WSOP.com Review

jontm

So while in Vegas WSOP.com real money poker had a big precense around the RIO. A friend viewing my photos mentioned they were even encouraging playing it on pavilion stage. Figures, "I report on all things poker right?" Let's add this new experience. After reading that anyone could play while in Nevada and deposit at the Lambada cage, signed up an account.

Of course I needed to submit ID. This was near the beginning of the trip, figured "why not?" A few days latter it was verified for real money play. I got busy and wasn't thinking much about it, but thankfully they emailed me 3 deposit offers a day so I didn't forget. On the last full day there it was a "$20 for $60" deal. Figured we would just be packing and organizing, so might as well. Went down to their room, where I was immediately put on a computer with a live support agent. It told me the minimum deposit was $50. I asked about the $20 offer, she replied with "do you have any markers out". I asked about bonus offers she asked if I had "cash on me". I turned to agents in room and asked if I was talking to a bot, they said it was a real person. I told them her communication skills sucked. She asked me "so you want to deposit $50?"

I said "sure" and after some security question verification was directed to a VIP lounge with beer and pop, to wait 10 minutes to be called up. There was no one else there, so far I figured, "not bad". At the cage they took my ID and asked my SIN # to add to info. Then they loaded the account.

Walked back up to the room & tried to register, but turned out they needed to ping cell. Didn't ever get text. We had Bell & Telus phones, neither received. I checked the FAQs then called the carriers to make sure they weren't blocking short codes. Read the FAQs and it said they only support US & Canadian cells. They weren't being blocked on my end so marched back down to Lampada room. They told me their text service could only send to Canadian phones with US numbers, which is somewhere in the TOS. I figured physically depositing in Nevada casino with ID would be good verification, along with IP, but they still need to geo locate you every hour.

Now irate, I text a friend in the RIO with a US number as the website says you can purchase a low cost pre-paid. He gives me thumbs up, I change info on my account so they can text him. Hit the button to send text and he never gets. I put the "push code" in I watched the agent try on my phone into his, still nothing. So then, I take it one step further and my friend who lives in Vegas and was at RIO as well lets me use his 702 digits. He never gets a text, even after several attempts.

I finally tap out & request cash out as I can't even register for freerolls. The deposit bonus was never credited as it can take up to 72 hours, not great for short trips.

As for my withdrawl, now I just need to verify my bank and wait for the mail, can't do that at the cage...

I think I'll stick to big operators for online poker going forward

T8urmoney

Yikes....

I did sign up last year, but didn't deposit then or this year.

If it was as easy as going to the cage for buying in and cashing out, I may have given it a shot.

BlondeFish

Are you saying that there's no way for me to play for real money in Las Vegas even if I already have the WSOP.com software installed on my laptop and bring it to the agent? Aren't there WSOP.com-ready computers at the Rio that you can register through?

jontm;376424 wroteWalked back up to the room & tried to register, but turned out they needed to ping cell. Didn't ever get text. We had Bell & Telus phones, neither received.

I think I'll stick to big operators for online poker going forward

Going forward, please try to find out what Amaya's purchase means for the future of PokerStars/FTP in Canada. I would ask a lot of PokerStars-specific questions in the AGM on July 30, but I'm neither a shareholder nor media.

jontm

BlondeFish;376446 wroteCouldn't they allow you to register with the WSOP.com-ready computers at the Rio? Are you saying that I won't be able to register even if I bring my laptop or iPad Air Cellular to the agent? I'm hoping SteveKerr or other OPT member found a way to play.

Going forward, please try to find out what Amaya's purchase means for the future of PokerStars/FTP in Canada. I would ask a lot of PokerStars-specific questions in the AGM on July 30, but I'm not a shareholder or media.

I had the account registered, loaded and my ID verified, I did use their laptop when loading, but it wouldn't allow me to play real money without them sending my cell a text and me replying so they can geo track you every hour. You must have a US cell phone on while playing.

BlondeFish

WTF, WSOP.com requires us to have a US cell phone for hourly tracking?? I found out from Aria that I can't play online during a tournament, but WSOP's promotions to play online in Las Vegas does not seem to apply to non-Americans.

jontm;376448 wrote... but it wouldn't allow me to play real money without them sending my cell a text and me replying so they can geo track you every hour. You must have a US cell phone on while playing.

jontm

On a more positive note, recieved my cash out (aka the original deposit I couldn't use) in the mail today, so about 2 weeks after request. I never did validate my bank either.

It's a shame it's so hard to get on US cell requirement wise, I get many wouldn't go to Vegas & play online, but for guys like Buddy & I who bring kids and are kicking around the suite more, this is a great way to stay entertained and have a low cost shot at grinding out some $s. They were running sats to bracelet events too.