Online Poker Debt

[tiredandbored]

My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: California

I engaged in online gambling activities after my husband left me for another woman. Playing poker was something I used to do with him and his friends when he was still around. I find myself needing to play when I think of him. I have deposited tens of thousands of dollars into different online casinos. Three of which are Fulltilt Poker, Pokerstars, and Bodog using my personal checking account. Of course I lost quickly everything I deposited. And I have had the need to deposit weekly. At one point I realize I need to stop, so I closed my bank account, as I find no instruction on how to close my accounts on any of the poker sites. Last week when I heard from my husband I had the urge to go online gambling again. I deposited money forgetting that the bank account was closed. And today I get emails from the above poker sites informing me that my echecks were bounced due to account closure. Now they want me to send them money order to some persons in different countries, including the U.K., the Phillipines. While I have no problem paying, I don't feel comfortable sending money orders overseas. I don't want to set up another bank account with any of the above sites either as I know I will continue paying unless my account is freezed. If I just leave my debts there with all of them, so that my account remains inactivated, so that I will stop paying, will I have any legal consequences to face? Meaning, will they be able to send my debts to collection agencies or sue me in court?
I'm willing to go as far as having the debt sent to collection agency but I cannot be sued in court as I don't want my family to know of my problem.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[flyingron]

Huh? There is NO legal online gambling in the US. Every dollar you've sent them in the past has been to some offshore place (Costa Rica seems to be a host spot). I don't know why you suddenly got morals now. In actuality, they'll have a hard time suing you in the US as it's illegal. You will find yourself barred and everyone they can associate with you by IP address or name from these sites as a result.

[tiredandbored]

Huh? There is NO legal online gambling in the US. Every dollar you've sent them in the past has been to some offshore place (Costa Rica seems to be a host spot). I don't know why you suddenly got morals now. In actuality, they'll have a hard time suing you in the US as it's illegal. You will find yourself barred and everyone they can associate with you by IP address or name from these sites as a result.

Are you saying the worst case scenario is I'm banned from playing on these sites as well as anyone associated with me via my IP address/physical address/blood etc? Great if that's the case. I have begged to have my account closed but to no avail. I know I have problem and I am seeking help for this addiction. Thanks to the infinity for the attention and reply you give to my question. Many blessings!!!