Since the closure of Full Tilt Poker, CEO Ray Bitar spoke out publicly for the first time, apologizing to the online poker community and asserting to be working hard to find a solution for the company. Along with Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson, Ray Bitar have been very silent to the public throughout the Black Friday ordeal and Full Tilt scandal.
In the interview, Bitar’s first official statements since Full Tilt Poker closed its doors for business on June 29, 2011, Bitar states that his silence has been forced on him as a result of the legal issues and ongoing investor negotiations.
“My love for the sport and the poker community has made it very difficult to keep silent, particularly in light of the many angry sentiments directed at FTP, myself and others, in newspapers and blogs. Given the lack of information that has been made public, I can certainly understand these sentiments,” said Bitar.
He adds that he has been working hard to resolve the situation and is working “day and night” to ensure Full Tilt’s survival and the eventual payout of outstanding debts to players.
“My primary focus has been and continues to be working towards getting us to where we want to be – the repayment of the players and the survival of the company. I have been fully dedicated to this cause and am doing everything possible for a beneficial outcome.”
Finally he states:
“I would like to offer my sincere apology to all who have been affected by these events and to clarify that my silence was not an attempt to ‘hide,’ or ‘ignore,’ the situation,” he says.
“It was done out of necessity to ensure the focus remained on the continued efforts to reach the best outcome for the players. My entire focus is on obtaining a successful resolution for the players. I hope that before long I can provide some good news for all of the players involved,” he adds.
Bitar’s interview seemed to do little to appease the poker community and in response to his comments gained even more backlash from players in various forums accusing him basically of being a hypocrite.
You can see the full Ray Bitar interview conducted by PokerStrategy here. PokerStrategy
In another set of news surrounding Full Tilt, it has been reported that another investor has emerged with an interest in buying the Full Tilt software in the event that the deal with the Bernard Tapie Group falls through.
A British Equity firm is rumoured to be interested in the company’s software and willing to pay in the area of $30 million and $35 million, rather than planning to relaunch the beleaguered poker room – depending on what happens with the DOJ and the Bernard Tapie Group.
