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Great read OP and so well written.

Made me think of 'Midnight Express'.

Oh I didn't have to quit poker, but basically when that happened, and I was reflecting on it, I came to a weird realization; the saddest, most helpless time in my life also happened to be the time when I was the wealthiest in my life. People say "money doesn't buy happiness" to the point that it's a cliche, but that experience really drilled home that gap between happiness and wealth for me. There was a point when I probably would have given all of my money to not be where I was, but that wasn't even an option. Money couldn't do anything for me there, no matter how much I had.

So I made a decision to pursue some of my true dreams and passions outside of poker, even though they were much less lucrative, because it made me happy. And I don't regret it for a second

(With that said, I still like poker a lot, and it has actually become a lot more fun again since stopping playing full time! I used to barely care about any cash less than 5-figures, now I get a rush if I FT a $2 MTT hahaha)

Man, I've heard a few people say that this story reminds them of certain movies or books, or Locked Up Abroad, but I've never been able to bring myself to check any of them out because it's too real haha. One day I'll sack up and check them all out.

Well one might hope that the tournament organizer might anticipate the casual attitude young poker players might have with formalities and give us all a heads up such as, "hey take reporting requirements seriously people are arrested every year even for seemingly minor violations (such as dividing less than 20k with your buddy)".

And for all you saying it's the OP's fault because he broke the law, I'd ask you to learn something called due process. Poker Stars should only host tournaments where the government follows such principles.

Who could prove it? They don't need to prove it; they only need to have probable cause that you guys are conspiring to circumvent the 10k law to take your money, but I suppose if they're in the mood they'll look at surveillance footage of you guys talking together, Facebook your name, or a bunch of other things to find a connecting link.

Since you guys aren't Americans (i.e., you are not circumventing the law to evade taxes), they'll just assume you're up to some serious criminal activity and bring homeland security in. So, since the form gets filed with the IRS and you don't live in the US, why are you breaking this law and smuggling the money into the US just to do a legal activity such as play poker?

Um, no, there's a lot more to it than that. Unless you think they don't trust the country with which they share the longest unprotected border in the world - when we fly to the US from Vancouver, we clear customs in Vancouver.

Like your home state of New York? (assuming your shown location is correct)
Let's think of places with less than stellar due process. US fails due to civil forfeiture. So that marks off the WSOP? China isn't a place you'd like to cross local law enforcement. Skip Macau. How about South America? Never been, maybe things are awesome there with due process?

You're saying among the things Stars owes you is a promise that every tournament location has local laws and enforcement that meets with your 1st World approval? That's a big ask. Maybe pick up a guide book for places you intend to visit and do a little research. Take some ownership of your own life and travels.

Stars does nothing wrong hosting tournaments in the Bahamas. Run-ins with US customs there aren't the fault of the poker site (or even the Bahamas). Now there is one more warning for people about to make a big mistake -- a google search might save someone else a bad situation. Tons of places in the world (even the US) where crossing the local authorities can lead to terrible outcomes. Stars isn't on the hook to tell you about each and every one.

dude you have to check out 'Midnight Express". It was on TV the other night...great movie! (and great score, i love the music in that movie)

Thanks for writing this up, it was fun to read. This forums really gotten boring since poker died

Agree like 90 percent chance this story is false.

Now you know why Fischer went to Iceland!

My question is what would ask you if I were a customs agent after you said what you said. It sounds suspicious.

Your explanation makes sense. But it is very important to be careful, and to use words that mean exactly what you would like to say.

Your original statement sounded as if you were carrying someone else's money.

Truuue, take my wording with a grain of salt because this happened years ago now, so I am paraphrasing.

It's the same for me and I know lots of other people who feel the same way.

FWIW, while waiting to be deported must be very unpleasant in a third world country, I don't think you'd have a good time being in custody prior to deportation in a first world country. I highly doubt it's fun to wait in a US jail cell for your flight home..

This story is real- happened a few years ago and it was a friend of mine who bailed them out

Yeah, check out Christmas Island which has been in the news recently.

It's where people being deported from Australia are held along with refugees on a prison island.

Australia is a first world country by the way (although some might disagree).

Ty!

I've never heard of going through customs when departing a county, only when entering? I've left Canada many times and never filled out a Canadian form.

Most countries you have to fill out a departure card/form.

How annoying are responses like these? I think you are missing the point dude. Shut the **** up.

This. I can't even read anymore. I want to go crazy lol.

I need to ask a serious question, and maybe there is a good answer but I haven't read it here yet.

If your country doesn't tax poker winnings, why on earth wouldn't you carry all the money and claim every penny?

A friend of a friend won $200,000 playing craps and black jack on that island and took it all home in a briefcase, claimed every penny and was through customs much quicker than i ever dreamed. He paid US and Missouri taxes, yes, but the point is you didn't even have that burden to bear. You only had downside risk by structuring.

I'm sorry it all happened. I watched as a friend got mugged badly by a fake cabbie during spring break there one year. I had to run from a moped rental agent after he tried to have me arrested for getting hit by a jitney bus and totaling the moped. I wasnt at fault, and was bloodied, but knew I would be targeted in that corrupt little nation to pay for that moped.

I hope your reads on the poker table are better than this....

Really well told story btw OP. Excellent writing. A life lesson for sure.

Yea I answered earlier, but basically I just thought because I had under $10k on my person that I didn't need to declare. No sense declaring unnecessarily.

great read and crazy story. I was reminded of both the Panamanian prison in Prison Break (before you mentioned it) and Midnight Express whilst reading. Definitely check out Midnight Express if you ever feel up to, the sense of helplessness really comes through in both your story and in that movie.