PokerStars statement on the blocking of players from Washington State

[ttwarrior1]

PokerStars statement on the blocking of players from Washington State

30 September 2010 - PokerStars today announced that it would cease providing real-money poker to residents of Washington State. To date, PokerStars has operated in Washington on the basis of legal opinions where the central advice was that the state could not constitutionally regulate Internet poker, or at least could not discriminate in favor of local cardrooms and against online sites. Last week, however, the Washington Supreme Court for the first time rejected that position and upheld the state's Internet gaming prohibition.

In light of this decision, following extensive consultation with our legal advisors, we believe that the right course of action is to now block real money play by Washington residents on the PokerStars.com site. This policy will remain in effect until the law changes or subsequent legal challenges succeed. Our decision to block real money play in Washington does not affect the balance of funds in customer accounts, which remain completely safe. Our payment services team continues to be available to Washington State residents to assist with cashout requests.

We regret this decision, which will no doubt disappoint our customers in Washington State. However, in all of the jurisdictions where we operate, we are committed to making responsible decisions that are based on a full and considered understanding of the most up-to-date legal advice.

PokerStars remains supportive of passing sensible Internet poker regulation in the United States that will provide much-needed tax revenues and formalize consumer protections. PokerStars operates under those conditions, complying with rigorous licensing regimes, for its worldwide operations in the Isle of Man (UK), and for local operations in Italy, France and Estonia.

Wisconsin and Kentucky are expected to be next.

[ttwarrior1]

Re: Washington State Players banned on major site

If I move or I have moved, will I be able to play on PokerStars again?

This restriction only applies to players currently residing in the state of Washington. In the event that you are no longer living in Washington, you are free to play on our site as in the past. However, to do so, you will be required to submit proof that you are actually resident in another location to have your privileges reinstated. Acceptable proof consists of copies of photo identification as well as a recent utility bill showing your new physical address.

Please contact verification@pokerstars.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to handle this process.
May I play if I ordinarily live outside Washington, but I am visiting Washington?

It is not permitted to play for real money while in the state of Washington. Even if you are simply visiting, you may not play on PokerStars while you are there.
May I play if I ordinarily live in Washington, but I am travelling outside of Washington?

Currently, all accounts registered to a Washington address are blocked from real money play. To remove this block, you must physically reside at a new location outside of Washington on a permanent basis, and be able to prove that you are doing so. This would not be possible to do simply during a visit to another state or country. As such, you are not permitted to play even when travelling outside Washington if you are regularly a resident there.
Can I still play in PokerStars live events?

You are still welcome to play in the PCA or any of our live poker tours. Unfortunately, you will not be able to buy in directly to these events through PokerStars (except with funds that you now have on PokerStars but have not cashed out), as there will be no way for players from Washington to deposit money on our site.
Can I still play for play money?

Yes, players from Washington are free to continue to play for play money on either our .com or our .net site. However, at this time it will not be allowed for Washington residents to participate in freeroll tournaments which have real money prizes.

[ttwarrior1]

s there anything I can do to change the current legal situation in Washington State?

Yes. You can make your feelings regarding the current state of the law in Washington known to your local legislators. We also encourage you to become a member of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) which is a non-profit players' organization with the mission to establish favorable laws that provide poker players with a secure, safe and regulated place to play. To learn more or to join the PPA, visit:

http://www.theppa.org

[daneblazer]

This is the new thing now. I believe Kentucky did the same thing

[ttwarrior1]

no ky is not banned at stars, only at some other sites, wash state is only usa state to be banned at stars

[trythis]

Home of the free huh?

[Kaabee]

there's always full tilt (for now anyway)

[thechaoz]

I have played for a living on stars since 04. I put myself through college and continue to this day. I have gone to rallies, wrote senators, both state and federal. To sum it up for non washintonians, we have a casino on every corner, indian and regular.

The dems get millions of dollars from these institutions and it's simply about money. They don't have a problem with degens gambling in the brick and mortar, but online oh wow this is terrible. Our state is 8 billion in debt and this is what they are worried about.

I recently switched to full tilt with 27% rakeback anticipating this. Hopefully Tilt will not go down this road, though Stars has always been the leader in the industry so for them to do this is very drastic. The reason they want to is in anticipation of the legalization of gambling in the U.S. The flaw in their logic is that Washington will opt out of this, and not allow it anyway. It's a good thing I'm 30 minutes from Idaho, have several friends and family there, and oddly enough I just put in my last months notice with my condo b/c I was going to move into a larger place. Guess that place is now in Idaho.

Welcome to the People's Republic of Washington.

[ttwarrior1]

i can't stand full tilt, just don't like tourneys with thousand of players. I prefer the small networks as long as u can get the money off and on. Stunned they banned washington though, wow

[Congruency]

Tilt will end up following Stars

its a shame but this is what the sites have to do to protect themselves

[thechaoz]

This is such garbage. Nothing you can do but move to another site.

[McBa1n]

Whoah - that's a dickload of rakeback at Full Tilt. How'd you score that, Chaoz? Damn.

Man, online Poker is losing battles EVERYWHERE. It started with Bill Frist (R) tacking on a rider (to a port security/wall across the US border with Mexico bill) to take out Neteller... Which made things more of a pain in the ass... But now this? Sympathies to the players in Washington State.
I've only written directly to congressmen in whatever state I'm in at the time about the issue... with no response.
That said, It's taken me no longer than 5 business days to get paid by pokerstars. I like that

[TheAccountant]

Politics at its finest - this doesn't truly benefit anyone..