unfortunate issue with PlayersOnly

[malleeboy]

Can anyone give me some advise as to resolve this unfortunate issue I have with Playeronly.

When I first registered with playersonly, I was unaware that it was a US players only site. Certainly it only showed US states in the registration boxes but somehow I was able to register, even though I am from Australia. (This showed the flaw that they have in their registration process).

Anyway after a few freeroll games, I decided to put a very small amount into my account. I then registered into a small tournament. First prize was over $100.

Towards the end of the tourney ( I was around 4th in chips) their server crashed. I immediately logged onto live chat and they advised me that it was their problem and all positions and chips would be restored when the server came back-on. However, when the server came back-on, I found that my chip stack had been reduced significantly and instead of being in a strong position to challenge for the lead, I found that I was now way behind.

Interestingly, one player had increased his chip stack significantly, while every other player on the table had their stacks reduced. Anyway, I again logged onto live chat, and the guy said they would look into it and promised to send me an IT Report and also consider some form of compensation.

During the conversation, this person asked whether I was from the US.( I found that a curious question, not knowing why and having no idea what significance that had on the server situation). When I responded in the negative, his whole manner changed, telling me that I cannot play on this site etc.

When I pointed out that this was an unfortunate mistake and that maybe they needed to look at their registration formate and site presentation, he told me that I cannot play and that my account would be frozen.

From that time on, many emails have gone back and forth, but not once have I seen any IT Report (asked for many times), and the only compensation I got was a refund on my entry fee to the tourney.

However, they will not release my funds until I give them sensitive banking documents - documents that seem to be not required during the registration process nor at the time of depositing. Why would they need such information when they have my credit card details and could easily re-deposit my account back from whence it came?

Why have they been so reluctant to provide the IT Report? Why are they being so security conscious now when it was not apparent before?

I have logged the emails if anyone wants to view them and would appreciate if anyone could look into it for me.

Thankyou

[pokeraddict]

Playersonly can only take US players by contract as it was a part of their deal with Sportingbet. They probably don't have the ability to return your winnings to a CC since US players can't do it. They also don't take Neteller or any non US payment method so they don't really have a way to pay you either. You're in a bit of a bind here. FWIW Playersonly gets a D- by SBR and is a part of a very troubled group. Do you have any way to call them?

[malleeboy]

Thankyou for your reply. Not sure who you mean about contacting.

If playersonly have no way of refunding through a creditcard system, I find it hard to believe they can accept it that way. Seems strange to me. However, this does not in anyway remove them from providing me with an IT Report or explaining why their server went down and why I lost my chip position. If they accept my money, then they have a responsibility to refund it. They do have my postal address. It is a nonsense that they require little information for you to register and open an account and then expect sensitive information for refunds.

They also have to explain why the server went down at that particular time and why a player seemed to increase their chips significantly, leaving those of us well behind. And what of their responsibility regarding credibility.? Surely some form of compensation should be addressed seeing how close I was to winning before the server went down.

This really concerns me that there is no online ombudsman to deal with this.

Looking at the poker sites and where they are based, it is a wonder anything can be resolved.

Thankyou

[peteyweestro]

hello, are you new to online gambling?the reason i ask is because 99% of online casinos and poker rooms all let you deposit no problem or questions asked except of course your initial sign up questions you have to answer but they all require you to fax copies of your docs to insure there is no fraud or money laundering going on, yes it sucks they only care about it when they gotta payout but it is what it is

[malleeboy]

Yes I am fairly new but when I won a considerable amount at PKR, whilst it takes about 3 weeks to get your money, I did not have to fax them anything (my password was enough). If one site can do it then there is no reason why other sites cannot. It is absolute BS that they care about security. If they did, it would have been necessary for these docos to be presented at registration - simply to overcome these so called fraud situations.

So what we have here is total hypocrisy!!!! They are happy to take money with little requirements; so if I am fraudster, they still get their rakes, but then play the high moral ground when it comes to releasing funds! Pathetic!


This situation however, still gives them no reason for not sending the IT Report. They are using this situation as an excuse or reason for not being responsible.

Surely there is someone who can put pressure on playersonly like AP.

There is a need for a web ombudsman - particularly in the gaming areas who has authority to make sites accountable.

I would welcome any positive leads.

Thankyou

[pokeraddict]

If you use a CC, especially at a US facing site, expect them to ask for you to sign an authorization and ID check before cashing out. Chargebacks are a big problem. If you use Neteller and they ask it is often a pointless hassle and I agree with you there.

