Late Thursday, mainstream media outlets and Subject Poker began reporting that the U.S. Department of Justice and Groupe Bernard Tapie-- the investment group attempting to acquire Full Tilt Poker -- had officially inked a deal to allow the acquisition of the former #2 site to go on. From here, Full Tilt Poker shareholders will have to agree to the terms of the deal. Tuesday night, lawyers for Full Tilt Poker and GBT both confirmed the reports while the DOJ declined comment.

Full Tilt Poker also issued a statement to Subject Poker with CEO Ray Bitar stating "I am extremely pleased with the efforts of the Department of Justice, and the Groupe Bernard Tapie corporation, and appreciate their continued dedication in working towards a mutually beneficial agreement that will facilitate repayment of the players."

Reports from earlier this month had suggested that a deal had been agreed to in principle, with Laurent Tapie telling iGaming France that he expected the deal to be officially signed by November 17th.

According to Subject Poker, if Full Tilt Poker shareholders agree to a forfeiture settlement, the U.S. Department of Justice would gain title to Full Tilt Poker assets and GBT would be required to pay the DOJ $80 million. GBT would then acquire the assets of Full Tilt Poker associated companies from the DOJ. To be paid U.S. players would be required to file for reimbursement through the DOJ, while GBT would reopen Full Tilt Poker and assume responsibility of player balances of non-US players. As part of the deal, the civil case against Full Tilt Poker companies would be dismissed by the DOJ, although the criminal charges would still be applicable.

At this time it is still too early to tell when payments to US players would be made or when Full Tilt Poker would reopen. When information about the deal first came to light in late September, Bernard Tapie stated to iGamingFrance that he hoped to have the site reopened by January 2012. At that time that seemed like an optimistic timeframe -- assuming the deal would even happen -- but with the deal progressing faster that some expected, perhaps a positive solution could come sooner rather that later.