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First visit to WSOP questions First visit to WSOP questions

02-25-2012 , 07:40 AM
I've booked my flight and hotel and am visiting the WSOP for the first time from the UK, June 2nd to 9th, excited.

I've read the FAQ on wsop.com but I've still got a few questions if anyone would be so kind as to help me out.

Anyone else in the same boat? I thought it would make sense to post similar questions in a single thread.

i) Are the free buses that run from Ballys to the Rio just for paying guests or for anyone?

ii) Is the vast majority of action at the Rio everyday or is it worth a trip to Aria etc?

iii) Will the Venetian deepstack be running June 2nd-9th?

iv) It says if you cash at the WSOP and are from the UK you need some form of tax ID. Is this just a payslip with your NI number on or is passport ok? UK residents don't have to pay any tax do they? (prob won't have to worry about this though, lol)

v) $1500 events includes registration fee etc or is that extra?

vi) I arrive late-ish Saturday and want to play in event #9b starting at 12pm Sunday. If I need to go and get a total rewards card before I register, will this take 3 hours standing in a queue? What are the chances of event #9b selling out completely?

vii) Any other random tips for a first time visitor to WSOP would be appreciated!


Last edited by goodytheowl; 02-25-2012 at 07:53 AM.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 08:25 AM
From the US Taxes sticky in the PL forum:

Q: What if I have dual citizenship, or am visiting from another country?
A:
Dual citizenship does not change your obligation to pay U.S. taxes on your income, including income from poker. You may also be obligated to pay taxes in your other country of citizenship.

Non-resident aliens visiting the U.S. are subject to income tax and tax withholding on poker income unless they are a resident of a country which has a tax treaty that which exempts gambling income from U.S. income tax. These countries currently include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. If you are playing at a casino, you will need to provide a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number on an IRS Form W-8BEN to claim such treaty benefits and avoid tax withholding.

The issues for resident aliens earning gambling income while in the U.S. are complicated, as they may involve not only tax issues but visa qualifications as well. It is recommended for resident aliens to consult an immigration specialist on this matter to avoid risking your visa status.

There are three ways to obtain an ITIN: By filing a US tax return and attaching Form W-7 to the front of the return with the required documentation, by completing Form W-7 and the required documentation to an Acceptance Agent, or for poker players, by placing high enough in a poker tournament where a Form 1042-S would be issued and the casino then issues the ITIN when you present proper documentation.

Note: For US residents, casinos/cardrooms are required do reporting and withholding (using IRS Form W-2G) only on net tournament poker winnings over $5,000. For non-US residents, reporting and withholding is required on any amount using IRS Form 1042-S. Technically, this reporting and withholding for non-US residents applies to both cash games and tournaments, but you will probably only see it done for tournaments.

For further discussion of this, see Taxes for Non-Resident (1040NR)

IRS Resources:
Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities: Other Income
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
United States Income Tax Treaties
IRS Form W-8BEN
IRS Form 1040NR US Non-Resident Alien Income Tax Return Instructions
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 08:37 AM
I can get some of these.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
i) Are the free buses that run from Ballys to the Rio just for paying guests or for anyone?
Anyone. Tip the driver.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
ii) Is the vast majority of action at the Rio everyday or is it worth a trip to Aria etc?
The WSOP room is insane with action, and game types you're likely not to find anywhere else. 1/2 6-card Omaha hi/lo? Sure, why not. 20/40 Razzdugi? Let's make it happen. And a LOT of low stakes PLO, which coming from UK I imagine you might want. Note that the WSOP cash games are not the same as the Rio poker room cash games. The WSOP is back in the convention center.

Other rooms are also awesome during the summer. Visit a whole bunch. There are also cheap and mid-range daily tournaments EVERYWHERE, including at Rio on the real live WSOP tables that aren't being used for bracelet events at the moment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
v) $1500 events includes registration fee etc or is that extra?
Registration fee is included.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
vi) I arrive late-ish Saturday and want to play in event #9b starting at 12pm Sunday. If I need to go and get a total rewards card before I register, will this take 3 hours standing in a queue? What are the chances of event #9b selling out completely?
If you're staying at Rio, register as soon as you arrive. It's open 24/7. The Total Rewards booth is across the hall from the WSOP registration.

Lines on the days of tournaments can get VERY long. I wouldn't be surprised if even 9am is a long wait. These things probably won't sell out, but you never know. They are very popular, and 1b's tend to have more players. However, last year they extended late registration to four hours, and I can neither confirm nor deny anybody being locked out.

It's a finite space and only getting more popular. Register as soon as you can.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
vii) Any other random tips for a first time visitor to WSOP would be appreciated!
There will be poker celebrities everywhere. Try not to gawk. Don't ask for autographs during breaks of tournaments, no matter how graciously they react. They're there to work, and this is their busiest time of the year.

There's a bathroom in the atrium, to the left if you come in the back entrance with the red carpet. To the right and behind you if you're coming from the Rio.

There's a bathroom down the hallway between the Rio and convention.

There's a bathroom across from the Total Rewards center, a bit before the primary intersection between the banquet halls.

The WSOP is in (at least) two of the banquet halls. Some people completely miss that there's a whole lot more going on in the other room. It's moved around through the years, but I believe last year was Pavilion and Amazon. One of 'em has a big display of bracelets. One has the kickass Final Table stage. You won't believe this thing up close, it's incredible.

Quote:
Originally Posted by goodytheowl
Welcome to Vegas, I hope you have fun!

