News Tonight

Internet poker site, Full Tilt Poker has defended the nature of business claiming it is a legal and harmless game enjoyed by users on the internet after the federal investigators launched a crackdown on the poker sites.

The FBI investigators have charged Raymond Bitar, the company's chief executive, and employee Nelson Burtnick along with others from competing poker sties for bank fraud and money laundering in New York on Friday.

U. S. attorney's office in Manhattan has also said that Bitar and Burtnick are outside the country and yet to be arrested. The government also filed a lawsuit to recover $3 billion from the companies.

The FBI has shut down PokerStars and Absolute Poker besides Full Tilt Poker on Friday. Full Tilt said in a release that online poker "a game of skill enjoyed by millions of people" and said it remained committed to preserving the rights of poker fans "to play the game they love online."

Bitar added in the statement: "I am surprised and disappointed by the government's decision to bring these charges. I look forward to Mr. Burtnick's and my exoneration."