Account Services Files for Return of Seized Online Poker Funds

In what promises to be the first of several legal battles over the issue, payment processing company Account Services has filed a motion in federal court for the return of money seized by the US Government.

The motion stems from actions taken in early June, when the US froze funds totaling around $33 million belonging to Allied Systems Inc and Account Services, two companies that handle the processing of player cash outs for major online poker rooms. You can read a full FAQ on that issue here.

In their motion, Account Services asserts that the seizure of the funds violates the Fourth Amendment - the part of the Bill of Rights that is generally invoked to protect against unreasonable search and seizure. Account Services notes that the affidavit that resulted in the warrant for the freezing of their accounts is under seal, and that no criminal or civil action has resulted at this point from the seizure. Further, the motion argues that nothing about the specific nature of Account Service’s business - processing player cash outs - violates federal law.

Account Services also takes significant effort to defend poker as a game of skill, an argument applauded by the Poker Player’s Alliance: “On behalf of the players whose money was seized by the government, the PPA is pleased that Account Services took this step of filing its motion and contesting the seizure. We fully endorse the arguments that Account Services has included in their filing that online poker is a game of skill and not the type of illegal gambling activity that is prohibited by Federal Law.”

Updates as events warrant.