The 2014 World Series of Poker is just around the corner and this will mark the first WSOP tournament series where visitors will have the chance to play at one of Nevada’s licensed online poker rooms.
With the WSOP brand also home to the largest online poker room in the state, many players making their annual migration will have a unique opportunity to enhance their poker experience this summer, and the WSOP is welcoming this; allowing players to play online poker while playing in WSOP events, and even setting aside a designated computer area with a secure wi-fi network in the Pavilion Room dubbed the “Grind Room.”
So if you are ready to grind, here is what you need to know to create and fund your WSOP.com account while you’re in Nevada.
Creating an online poker account
Creating an online poker account in Nevada is a fairly simple process, but you’ll definitely want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before getting started.
This isn’t the old days where you simply type in a name and click a box saying you’re over 18 and type in “On the river” as your address, in the new regulated market you’ll need to prove who you are and fill out the required information with care and attentiveness. Also, a word of warning, you’ll need to surrender your Social Security number.
Expert tip #1: Preregister!
One of the nice things about a site like WSOP.com is that even though you can only play for real money in Nevada you can preregister and have your account and identity verified beforehand.
The first thing you’ll need to do is download the WSOP.com software, a process that takes just a couple minutes. Once the download completes you’ll be prompted to log-in or create a new account.
Expert tip #2: Check and double check your info!
If you mess up on even a very minor piece of data your registration process will suddenly become far more difficult and time consuming. Make sure everything matches up precisely before clicking submit.
Once you finish the registration process you will be asked to confirm your WSOP.com registration via E-Mail, and you’ll be ready to play once your account is funded, which you can only do once you’re inside Nevada’s borders of course.
Payment options when you get into Nevada
You can register your account out of state, but as mentioned above, you will only be allowed to fund your account when you are physically in Nevada, so you’ll need to put some thought into and coordinate how you will fund your account beforehand.
Expert Tip #3: Have a backup plan!
Planning on funding your account via an ACH check or a credit card is great, but you should also formulate a contingency plan in case something goes wrong. If possible, make sure you have more than one funding option available when you head to Las Vegas at the end of the month.
Here are your options:
Cash at the Cage
According to WSOP.com Head of Poker Bill Rini, players will be able to deposit in person at the Rio by the time the World Series of Poker rolls around.
This option isn’t available at present an WSOP.com is not guaranteeing it will be ready to go when the WSOP starts, but it’s as close to a guarantee as you can get, short of something improbable occurring like the grid going down.
If you can swing it (and by swing it I mean travel with thousands of dollars) this is the way to go, and would be my #1 choice.
Neteller
The best way to fund your account while visiting Nevada short of walking around with thousands of dollars in your suitcase is by setting up a Neteller account.
There will be some small fees you’ll have to pay, but like preregistering your WSOP.com account you can have your Neteller loaded up and ready to go the second you land in Vegas, which makes Neteller a surefire way for out of state players to fund their account.
Even if you plan on using another funding source it would be wise to have a Neteller account in your back pocket in case it is needed, and setting it up beforehand is critical.
Credit Cards (Visa and MasterCard)
Credit cards are a precarious way to fund your online poker account, with MasterCard success rates hovering around 75% while Visa is still about a 50/50 proposition, with Visa transactions declined over 50% of the time.
Certain banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo are known to still be declining online poker transactions despite their legal status in Nevada, and many other smaller banks have followed suit.
If a credit card is your primary funding method make sure you have a backup plan.
ACH (eChecks)
One of the most reliable funding options is sending an eCheck, but this could present problems for players whose bank is not in-state, and ACH checks can take a couple days to clear. If you can set it up this is a very reliable method, with few transaction denials, but it will also be one of the more logistically difficult.
Expert Tip #4: Withdraw from anywhere in the world!
Depositing has to occur within Nevada’s borders but you are able to initiate a withdrawal from anywhere in the world. So fear not, if you go on a nice run at WSOP.com in Nevada you can request a withdrawal when you get back home.
