Tue, 04/19/2011 – 02:18 – PokerPages Staff

The poker world was shaken on Friday when the founders of online sites PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker were indicted on charges of money laundering, illegal gambling and bank fraud.

Eleven defendants including Full Tilt’s Raymond Bitar could now face up to 30 years in prison.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, revealed that the charges related to the 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) and the Illegal Gambling Business Act of 1955.

“As charged, these defendants concocted an elaborate criminal fraud scheme, alternately tricking some U.S. Banks and effectively bribing others to assure the continued flow of billions in illegal gambling profits.”

“Foreign firms that choose to operate in the United States are not free to flout the laws they don’t like simply because they can’t bear to be parted from their profits.”

The three sites involved, who have also had their internet domain names seized by the FBI, restricted real money access to all players in the United States in the wake of the indictment which has dealt a crushing blow to the progression of the game in the country.

PokerStars released a statement on their poker client, confirming that individual player balances are not at risk.

“The 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.”

Poker Players Alliance Chairman Senator Alfonse D’Amato offered solace to the millions of poker players affected by ‘Black Friday.’

“On behalf of the millions of poker players across the country, we are shocked at the action taken by the U.S. Department of Justice today against online poker companies and will continue to fight for American’s right to participate in the game they enjoy.”