I opened an account in William Hill last year and player a little bit. This year I started to play there again and I figured out that they closed operations in my country (Brazil). Then I contacted the costumer service to ask if I could continue to play. They actually closed my account without my authorization and I cannot withdraw my money! I asked them to transfer the money for me by paypal or wire transfer, it would be easier and cheap, but they refused saying I would have to call them to solve the issue.

The costumer service gave me a toll free number (00800-3551-3551) that doesn't work from my country. I am supposed to call William Hill to solve this, paying for the call, but when I was willing to deposit money, play and generate rake they did not demand for me to call them. Funny eh?!

Is that fair?

So, I let you this: if you are not from UK, beware, your country (whatever it is) can be listed and, all of a sudden, your account will be closed and who knows if and when you will be able to withdraw your money.

I should file a complain in the regulatory government office for sure and probably talk to a barrister (or solicitor?!) to solve this. I hope the UK laws and regulations can help me, but I am not confident.

I can't even load up William Hill, but I was going to deposit when I could.

Thanks for the warning.

How about just calling them with Skype for a few cents?

Thanks for the advice, I will also do that.

My point is not just the calling cost. My point is that they are wrong, they abused their position by unilaterally closing my account and refusing to allow me to withdraw by the usual easier way. They are not correct, thats not the honest way of doing business. Besides, it sounds like a barrier for me to make the withdraw more difficult. What is the point to demand the consumer to call them ir order to get his own money back? They did not demand that when I was willing to deposit or to play, thats odd.

If besides that you think you can trust them, thats ok, go ahead.

Of course I could be quiet, just call them and beg for my money (like if they are doing me some sort of favor), but I like to stand for what I believe it is the wright thing to do.

addendum: by doing this and standing for what I think is the right thing to do, I am also discouraging William Hill as well as other companies to abuse their position against the interests of other poker players.

Send some off duty police officers over to them

from the little googling i just did it would appear that online gambling is not legal in brazil. All UK regulated companies have to show reasonable reasons for offering poker in countries where it is illegal. Will hill obviously value the whole of their UK gambling business as far more valuable than the provision of poker in brazil.

As a listed UK company they have to act in the best interests of their shareholders. Risking their UK business by having gambling licence withdrawn is something that they have to avoid. You are vague how you contacted them to request payment and if you had withdrawn previously. In order to payout they have to be satisfied that money laundering is not involved and that you are who you say you are. Funds will likely have to be refunded back to deposit method as well and they are unlikely to send funds to a new paypal or wire them to a bank account that wasn't used when funds were deposited to protect themselves if a scammer attempted to get access to those "in limbo" funds.

That is particularly funny if you are familiar with videos on liveleak.

Dear,

though it is true that gambling is forbidden in Brazil, poker IS NOT considered gambling, but a sport. Actually the Ministry of Sports itself considered it, as well as the Courts. You can see right here:

http://www.cbth.org.br/cbth/public/f...Ministerio.png

and here several judicial decisions: http://www.cbth.org.br/cbth/Pagina.d...76q?idSecao=10

Poker players for instance can get benefits from the government and take a leave to play abroad (if they are civil servants). Last year there was a huge tournament held in the capital only for law enforcement agents!
BSOP may be nowadays one of the biggests regional poker event in the world by number of players. You can check the numbers here: http://www.bsop.com.br/

If William Hill is so concerned about their shareholders (and I agree this must be its main driver), they should not have offered poker services here just to withdraw it soon in the first place. If they were not willing to continue in Brazil, why then they offered the service (poker) and took player's money?

By the way, before consider the shareholders interest they should consider their consumers interest, for if the later are not satisfied the former will not get money. The most profitable companies do this.

It was my first and last withdraw, I contacted william hill by online chat. Later, I call them using Skype. After spending more than 1 hour and 20 minutes on the phone (I printed the screen to prove it!), they promised me to credit the funds in my VISA credit card. Now I must wait a few days in order to see if the transaction was made.

I keep you guys informed, and hope none of you have to experience a situation like this.

To be more specific: Do NOT play on iPoker at all

id say that they withdrew from brazil a while ago, and now that your account is frozen/gone you have to talk it out with them to figure out how will they pay you. i ve been playing on will hill/betfair for some time now and i wouldnt be too worried about my money if i were you, but you never know! gl!