Account Verification without a physical address

[ChickenArise]

Hi all,

4 years ago, I moved to Western Panama. Its sort of the wild west out here in the country. There are no physical addresses. Even the utility company will write something like 'Yellow house past the mango tree next to the ABC Bakery'. There is no consistency either as the cable company will write something different.

I want to get back into playing online poker but I have some concerns. I have legal residency here and a national ID card but once again my name is on it but no address. Drivers License is similar. For the post office there is a general mailbox. You show your ID and they give you your mail.


I could get a PO Box but I never saw a need. The zip codes here only have 4 digits and the cell phone numbers have 8 digits. Filling out most online forms are impossible resulting in errors.


The postal system is untrustworthy anyhow, so to get anything here I use a mail facilitation service based in the US in Miami. They allow you to use their address and get mail and packages to you for a service fee, but you dont get anything to show this is your address as it is technically not.

I used to have an account with poker stars, Bet365.com, and bodog (now Bovada and very bad). I sent customer service at Poker Stars an email with an overview of my situation and never heard back from them. Its like they dont want me.


I am not really fond of playing at Poker Stars as I have only won small dollar tournaments there and play feels like is artificially oriented toward action generating hands. Maybe its different now?


A friend of mine claims he got paid by Poker Stars here by bank wire. I do have a bank account here.


I have a valid US Passport with my old address and can verify who I am but not exactly where in the Republic of Panama I live.



I dont want to play if I absolutely cannot get paid. I would rather play somewhere that would respond to my concerns and plays realistic poker rather than ignore me completely.


Has anyone here been in a similar situation and found a room he could play at and get paid? A sportsbook would be a nice bonus. Any options or should I forget about it?

 

[PHX]

For every region of the world it is different, different rules as to verifying account, different deposit and withdrawal options etc. Your questions will need to be asked to the rooms directly.

Cardschat have a support representative from a few of the major Poker Rooms that would be able to assist you. Either post in the threads below or directly message the Reps with your questions. They will be able to tell you what you will need in terms of verification, withdrawal/deposit options, bonuses etc.

party poker - https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/partypoker-official-thread-274376/

American's Card Room - https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/official-acr-thread-217550/

888 - https://www.cardschat.com/forum/poker-rooms-10/888-poker-official-support-thread-252119/


In case you want to try and get your pokerstars Account up and running here is the link to support for them (Unfortunately Cardschat does not have a rep for them). Pokerstars normally respond within 48 hours at most times usually less than a day.

Pokerstars - https://contact.rationalwebservices...&country=&brand=PokerStars&tracking=WebWidget

Hi all,

4 years ago, I moved to Western Panama. Its sort of the wild west out here in the country. There are no physical addresses. Even the utility company will write something like 'Yellow house past the mango tree next to the ABC Bakery'. There is no consistency either as the cable company will write something different.

I want to get back into playing online poker but I have some concerns. I have legal residency here and a national ID card but once again my name is on it but no address. Drivers License is similar. For the post office there is a general mailbox. You show your ID and they give you your mail.


I could get a PO Box but I never saw a need. The zip codes here only have 4 digits and the cell phone numbers have 8 digits. Filling out most online forms are impossible resulting in errors.


The postal system is untrustworthy anyhow, so to get anything here I use a mail facilitation service based in the US in Miami. They allow you to use their address and get mail and packages to you for a service fee, but you dont get anything to show this is your address as it is technically not.

I used to have an account with Poker Stars, Bet365.com, and Bodog (now Bovada and very bad). I sent customer service at Poker Stars an email with an overview of my situation and never heard back from them. Its like they dont want me.


I am not really fond of playing at Poker Stars as I have only won small dollar tournaments there and play feels like is artificially oriented toward action generating hands. Maybe its different now?


A friend of mine claims he got paid by Poker Stars here by bank wire. I do have a bank account here.


I have a valid US Passport with my old address and can verify who I am but not exactly where in the Republic of Panama I live.



I dont want to play if I absolutely cannot get paid. I would rather play somewhere that would respond to my concerns and plays realistic poker rather than ignore me completely.


Has anyone here been in a similar situation and found a room he could play at and get paid? A sportsbook would be a nice bonus. Any options or should I forget about it?

 

[Shady Slim]

A friend of mine claims he got paid by Poker Stars here by bank wire. I do have a bank account here.

You may want to get together with your friend and have him explain how he managed it. If he is just claiming that he was able to get paid and cannot provide you with the details, then you will have your non-answer -- probably going to be a no-go.

At any rate, you should do as joeisi mentioned above and contact PokerStars directly. Better to get it from the horses mouth.

 

[Spaceman]

I will tell you my story with Pokerstars, which you may find it helpful. I live in an apartment with my girlfriend and no bills come at my name, not electrical, we have no phone except our mobile, and the rent is in her name. On my tax statement it seems that I stay with my parents in my village, which by the way, we too dont have addresses and we just left that blank. Just the name of city and village is enough.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I have contacted Pokerstars and they told me that they will accept a formal declaration that I just state responsibly where I live. So it was as simple as that.

