In a surprise to the online poker world, the online poker site 24Poker – not the online poker site 24hPoker – has been blocked by its network host following the suspension of its gaming license.
24Poker had its license suspended by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission last week after attempts to contact the ownership of the website regarding unidentified issues went unanswered. Although there was no reason for the KGC suspension given, it is extremely possible that 24Poker did not keep up with its licensing fees to the KGC. After the license was suspended, the network host for 24Poker took little time in announcing its move.
In a press release from the Microgaming Network, a spokesperson stated, “Microgaming today announced that all game play on the 24 Poker website has been blocked due to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission suspending 24 Poker gaming license. Both Microgaming & the Kahnawake Gaming Commission have tried without success to contact the 24 Poker Management Team. Further announcements will be made as additional information becomes available.”
24Poker’s license was due to expire at the end of this month but, because of the lack of communication and potential non-payment of licensing fees, the Microgaming Network and the KGC decided to take action earlier rather than later. 24Poker has been a licensed operation of the KGC since 2004 and has never previously had any issues.
Microgaming, as a whole, is responsible for the development of gaming software that is used by around 120 online casinos in the business today. Its poker software adds in another forty operations to that mix, including such popular online poker rooms as 32RedPoker, Cool Hand Poker, Digibet and Ladbrokes Poker. Currently, the Microgaming Network is the tenth largest poker network in the industry.
At this moment, it seems that things are operating normally at 24Poker, but it is unknown how long this will continue. The website 24poker.com still brings up an apparently operational poker room and still indicates that it is “licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.”
The latest incidence of an online poker room being shut down should come as another repeated warning for all online players regarding their online bankrolls. Players should not treat an online poker room like a bank and leave large amounts of funds on the site. If players do, they could be in for treatment similar to what has been seen in the past.
The 2007 shutdown of NeTeller, after the U. S. Department of Justice arrested the Canadian founders of the company, locked up the money of several thousand people around the world. Although the shutdown was temporary – and everyone received their money in the end – the warning about keeping a large amount of money on such payment processors was sounded.
As everyone well knows, the Full Tilt Poker debacle has also had an effect on players after it was shut down. Estimates range from as little as $100 million to as much as $500 million is owed to players worldwide following the Alderney Gambling Control Commission suspension and eventual revocation of their license just last year (the KGC also suspended a secondary license). As of today, no one has been paid from Full Tilt Poker.
24Poker is operated by BPR Services Limited in the United Kingdom and, at this point, there is little known as to what options players with money on the site have.
