PKR Will Not Allow U.S Play for Launch

Brandon · #1 () 08-17-2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

First, let me take this opportunity to thank you for helping make PKR such a huge success. Over 20,000 of you have already signed up and downloaded our software since May and we've been overwhelmed by the positive response to the game. We're glad to see that you're enjoying playing PKR as much as we enjoyed building it.

Today marks our real money launch on PKR. While we're very proud of the game we're delivering to our players and excited about giving them the opportunity to play for real money, we're also disappointed to announce that, we can't offer real money play to our US based players at this time.

No doubt you've been following the news that the Senate may vote on a bill that could ban online gaming in the United States. As a result, we've had some tough decisions to make regarding the launch of real money play on PKR in the US. We've concluded that we have no choice but to postpone our launch for real money in the USA while we wait for the Senate's decision. This should take place in October, meaning that we hope to be able to offer you real money play in 6-8 weeks time.

We realize that this news will be as frustrating to many of you as it is for us. Please accept our apologies. This situation is beyond our control and we hope that it will be a temporary one.

Thankfully we also have some very good news for US players on PKR. To thank you for your patience we're ramping up our freeroll program by adding another $25,000 in prizes in the coming weeks. These will be scheduled during times that best suit US players and will allow you to experience PKR at its very best - on us. Please visit the freeroll tournament schedule where you'll find a complete list of tournaments and times, we're sure you'll find one that suits you.

Good luck and see you at the tables,

Malcolm Graham
CEO, PKR

Won't see me at the tables, I am in America

themike537 · #2 () 08-17-2006, 03:34 PM

Yep, this was pretty disappointing for me, from an affiliate's standpoint.

Steven · #3 () 08-17-2006, 03:38 PM

I just got an email from PKR.com that they are live for real money but not accepting U.S. based players. Likewise I have seen a few other rooms that are no longer accepting U.S. players.

It doesn't make sense why small rooms are denying U.S. players when no laws have been passed yet. Also, the gray area of online gaming remains the same as it has since it's inception.

Furthermore, don't you think if there was impending danger of accepting U.S. players, the big rooms and publicly traded companies would stop accepting U.S. players as well.

By these small rooms not accepting U.S. players, I would think they are severely limiting their profits and early growth potential. Especially considering the market leaders are still taking U.S. action. I'm not sure how selective new rooms could be about it's members when they're David trying to take from Goliath. Good luck!

hoursurfing · #4 () 08-17-2006, 04:07 PM

I thought that since it wasn't voted on before August 4th that they would need to wait until next year?

SunPoker.com · #5 () 08-17-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

I thought that since it wasn't voted on before August 4th that they would need to wait until next year?

August 4th is when the Senate took off for their annual one month recess. They can pick up and resume where they left off when they return in September. Many think that they will not move forward to voting on the bill because it is an election year and many will be campaigning. It's not 100% certain that they will or will not get to it.

The bottom line is that the bill is still pending in the Senate.

Mark

Greg · #6 () 08-17-2006, 05:52 PM

Mark is right here. Election years are tricky for politicians here in the States. Many think there will be a 'democratic' senate next election so I wouldnt expect the bill to be brought up before they resume. And when they do there will certainly be some conservative players in the Senate looking for votes. I would not expect anything happening in the US during 2006.

I cant make anyone else call for them, but we have started accepting US players again after a small 'waiting period' Bring on the yanks

stillshadow · #7 () 08-17-2006, 06:15 PM

Way to go, Greg. This is an absolute disappointment for affiliates and is an absolutely spineless move by PKR in my opinion.

Brandon · #8 () 08-17-2006, 06:20 PM

The more sites that do this, the more it makes the rest look like they are doing something wrong. Why give up just because there is a fight to come?

PPP · #9 () 08-17-2006, 06:29 PM

Bizarre email. The refusal of US customers is a reasonable choice in itself, but they inaccurately mischaraterize the vote, and then offer prizes in a way no doubt just as illegal under US law.

Not very encouraging from a "gee, I want to be in business with them" way.

PKR.com · #10 () 08-18-2006, 06:19 AM

Hi Guys

I can completely understand your confusion and concern, but please do not overlook the fact this this is a temporary measure; we will be reviewing this in 6-8 weeks and I feel positive that we will start accepting US real money players (after all if we didnt who would there be to take the Europeans money!?)

On a serious note I still encourage affialites with predominantly US traffic to take part in our affilIate program which will be launching later today as if we do start taking real money Players from the US, which is highly likely these will still be tracked back to them.

Feel free to PM me with any queries or concerns you may have.

Kind regards
Margaret Burke
Affiliate Manager
PKR.com