Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet have continued to operate

Despite not allowing any new sign-ups at the CEREUS Network sites, existing US money players are still able to continue playing for real money at Absolute Poker and UB.com, although cash outs, deposits, or transfer of funds are currently not permitted.

Also, unlike both PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, the CEREUS Network sites have thus far refused to agree to the offers made by the US Department Of Justice and agree to the return of their players’ money. As a statement issued recently by Absolute Poker explains:

“At this time, Absolute Poker’s top priority is, and must be, the refund of balances to its and UB’s US players. However, given the far-reaching consequences of the US Attorney’s actions for Absolute Poker and for the entire poker community, Absolute Poker believes that the responsible course of action is to review with its attorneys the relevant court filings before taking any action.”

At the heart of Absolute Poker’s defiant stance would appear to be the fact that the Antiguan based poker business has the backing of the Antigua Government who aside from tourism, rely heavily on online gambling.

In fact, Antigua had previously taken the US government to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the wake of the 2006 UIGEA legislation, who then granted the Caribbean country the right to annually suspend an equivalent amount in intellectual property rights held by US firms.

Now with the latest 2011 US government crack-down on online poker, the Antigua Government has thrown its backing once again against what it terms “economic protectionism at its worst,” with the country’s Minister of Finance Harold Lovell stating:

“I am concerned that at this point in time, United States authorities continue to prosecute non-domestic suppliers of remote gaming services in clear contravention of international law. I am not aware of any other situation where a member of the World Trade Organization has subjected persons to criminal prosecution under circumstances where the WTO has expressly ruled that to do so is in breach of international law.”

Consequently, Absolute Poker has continued to protest its innocence as to any charges levelled against it by the US Department Of Justice and are presently not bowing to pressure in its talks with US authorities. In the meantime, the Antigua Government said it was considering seeking redress against the US government at the WTO, once more.

“We are confident that the WTO rulings have significant strength and we are now looking into ways to capitalise on that to achieve our objectives,” commented Finance minister Harold Lovell.