It is not uncommon at all to ask for a passport (as these are hard to forge, whereas a drivers license and utility bill is not). I would not be worried unless the site is extremely sketchy, in which case why were you playing there!
What is the purpose in the first place for asking for ID? Isn't it just to be reasonably sure the name and address you gave them matches the name they will conceivably be paying out funds to? There are no issues of visas, immigration, homeland security or proof of citizenship (like when you apply for a job). For what it's worth, drivers licences (at least in the states I have seen) are not that easy to duplicate anymore either. But if you're asking for a B & W Xerox copy of anything, it can be forged.
Bottom line, I can see the
poker site saying they'll
accept a passport copy in lieu of a drivers license, but not to
require it. Many people don't even have one. But if this passport requirement is nowhere to be found in the deposits and withdrawals section, it sounds sketchy enough to me. In fact, I believe no site should ask you for ID as long as there are no issues of duplicate accts or other problems. If they take my credit card (which includes address info) to deposit, and I choose a viable means to withdraw, should be end of story. Let them send a confirmation of withdrawal request to the same email address that I registered with. That is
proof, no?