOPS XV Schedule Announced". Pokernewsdaily.com. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  12. ↑ "Ftops Xv". Online Gambling. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  13. ↑ "$17 Million On the Line in Upcoming FTOPS XV". Pokerlistings.com. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  14. ↑ Friedman, Michael (2010-08-08). "Team FullTilt: The World's First Poker Dynasty". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  15. ↑ Business Wire: Full Tilt Poker Unveils Official Site With Tournaments, Renowned Poker Stars and Real Money Games Where Permitted By Law
  16. ↑ "United States enters domain name agreements with two online poker companies" (PDF).
  17. ↑ New York Times: Full Tilt Poker Site Loses License
  18. ↑ Las Vegas Sun: Appeals court ruling a partial victory for professional poker player
  19. 1 2 3 "Hicks v. Tiltware, LLC, et al., US Dist. Ct., Cent. Dist. West. Div, Case. No. CV09-03009 FMC PJWx" (PDF). pokerati.com.
  20. ↑ "Jason Newitt Sues Full Tilt, Lederer, et al.Another Ex-FTP Employee Suits Up | Pokerati | Texas Hold'em and Las Vegas WSOP Poker Blog". Pokerati. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  21. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker Sued Over Bot Use". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  22. ↑ "Full Tilt Responds to Poker Bot Lawsuit". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  23. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker Wins Dismissal on Court Cases in California and Kentucky". Pokernewsdaily.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  24. 1 2 3 Menn, Joseph (2010-04-05). "Court Probe into Poker Internet Site". Financial Times. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  25. 1 2 justice.gov
  26. ↑ Katz, Basil (April 15, 2011). "Internet gambling sites owners charged with fraud". Reuters. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  27. ↑ Egan, Matt (April 15, 2011). "Feds Go 'All In' Against Online Poker Sites". Fox Business. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  28. ↑ United States of America (September 20, 2011), VERIFIED FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT 11 Civ. 2564 (PDF), UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, retrieved 2011-09-26
  29. ↑ Berzon, Alexandra (September 20, 2011). "U.S. Alleges Full Tilt Poker Was Ponzi Scheme". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  30. ↑ Greg Howard (September 22, 2011). "Full Tilt Poker Denies it's a Ponzi Scheme". The Slatest. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  31. ↑ Berzon, Alexandra (September 22, 2011). "Poker Site Fires Back at U.S.". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  32. ↑ Forbes.com: Feds Arrest Full Tilt CEO Ray Bitar And Again Call Full Tilt Poker A Ponzi Scheme
  33. ↑ Holloway, Chad. "Ray Bitar Pleads Guilty; Sentenced to Time Served and Must Forfeit Assets". PokerNews.com. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  34. ↑ scribd.com
  35. ↑ ESPN: PokerStars settles, acquires FTP
  36. ↑ Pokernews.com: Full Tilt Poker Attorney Jeff Ifrah Discusses PokerStars' Purchase of FTP
  37. ↑ Fbi.gov: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces $731 Million Settlement of Money Laundering and Forfeiture Complaint with PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker
  38. ↑ "Full Tilt Poker Bonus Code 100% - FullTilt Reviews & Download". PokerNews. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  39. ↑ Burton, Earl (May 8, 2010). "Full Tilt Sponsors Virgin Racing Team". pokernewsdaily.com.
  40. ↑ "Virgin Racing". Virgin Racing. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  41. ↑ "Taylor Barton Racing". Tbartonracing.com. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  42. ↑ "Official Site of the Sydney Roosters | Sydney Roosters news, video, fixture, results, tickets". Sydneyroosters.com.au. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
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