Tony G Poker - No More U.S.

[Graham]

Just got this email:

Dear Valued Player,

We have recently experienced some unexpected technical issues which required immediate attention. The problem has been resolved, however a NEW version of our Poker client is required. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

To download the new client simply follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Go to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
• Step 2: Find TonyG Poker in the list and click the Remove button to uninstall it
• Step 3: Download the latest client installer from http://www.tonygpoker.com/download/
• Step 4: Run TonyGPokerSetup.exe once it has finished downloading
• Step 5: Your existing username and password will continue to work

Further to this, due to recent changes in the US legislation, we regret that we can no longer continue to allow US players access to our money tables. All players who have an account registered with a US country code will no longer have access to our money tables, however will still be allowed access to our free money tables.

Tony G Poker

=================================================

Thanks for letting your affiliates know about these kind of changes Tony G Support. This kinda crap is ridiculous when you have to find out about it from a player account on the site.

[PokerProp]

Thanks for the info. I read your post long before getting the notice from GG and TonyG.
Just pulled them from my sites, set up redirects etc.
Going to give Cake a try in their slots.
I don't see this network making it w/out USA.

[AceHigh]

Sad This site hasnt got much action before...and now when the US players are gone this site will be in serious trouble.

[DealerDan]

Originally Posted by Graham

Thanks for letting your affiliates know about these kind of changes Tony G Support. This kinda crap is ridiculous when you have to find out about it from a player account on the site.

This doesn't surpise me in the least. Tony G have time and time again proven that they have the worst support in the industry, both for players and for affiliates. Disappointing because it's a good little network, and the software was very slick.

[corpfan1]

So much for the extra little income I got every Monday !

I imagine the sole cause of this is because of the lack of payment processors?

I would like to hear Jeremy's take on this...because of his Lithuanian - Poker News connection and that AWESOME PAW DEAL that we have...

I was enjoying the extra rakeback from my own play every week...60% rocked!! I guess I will play at Full Tilt now.

Does Tony G Poker have ANY hope left?

[Graham]

Here is the response from Jose about this:

Hi,

Unfortunately I just heard of it.
No you wont lose any players with new software, it is just a software update.
More info here from TonyG: http://tonyg.pokerworks.com/2007/02/tony-g-poker%e2%80%99s-hand-is-forced-by-us-government.html

Regards
Jose

[Graham]

Post on PokerWorks:

Tony G. Poker’s hand is forced by US Government!

It’s a very, very sad day for Tony G. There are no options for me to keep the room open to USA players.
I feel very sad for all of you good folks in the USA but your government is very aggressive right now and is running loose. Neteller money has been seized from people that have done nothing wrong. Who knows if and when it will be returned to the people it belongs to. And where will the government stop in its quest to wipe out internet poker?
My legal advice is not to close, but the hosting company in Malta also wants to close the doors to USA players. I could still keep Tony G. Poker going, since I believe poker is a game of skill, but with the USA government on a rampage, happy to freeze the funds of players that only wanted to play poker, that will put everyone at great risk as we have no way to pay our USA players.*
I am just the face in front of the site and can’t do what I would like to do. My hand was forced today and I have no say in this thing. The following is an email that is being sent to everyone in the USA with an account at Tony G. Poker:
Dear Valued Player,
We have recently experienced some unexpected technical issues which required immediate attention. The problem has been resolved, however a NEW version of our Poker client is required.
To download the new, client simply follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs
Step 2: Find TonyG Poker in the list and click the Remove button to uninstall it.
Step 3: Download the latest client installer from http://www.tonygpoker.com/download/
Step 4: Run TonyGPokerSetup.exe once it has finished downloading
Step 5: Your existing username and password will continue to work
Further to this, due to recent changes in the US legislation, we regret that we can no longer continue to allow US players access to our money tables. All players who have an account registered with a US country code will no longer have access to our money tables, however will still be allowed access to our free money tables.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.
Tony G Poker
*The only way possible to withdraw your funds from Tony G. Poker at this time is by doing the following:
1) Transfer your funds to Tony, his player id is “Tony G”
2) Once the transfer is complete, send an email to “[email protected]” detailing the amount you transferred, your player id, and one of the three accounts you would like your funds transferred to: UltimateBet, FullTilt, or PokerStars - also giving your player ID on the site you want your funds transferred to. (If you don’t have an account at one of those sites, please click on a banner on the left and open a real money account at the one of your choice).
Regrettably, there is no banking option open at this time since everything is being closed to USA citizens and the government’s strong arm tactics of protecting our borders from poker has removed yet another freedom.
I want you to know that I will do my best to guarantee payment to you and keep your faith in dealing with me. You can check back here for updates.

[edmc]

We should go back to the "it wont happen" threads.

Then go to the "why did it happen" threads

Then go to "its happened, now what?" thread

Then "what made everyone back off under such a flimsy loopholey law?" thread

Then "smoke a cuban"

[edmc]

Im just pissed off because any decent lawyer could get around the bill, yet Neteller & many a site cannot. Which means to me, there is no legal stance untill the US gets their share of their exported money. "the japs & the apples"

[Jeremy]

Tony's hands were tied and for legal reasons TonyGPoker had to pull out of the U.S.

Yes it sucks but there's nothing we can do about it. The U.S. government is literally on a rampage and in terms of U.S. and poker it is going to get worse before it gets better.