The future of Full Tilt Poker remains uncertain, but the plans to re-open the site already within the first quarter of this year may now be gaining traction, according to industry rumors.

The process has come a long way already, with French investors Groupe Bernard Tapie working for months on an acquisition deal with the current Full Tilt Poker shareholders and the U.S. Department of Justice.

The deal has seen several obstacles, including reports from the past week that 19 pros owe a combined $16.5 million to Full Tilt Poker - a debt, which Groupe Bernard Tapie has claimed will need to be repaid if the site is to re-open anytime soon.

All said, industry rumors now hint that the process of getting Full Tilt back on track may be more advanced that many had perhaps feared.

Sources connected to Groupe Bernard Tapie's investors have told Wicked Chops Insider that the Tapie group has been telling investors that the site is expected to relaunch "in March."

The unnamed sources further reveal that Full Tilt Poker will re-appear as a rebranded company, and that GBT will be obtaining a Nevada online gambling license.

While this may constitute good news for the scores of players, who have money locked up on the site, there is still no official confirmation of any timeline from Groupe Bernard Tapie or Full Tilt Poker.

Wicked Chops Insider additionally lists several obstacles still in the way for the re-opening, among other things saying that "There’s a better chance of Layne Flack repaying his debt to Full Tilt than the site relaunching within the next 30-45 days."

In a recent interview, however, Laurent Tapie said that he "hoped" for Full Tilt Poker to be relaunched by March 1.

Poker.org will be following the ongoing Full Tilt Poker case, and bring more updates as we get them.