[malleeboy]

Again I appreciate your time in revisiting this issue, but I cannot see any resolution. I need someone to give me some positive information as to my next move. Yes we agree that playersonly are being "bloodyminded", but that does not get my money back.

Surely someone can advise other than catering to their unrealistic requirements.

Thankyou

[pokeraddict]

Certainly it only showed US states in the registration boxes but somehow I was able to register, even though I am from Australia. (This showed the flaw that they have in their registration process).

I just read this again. So let me get this straight. You knew your country wasn't listed but made up a bogus address and signed up anyway? You didn't think this was worth an email to support or a phone call before giving them false information? If you had just read the T&C's you would have seen they were US only. There are many online poker rooms/casinos that don't take Aussies so reading T&C's or at least not choosing a wrong country to get around the rule is a great way to stay out of this situation in the future. If a US player gave a fake address to a non US room they would have the same headache and I'm sure in some cases they would have their funds confiscated.

You are going to have to give them the info they want. You broke the T&C's and the fact they are so easily willing to allow you to get your money back is a blessing, not a bad thing. You're dealing with a rogue D- sportsbook so do everything you can to recover your funds before they change their mind.

[malleeboy]

Let me get this straight - you are saying that I deliberately registered knowing that this site was for US players only. I admit that I may have been a-bit naive, but I at no time did I registered with false intentions. I assumed (thought ignorantly), that the US States that were displayed was to make it easier for US players to register. I at no time thought that non-US players could not register.

Having said that, there was no adverting at the registration page that said "US Players Only". Notwithstanding, the registration process should not have accepted my application anyway ( I bet the US does not have a town called Kerang). And finally...........I did look at the T&C after this issue came to light and could not find anything that pointed or said US Players Only.

I will also like to point out that I also saw some other Aussies and Europeans on the tables I played at. Don't you think that if Playersonly was up-to-scratch they would have known this and sorted the whole situation out before more players accidently (or otherwise), register.

I gather by your tone you think that this site has no obligation to show cause why their server went down and why they have not sent the IT Report as promised. Next you will be telling me to send them a cheque for the privilege of being robbed of a possible tournament win.

[pokeraddict]

Let me get this straight - you are saying that I deliberately registered knowing that this site was for US players only.

US is the only country choice in the drop down box and US states are the only state/province choice. If I went to a site that only had Canadian Provinces and only had Canada as a choice it would be safe for me to assume they didn't take US players. I wouldn't just randomly pick a Province and put my city with it. This was a big mistake on your end.

Having said that, there was no adverting at the registration page that said "US Players Only". Notwithstanding, the registration process should not have accepted my application anyway ( I bet the US does not have a town called Kerang).

It is not some form's fault you gave it false info. A simple "Why is the US the only option" question to yourself would have fixed this.

I will also like to point out that I also saw some other Aussies and Europeans on the tables I played at. Don't you think that if Playersonly was up-to-scratch they would have known this and sorted the whole situation out before more players accidently (or otherwise), register.

Several skins take players from outside the US, just not the one you signed up at.

And finally...........I did look at the T&C after this issue came to light and could not find anything that pointed or said US Players Only.

It's there in the software when you sign up. You agree to it in their mice type lawyer jumble. I can't find their T&C's on their site though which is a huge red flag.

I gather by your tone you think that this site has no obligation to show cause why their server went down and why they have not sent the IT Report as promised.

Their garbage software/server crash all the time. It's part of the headache of playing on that network.

Next you will be telling me to send them a cheque for the privilege of being robbed of a possible tournament win.

No but I strongly suggest verifying a site accepts players from your country. It is your responsibility to make sure a site you register for accepts your home as a player. With so many sites not accepting Aussies you are going to run into this again if you don't take the extra minute when signing up. If your country isn't a choice in the registration box they don't accept your country. Don't give them fake info to sign up and you won't end up in this situation. Just send them the docs, blaming them for this isn't going to help you.

Also another piece of advice. You signed up at a D- borderline rogue sportsbook. You should consider doing more research before depositing into a site. You deposited at a site that is a grade slightly above scam by SBR. You'll get burned by this lack of research down the road too if it doesn't burn you this time.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, 'm just trying to show you some huge errors you made that got you to this point. Hopefully by pointing this out you will not make them again.