WSOP 2007 questions

luckylucky

At the 3rd year of trying I finally qualified .

Just a few questions
1. Any of you guys who did the WSOP last year have any advice for a WSOP virgin on what the best starting day for it would be?
2. Do we need anything like a visa or anything else besides a passport for going to America? Excuse my ignorange but i've been strictly a europhile in terms of travelling up to now.
3. In the event of winning money ( well I can dream ), what's the situation vis-a-vis getting taxed oin the states and claiming it back.
4. Taking into account the spread and softness of games, where do people think are the best hold em and omaha cash games in Vegas?
5. Do the Irish Posse have any 'regular' spots where they meet up?

I'm sure I have a bucketful more of questions but I'll leave it at that for now.
Any other people going over want to add their own questions feel free

Ste05

Congrats Barry, enjoy....

5starpool

luckylucky wrote:

At the 3rd year of trying I finally qualified .

Just a few questions
1. Any of you guys who did the WSOP last year have any advice for a WSOP virgin on what the best starting day for it would be?
2. Do we need anything like a visa or anything else besides a passport for going to America? Excuse my ignorange but i've been strictly a europhile in terms of travelling up to now.
3. In the event of winning money ( well I can dream ), what's the situation vis-a-vis getting taxed oin the states and claiming it back.
4. Taking into account the spread and softness of games, where do people think are the best hold em and omaha cash games in Vegas?
5. Do the Irish Posse have any 'regular' spots where they meet up?

I'm sure I have a bucketful more of questions but I'll leave it at that for now.
Any other people going over want to add their own questions feel free

I haven't been to the WSOP, but I do know the following.

1. I don't think you have a choice, it is allocated to you I believe.
2. No. You are from a Visa Waiver country as long as you have a machine readable passport. You will have to have photo taken and fingerprints sscanned though.
3. You will need an ITIN number. This is something you can get over there in some of the more obliging casinos especially (not the RIO). It acknowledges that you are exempt from tax as you are from a country that has a tax agreement with the US. You play tax at your resident rate of tax (0% here and the UK).
4. I don't think there are many PLO games in Vegas, not lowish stakes anyhow. Others can help better on other games.
5. Last years one (The Tilted Kilt I believe) has closed. I am sure a new one will be found.

Congrats and see you there probably, as I am heading over too (have to work on winning the ticket for the ME now).

bohsman

I would avoid the first and last starting days, the first incase theres chaos and just to talk to others who do play day one, the last as youll have less time off.

PLO higher stakes will be played in the Rio but not much elsewhere, none to my knowledge.

I was most comfortable playing in Caesars last year.

luckylucky

Ste05 wrote:

Congrats Barry, enjoy....

Cheers Ste

5starpool wrote:

I haven't been to the WSOP, but I do know the following.

1. I don't think you have a choice, it is allocated to you I believe.

This year you can choose your preference, though the final decision is still with the organisers.

5starpool wrote:

4. I don't think there are many PLO games in Vegas, not lowish stakes anyhow. Others can help better on other games.

If there are 10-10 games there that will do.

5starpool wrote:

Congrats and see you there probably, as I am heading over too (have to work on winning the ticket for the ME now).

Cheers and GL with getting your ticket, see you there then

5starpool

luckylucky wrote:

This year you can choose your preference, thought he final decision is till with the organisers.

Isn't learning great.

Where did you get your seat?

luckylucky

bohsman wrote:

I would avoid the first and last starting days, the first incase theres chaos and just to talk to others who do play day one, the last as youll have less time off.

PLO higher stakes will be played in the Rio but not much elsewhere, none to my knowledge.

I was most comfortable playing in Caesars last year.

That sounds like a very good point vis-a-vis best starting day.

Thx for the info on the games.

LuckyLloyd

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luckylucky

5starpool wrote:

Where did you get your seat?

Partypoker final step, I had bought in a couple of times at the 2nd last level to no avail and then by chance I saw the final level was filling up and I had one of those ah fcuk it moments and decided to buy into it and the rest as they say is history

luckylucky

UnLuckyLloyd wrote:

Wow. Congrats on qualifying. Nice one.

Cheers Lloyd, I pm'd you an apology for not getting to chat to you properly during my flying visit to Dublin, not sure if you got it or not since it went to the lucky and not unlucky version of Lloyd

Are you planning on going over yourself?

LuckyLloyd

This post has been deleted.

jacQues

luckylucky wrote:

1. Any of you guys who did the WSOP last year have any advice for a WSOP virgin on what the best starting day for it would be?

Don't choose day 4. Its the biggest day, with a lot of alternates (25 minute queues for toilets during the 20 minutes break etc.) and with 14 hours a day of playing you'll also get less rest (since day 2 will be "sooner"). For the rest I don't see much difference.

luckylucky wrote:

2. Do we need anything like a visa or anything else besides a passport for going to America? Excuse my ignorange but i've been strictly a europhile in terms of travelling up to now.

You do indeed need a visa, but you get one no problem. You'll have to fill out a visa form or two before leaving and upon arrival in the States they'll take your picture and fingerprints (ink-less). It may seem very heavy but its not all that bad. The most annoying thing is getting asked the same questions half a dozen times by half a dozen Americans. "What are your doing here? Where are you staying? When are you going back?"

luckylucky wrote:

3. In the event of winning money ( well I can dream ), what's the situation vis-a-vis getting taxed oin the states and claiming it back.

