Not true. Here's what I posted on the other forum.

In regards to receiving/sending wires, ewallets, it comes down to two key things. Make sure your e-wallets, wires are not set for USD denomination. Technically, any electronic funds have to go through the US if they are sent in USD and that's where you could get into trouble. Also, keep the amount below 8k -- 10k is the reporting threshold for FINTRAC (our financial detection agency up here) but banks are obligated to report transactions without reasonable explanation within a couple thousand of the limit.

Doubt I can send PMs as I lurk and don't post, but I'll answer any questions I receive. For the record, the bank I work for will continue to accept and process online gaming transactions, except through credit card as they will follow Mastercard and Visas directions on that.

??? Is this true?

Yes. Although in practice Canadian banks may not advise you of it ahead of time; however, they all use a correspondent bank (for example Royal Bank uses JP Morgan, BMO uses Wachovia) when a wire is denominated in US currency even if it goes from one US bank to another. Not a Canadian requirement but a US one. If it is a non US currency it can go direct through the Swift network from either poker site or payment processor right to your Canadian bank account.

Interesting and surprising. Thanks.

If i moved to Vancouver tomorrow, how long before i could play on Stars, FTP, Party, iPoker?

I'm guessing i would have to actually wait for 1st utility bill to arrive to play on FTP/Stars, but as soon as i open a Canadian bank account, i could play on Euro sites. Is this correct?

if someone is intrested to moving to Malta and obtain all rights to get his Account back at FTP/Stars than take a look at this Thread

InsideMan,

This is what I was told on the phone.

I was also told that they will give a specific location to call them from, ie, "Go to the Mirage Mall and call us from the payphone outside of the Burger King".

DonKeebles--

Thanks for the informative post. As an American opening a checking account in Canada is there anything I should or should not say if I am asked why I want an account there. Is something as simple as, "I plan on traveling a lot here and want to avoid all the foreign transaction fees that my American CC's charge," an appropriate response?

Surprisingly common sense solution from PokerStars re: landmark/newspaper.

My guess is what you say can matter. You might be able to get away with full disclosure of intention, but not sure there is any reason to try. The only risk, which I personally have no clue whether is real or not, is that they open your account, you start your poker transactions, and then they either reject them or drop you.

If the latter scenario is not a risk, then I would see no reason to walk in and say "Hi, I gamble."


My main question is a strange one. If you open an account in Canada, and all gets worked out fine and then in a month, Stars/FT are processes the US players withdrawals, will you still be able to take advantage of the capability to cashout to a US bank?

I know some will just say, 'well you have a Canadian bank, so just cash out there' but from my understanding, it is not ideal to get a large wire from a poker site right after opening the account and seems like it would be a lot easier to cash out to your US bank directly for a large amount if you are looking to bring your roll down to a more modest size. Anyone know if once you become a Canadian resident you are then forced to withdraw only to Canada even while they are processing US withdrawals?

Why not just buy a ironshed/clayshed in africa somewhere, which makes you a citizen, and open an account in that country?

A house in Soweto (Johannesburg) is like ~5-10k$ for 20-50squaremeters.. For all you ballers.

And then play all Scandi-sites. =)

Hey all....

not sure if its been mentioned itt or not.. a quick search indicates no, but the best and quickest option for you HSNL types might be hsbc off shore accounts... theres pretty high minimum balance, but you can open from the US

https://www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/in...e-bank-account

just called them. two different people told me that due to new regulations under the Obama administration they are not offering services to any American citizens. They said they could possibly do business with people who are dual citizens with another nation but would not confirm anything and said their bank reviews those situations on a case by case basis.

Canadian bank account denied at one bank, said self employed asked what said poker player snap said nope can't do it. I didn't even mention online poker and said I was just gonna use it for money to play at the casino that's like 5 miles away. She basically told me to go to another bank and not mention poker and I'd prob get account although idk if that means account gonna get locked/transfer denied trying to move a decent amount from poker site to bank. And ****ing FTP still won't answer anyone on what's needed to prove you've relocated.

But yeah if you're opening up a bank account definitely don't mention poker also could be just me but seems like the individual banks and/or employees have a ton of latitude and be prepared to answer really intrusive questions about why you need the account/what you're gonna use it for. Definitely different from US (but maybe foreigners have same problems trying to open US bank accounts).

The more I read, the more I feel like this is gonna be a big headache from here on out.

Are US citizens allowed to open one of these?

http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/accounts/borderless.jsp

Also for opening the account can we just say use unemployed/travelling?

