Best first post I have seen in a while.

http://www.pokerstars.com/usaplayers/faq/ has up to date info.

As of now, cashouts might take weeks, they are not converting FPPs to cash and are deciding what to do with them, VIP statuses and VPPs will be restored to April 15 levels if U.S. players can move (not sure if there is a deadline on this), but Stars is requiring us to establish foreign residency and are disallowing players from simply travelling outside the U.S. to play.

We have to write them and let them know we expect full value for the FPPs we saved under a clear agreement as to their worth, as well as ask them to relax their standards for U.S. players who are willing to travel and play outside the U.S., but want freedom of movement and don't want to wade through time-consuming red tape to do it.


Here is an email I wrote:

There are many U.S. players who want to continue playing. Although we do not want you to break any laws, we would like you to allow U.S. citizens to play as long as we play from within countries where online poker is legal.

I want to travel to different countries for different time periods. According to your USA FAQ page I will not be allowed to play unless I establish residency in every country I go to. It is not clear on whether I can just establish foreign residency in one country and then travel to others without continually having to prove residency. That would be logistically impossible and will prevent alot of players from coming back to Stars.

We want to keep playing at Stars, but you are making it way too hard. Is it possible to relax your standards within the framework of the law and agreements with the DOJ to encourage U.S. players to come back?

Also, I hope you establish a fair means of dealing with those of us who have saved lots of FPPs under the agreement that we could trade them for cash bonuses.

Please help and encourage us to come back to Pokerstars by being practical and fair, in addition to legal.

Hey zilarik in light of the recent situation with FT and the rest I was going to switch to Bodog and was wondering if you have a rackback deal on there or anything of that nature.

I only played on PS and FT now I need a new home and I need to know how to put $$ online. I used Netteller in the past and that won't work with US players.

Any advice?

I have the same question. I have read bad things about e-wallets, but I really want to know how I can continue playing.

Dont- simple enough

Poker is in serious limbo in the US, any money you manage to put on kiss it good bye

That's fine with me if it's the case. I want to put in less than 50. Just looking for some entertainment.

There are still plenty of American players on Absolute Poker, but the number of players has dropped around 30%.. Dunno about how to deposit there as I'm from Europe. I use Click2Pay & Ecocard with no problems so far. Other than less players it's business as usual. Pay-friend should work if you cannot deposit.

There a plenty of American Players playing at a lot of different sites:

Merge Skins (RPM, Carbon, Lock, etc....)
Cake (Cake, PokerWorld, Juicy Stakes, etc...)
Everleaf (Minted, RaiseandFold, NoBadBeats, etc...)
Yatahay(True Poker/Doyles Room)
Bodog
Few other smaller rooms

The best option seems to be Western Unions.

Just check out some of the skins/rooms above and see which one you like. Also, make sure you sign up through an affiliate to get Rakeback if that skin/network offers it. There have been a lot of threads recently on the different Networks and Skins left for US residents. We still have plenty of options.

Don't know if Bodog has rakeback, my affiliate doesn't have them listed last time I checked (and they all are listed, including Cake).

Yep, don't see them. That doesn't mean they don't, google is your friend.

Can you tell me how successful you have been cashing out from Merge? Have you tried post-black friday?

I see a 200% bonus up to $2000 from rtr which is iNSANE and very tempting... I want to take advantage of this but I dpont want to do something stupid and lock up even MORE of my money...

Last I heard, Bodog stopped giving rakeback to new players (and IIRC, cut the rakeback rate for players who already had it).

....................... dude I was responding to someone else that asked about the SNG availability. i wasnt complaining i was just telling him that he will probably be disappointed if he's looking for things to be similar to stars.... of course this is to be expected but i figured he wanted to hear from someone already registered.

Thanks for all the input. I'm leaning towards merge, with cake, bodog, and carbon in no particular order yet as "Temporary poker alternatives". Most of my time will be spent fighting for our rights. I emailed E.S.P.N this morning and challenged them not to be scared and stand behind poker. Trying to do something everyday like that.

Side note on how quick other posters are to jump someone here, and also noticed mods have god complex. Heaven forbid somebody says something that's not intelligent.

I would appreciate advice on the best internet poker sites available to U.S. players post-shutdown of Pokerstars, etc.

I think Carbon (Merge Network) is the best bet. I've downloaded the Bodog and Carbon software and I like the Carbon the best. I have to say, however, that I haven't actually got my money onto either site yet though (just played a couple freerolls to try them out). I have been monitoring the traffic on both of these sites and Carbon is still growing while Bodog has leveled off. Cake doesn't get much traffic either.

Seems that the best way to get money into your account is either Western Union - or via a prepaid VISA with the key being that it is authorized for international purchases. The VISA I bought at Walgreens last night doesn't appear to be.

They're all going to take your money and vanish shortly enough so I can't see much difference between them tbh.

This. Yet my stupid ass is still playing on them.

You have lots of options. A lot of it is going to depend on your personal preferences and what games and stakes you play. Below is just a few choices. There have been lots of discussions recently on each of the Networks and a lot of the rooms.

RPM (Merge Network)- Great Customer Service at RPM. Good Promo's/Bonus's/Rakeback. Best Traffic of US Facing Sites so far.

True Poker/Doyles Room (Yatahay Network) Good Support. Quick Cashouts. Good Promo's/Bonus's. Software has some issues and some won't care for it. They do plan to release new software, from what I'm told.

Minted/RaiseAndFold/Poker4Ever (Everleaf) Good Software. Soft Games. Decent Traffic. Good Rakeback 40%.

Cake/PokerWorld (Cake Network) Good Bonus and Rakeback 33%(Dealt), Software is better than some on the list though some don't like it, No HUD's

Bodog Can only play 4 tables at a time, Software isn't the best, Soft Games, No Rakeback

These are just a quick overview of my the thoughts off the top of my head for each of the main Networks left. There are even more smaller Networks that get a minimal amount of traffic.

What exactly do you play and what is important to you when looking for a room? Is RB and Bonus's most important or is Customer Service most important or possibly Traffic? There are still good options even without Stars and Tilt.

Hope this helps your decision. If you have specific questions on some rooms post them and someone will probably be able to answer them.

These comments are just a waste of time. If you don't want to play then cool. Others do want to and are going to.

OP-I think you already know after Friday but obviously there are risks involved with Online Poker in the US. I continue to play and a lot of others. IMO, just make frequent Cashouts and only keep the necessary amount of funds on any site.

I would also recommend that you sign up through a trustworthy affiliate. It will save you headaches down the road.

What R the Best Sites Left? Bodog, Doylesroom?

Any others? I need to find a place to play.....

Merge seems to be the hot option at this point, I would pick Cake if withdrawals pick up speed and traffic picks up, the others are meh/just not enough people.

wow, you're the first person to ask this, it's unbelievable

Merge is hot atm, but people aren't looking at their rake structure, which is one of the highest in the biz.

Whats so bad at their rake structure? My understanding is that the rake is normal at the micros, but their cap is too high so it affects the upper limits.

The sit n go's on Carbon (the ones that I play at least) have the same rake as FT.