Yep, nearly two years after PokerStars left the US market, I managed to roll them for $1,100... on accident.
I had a $1,122 live events credit remaining in my account that I had to use for a Live Event that PokerStars ran event (EPT, PCA, AAPT, etc) that I've had forever. This is the reason I went down to the Bahamas to play the PCA this year. So I approached the registration desk and asked to use $1,100 of my credit to register for a $1.1k event. That was no problem and she said she would convert the remaining $22 to cash and put it in my PokerStars account and that I could withdraw it whenever. The only problem is I have the most confusing username ever created and it always causes all kinds of problems in the PokerStars database. When she asked for my username I just gave the e-mail associated with it because my username has alt characters and invisible spaces in it. She told me she was having problems deducting the credit from my account and she says "Well, I'll just give you your ticket now and I'll figure it out later". So I got my tourney ticket and figured when I got back I would have $22 in my PokerStars account.
So on Sunday (2 days ago) I finally got around to opening up my PokerStars account (I didn't do it earlier because I forgot my password and my pin #). I wasn't sure if I was going to even bother cashing out, since there was only going to be $22 in there and I didn't really want to send any flags to the IRS or whomever over $22. Well, there wasn't $22 in my account. There was $1,122. LOL, I guess the lady figured out how to convert the credit in to cash but forgot the deduct the $1,100 for the tournament. I snap e-check cashed out and as of this morning the $1,122 is safely in my bank account.
The funniest part is, two weeks ago I sent PStars support this e-mail (without logging in to my account because I couldn't remember my password):
Well... they never responded to my e-mail. Which is very unlike PokerStars to not respond to e-mails. They were probably confused by the e-mail because they looked and saw that I had $1,122 in my account not $22.Hello, I used to have a $1,122 Live Events credit. During the PCA, I used it on a $1,100 event and so I had $22 left over. The registration desk told me the remaining $22 was converted to T$ and that I could cash that out. Can I have a check sent to me?
Between FullTilt (profited from the backlog) and PokerStars, I have now rolled them for close to $1,600 lol. And no, I don't feel bad about it and obviously will not be returning the money. They're a multi-billion dollar company who gave me a free $1,100 out of incompetence. I'll treat it as compensation for a terribly run ZOOM event. And for those wondering my e-check showed up in my bank as "ACH CREDIT PokerStars Credit ON 01/29" which I think is what my post Black Friday e-check showed up as.
EDIT: UPDATE
Situation close to being resolved:
After over three weeks of back and forth between myself and PokerStars, I believe we are close to having a deal. Here is Star's most recent e-mail to me, followed by my reply.
Basically I had offered to send them $1,100 that they could then pass on to the charity of their choosing. I thought about saying, with the exception of Addicted Gambling charities, but I didn't think they'd actually pick that as a charity. In my opinion, most of those organizations are useless and are funded due to state law. I'd much rather it go to help sick kids or something. Here is my response:Hello Alexander,
Thank you for your further email. After consultation with my colleagues, we are happy to accept the basic premise of your proposal, with one minor adjustment - we would prefer for you to make the donation, so that we do not have to deal with the hassle and accounting challenges of sending money from the USA to the IOM and back to the USA.
That is, we are happy to forgive this debt and waive any future rights to the $1,100 that is owed to us, if you make the $1,100 donation to either one of these organisations:
1) The National Council of Problem Gambling
Their website, including an online donation form, is available online here:
http://www.ncpgambling.org/i4a/pages...fm?pageid=4473
2) The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling
901 Douglas Avenue, Suite 200
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Tel: 407-865-6200
Fax: 407-865-6103
Helpline: 888-ADMIT-IT
Email: fccg@gamblinghelp.org
Website: www.gamblinghelp.org
We are comfortable with you choosing whichever organisation you prefer out of the two. After you have done this, please just send us a copy of the screenshot or receipt, and we will consider this matter closed and resolved.
I trust that this will be satisfactory to you, thank you for your assistance and cooperation here.
Regards,
[name redacted]
[position redacted]
I am waiting for their reply, and I hope they allow me to give to one of the two charities I mentioned as I would look forward to making an $1,100 donation to either of those worthy charities. Either way, I am glad to almost have the whole situation behind me and be back in good standing in the eyes of PokerStars.Hello Michael,
I am glad we are coming to a resolution. I am happy to accept those terms, however I must state that I would much rather give it to a more deserving charity than one who helps gamblers. With your permission I would like to donate the money to either St Jude's Children Hospital, or American Cancer Society. However, if you prefer me to give to one of the two aforementioned charities, then I am fully willing to do that. Just let me know. Thanks,
Alex
Originally Posted by verminaard
Reply With Quote
