Ok well as you know I am in Europe right now and traveling to several different port calls on my ship.
Actually 2 weeks ago my laptop was getting a signal from the ships WIFI, so I downloaded Stars on my new laptop and was excited to actually have the opportunity to play tourneys and cash.
I left about 400 bucks on my account before I left Mexico, and wanted to grind a little from sea
Well, after I logged into the Stars software I was pretty pumped up, but as soon as I tried to buy into a 1/2NL cash game out in the middle of the ocean in the Mediterranean ...I get this rude message saying I was not allowed to play from the location I was in.
I immediately email Stars support asking them in a matter of words 'wtf', and they reply telling me that my ISP was based from a Florida military installation, and of course cash game or any other form of 'real money' play is prohibited.
Turns out the company I work for uses a satellite internet connection based in Florida, which essentially means that even though I'm halfway across the world, as far as Stars is concerned, I'm still technically still in the United States
so...
Our ship had a half a dozen upcoming port calls scattered throughout Italy, England, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Greece
I didn't have a chance to go ashore in Greece, but we had an overnight call in Belgium, so I took my laptop ashore to a local pub and signed into their WIFI trying to jump in a cash game
DENIED
I'm thinking what the hell...I'm on a Belgian IP address...whats the fucking problem ?...and email Stars support/security
here is their response...
well this seemed a little odd to me given the fact that I played often from Mexico, and have a registered physical address there, but it didn't make much sense that Stars would bar anyone from playing on their software if they are traveling abroad.
I replied...
their reply...
OK WTF
so correct me if I'm wrong...
But they are suggesting that not only are traveling players prohibited and unable to play on PokerStars outside of their registered address...but also giving the seal of approval to create a new account provided I set up a physical residence in the country I wish to play from ?
Now obv I am not a 'professional' player....but it stands to reason that if a real PRO was traveling around Europe, or other parts of the world...that this policy of mandating a permanent residence is totally retarded.
It does seem exclusive to European countries based on their email, but I'm confused about what their reasoning might be
I mean they are #1 basically saying 'create a new account in the country you're in'...and # 2 basically every player who wants to play on Stars in a European country must have a a verified physical address
thoughts ?
TIA
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