Hi everyone

I've had it with pokerstars. I've been playing on stars for the past year and after providing my licence and a copy of my cred card, I made my first deposit. So after a year of depositing and withdrawing, I made a request to withdraw just over 100 usd. After waiting more than a week, I decided to check up on how my funds were going.
I discovered I needed to contact stars security and this is what they sent back.

Hello *****,

Thank you for your email.

Indeed, your recent cashout request is still pending.

Could you please explain why you wish to withdraw your funds immediately after making a deposit?

PokerStars has an obligation to understand the reason for the movement of money on our site. We need to know this information so that we can comply with relevant rules and regulations on money laundering.

Your recent deposit and subsequent withdrawal is unusual, because we are not a bank or a money transferring service - instead, we provide online poker games. Unusual deposit and cash out patterns require us to learn more about the situation.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Regards,

Loic
PokerStars Security Team

After replying stating that I had been doing very similar things in the past, they responded and asked me to fill out the credit card verification form.

I have no issue in providing the documentation, however I will have trouble printing out the form which they require to be filled out manually ever so desperately. their t&c it states that

(*)This information will only be requested once unless your account Information changes (i.e. you move or use a new purchase method, or your Purchase method expires or additional security reasons). In that case, we'll only ask for updated information in the future.

Even though I have not changed my depositing/withdrawing details nor have I moved residence, I am still being harassed for my personal details.

This just feels like a pokerstars ploy to freeze $100 and have me eventually give up on it due to the fact that I do not have access to a printer.

yeah man, pokerstars will do anything to get your $100. except leave you alone when you're involved in suspicious transactions, that is.

nothing more suspicious than $100 withdrawal huh

One of those situations where you can't blame either party. Completely understandable why you're not happy and from the reasons stated it is understandable for them to be cautious. Bit odd that they didn't email you raising these concerns.

Just have to wait it out I guess

Go to a library. Acquire a friend. Go to a copy shop. If a guy was motivated I'm sure he could figure out a few dozen ways to get a document printed.

You won't see your money until you just do as they say. Like it or not: fill out the document; send it to them and, if you've done nothing wrong, you'll get your money.

OP, did you request to I appreciate that you've been depositing and playing for a while, but did you deposit shortly before requesting this cashout? If so, I can understand why it might auto-trigger the procedures designed to prevent money laundering.

If not, then perhaps ask Pokerstars why they've sent you an email that doesn't suit your circumstances?

I understand that withdrawing a week after depositing is not completely standard, however I only deposited that much because of the free $15 offer(lol).

I know that in order to resolve the situation I'm going to have to do as they say. The complete control that stars has is what bothers me, their demands of so much personal information, information which I have already provided in the past, over the petty amount of $100 is what annoys me.

anyway thats it between me and stars, im sure they won't miss me plenty of other degens out there

How much did you play after depositing your most recent $100?

So it was a deposit of 150 for the $15 free. Played a number of tournaments (around 15) but I find because I'm a recreational player if I play during a period that I am not really focused, I tend to just lose a lot of money so I decided to cash out (I tend to play even if i don't feel like it just because there is money in the account) and redeposit when I had some free time in the future.

Sites get annoyed when U cost them $$ in fees to deposit/withdraw the whole time with very little play

There are options on pokerstars to temporarily exclude yourself or restrict what you can play for certain periods. Might be a better option than continously dep/wd from the site

As people suggested, someone or some place you know will have a printer. Send them what they are requesting. They are not trying to keep your $100

Yeah, don't worry about it. I had sort of the same problem one time on
pokerstars.fr where they asked me to explain why i withdraw so fast, but after explaining i got my money fast with an apology as well.
They are definitely not trying to take your money. Ok good luck.

This.

They have regulatory requirements to fulfil. They need to have records showing they take this kind of care in situations such as yours (where there is an enhanced risk of money laundering). They're not accusing you of that: they're just saying your conduct fits the (necessarily broad) triggers so they have to do this.

You will get your money.

So essentially you are saying you only deposited to abuse the bonus.

Pokerstars takes millions of dollars in rake, they are increasing the rake limits and encouraging gambling through the introduction of spin n gos. Offering me free $15 was just to encourage me to deposit more money and appeal to my degenerate side. How dare I "abuse" the bonus they offered me.

How is it possible to abuse a bonus?

They offered it and sometimes a player will claim it and play the next 10 years giving them a million in rake... other times the guy plays enough to claim the bonus and cash out. Sometimes they make money off the bonus, other times they lose. This is not the players problem with what they offer.

serious?

What exactly is wrong with that?

All games on casino, poker and betting sites are rigged to give the house the edge. Taking advantage of bonus offers is the only way the recreational player can seek to redress the balance a little.

Perhaps I'm not sure how the bonus was offered... but if it's a reload bonus with a play through I don't see the problem.

edit: Didn't see it was an instant ticket bonus.