Belgium getting the biggest f*ck you ever

  • Thread starter TheChosenDragon
  • Start date
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
Hi all,

I just got a mail from pokerstars regarding the freerolls which aren't visible anymore in Belgium:

Thank you for your follow-up.

Trust us, if we could allow you to play those freerolls, we would. It is not in our interest that those games are not available but unfortunately, to comply with Belgium regulation, we are not entitled anymore to offer freerolls anymore to players on .BE.

This is not a bug from our side and I understand it is not the reply you would like to read but we won't be able to provide you a different one.




Or to summarize: F*ck you Belgium, you don't get any freerolls, you are only allowed to play tournements where you have to give money and risk losing money, cause hey, Belgium intends to protect you from losing money.
Our leaders are f*cking retards!
 
Garfield52

Garfield52

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Apr 6, 2017
Total posts
693
Awards
2
Chips
28
once again "big brother" is watching and controlling you life.
 
D

dregan

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 12, 2018
Total posts
1,254
Awards
2
Chips
97
I haven’t seen such a thing before banning playing on the room only exclusively on some kind of tables. This makes no sense.
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
I haven’t seen such a thing before banning playing on the room only exclusively on some kind of tables. This makes no sense.
It indeed doesn't make sense, especially because it are the freerolls, so no chance of losing, only chance of winning.
And on top of that, we have to pay half of our winnings in taxes, so if I win, they win.
And guess what, we are still allowed to play the big buy-ins, so we are allowed to lose big money, but win free money is a big f*ck you...
Best example of the most stupid government...
 
heeyjean

heeyjean

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Total posts
144
Chips
0
What?????? Theres something you can do about it? It doesn't make any sense at all.
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
What?????? Theres something you can do about it? It doesn't make any sense at all.
I'm trying, already contact the chancegame commision from Belgium.

Hope they can clear it out, but if this is really a Belgium law, then there is nothing I can do.
Our politiciens are known as one of the biggest idiots.

I just saw that unibet doesn't have this restriction, it's the only pokersite that is besided pokerstars also allowed in Belgium.
But that's only 1 tournement per week and there I won't get the dream tournements I wanted to play with the winnings from the cardschat tournement. :(

What I just realized, it's only freerolls that are forbidden, so if cardschat would make it a 1 cent buy-in, then I'm allowed again, but guess that's something they can't do just to let some Belgium people back in. :(
 
Joe

Joe

99.98% Kiln dried
Bronze Level
Joined
May 28, 2016
Total posts
8,333
Awards
10
GB
Chips
116
It sounds a little fishy to me...

On the other hand (if I'm not mistaken) cardschat request us, as members, not to contact Pokerstars regarding issues with cardschat freerolls.

You might be experiencing some kind of 'backlash' which is the precise reason (or part of it) why cardschat ask us not to do this in the first place.

Or maybe not..!

Maybe just Belgium poker players' unlucky day...

Perhaps the final battle Vs the dark overlords left Belgium with a previously undiagnosed mortal injury..?

You might be Tony Stark in Endgame... :( :bawling:
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
It sounds a little fishy to me...

On the other hand (if I'm not mistaken) cardschat request us, as members, not to contact Pokerstars regarding issues with cardschat freerolls.

You might be experiencing some kind of 'backlash' which is the precise reason (or part of it) why cardschat ask us not to do this in the first place.

Or maybe not..!

Maybe just Belgium poker players' unlucky day...

Perhaps the final battle Vs the dark overlords left Belgium with a previously undiagnosed mortal injury..?

You might be Tony Stark in Endgame... :( :bawling:
I didn't contact them about cardschat games but about freerolls in general because I noticed they were all gone so not only the cardschat ones.
I was registered in the Lex giveaway, and that one did also disappear and did unregister me.
That's not even a freeroll game, you just get added automatically because you have enough watch time on twitch and all of your cards are just going all-in.
I used the lex game as an example to show them I couldn't see it anymore and of that one I had the ID.

I just got another reply from pokerstars giving me the link to the bullshit law, it's not even our government that made the rules, it's the gaming commision themselves, the ones that got in the news lately because they are corrupt accepting money from gambling sites to give them special laws.

Why does this shit always happen, I finally restarted playing, I had the feeling I was getting on a really high level, thinking to move to the real buy in tournements in 1 or 2 months, and now I can't train anymore in the freerolls, so they are forcing me directly to take the risk of losing money, protecting our money my ass.
 
MrPokerVerse

MrPokerVerse

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Total posts
2,825
Awards
2
Chips
57
I'm trying, already contact the chancegame commision from Belgium.

Hope they can clear it out, but if this is really a Belgium law, then there is nothing I can do.
Our politiciens are known as one of the biggest idiots.

