AGCC Holds Hearing into FTP License Suspension

Drama at London hearing On July 26, the Alderney Gaming Control Commission held the much anticipated hearing into the suspension of the Full Tilt Poker license. The London hearing saw a bit of everything: drama, mystery, speculation, but the result in the end is – the hearing will reconvene. It all began at a London venue, where journalists were anxiously waiting to see the outcome of the Full Tilt situation. However, lawyers from the UK firm Jeffrey Green Russell apparently minded their presence, appealing to the three commissioners controlling the hearing that its proceedings be carried out in private for the protection of Full Tilt Poker. In their appeal, they stated three reasons: * That it was in the interests of justice and did no harm to the proceedings to hold the hearing privately; * That for reasons of confidential commercial sensitivity involving negotiations for a potential new investor, it could be prejudicial to Full Tilt to hear the matter publicly; * That there were US legal implications that might be affected by public disclosures. According to Full Tilt legal representative Martin Heslop, “It is not in the interest of justice that this should be aired in public. There is a real risk that it may be detrimental to these interests and highly prejudicial to this decision.” In addition, Heslop stated that the only reason why Full Tilt had not paid GBP250 000 in licensing fees to the AGCC was that they expected the license suspension to extend to expiry. Interestingly enough, he said the the company would be happy to pay the outstanding fees if there was still a chance that the AGCC would license them. In a comment on this, the two parties had diametrically opposite stands, with Full Tilt opining that there is “no money without a licence,” and the AGCC taking the position: “no licence without the money.” Then the commissioners took an hour to discuss the application for an adjournment and a private hearing and then returned with the following decision: there is to be no adjournment, but the hearing will be held in private. This obviously caused quite a stir in the room, and the Brit poker pro Harry Demetriou broke out, accused FTP of being corrupt and shouted "What about the players?" Later, during the private hearing, it appeared that Full Tilt legal representatives were hoping to get the license back. However, at the end of the day, it was announced that “in the interests of justice and the best interest of Full Tilt customers,” the hearing was adjourned in order to enable Full Tilt to continue its advanced investment negotiations. The AGCC also specified that the hearing will reconvene no later than September 15, 2011. The place and precise time will be specified later on.