Contact Pokerstars again, they want new costumers so they will definately try to help you. Also Pokerstars has a sportsbetting option if you dont know that already.

Ps. Are Panama beaches really amazing?

Ps.2 Although its a conspiracy theory for most, Pokerstars has still that action generating hands with the surprise-surprise-rivers.

 

[ChickenArise]

Thanks for the insights and replies

Spaceman your answer was most insightful. I imagine if an affidavit stating where you live is acceptable to Poker Stars then I may be able to do the same at another site also. It does appear that Stars did have action generating flops when I played there.

A place I really liked to play and did well at was the Prima Poker Network where I played through Bet365.com. I dont even know if they are around anymore.


It may be conspiracy theory but I think places like Party and Stars are notorious for the action flops for a good reason.


I would prefer a legitimate online site where the cards fall a bit more like they would in a live game with a truer randomness rather than having to rely on luck even if there are fewer fish. If anyone has any suggestions where this seems to happen I would like to know where you think that is.

Panama beaches are diverse and varied. There are a few white sand beaches on the Caribbean side and a lot of little island beaches in the Bocas Del Toro area that are nice and the water blue.


On the Pacific Side the sand is a lot darker and the waters a bit murkier. There is even a black sand beach called La Barquetta where the undertow is fierce. In Puerto Armuelles there are several past the refinery. We found a beach that was not sand but solid rock. I have never seen anything like it !

 

[vov4ik]

ask a friend how he confirmed his identity and how he plays, if he does not answer better contact the support service explain their situation to them and let them explain you in detail!

 

[ChickenArise]

ok so I spoke with my friend in Panama who won and got sent money to his bank by bank wire. He said they only asked for ID and not address verification. He used his shop address which is probably a unit number and the road its on in the town of Boquete. I am going to see him tomorrow and ask if they ask for anything that would indicate they report winnings to any tax authority.

I also sent the same email to Stars using the link provided along with a copy of my ID. Thanks for this. I will let you know if and how they respond.

 

[rachelle2291]

I live on a farm and i have had some issues with online stuff too--my physical address is a long land description and my mailing address is just rural route 1 and then my town and postal code! --i would suggest emailing support at pokerstars b4 you deposit and tell them the situation--they will probably want to take your money and will figure something out--but then try to make a withdrawal soon after to make sure you arent wasting your time

 

[ChickenArise]

Stars Reply

Hello ,
Thank you for contacting us.

We are sorry to inform that the copy of your ID was not accepted as details were illegible, we kindly ask that you send a clear copy.

If you do not have a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water) in your name, you may send a clear copy of one of the following documents:

- Mobile/landline phone bill Bank/credit card statement
- Government-issued formal declaration form
- Government-issued residence certificate
- Tax or other government letter

The document copies must be clear, legible and display your full name, current address and statement date (no older than three months). Also note that if you are submitting a copy of a credit/debit card statement, please ensure that only the first six and the last four digits of the card number are visible.

Please scan or take a digital photo of the requested documentation and send it to us via email.

Alternatively, if you currently have access to your account, you may upload the documents directly from the client.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. We look forward to getting your account fully verified as soon as possible.


Regards,

Michael
Stars Verifications

 

[Rolco]

Good luck living in Panama...

 

[NBB]

As a few members already mentioned, your best choice is to contact Poker stars and explain in detail your situation and see if they have a policy in place for individuals such as yourself.
Good luck.

 

[SirLongbottom]

sorry this is a bit old, but im actually going through this exact same problem in Ecuador. So i emailed PS, 888, partypoker and plan to do Titan Poker today but it seems like there pretty "laid back" with their validation process from what i read so im not too worried about Ipoker network for now. just really wanted at least PS and PP to be straight in my books..

so i explained to party poker rep. that i can only get a P.O. box as an address and a bank statement with that address on it and they replied, "Please be informed that if this is the closest to a "proof of residence" you can provide us with it shall be fine. We would be able to accept your bank statement confirming your address as long as it in not older than 3 months."

so that looks positive...the only crappy thing my father just told me is he doesnt know how easy(IF AT ALL) i can get an actual bank statement.....SMFH !

so i might just be screwed..but i am very very persistent when it comes to things im passionate about...so ill keep trying.

but Pokerstars seems to way more demanding of their documents that need to be verified...so ill post a couple responses from a rep. about me not being able to provide proof of utilities and a physical home address...btw, utilities, kind of like what OP said about the mail, is all in person..same with my bank...thats why they dont do mail service or send you statements much/if at all...pain in my dingus!

Response from Pokerstars rep. vvv

"We understand the situation and appreciate that you may not have a utility bill in your name in order to provide proof of address. however we need to make sure that we verify all players who play at our tables meet the minimum requirements to play as set by legislation. this is also an obligation that we have towards all players, to ensure that everyone is protected as outlined by our own site rules and procedures.

if you are unable to provide one of the aforementioned documents, we alternatively may accept official documents from a local authority, such as proof of residency. please keep in mind that these documents must meet the outlined requirements and should contain an official stamp or signature from the issuing authority."