I just saw that Unibet doesn't have this restriction, it's the only pokersite that is besided pokerstars also allowed in Belgium.
But that's only 1 tournement per week and there I won't get the dream tournements I wanted to play with the winnings from the cardschat tournement. :(

What I just realized, it's only freerolls that are forbidden, so if cardschat would make it a 1 cent buy-in, then I'm allowed again, but guess that's something they can't do just to let some Belgium people back in. :(

Politicians known to be idiots, that doesn't happen very often does it? Any conciliation, we can't play free rolls or buyins unless you live in a few states here in the good ole USA on PokerStars. I'll give up free rolls for the opportunity to buyin.
 
Joe

Joe

99.98% Kiln dried
Bronze Level
Joined
May 28, 2016
Total posts
8,333
Awards
10
GB
Chips
116
I didn't contact them about cardschat games but about freerolls in general because I noticed they were all gone so not only the cardschat ones.
I was registered in the Lex giveaway, and that one did also disappear and did unregister me.
That's not even a freeroll game, you just get added automatically because you have enough watch time on twitch and all of your cards are just going all-in.
I used the lex game as an example to show them I couldn't see it anymore and of that one I had the ID.

I just got another reply from pokerstars giving me the link to the bullshit law, it's not even our government that made the rules, it's the gaming commision themselves, the ones that got in the news lately because they are corrupt accepting money from gambling sites to give them special laws.

Why does this shit always happen, I finally restarted playing, I had the feeling I was getting on a really high level, thinking to move to the real buy in tournements in 1 or 2 months, and now I can't train anymore in the freerolls, so they are forcing me directly to take the risk of losing money, protecting our money my ass.

Well that is certainly unfair.

I feel sympathy for you and your compatriots, make no mistake.

If it isn't an officially passed law, it's interesting that PS are complying with it...

Having said that, when you think about it- the gaming commission are in control of all forms of wagering/betting/gambling businesses so presumably if PS were to rock the boat or ignore the Belgium gaming commission, then they'd just pull the plug on Stars and no more PS there at all.

Don't really know what to say mate...

VPN? :evil:

Also, on the plus side, you do have around $33 with which you can buy in- risk free... ;)

Try not to focus on negatives and what you 'don't have', instead look for positives in the situation..

This might end up helping you.... You might find that you are actually more ready to step up from freerolls than you thought...

You could go on a hot streak with the $33 final freeroll winnings and in a week be sitting on a $5,000+ BR... ;)

We never know what's around the next corner pal..

:love:
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
Well that is certainly unfair.

I feel sympathy for you and your compatriots, make no mistake.

If it isn't an officially passed law, it's interesting that PS are complying with it...

Having said that, when you think about it- the gaming commission are in control of all forms of wagering/betting/gambling businesses so presumably if PS were to rock the boat or ignore the Belgium gaming commission, then they'd just pull the plug on Stars and no more PS there at all.

Don't really know what to say mate...

VPN? :evil:

Also, on the plus side, you do have around $33 with which you can buy in- risk free... ;)

Try not to focus on negatives and what you 'don't have', instead look for positives in the situation..

This might end up helping you.... You might find that you are actually more ready to step up from freerolls than you thought...

You could go on a hot streak with the $33 final freeroll winnings and in a week be sitting on a $5,000+ BR... ;)

We never know what's around the next corner pal..

:love:
Thanks for your positive message, it feels like I need some positivity right now.
I'm actually considering using VPN and making a foreign profile and then transfer the money to my real account, but I don't know if the "transfer money to player" function will work without a validated account.
Also I'm afraid that Cardschat won't approve a VPN and this way of working.
I'm more of the opinion, if they make bullshit rules, they need to be broken. :)

I was planning to step up to the 50 cent-1 dollar tournements in about 1 or 2 months training on the cardschat freerolls, it felt like that was the time I still needed to be able to fight against the big guys (but Cardschat were also big guys, damn good players here. :) )
But that plan just got destroyed.
Playing the 1 or 2 cents won't do the trick, I tried that and people just don't care about their money there and go the whole time all-in making it a luck game.
The cardschat players at least play it seriously making it the perfect training environment, it was really perfect.

I'm gonna take some time to think what I will do, keep playing or quit poker forever.
If it is the last, I would like to thank you all for the great time I had here, you're all the best!
 
