Full Tilt Poker, which is feeling the brunt of a US crackdown on Internet gambling, has defended itself and its Chief Executive Raymond Bitar.

The company is arguing that its business is legal and harmless game enjoyed by millions of people around the globe.

US Federal authorities on Friday busted the three leading online poker websites viz. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and Absolute Poker, and their executives, charging them of illegal gambling and manipulating banks to pocket billions of dollars.

The concerned poker sites have been shut down. However, a few people are still able to get access to them, but that will only be a matter of time before they become completely inaccessible.

Commenting on the issue, the company said in a statement, "Mr. Bitar and Full Tilt Poker believe online poker is legal -- a position also taken by some of the best legal minds in the United States.”

Bitar said he was shocked and saddened by the federal crackdown, adding he looked forward to his and his colleague Burtnick's exoneration.

Full Tilt was founded in Los Angeles, but was forced to move to Dublin, Ireland, in 2006 following a law that prevents businesses from receiving money for unlawful online gambling.