Hi everyone,

It's been almost two years since I've last played on Pokerstars and I miss it. On January 2, 2018 after a good couple of days of drinking and enjoying the holidays I emailed Pokerstars and asked for a one year exclusion. The kicker is that I said I had a gambling problem.

I regret saying this as it cost me a lifetime ban. I used to degen by playing stakes way above what I should have but in 2018 my one year exclusion was also a lifestyle change as I had a full year of school ahead of me and I was financially hurting (see above).

I am now a certified accountant and make a lot more than I used too and have the free time on weekends to play. I miss Pokerstars and the series such as WCOOP and SCOOP etc. I've thought numerous times about trying to open up a second account but play on Party instead. I've emailed PS support numerous times to try to explain why life is different and why I feel like a lifetime ban is unnecessary but to no avail.

Does anyone else have similar problems? Are there any suggestions aside from opening up a new account to play on Pokerstars again? I'm just frustrated and regret saying anything. I wish I could go back two years and just use the self excluded feature but I can't. I feel like I'm being punished for being responsible. I no longer go on to a site and play the highest stakes with an entire roll. I've learned.

ya the key is to never admit weakness, mental problems, or addiction to anyone, this alone proves it.

and they wonder why mental illness isnt talked about, no one wants to admit to problems to as they fear the repercussions that will happen to them unjustly. they think then something is "wrong" with you.

you asked for a 1 year ban to get things straight as you had a problem and they lifetimed you. pretty gross and if thats truly how it went down pretty disgusting by pokerstars.

Thanks for seeing it the way I do too. That's exactly how it went down. Wish it wasn't true but I was shocked.

Wow, what a horrible way to discourage anyone from every seeking a temporary ban

Yeah I know. It should be up to the individual to control their own playing capacity and controls. This is one thing that I appreciate about PS and I do respect their policies. I've tried explaining that.

When you say gambling problem, the common belief is addiction can be arrested but not cured. In other words you can function fine as long as you are not gambling but if you ever gamble again it will return to the state it was previously.

The believe is usually how it pans out in practice as well. If you seriously had a problem with gambling then you’re probably better off. All the memories and intentions are rainbows and fluffy clouds until you actually do it again. Then the monster returns. YMMV.

*the belief

On Tapatalk can’t edit

After playing seriously for 2019 I realize that it isn't a gambling issue as much as it was a lack of awareness. I didn't understand bankroll management, game selection or the knowledge required to become good at online poker. I would never deposit 500 usd and play zoom waiting for AA or KK on 2/5 now. I'd take that 500 and play 180 mans and build a roll or playing mtts up to 8$. Things have just changed.

Pokerstars (UK) has a temporary lock out facility which works fine (I've used it) and with no long term repercussions. No need to email anyone to use it.

In countries where gambling is regulated, if Stars (or any other site) let someone back on after they had declared a gambling problem they would be breaking the law.

I'm no Stars fanboy (trying to find an alternative as my post in BQ proves) but you can't criticise them for following the law, promoting responsible gambling, and giving users the tools to look after themselves.

Op, just play somewhere else, Stars sucks anyway.

I didn't know that this was the case. If it is then I will never have an account back all because I didn't use the tool that was available.

Lol yeah I do and agree but it's nice to have variety.

They are not allowed to let people with a gambling problem play. Simple as that.

Messaging them one year later to tell them “all good now” is like an alcoholic getting “just a couple of drinks” after being sober for a year.

Pretty sure there’s even liability issues involved if they let somebody play after he told them in the past he had a gambling problem. Every other licensed poker room would do exactly the same thing.

I was just explaining how they view it. They assume they are helping someone with the lifetime ban when they admit to a gambling problem.

Madlex there must be liability issues involved and that's exactly why they won't listen to me at all. It's unfortunate. I should have used the tool and I would have had, if I knew that the consequences would be so severe. I tried saying that I would sign a waiver and nothing. Guess I'm just F*d. That's how this all sounds. Thanks for your input everyone. Hopefully other people won't make the same mistake as I did.

it's simple.
PS doesn't want to get sued

true, but it doesnt make it any less ****ing disgusting. what a good way to help people.

