Party Poker pays $100m, PStars and FT laugh it up
 

Party will pay the US authorities US$105m in installments up to 30 September 2012 in return for the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (USAO) ensuring the company and any of its subsidiaries will not be prosecuted for providing internet gambling services prior to UIGEA.

The execs are Pstars and FT must be kicking themselves -- "Damn, why didn't we abandon the US market, sacrifice our massive player base, and then agree to pay a nine-figure fine!"

I think having the casino attached is the big problem.

With the possibility of internet gambling being allowed once again in the future this might not be such a bad move by party poker, once it is regulated by the US gov they will surely be more favourable to party poker than any site that hasn't co-operated.