Breaking news: FTP hearing adjourned until 15 Sept "at the latest"
Hearing to decide whether or not to reinstate or revoke FTP's Alderney licences ends with commissioners adjourning proceedings until 15 September "at the latest".
Alderney commissioners have adjourned the hearing into whether or not to revoke Full Tilt Poker’s licences until 15 September “at the latest” to give the beleaguered brand more time to finalise a sale, eGaming Review heard in a public hearing late this afternoon.
After a series of day-long public and private deliberations lead commissioner Isabel Picornel told a small audience its decision was taken in the “best interests of the customers of Full Tilt to give the company more time to finalise the investment”.
The application, heard in camera – or in private – was only in reference to the pre-hearing application for an adjournment and not in relation to the hearing itself.
“The decision was not taken lightly,” Picornel told around 20 people and press who had patiently stayed all day to hear an outcome.
“The decision was taken in the best interests of Full Tilt’s customers and to allow FTP to further resume negotiations with potential investors. This would lead to more a beneficial outcome for the players’ interests. We will reconvene as soon as possible and no later than 15 September this year.”
Around 150 people arrived this morning to witness the public hearing in London’s Victoria Park Plaza Hotel with the proceedings beginning at 10.25am and finishing just over an hour later with Full Tilt and Alderney Gambling Control Commission lawyers, and its two commissioners announcing – much to the displeasure of those in attendance – that the remainder of the deliberations would be held in camera.
In between the end of the first session and this afternoon’s announcement at approximately 5.52pm those in attendance were given a series of confusing statements as to whether the remainder of the hearing would be held in public or behind closed doors with only 20 people deciding to wait.
“We believe this [15 September] is a reasonable amount of time for the case to be adjourned, Picornel added.
No decision or confirmation was given as to whether the resumed hearing would continue to be held in public or in camera.