PokerStars announced Wednesday that US players will be allowed to withdraw funds as soon as a "suitable processor is found," the website said.
PokerStars made an agreement with the Department of Justice a few days after the top three poker sites were shutdown. "This publically [sic] available agreement," as stated on the website, "includes assurances from the DOJ that player cashouts can be processed safely. Cashouts for US residents are expected to be available within several weeks."
Full Tilt Poker has also reached a similar agreement.
In response to the recent actions by the federal government, Los Angeles-based poker player Mark Anderson said players are considering of moving away from the US.
"If you go to those online forums, they're all talking about moving," Anderson told NPR. "And they're serious because they'd much rather try to find a way to move to Canada, where it's perfectly legal."
However, moving to Canada isn't as easy as it sounds. Adults 18-years-old and older must have lived in Canada for at least three years for the last four years, but due to the international popularity of poker, PokerStars isn't in such of a big pickle. According to PokerNewReport.com, traffic was down only 24 percent considering Texas Hold 'Em, PokerStars' most popular game, was founded in the United States.
PokerListings.com reports that only three poker sites currently allow US players to play for real money: Cake Poker, Juicy Stakes and Fugu Poker.
Image: Jonathan Duhamel of Canada poses with prize money and bracelet after winning the World Series of Poker final in Las Vegas, November, 2010 (Photo courtesy The Guardian).