You can open an account in Canada as long as you tell them that it is not for poker seems to be the general theme in multiple topics.

If any of you do mention poker, which is inevitable as you will talk to the upper level staff at some point, do it after you have created the bank account and done some withdraw/deposits with them. Keep amounts under always under 8-9k. Be straight up if they ask questions about where the money is coming from. Do not be like "a derk a derrrr.. how did I make this $100,000?...uhh... I made my money selling folk art from my front porch!!"

They want your business, hell all my credit cards can still be used for online gaming on basically anything, gambling or poker, canada is lax if you can get in the system.

Banks are required by law to provide a valid reason for not opening an account and "I gamble" would not be a valid reason to turn someone down; however, each individual branch may have their own "policies" even if they don't match corporate or legal regulations.

I would suggest stating you travel to Canada a lot and want to have funds available for when you are up here. It's a standard answer given my Americans opening bank accounts up here.

Bingo.

Branch employees don't have latitude; however, some just don't follow corporate policy. Occupation, income, and questions along those lines are strictly to help them target future products and not required. All that is required is two pieces of ID, purpose for account (general savings or everyday banking is normally sufficient), third party declaration indicating you are opening the account for yourself, as well as a few general ID questions.

If you continue to run into trouble, let me know and I can try and arrange something through my branch.

I've already mentioned this before in a couple of threads. Your experience is going to vary bank to bank/branch to branch. Like DonKeebles pointed out employees don't always follow policy and bank policy doesn't always align with the law verbatim.

Shouldn't be any reason you can't open it. It's essentially just a USD account through TD.

This has nothing to do with the bank. If your cards are Visa or MC, if they knew you were using them for online gaming transactions they would no longer work. I said this before, but that has nothing to do with Canadian banking or legality. Those companies instituted policies to limit their own liability. It's just chance that your cards happen to still work.

DonKeebles -

Thanks for offering to help. I contacted 4 different banks in Montreal today and was told no accounts for non-residents (and residents = people w/ Canadian government issued paperwork) - as I mentioned in another thread - http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/57...l#post26259172

I said I was in Montreal for the summer. No mention of poker or anything else weird, and they did not make it seem as though they had any leeway, very much told just policy only to open non-resident account for student or Work visa holders, or if you own property in Canada.

Is this just a matter of these big banks not wanting to go to the trouble of opening an account for tourists/travelers that they assume will have low balances, or is this an actual government rule that says banks can no longer open accounts for US citizens without Canadian paperwork?

If it's the former, how do you suggest I go about finding a bank that might be more friendly? Not finding much of any info about it online, and so far striking out with just trying banks.

Thanks!

Any verification on whether someone's actually had to call from the pay phone at the Burger King or anything?

Don, I would like to arrange something through your branch. I'm currently banking with RBC and haven't done any large withdrawals through poker. It seems RBC isn't too keen on processing gambling transactions, however, and I should probably find a different bank. I would have PMed you, however it seems I can't.

Hey guys, I'm looking at making the move to Canada.

Could I simply drive to the border with ID/Passport, tell the customs agents that I am coming across for a few month vacation (having a fake itinerary ready), and have 6 months before I have to leave?

Could I then get a room at an extended stay hotel, and use those details for residence requirements, go open a Canadian checking account with $1000 in it, and be ready to play?

Unfortunate but likely a few employees who have their own idea of what the rules are. I checked with a couple colleagues at another two of the big 5 banks in Canada and they confirmed accounts for non-residents were still easy and simple to open with the ID requirements I mentioned above. So Scotiabank, BMO and TD all currently allow the accounts.

If you continue to have trouble, drop me a PM with what banks you were trying and I can ask around.

Hey Don-

I don't have PMing privileges yet, do you mind emailing me at genericemailaddy4me @ yahoo.com and I can reply to you that way. Thanks.

I just got off the phone with a Scotiabank branch in Vancouver. I told the manager that I will be visiting Vancouver for 3-6 months a year and that I will be renting an apartment. I am an american citizen currently in between career changes. He basically told me they need to know why I have to open an account when banks like bankofamerica allow you to access your funds in Canada. They also need to know the source of where the funds will be coming from. He said when it comes to American citizens its at their discretion whether to allow them to open an acount or not. If american banks allow you to access your funds in Canada than not really sure of a legit answer as to why I need to open a Canadian bank account when I am just a visitor. Any suggestions? Seems like this is gonna be pretty tough.