When asked today when online poker players who have funds stuck in Full Tilt could expect to be paid back, one source told PocketFives, “I have no clue.” When asked on Monday by CardPlayer to comment on the deal struck between Groupe Bernard Tapie and the Department of Justice, the latter remarked, “We have no comment and are not confirming or denying an agreement with Groupe Bernard Tapie.” Needless to say, Full Tilt Poker players seem to be quite a ways away from being paid back.

Next up is a rumored vote on the acquisition deal by Full Tilt’s shareholders, assuming a vote needs to take place. According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal is worth $80 million and gives Full Tilt’s assets to Tapie by way of the DOJ: “The deal will require Full Tilt’s current owners reaching a settlement of a civil lawsuit brought by the Justice Department against the company and forfeiting the company to the government. Groupe Bernard Tapie would then buy the company’s assets from the government, and the government could use those funds to pay back players owed money by the company.”

A source close to the negotiations told PocketFives, “The next step is that Full Tilt gets an agreement from Tapie and the company negotiates an agreement with DOJ. The agreement with the DOJ requires forfeiture of assets. The agreement with Tapie would be the DOJ selling Tapie the assets and paying out the rest-of-world players.” Tapie would be charged with refunding players outside of the United States, while the DOJ would pay back U.S. players.

We’ve had a few PocketFivers ask why current Full Tilt stakeholders would approve Tapie’s deal given that the end result is forfeiting the company. The same source indicated that it’s the morally correct course of action: “The most appealing component would be the reimbursement of players. It’s right thing to do. A shareholder could let the company go into bankruptcy, or give up their personal emotions and appreciate that this is a vehicle for a full reimbursement of players.”

The Wall Street Journal added that current Full Tilt shareholders could also receive a financial interest in the new company: “The agreement would allow most of Full Tilt’s 23 current shareholders to take a small percentage of the new entity. However, Ray Bitar (pictured) and three other company Board members named in the Justice Department’s civil lawsuit against the company wouldn’t be allowed to own a piece of the company going forward.” PocketFives could not confirm the possibility of a new ownership stake.

Bitar appears to support the current chain of events. An e-mail from the Full Tilt Poker executive was posted on Subject: Poker last week and our source explained, “Regardless of what you think about him, Ray would have to give up a tremendous amount here. He has to give up his shares of the company going forward. He’s had his assets frozen. He has civil matters against him and the criminal case, and none of that is going away. If he can agree to the sale, anyone should.”

Our source added, “The shareholders don’t have much to lose. What they can gain is that they can go into a casino and not be confronted by a player who is owed money. Everyone can agree that players should get paid back and this is a vehicle to do so.” Moreover, shareholders have also already realized a profit above their initial investment.

In September, the DOJ accused Bitar, Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer (pictured), and Rafe Furst of operating a “global Ponzi scheme.” According to the Journal, “A settlement by the company won’t prevent the Justice Department from going ahead with its suit against those Board members.”

Finally, it has been rumored that Full Tilt executives and pros could return some of the money they’ve received from the online poker room if players aren’t paid back, as a goodwill gesture. However, when asked if any former stakeholders have volunteered to give up their profits from Full Tilt in order to pay back players, our source responded, “None that I know of.”

We’ll keep you posted on the latest right here on PocketFives. Read about the Full Tilt sale.