First, FTP will forfeit all its assets to PokerStars, which will then forfeit $547 million to the U.S. As such, we’ve decided to sift through all yesterday’s developments and offer them to you in one simple place, what we’re calling the Lazy Person’s Guide to PokerStars’ Acquisition of Full Tilt Poker. There was a lot of information to absorb, and a day later, questions remained. When would players receive their funds? What did the settlement mean for the future of online poker in the U.S.? How would the settlement affect other defendants like Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Rafe Furst and Ray Bitar?
The great news answered a lot of longstanding questions, but it also inspired many new questions.
On Tuesday, players rejoiced when they received great news: after months of negotiations with the United States Department of Justice, PokerStars had completed the purchase of FTP and players around the world would have their balances refunded.
Ever since Groupe Bernard Tapie’s bid to acquire Full Tilt Poker (FTP) fell through last April and PokerStars surfaced as a potential buyer, poker players have waited for news on their funds, which have been tied up for 15 months.