Last edited by pfapfap; 02-25-2012 at 08:45 AM.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 10:53 AM
Thanks for your help guys. Can't wait till June.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 11:11 AM
Hey I'm playing in my first WSOP this summer too. Flying in from Boston on June 2 and staying until the 8th. I booked 6 nights in Harrah's, as I stayed there in my only other trip to Vegas and loved it. PLus they have a shuttle to the RIO.

The $1500 reentry will be my first event too, I'm playing the second day 1 on Sunday. So we're in the same boat . Let's hope we run good over there!
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 11:34 AM
Sweet, we should both at least get to the final table. When we get to heads up shall we chop it 50:50?

First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 11:59 AM
Sounds good to me . I think the largest tournament I've played at Foxwoods had only 800 entries. The $1500 might get 4000, which will be insane!

Planning on playing some Venetian events too if I bust out of the WSOP events early...looking forward to the WSOP shootout event also.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 01:16 PM
The shuttle buses to the Rio only seat about 20-30 people and run every 15-20 minutes. This normally isn't a problem, but during the WSOP it might be.

Be early, or be prepared to take a cab.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 05:51 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pfapfap
The WSOP room is insane with action, and game types you're likely not to find anywhere else. 1/2 6-card Omaha hi/lo? Sure, why not. 20/40 Razzdugi? Let's make it happen. And a LOT of low stakes PLO, which coming from UK I imagine you might want. Note that the WSOP cash games are not the same as the Rio poker room cash games. The WSOP is back in the convention center.

Other rooms are also awesome during the summer. Visit a whole bunch. There are also cheap and mid-range daily tournaments EVERYWHERE, including at Rio on the real live WSOP tables that aren't being used for bracelet events at the moment.
"Insane with action" is somewhat of an exaggeration, especially in early June. Cash action was very slow early last year. I don't know if it's OP's first time to Vegas, but he'd be nuts not to at least roam around and check out the other rooms. The best games don't have to be in the biggest rooms. You might find a great game in a small room, unless you play big stakes.

Quote:
If you're staying at Rio, register as soon as you arrive. It's open 24/7. The Total Rewards booth is across the hall from the WSOP registration.

Lines on the days of tournaments can get VERY long. I wouldn't be surprised if even 9am is a long wait. These things probably won't sell out, but you never know. They are very popular, and 1b's tend to have more players. However, last year they extended late registration to four hours, and I can neither confirm nor deny anybody being locked out.
Yeah, I agree. Get down there after you get your room. Get all your registration handled, and then look around to see what is where so you know right where to go when you have to play. Find your section (every seat is in a "blue" or "white", etc section) so you're not scrambling to get to your seat the next day.

Quote:
There will be poker celebrities everywhere. Try not to gawk. Don't ask for autographs during breaks of tournaments, no matter how graciously they react. They're there to work, and this is their busiest time of the year.
This I don't agree with. If gawking and autograph hunting is your thing, have at it. Most players expect it at the WSOP, some even get off on it. The ones that don't like being bothered, you can tell right away. Obviously if someone is fast walking or running, stay out of their way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FromACtoLV
The shuttle buses to the Rio only seat about 20-30 people and run every 15-20 minutes. This normally isn't a problem, but during the WSOP it might be.

Be early, or be prepared to take a cab.
Yup, manners go out the window. There are no formal queues, and if it's hot out, it gets much worse. Even under the best of circumstances, it can easily take 45 minutes to go from the Rio to Bally's or Harrah's. If you're in a hurry, take a taxi.

Which bring me to my first tip - everything takes longer than you think in Vegas. Plan accordingly. The casino-hotels are so big, and traffic is so heavy, that you basically should add half an hour to anything you want to do, time wise. You want to enter a little tournament that's just 2 casinos down the Strip and it starts in a half-hour? You will probably be late.

Tip #2: Bring a sweater or light jacket with you everywhere, even if it's a hundred degrees outside. You never know when any given building will have the a/c cranked up, or your seat will be right under a duct.

Tip #3: Peruse the B&M forum for Twitters and smartphone apps (if you have a smartphone) so you can find out what games are running in each place without having to call or take an hour to go check yourself. Browse through the casno websites and compile a list of poker room phone numbers. Most of them will put your name on the list if you call.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 06:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by pig4bill
This I don't agree with. If gawking and autograph hunting is your thing, have at it. Most players expect it at the WSOP, some even get off on it. The ones that don't like being bothered, you can tell right away. Obviously if someone is fast walking or running, stay out of their way.
Well, if they're walking down the hall and looking around and smiling, then, sure, stop and say hi. But I saw someone, right when a break started deep on Day 2 of a $10k event, scream from the rail to a celebrity who had just finished a huge and complicated hand of PLO8. The celebrity handled it well, but c'mon now. Not the best time.

Good other tips, too.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-25-2012 , 11:40 PM
Will be in Vegas starting June 8th. There is a $1500 NLHE on the 9th at noon. Will there be any satellites into this tournament on the 8th? If so, where would you find them?
First visit to WSOP questions Quote
02-26-2012 , 05:20 AM
Single table S&G satellites run 24 hours at a variety of buyin levels. The prizes are $500 tournament tokens ("lammers"), the quantity of which varies based on the satellite buyin level.

There's also a little cash in the prize, and usually a voluntary last-longer. Chops are common.

Last year they were in the Pavilion room Yellow section, across from the cash games.
First visit to WSOP questions Quote

      
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