Topic: SwCpoker.eu | No Banking, Only Bitcoin | Bitcoin Poker 2.0 LIVE NOW! - page 111. (Read 291358 times)

That's right Dave.  That's why Micon asked reporters to correct their stories that called him the "owner" of SealsWithClubs.  It's important to make clear that he was a spokesman and site pro, but he wasn't the "founder" or the one in charge.

If they can go after Micon for promoting and being the public face of Seals... what about Phil Ivey, Negreanu, Hellmuth and all the other pros that were paid spokesmen for sites before Black Friday.  What about Lock Poker pros that promoted a site that continued to operate in the US - and even after it was clear they didn't have the money to pay their players.

Hell... Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Russ Hamilton and those guys were actual owners/operators of sites that stole their players money and they're still free.

They're just going after Micon because he was the only person involved with Seals that was publicly known.  And their "detective" work seems to consist of visiting the website, Twitter, and an agent playing 30 hands on the site.


As for any balance I have on SwC, I'm not worried about that at all.  Even though he now does run SwC he's not doing it alone.

I don't see SwC going anywhere, and still believe that it will continue to grow.

And like Dave I'm also confident that player funds are safe... and that the rest of the Team would continue to process withdrawals no matter what happens.

Sorry to hear Micon!

my withdraw wasnt sent in time, is there any issues out there ?

That may explain the delay, if they've been gathering evidence that SwC is offering gambling to Nevada residents, in order to have that charge available in case Micon decides to shut down SwC and return to fight the charge. By US law, it doesn't matter where Micon is, only that he serves Nevadans. Yes, that's really stupid, but governments are generally so about the internet. Of course it's still more likely they were just slow getting off their butts to develop evidence from the seized materials.

In case anyone is worried, I withdrew 12 BTC when I heard about this last night and it was in my wallet in the normal timeframe. (Not because I'm panicking but because it reminded me that I had way more there than I actually need.)

Wow, that is really sad to hear . Did Micon also get the news just today about it ? Would like to hear how he feels. Kind of disappointing news, Looks like it will somehow cause more developers and site owners to stay anonymous, which could mean more scams happening under bitcoin.


I doubt it, as he wasn't running or started the site on US soil. But if he happens to go back with the site still active and gets involved in the operation, I think he will have to go to court for it.

There is also the possibility that if he goes back, even if there is a lack of evidence that he was operating the original Seals site (which is known to have existed before he purchased his first Bitcoin in June 2011), that they might charge him with a second offense of operating the current SwCPoker site.  Would they be that unfair?  

I wonder whats the reason for the delay in the charges coming in. If they knew about the site back then , I didn't think they would let him out of the country. But its good that he is safe and out now, best to not go back.

The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. They confiscated his computers.  The files on those computers will either be evidence of him being site spokesman or not.  The State of Nevada might show some mercy, but I would not count on it. 

Dont forget that micon did not do anything illegal as he was the spokesman of sealswithclubs.eu and did not own or operate the site.

I have nothing but confidence that micon has a contingency plan to ensure that SWC players get their money in the event that he becomes unavailable.

I will base my actions on what Micon does.  If he decides to stay in Antigua and continue to improve SwCPoker then I will continue to play there.  If he decides to go back to Nevada then I might withdraw my funds.  It sounds like a tough decision for him.

your safe in Antigua . by now u can see why would you even leave paradise

But it does seem very risky...still, Micon is a poker pro so I guess he knows something of how to measure risk/reward ratios.

Yes i agree it is near impossible to stay safe away from the big businesses/bankers personal protection racket. Guns in your face over a bloody simple bitcoin poker site   They're likely to give him a harsh sentence as well i would have thought because clearly someone/s has something against him for all this carry on. Good luck Micon!

Micon has my full support ...

I've live outside the US for over a decade, many places ... you might be surprise how little I miss it. Over time Micon and his family will find the same ... and wife & kids should be able to travel back and forth freely.

The issue here is legal fees, because he will likely have to consider fighting extradition, or returning to the US to deal with the charges. I don't see him getting a serious sentence if there is a trial, because Seals has not been accused of doing anything unethical, such as pilfering funds and such.

Yeah, I feel so bad for Micon's kid living on a peaceful tropical island rather than in a country that can't seem to get enough of wars, terrorist attacks, and race riots.

what would you have said to jewish bankers flying from nazi germany? "not fair you take your kid with you !!! you have no right to leave us during this crisis. there was a democratic election and you need to support the result even if its cost your life."

otoh bitcoin is magic internet money you can cash it out every night before going to bed and within a few hours you have it. you do this every day. at some point, maybe things will be slower and you stop playing. but so far the quality and efficiency of the service micon offer is sensational (apart from the few software glitches).

From what I recall this guy has a wife and kid...How fair is it to them to take them on the run with him so he can continue being a bitcoin crusader and evade the laws in which he broke in the USA. I dont continue to support seals anymore because at this point what he is doing is stupid and eventually his time will run up in Antigua and his ass will get deported back to the US to face the charges.

 I have a question for all you who continue to play at seals...how will you retrieve your bitcoin balances from the site when this guys serving 5-10 in prison?

Actually Antigua and Barbuda does have an extradition treaty with the US, but Antigua has very lax gambling regulations and has "stood up" to the US in the past over online gambling. I think he is relatively safe there, but nobody is completely safe from the US. it isn't possible to get away from the most powerful organization on the planet.

Does that mean he will have problem visiting any place in the US, or would that only mean Vegas ?

Answer: Should be any place in the US, but I am not a lawyer, in common sense should be.

Sad to hear this, but it seems that Bryan Micon was aware of this and left to never return, didn't he ?

I think Micon won't be back to USA, Antigua is the safest place for him.

Let's give him best wishes.

Does that mean he will have problem visiting any place in the US, or would that only mean Vegas ?
Sad to hear this, but seems Micon was aware of this and left to never return, didn't he ?