As if there wasn’t already a post-World Series of Poker slowdown in the poker community – with many players taking a respite from the game before diving headlong into the various tournament poker circuits and their final four months of the 2012 schedule – the poker world has ground to a halt today as the entire community waits with bated breath for an announcement that many have waited for and some have thought would never happen.
Since the article from Poker Player Newspaper’s Wendeen Eolis on Friday regarding the end of negotiations between PokerStars and the U. S. Department of Justice, the poker world has been abuzz as to whether or not this rumor was true. If you remember, Eolis reported on Friday that she had received information from a “consistently reliable source” that stated the deal was done for the sale of Full Tilt Poker to PokerStars. As a part of that deal, Eolis said that worldwide players from Full Tilt would receive their payment from PokerStars “well in time for Christmas shopping.”
Eolis, a highly respected member of the poker community, hasn’t backed off her blockbuster news from last week, offering further explanation at the Poker Player Newspaper website (www.pokerplayernewspaper.com) today. Her information came from a “highly knowledgeable source,” according to Eolis and, while she considered the possibility of the information being faulty, she went forward on Friday. “I was convinced the day had arrived,” Eolis stated on PPN regarding the completion of the deal.
The resulting frenzy over Eolis’ story last week has led to affirmations and denials on both sides of the ledger. Subject: Poker, which was an excellent outlet for Full Tilt Poker news throughout this nasty episode, stayed in the middle of the fray on Twitter by saying, “Long awaited news coming…no speculation, no rumors, real news.” Gambling911 also signed in on the subject, stating that, through their own independent sources and legal actions, they could also confirm that a deal had been done.
On the other end of the spectrum, PokerFuse.com has been skeptical of any truth to the rumors of the alleged PokerStars/DoJ deal. While acknowledging that there was “significant movement” in the discussions of the deal, PokerFuse refused to state that any deal had been completed. “No official announcement has come from any party involved and, until that time, the deal is not complete,” PokerFuse.com’s Nick Jones stated.
The discussion on the subject has become the dominant pastime for many in the poker world over the weekend. In what was already a monstrous thread regarding the Full Tilt fiasco on Two Plus Two, players have alternated between unabashed optimism and quite-understandable pessimism over these latest details. The rumors of the Monday announcement that everyone has stated have most in the poker world wondering when such information would be revealed, while others point out that Eolis never claimed that there would be an announcement today (an accurate statement, by the way).
One of the posters did reflect on something that has baffled (angered?) many in the poker community: the lack of information from PokerStars regarding this situation. “This is a complete joke,” poster ‘Paddy_O’Hara’ wrote. “PokerStars HAVE to come and make a statement either way. We get you can’t discuss certain things but at least tell us your (sic) still working on the deal.” Other than a statement prior to the WSOP that they were in “discussions” with the U. S. government, PokerStars has fallen silent on the issue.
On Twitter, one of the most active participants in the discussion has been poker pro Kathy Liebert. As the clock passed the midnight hour this morning, Liebert Tweeted to her followers, “Who believes we will hear an announcement today that PokerStars is the savior and will reimburse all FTP stole” and offered a prize for the best response. After that discussion, Liebert would follow up with a question this morning that the entire poker world has been asking for some time, “Where’s Howard?” (assuming she means disgraced fellow pro and alleged Full Tilt figure Howard Lederer, of course).
As of 11AM (Eastern Time), there has been no announcement given on the PokerStars/DoJ deal. Poker News Daily continues to monitor the situation and will have whatever news comes out today…or this week…or potentially even later.