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    PokerStars to pay $547 million gambling fine, will buy Full Tilt Poker

    PokerStars to pay $547 million gambling fine, will buy Full Tilt Poker

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    A deal with the US government will force online poker companies PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to reimburse customers worldwide for funds lost when both companies shut down American operations.

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    PokerStars FLICKR

    A deal with the US government will force online poker companies PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker to reimburse customers worldwide for funds lost when both companies shut down American operations. As part of the settlement, PokerStars has acquired Full Tilt Poker and promised to reimburse the latter's customers. (PokerStars claims to have already repaid its own customers). PokerStars will also pay the US government $547 million over the next three years, some of which will be used to compensate US Full Tilt Poker customers, and will pay an additional $184 million to reimburse customers outside the US.

    Under the agreement, PokerStars will be able to reopen business in the US if it ever becomes legal to do so. The company intends to re-launch Full Tilt Poker as a separate brand, and says the agreement "brings welcome relief to Full Tilt Poker players who have been waiting over 12 months for repayment of their money." Another poker site, Absolute Poker, has reached a separate agreement that has not yet been approved, but the Associated Press reports that the deal will require the company to forfeit its assets to the government in order to repay customers.