Joe

Joe

99.98% Kiln dried
Bronze Level
Joined
May 28, 2016
Total posts
8,333
Awards
10
GB
Chips
116
Thanks for your positive message, it feels like I need some positivity right now.
I'm actually considering using VPN and making a foreign profile and then transfer the money to my real account, but I don't know if the "transfer money to player" function will work without a validated account.
Also I'm afraid that Cardschat won't approve a VPN and this way of working.
I'm more of the opinion, if they make bullshit rules, they need to be broken. :)

I was planning to step up to the 50 cent-1 dollar tournements in about 1 or 2 months training on the cardschat freerolls, it felt like that was the time I still needed to be able to fight against the big guys (but Cardschat were also big guys, damn good players here. :) )
But that plan just got destroyed.
Playing the 1 or 2 cents won't do the trick, I tried that and people just don't care about their money there and go the whole time all-in making it a luck game.
The cardschat players at least play it seriously making it the perfect training environment, it was really perfect.

I'm gonna take some time to think what I will do, keep playing or quit poker forever.
If it is the last, I would like to thank you all for the great time I had here, you're all the best!

This made me chuckle! :laugh:

Well, don't make any hasty decisions..

It's definitely not worth it with regards to breaking any Stars rules in respect to multiple accounts or anything like that... You wouldn't want something like that to be discovered and end up banned for life or anything like that..

With that being said, it's my understanding that if you move from one country to another then you have to use a totally different Stars client?

I'm not sure whether you are supposed to somehow 'transfer' your account or close your previous account and make a new one there? I'm not certain.. :flute:


Others will know more about this than me- I know nothing, but remember reading somewhere here about CC members moving from one place to another and having to make a new account or transfer or something..?

Anyway, we never know what tomorrow may bring..

Good luck & all the best!
 
D

DS3

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Total posts
7,440
Awards
1
GB
Chips
189
I wouldn't advise using a VPN, you get caught and you'll probably be completely banned.

Sorry about your predicament - it sounds ludicrous, but not unfamiliar as I reside in a country that has banned several sites but not all.

In fact there was a question recently raised in another forum about someone (appearing somewhat casual) signing onto the Spanish PokerStars site and if it made any difference to register on a PokerStars general site. I pointed out if they resided in Spain, I am not sure they had a choice and further to that, it would therefore be ringfenced and did not allow play into wider player pools.

I suggested they do a little research as regards the domestic gaming legislation and how it affects each individual European country - plenty of sites offer specific breakdowns. You still have a further problem of how strictly a given country applies the laws on its books. There are some jurisdictions where on-line poker play is technically illegal but the law is unenforced...then you have issues such as yours where a 'recommendation' is used to coerce a poker site for a no common sense reason.


Just try to be an informed as you possibly can.
 
D

DS3

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 9, 2019
Total posts
7,440
Awards
1
GB
Chips
189
At least you don't live in the US - we can't play anything except play money games at PokerStars.


Yes, I think it is always good to remind people gaming laws and access to on-line play let alone casinos themselves vary wildly around the world. Many seem to take it for granted anyone can jump on-line or go to a casino and play but this is far from the case.
 
S

scubed

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Total posts
818
Awards
1
Chips
1
Having said that, when you think about it- the gaming commission are in control of all forms of wagering/betting/gambling businesses so presumably if PS were to rock the boat or ignore the Belgium gaming commission, then they'd just pull the plug on Stars and no more PS there at all.
THIS ^^ . We experienced the plug getting pulled in the United States in 2011 - it has been a REALLY long wait for the ability to play on PokerStars for real money. We are STILL waiting - be thankful that you are still allowed to play for real money on PokerStars. In the USA we can only play for PLAY money, no freerolls, no real money. So there is a bright-side to what has happened in Belgium - they didn't take all of it away.
 
zinzir

zinzir

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Total posts
1,225
Awards
3
Chips
0
Belgium stinks, but you could always move to Botswana and play all the freerolls you want :)
 
Pimp 007 x

Pimp 007 x

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 19, 2019
Total posts
448
Chips
14
Wait so your government banned freerolls, and allows tournmanets with real money buy ins? That is seriously messed up, I hope the situation resolves for you soon.
 
Risto234

Risto234

põrandaalune pokkerimängija
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 26, 2018
Total posts
17,047
Awards
4
EE
Chips
413
Belgium stinks, but you could always move to Botswana and play all the freerolls you want :)


Botswana?Isn't it too far away :hmmmm2:
I'd imagine if he's willing to relocate then Liechtenstein and/or Luxembourg could be fine ...
 
N

neptun1914

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 22, 2018
Total posts
1,656
Chips
0
Using VPN is not good idea in pokerstars. It is strictly forbidden and they have quite good ways to catch you. And if they catch you they will ban your account. If you have around 30$ bankroll it should be safe for you to play for example 0.55$ MTTs and build it up further. Good luck. :)
 
zinzir

zinzir

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 24, 2019
Total posts
1,225
Awards
3
Chips
0
Botswana?Isn't it too far away :hmmmm2:
I'd imagine if he's willing to relocate then Liechtenstein and/or Luxembourg could be fine ...


