Poker Host? I Think Not!!

This is to anyone who may be considering depositing at Poker Host. Do so at your own risk!! Let me explain:

I have been playing at Poker Host for the past couple of months and at first was really happy with the site. We (my hubby and I) were playing freerolls and play chip tourneys for real money and have a grand time making a couple "free" bucks here and there. Then I decided, what the heck? Let's make a deposit and get some action going; plus we could unlock our freeroll money too. We were doing really well, increasing our bankroll and doing our share of steam rolling the competition (for the most part, there are what seem to be a lot of "fish" and "noobs" ). So I was a pretty happy camper, barring the occassional bad beat, I had no complaints. And then...things began to go wrong...and started to really tick me off!

It all started with the disconnects from the server. I started getting pop-ups warning of a bad connection and would I like to re-connect? At first this didn't bother me too much, because I was able to reconnect quickly, and having dial-up, I am used to such problems occuring now and then. BUT--then it starts happening every few minutes until I realized it wasn't my computer, but their server that was causing the problem--over and over again.

The two worst situations was when I had registered for SNGs. I was waiting for one more player to start, thinking "Geez, this is taking forever!", when suddenly the game popped up and I realized the game had been running for awhile and I had only 400 chips left! I had been disconnected the whole time with no warning! I was not a happy camper. (At least I took 2nd, and got my buy-in back.) Happened again when it was down to two players, and I just knew I was going to take it, because I was the substantial chip leader, and I knew I had the guy, when SURPRISE!!!! Disconnected again and couldn't get back in to the damn site until after I had been bled dry with the blinds and the game was over...

So I decided I had had enough and withdrew my funds. Now here's the other really irritating part...their policy is that withdrawals will be processed within 48 hours...yeah...RIGHT!. It took them [B]72 HOURS [/b] to process my withdrawal to NeTeller! Unacceptable in my book! And of course their "banking department" was only open 11AM-9PM EDT. Are you kidding me???!!?? This is an online site! Twenty-four hour access should be standard if you ask me!

Then there's the issue of unlocking your freeroll/promotional winnings. You have to play 5 hands at the $1/$2 ring games to unlock $1. yippee. Oh and there is a minimum withdrawal of $50 when you want to cash out.

Also, it's really difficult at times just to get a SNG tourney going. Not too many players...and it seemed to be getting fewer and fewer as time went on. My guess is that others, like me, were getting fed up with all the B.S.

I have taken my money to Noble and Royal Vegas so that I might catch a game with the Cardschat faithful....no more Poker Host for me!

We're certainly glad to havve you on board for the RVP SNG tonight. Hopefully some more will join us in upcoming events as they are a lot of fun - see you tonight @ 7 PM...

I have been complaining about Pokerhost on this site for months. Anyone who chooses to make a deposit at this site after reading this is a complete fool. I had all the same problems as you, PLUS customer support made an error with my withdraw that cost me over $200. Pokerhost is run by a group of men and women who contradict each other, and are rude when talked to on live support. They are completely incompetent and I wouldnt suggest playing there to my worst enemy.

Crippler--

It was some of your posts that made me sit up and take more notice (that and the constant disconnects). While I was never treated rudely by support, it was obvious that one hand didn't know what the other was doing. Case in point:

They have a "Ladies Only" freeroll once a week that is password protected. Not knowing the password, I asked live support how to get in. Now the cool part was that they would just go ahead and register me, until....I got ahold of some chick in need of some Midol for her PMS (I can say that, I'm a chick! haha!) who told me that I had to fax a copy of my photo ID. Uuhhhhhhh...riiight. A couple weeks got ahold of a different person, and voila! He registered me no questions asked (I never sent a copy of my ID).

One more thing I forgot to add in the original post that was another key element to my vacating Poker Host--[B]DON'T USE THE ADVANCE PLAY BUTTONS!!!!! [/b] I would click "Check/Fold" and it would fold my hand when it should have just checked. If I clicked to just call the big blind in turn, and someone raised before it got to my station, I have had it just call the raise with out re-prompting me. Plus for some reason I was put out of the middle of the hand from time to time because I hit "check". Irritating.....

Can you say Poker Worst.

I still have some money on the site (about $40) . I was able to withdraw my initial deposit and the money I won for winning a ladies night and another mtt during the freeroll frenzy they had a few months back with no restrictions.

There are threads on other boards about what happened to someone I play against regularly named CasinoKim. Kim won her way into the WPT Reno Finale. The winner was supposed to win a seat to the WPT event. Problem was they didnt have enough entries to cover the seat so listed the events as prize money for first thru 3rd. Kim came in second and they deposited the money in her account. A few hours later they had reversed the deposit stating they were awarding the seat to the winner. They insisted that they had advised the players that the tourney was set up wrong and they had put a message in the little envelopes they have above the chat window as well as the poker room manager advising the players when they were playing.

The above isnt the only instance of this type of thing happening. Kim did go out to nearly every forum and even sent letters to Cardplayer (which takes advertizing from PokerHost). Problem is there is no jurisdication over online gambling and Costa Rica where Poker Host is based has some of the loosest gambling laws around.

Anyone interested in reading more can PM me and I will send you to the link> it is over three hours worth of reading at least.

I loke pokerhost, I also don't play for real money, but I like pokerhost.

Thanks to all for the info.. I've played here a little and didn't really like it, but I might have made a deposit if I was not made aware to this stuff!

The thing that really ticks me off about this site is they are so deceptive. Anyone who wants to play there make sure to read the fine print on everything.

ummm this guy seems annoying lets Ban

Perhaps the site really *should* be called "PokerHose," as typo'ed in another thread.

Despite all the above problems with Poker Host, I simply don't like the software. It seems very fiddly to play there. The look and feel of it are poor in my opinion.

Actually, I've had some success at Poker Host. Got some money somehow (freerolls or some sponsored event) and started playing SNGs. Raised my bankroll a little, then won a $5 buy-in tourney. Of course, I am going with the assumption that this is "funny money" and I will never see it anyway...

Sorry you had such a hard time over there at PokerHost!

CC isn't the only forum I have seen or heard things about PH. Since the first of the year I have read on another forum that I frequent even more harsh things than this. Too much to explain here.
I had a chance to be involved with the a deal which involved going to a website for a chance at a special tv challenge tournament and qualifiers. This site was given to the regulars from the gentleman that started the free poker tourneys here in Tulsa and surrounding areas. About 6 months later I get an email about freerolls and getting people to sign up and blah blah blah. I went ahead and registered my name thinking maybe this was a good thing. I never signed anyone up under me for the very reason that PH is the site sponsoring the freerolls. I will not download it nope never net..... If PH has other affliates or skins I wanna know about them because I don't want to be associated with them if at all possible.

Good Luck and God bless anyone that is still hanging on to PH!

Yea, they're like a used car salesman...slimy and slick. Definitely want to read any "fine print" when getting involved in this site. I've had further dealings with them (my husband still likes to play his account there)...but I won't get into the particulars, something along the same line as posted above.

Dessertlady: funny little side note...I'm laughing at myself! LOL All this time I've been reading your name like "Desertlady" (as in Mojave Desert)! LMAO....It just dawned on me that it's "Dessertlady" as in chocolate mousse! I am such a dork! LOL Thought I'd share that with you!