...but i have no clue where to get and official proof of residency from and authority figure...
Spacemans process seemed to go pretty dang easily, by just stating formally that he lives there? thats kind of funny actually, cause in a previous response from PS rep. they said personal letters arent accepted...

so idk what to do...i mean they can obviously see my IP from ecuador and hopefully can get a physical bank statement that can show my PO box address with my name on it..but thats not enough for them apparently, and i understand it..they just dont seem to realize how underdeveloped countries work sometimes i guess..but all the russian rings and colluding stables are fine cause they live in a somewhat more developed infrastructure...KAPPA

So i guess my next plan to prove i live in ecuador with no physical address is to just make a video of me here and talking to the post office saying i have a box with them and talking to the bank rep. stating i have an account with them and just showing them the village im living in with the un-named dirt roads and the indigenous here speaking Quechua and the volcanoes all around me...

Maaaybe that'll work lol..my hopes are not high though ....GL to everyone else though, hope i helped some of you who struggle with this as well.

 

[Spaceman]

Spacemans process seemed to go pretty dang easily, by just stating formally that he lives there? thats kind of funny actually, cause in a previous response from PS rep. they said personal letters arent accepted...

No no no. I didnt say that. Or maybe we are lost in translation. I meant a government issued formal statement, with their stamp and signature on. Not just a personal letter or a video. Basically its your personal letter where you write where you are living that gets signed and stamped by authorities, although I cant tell where you can do that in Ecuador, cause these things are different from country to country.

I think you are overanalyzing it. Banks are obligated to give you statements, so you will be fine!

 

[SirLongbottom]

Oh ok I see..thank you...and I was kind of joking about the video..I guess I'll just have to Google where I can get a notary stamp here from a government official then..

...I wonder if the stamp from the customs agent in my passport would qualify?

 

[Spaceman]

Oh ok I see..thank you...and I was kind of joking about the video..I guess I'll just have to Google where I can get a notary stamp here from a government official then..

...I wonder if the stamp from the customs agent in my passport would qualify?

I dont know, maybe ask Pokerstars about it. You could also make a new thread so you could get answers from other members that are already in Ecuador and would know where to sent you!

 

[kapobar]

I dont know why is problem to bank give you statement which show your last transactions. On internet have casinos who ask something imposiblle, but stars, party, 888 just ask ordinary documents.

 

[SirLongbottom]

there isnt a problem getting a statement...the problem was if the banks could put an address on the statement because where i live people do not have addresses...but i just figured out that they can...my next problem is figuring out where i can get an official stamp from a government official stating that i reside in Ecuador

 

[kapobar]

there isnt a problem getting a statement...the problem was if the banks could put an address on the statement because where i live people do not have addresses...but i just figured out that they can...my next problem is figuring out where i can get an official stamp from a government official stating that i reside in Ecuador

Try in ministry of police where give documents

 

[fernandovr]

I will tell you my story with Pokerstars, which you may find it helpful. I live in an apartment with my girlfriend and no bills come at my name, not electrical, we have no phone except our mobile, and the rent is in her name. On my tax statement it seems that I stay with my parents in my village, which by the way, we too dont have addresses and we just left that blank. Just the name of city and village is enough.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I have contacted Pokerstars and they told me that they will accept a formal declaration that I just state responsibly where I live. So it was as simple as that.

Contact Pokerstars again, they want new costumers so they will definately try to help you. Also Pokerstars has a sportsbetting option if you dont know that already.

Ps. Are Panama beaches really amazing?

Ps.2 Although its a conspiracy theory for most, Pokerstars has still that action generating hands with the surprise-surprise-rivers.

I am with the same problem and in the reply email I was informed about the residence declaration, do you have the template you used to send me?

 

[Spaceman]

I am with the same problem and in the reply email I was informed about the residence declaration, do you have the template you used to send me?

I cant see how this gonna help you, but here it is.


https://www.google.com/search?q=υπε...roid-tmobile-gr&prmd=inv#imgrc=YEPqAKPziWuh2M

 

[ChickenArise]

I sent them my national ID card and a copy of my internet bill with an explanation that there are 'no standardized addresses' in this area as there is no mail delivery. I also stated that each utility tends to make up their own version of your 'address' to remember where you live.

PokerStars accepted this and posted the long 'address' that the utility company puts down. Its quite comical to look at in my profile. It goes on and on and on. I am surprised they fit it all.

GG Poker was easier and didnt question anything.

I am not verified at ACR and unless I hit big there I doubt I will bother as I really dont like playing their software and there is no way to mail me a check (other than sending it to an address in Miami to be physically delivered to me by a private company, which may be illegal because it goes to the US) so whats the point?

888 was the least helpful in helping me solve the issue and I wont play there.

 

[dazeboy79]

Very Interesting.. I did not know these things about Panama. Thanks for sharing... Good Luck!