Fwiw I agree with everyone who has posted. On one hand I understand where PS is coming from in terms of gambling problems, liability and law. On the other hand, I think that there should have been at least some sort of follow up, stating that if you truly have a gambling problem than a lifetime ban is in our opinion the best option and given me a chance. The way they went about it is disgusting and in my opinion scummy. Especially given that I was trying to do the right thing given my personal situation.

As part of the licensing requirements (particularly in the UK), Stars (and other "reputable" gaming sites) have to have "Responsible gambling" policies. Sometimes the rules might seem a bit harsh, but they literally have to ban people they believe have "problems", or the authorities will fine them or take away their licence.

In case it needs repeating, do NOT try making a new account. You'll never be able to withdraw any winnings from it, as they will detect it and then label you a fraudster. If you're desperate to gamble, and no longer feel you have a problem, there are plenty of other sites that will accept your business.

As I mentioned initially I have zero intention of opening a new account. Anyway thanks for your input.

Just to play Devil's advocate: when you told them you had a gambling problem, perhaps it was because you did (and do). Sometimes we just need to listen to ourselves. After all, deep down inside don't we kinda know the truth even when we don't wanna admit it?

Also, how much money did you lose playing (on Stars or elsewhere), anyway?

I had a $8,000 visa (Canadian) that I used for poker and life. I had maxed it out when I realized that it wasn't working. I'm debt free today with the exception of student loans. I've used a trial hud but never really liked using them, so I don't have a graph or anything.

I know myself really well. I certainly have issues but I'm working on them. Cash makes me tilt and I think that's also been a problem historically. I've been playing mtts on various sites and have done decently. I came 4th in a 10 rebuy and one add on, on global poker for like 1k 2 days ago. I know that I would never get to the point of suing PS or killing myself over a game or anything sad like that.

this is very profound, psychology has been weaponized before, and it is being weaponized again now. examples are communist russia labeling dissidents as "mentally ill", china sending religious followers to reeducation camps for "mental illness" , and our contemporary laws are doing it as well now with red flag laws, CPS overstepping boundaries etc. and this current infringement upon human rights where he got banned for life.

Implying you couldn't easily fall back into the old habits anyway.

There are different type of addicts and in the world of alcohol, they are known as gamma, delta and so on. Some drink regularly a little, and some have long runs and so on. I have been an addicted chess player in the past and it just takes me over and it can go w/o end, just sleeping if no need to go anywhere and can continue like two weeks; the solution is basically not to start.

It has its roots in the interest and trying to achieve something, to solve something like openings testing. And all things run as an "addiction" when we get started with them. At least that is how I function and I use it to get things started also and focus on one thing at a time preferably.

I have a close relative who can't control his poker gambling and the solution is not to play and that's basically it for alcohol also. There are other kinds of addicts who can control it like if you take some daily and it stays as so; they do that in many countries with alcohol and we have all kinds of people who need their regular fix at this or that thing. Some people smoke at work but not at home, or the opposite.

Saying one has a gambling problem when one is in it makes it true but it takes a different amount of times to grow learning and discipline; it can take years or never happens, or then it happens in a month like my fruit machine gambling when I was a teenager or when I was drinking a couple of times a week at one point and saw I was getting addicted and dropped it.

The laws and regulations are what they are; they don't bend to all types but in the future if you can prove it. It is not so funny that one can say something and then it is final. One needs to be aware of it and too bad if it happens on a major site like Stars the first time around.

At Party, one can open another account after 6 months of inactivity and they regularly look at it through the fingers (the affiliates told me that). You can't use the same deposit account w/o it getting cleared though as it belongs to the other account, while in other cases, if they ask something, you can ask them to close the old one and they might or might not do so.

At Stars, they close the new one but in some cases. I have had two accounts there (and at Party) years ago and was asked nothing at Stars. I closed the first one first and was asked a reason and I said I won't be using it anymore (I got some further asking but I just repeated it) and that was it and opened a new one; generally, if it is after one year or whatever at this or that site, they don't freak out like they can if you instantly open a new one.

But the big difference in these cases is that there wasn't any reason why they wouldn't allow it. Otherwise, they might keep your money to prevent you to repeat it.