U.S. Unfreezes One-Third of Full Tilt Poker Funds for American Players

The U.S. Department of Justice has unfrozen one of the Irish accounts belonging to FullTilt and its co-owner Raymond Bitar, releasing $100-150 million, which is more than a third of the funds of American players of Full Tilt Poker.

The unfrozen account is one of nine Full Tilt accounts frozen in Ireland. The U.S. Department of Justice has frozen a total of 76 accounts belonging to Full Tilt, PokerStars, and AP/UB.

Representatives of Raymond Bitar have been seeking investors for the past three weeks to raise $150 million needed to make payments to U.S. players. Full Tilt is in negotiations with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to release funds held in other European accounts.