NetTeller arrests

[2Tone]

I agree that NetTeller it is extremely unlikely to abscond with people’s money. It not like major companies don’t sometime practice theft and/or criminal acts as a matter of policy – Enron, anyone? – but I don’t think that is going to happen in this case.

What I do suspect will happen is that Netteller will pull out of the US market. They warn of this possibility in their latest filing

and that will likely have very chilling effect on online poker.

I’m very curious about ...
Whether it was NetTeller other activity that got these guys busted. To me “an Internet payment services company that facilitated the transfer of billions of dollars of illegal gambling proceeds from United States citizens to the owners of various Internet gambling companies located overseas” sure sound like NetTeller. Is any other service moving billions (with a ‘B’) of dollars?

What impact this will have on the WSOP/Poker Expo/pro endorsements? I can’t imagine any Stars/Full Tilt officers would be willing to set foot in the US right now. Where does leave Doyle and Full Title pros? Doyle especially seems vulnerable. And will the sites shell out major marketing dollars for their .net ‘schools’ at the Expo next year?

[Talking Poker]

Don't forget about affiliates - the potential impact on guys like me.

Right now, they seem to be going after the obvious (BIG) targets to stop the flow of money.... but who knows what the future holds?

It really is a shame the U.S. is handling this all so poorly.