There is no sarcasm in either Luxembourg or Liechtenstein, both countries offering higher living standards than Belgium. Funny how you missed that joke by a hundred miles...
 
Ice Wolf

Ice Wolf

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 9, 2008
Total posts
1,008
Awards
1
Chips
0
It indeed doesn't make sense, especially because it are the freerolls, so no chance of losing, only chance of winning.
And on top of that, we have to pay half of our winnings in taxes, so if I win, they win.
And guess what, we are still allowed to play the big buy-ins, so we are allowed to lose big money, but win free money is a big f*ck you...
Best example of the most stupid government...
You may be right this is an unexplainably dumb decision by your government. Also HALF? Half of the poker winnings is paid in taxes? What the hell is the point in playing with your own money? If you double up your deposit you probably still lose money on fees.
 
F

Fatman0912

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 17, 2019
Total posts
141
Chips
0
Hi all,

I just got a mail from Pokerstars regarding the freerolls which aren't visible anymore in Belgium:

Thank you for your follow-up.

Trust us, if we could allow you to play those freerolls, we would. It is not in our interest that those games are not available but unfortunately, to comply with Belgium regulation, we are not entitled anymore to offer freerolls anymore to players on .BE.

This is not a bug from our side and I understand it is not the reply you would like to read but we won't be able to provide you a different one.




Or to summarize: F*ck you Belgium, you don't get any freerolls, you are only allowed to play tournements where you have to give money and risk losing money, cause hey, Belgium intends to protect you from losing money.
Our leaders are f*cking retards!


Hey man, I am in the same situation as you. It is just ridiculous. It does not make any sense to ban freerolls, but allow tournaments for real money. I am not surprised though, this is belgium and we both know how belgium is and what a bureaucracy it is. What makes it worse is that this is a decision by the gaming comission which was recently proven to be corrupt :/

Just like you I also spent some time becoming a member of the CC comunity. The tournaments are great and for me personally it was also going really well. Now it is over. But stay positive. At some point you had to step away from the freerolls anyways, because you can't just keep playing those. Now the time has come a bit sooner than expected. I am now currently doing the 0.50 tournaments and sit&gos, but in my opinion the level there is not always as high as on cardschat but yeah we have to take it how it is. I hope I see you around in those tournaments and good luck with your future poker plays!
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
Hey man, I am in the same situation as you. It is just ridiculous. It does not make any sense to ban freerolls, but allow tournaments for real money. I am not surprised though, this is belgium and we both know how belgium is and what a bureaucracy it is. What makes it worse is that this is a decision by the gaming comission which was recently proven to be corrupt :/

Just like you I also spent some time becoming a member of the CC comunity. The tournaments are great and for me personally it was also going really well. Now it is over. But stay positive. At some point you had to step away from the freerolls anyways, because you can't just keep playing those. Now the time has come a bit sooner than expected. I am now currently doing the 0.50 tournaments and sit&gos, but in my opinion the level there is not always as high as on cardschat but yeah we have to take it how it is. I hope I see you around in those tournaments and good luck with your future poker plays!


Yeah indeed, don't know why I even was surprised that this did happen in Belgium, but it really sucks, I just restarted poker some months ago and was qualified for the freeroll club 2 weeks ago, so I only could enjoy it shortly.

But I do think Pokerstars was to drastically with deleting all freerolls (and also the stars rewards shop has been reduced drasticly, all free money and tournements tickets are removed).
The freerolls aren't in conflict with the law, only the free money like deposit 10 euros, get 20 euros,...
I'm in contact with pokerstars to inform them about that, it looks like they are looking for a solution, but it always comes back to: we're to afraid that this will be categorized as a conflict to the law...

I did also send a mail to the commisioning, but guess what, they ignore it...

I don't feel ready yet to make the step, currently I'm taking a break from poker to think about what I'm going to do.
The only poker I'm currently playing are the freerolls on Unibet, seems like those aren't banned. (probably because they didn't see them as a conflict to the law with the same reasons I don't see it as a conflict)
I think in about 2 weeks I'll deposit money to pokerstars and restart my journey there but with cashgames to start with.
 
T

TheChosenDragon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Total posts
147
Chips
0
You may be right this is an unexplainably dumb decision by your government. Also HALF? Half of the poker winnings is paid in taxes? What the hell is the point in playing with your own money? If you double up your deposit you probably still lose money on fees.
Yeah taxes are ridiculous high here.
They only count taxes on your winnings, so if you deposit 10 euros, you win 10 euros and have a bankroll of 20, you have to pay 5 euros taxes on the 10 euros winnings you had.

There is a difference if you are an occasional player or a profesional player.
Pro's have to pay 50% and occasionals 33%.
They decide based on some questions you have to fill in and how much you did win.
 
Top