Neteller Decision Postponed Again

Filed in archive Poker News on April 21, 2007

Issac Haxton seems like the calmest poker player alive while giving this interview by Pokernews.com concerning the $800,000 he transfered to his Neteller account after placing 2nd in the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure tournament. Of course like the majority of online players, including yours truly, he didn't expect to see his withdrawl denied time and time again until an explaination came out about the Co-founders from Canada being detained on charges.

This is weekend was supposed to be a giant step forward for those who have been waiting patiently for THEIR funds to be released as the court case against Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebrve was to move forward. But, as reported by Gambling911.com, the wheels of justice seem to have found another pothole.

Here's the article from Gambling911 covering what could have been a boost to the internet poker community:

Peter Neiman, lawyer for NETeller co-founder Stephen Lawrence, has advised that another continuance is now scheduled for May 16 to determine if both his client and another founder, John Lefebrve, will be indicted by the US government.

This would mark the fourth time in so many months that a continuance has been granted in this case.

Games and Casino spoke with Mr. Neiman Wednesday, who confirmed the extension to May 16.

Rumors abound of an April 27 rescheduling, but the May 16 date makes the waiting even longer.

Both Lawrence and Lefebrve were arrested in mid-January and charged with racketeering and money laundering for their role as founders of third party payment processor, NETeller. The US government argues that NETeller worked almost exclusively within the online gambling industry.

The online gambling industry was hopeful that a positive outcome in this matter would help boost morale, not to mention gaming shares.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published April 18, 2007 12:44 pm ET