Lock Poker Demise a Testament to Player Involvement

Last week, poker news websites lit up with stories about the closure of Lock Poker, the U.S.-friendly site that owes players millions and stopped processing most withdrawals for more than a year.

Most of us knew this day was coming based on dwindling player traffic that lessened each month, according to independent poker traffic website PokerScout.com. Once the word got out that Lock Poker was a scam and that cashout requests were not being honored, it was only a matter of time before a shutdown was the inevitable result.

While there are many who did their part to spread the word about the dangers of depositing and playing at Lock Poker, the majority of kudos should go to 2 + 2 poster 'IHasTehNutz,' who worked tirelessly in compiling a list of players who were owed money and never paid. He began the "Lock Poker Payout Scam"thread on August 6, 2013 that has since been followed by more than 3,600 posts from concerned players.

By raising awareness about the millions of dollars in unpaid funds to players - some put the estimate at $15 million or so - 'IHasTehNutz' is most responsible in prompting the demise of Lock Poker and from sparing any unaware future depositors from losing their money. Without such involvement, it's possible that the site would still be in operation.

Incidentally, as pointed out by poster 'dougmanct' a few days ago, the Lock Poker website is still active, online and downloadable, but "it is the actual game server that these clients connect to which appears to not be responding anymore." He remains skeptical about Lock's demise and prefers to wait until Lock's "current web servers completely disappear from the net."

Point well taken and perhaps the more prudent line of thinking. However, with player traffic down to about one full table or so before 2 + 2 posters began reporting that Lock Poker was inaccessible, it is hard to imagine a resurrection taking place.

'IHasTehNutz' also chimed in on the "Lock Poker Payout Scam" thread a few days ago - the one he started more than 20 months ago.

"I'm glad no one else will be sucked into the Lock Poker vortex, but I'm saddened that so many people, most of whom rightly already wrote off the money they had on Lock, will never see a dime of the money stolen from them," he stated, adding, "it's been a long, long 2-3 years dealing with these wretched [Lock Poker] people ...."

In what sounded like a final parting shot at Lock Poker owners and management, 'IHasTehNutz' posted, "Experience would say that the people responsible for Lock's operation will probably never face the true justice they deserve in this lifetime. But life has a funny way of dealing things to those who truly deserve it. And I have no doubt that, in the end, no matter how exactly it happens, everyone who ever bilked a dime from this company over the past two years will get their just desserts."

Amen to that. And on behalf of all players who lost money in the Lock Poker scam, a big round of applause and thanks to 'IHasTehNutz' for spreading the word.