Once you reach the money you'll get a tax form to fill out. You then get an American tax number assigned and because you live in Ireland you don't get to pay any tax what-so-ever (Ireland is tax-exempt). In other words - when/if you win it will all be sorted for you.

jacQues

Mellor

Just wondering, does the tax issue apply to everything over there.
If I play a $50 game and cashed, will i have to jump through rings to claim it all back

luckylucky

Cheers JacQues

jacQues wrote:

You do indeed need a visa, but you get one no problem. You'll have to fill out a visa form or two before leaving

5Starpool replied saying I didn't need a Visa, I didn't think I did either. Or do you mean I just turn up at the airport and sign some stuff that's the equivalent of a visa?

jacQues wrote:

The most annoying thing is getting asked the same questions half a dozen times by half a dozen Americans. "What are your doing here? Where are you staying? When are you going back?"

I think I remember in last years thread that people or someone was advising not to mention that you''re going for the WSOP, just to say you're going there to play blackjack or something, anyone know is this true or am I just getting my wires crossed?

DeVore

Take one of the middle days (certainly not first or last for reasons Bohs gave).

I like Ballys and Paris casinos for the soft games, also Caesars because its well run. I didnt play in the Rio once last year.

The euphemistically nick-named "hooker-bar" seemed to be a rallying point last year for the irish. Its the nearest bar to the convention. Its horrible, I mean... nasty, but its 24 hours and its close by. The irish contingent is too big to gather in one place and generally breaks up into groups but swinging past that bar, you will usually find a few paddy's propping it and being "propped" by some "ladies".


DeV.

shoutman

Obviously I have never been but one thing I picked up from posts last year is dont say you are going over to play poker.

connie147

Mellor wrote:

Just wondering, does the tax issue apply to everything over there.
If I play a $50 game and cashed, will i have to jump through rings to claim it all back

If you ask in Caesars palace card room, theyll set you upwith an ipin number that means any winnings you have on the card tables are tax free. I was over there last month and it worked no problem.

5starpool

jacQues wrote:

You do indeed need a visa, but you get one no problem. You'll have to fill out a visa form or two before leaving and upon arrival in the States they'll take your picture and fingerprints (ink-less). It may seem very heavy but its not all that bad. The most annoying thing is getting asked the same questions half a dozen times by half a dozen Americans. "What are your doing here? Where are you staying? When are you going back?"

This is not a Visa. This is the procedure for non US passport holders/residents who are from a visa waiver country. These forms and the questions are standard and don't take much time.

A visa is where you need to send your passport off in advance and we don't need to do that.

Whatever you do though Lucky, don't lose the green slip of a form that you get entering the country as there will be a big hooha if you try to leave without it.

Mellor wrote:

Just wondering, does the tax issue apply to everything over there.
If I play a $50 game and cashed, will i have to jump through rings to claim it all back

Some casinos are more accomodating than others. Bellagio or Ceasers I believe will isue you an ITIN immediately. Some are less helpful.

5starpool

luckylucky wrote:

5Starpool replied saying I didn't need a Visa, I didn't think I did either. Or do you mean I just turn up at the airport and sign some stuff that's the equivalent of a visa?

I think Jacqes is referring to leaving from Dublin/Shannon where you clear immigration at this end. From the UK you fill out the forms either on the plane or before you get on if you get them that early (I did last time I went through heathrow). The forms are:

1. A visa waiver country form. This is green and filled out by people from a visa waiver country. Questions such as "Were you a member of the Nazi Party in the 1930's" and "Are you, or were you ever a terrorist" are the tricky ones here. Make sure to have the address of the hotel you are staying in when you are filling this out as you need to list it. The rest is standard.
2. The second form is filled out by all passengers, even Americans. It is a customs form and this is where you declare if you are carrying more than $10K cash into the country. All standard stuff. Flying from the UK you will get the immigration questions at your first point of landing in the States. All standard.

bohsman

luckylucky wrote:

Cheers JacQues




5Starpool replied saying I didn't need a Visa, I didn't think I did either. Or do you mean I just turn up at the airport and sign some stuff that's the equivalent of a visa?



I think I remember in last years thread that people or someone was advising not to mention that you''re going for the WSOP, just to say you're going there to play blackjack or something, anyone know is this true or am I just getting my wires crossed?

The form Jacques is talking about is the Visa waiver, its basically an automatic 3 month visa. Theyre handed out on the plane.

2/5 and 5/10PLO should both be available in the Rio.

Its an ITIN number youre looking for, ask in the bellagio or somewhere, the Rio wont help, better off getting it sorted before you cash or they will withold the money till the number is provided. Google ITIN and you should be able to fill out a form online. I still havent gotten one tbh.

bohsman

Oh yea, the $10k thing, you are allowed to carry more than 10k, it just means a few more questions.

Think the ITIN comes into play on all 5k+ cashes.

luckylucky

shoutman wrote:

Obviously I have never been but one thing I picked up from posts last year is dont say you are going over to play poker.

Do you have any idea why this is the case?

5starpool

luckylucky wrote:

Do you have any idea why this is the case?

If they have any reason to think that you are a professional poker player they can insist on you having a Work Visa which is not automatically granted to non US residents. Tell them you are going for the atmosphere and the buzz, but not playing much. Better off that way probably.

Jesus Wept

I was under the impression that you had to pay tax on the winnings (example, you won the big one) to the U.S govt, in the range of 30%

This is not the case??


I also rememebr The Rio make my friend jump through all sorts of hoops and fill out different forms when he cashed for a few hundred $$$, yet you could play the cash tables and cash in any amount (maybe upto X amount, 10k?) without question.

I have no idea how it all works.

Fatboydim

It's very simple you just say you're over on vacation. End of. Roy The Boy said he was there as a journalist last year and they sent him home.

Jesus Wept

Fatboydim wrote:

It's very simple you just say you're over on vacation. End of.

That's easy to do when you have a real job

bohsman

The-Rigger wrote:

I was under the impression that you had to pay tax on the winnings (example, you won the big one) to the U.S govt, in the range of 30%

This is not the case??


I also rememebr The Rio make my friend jump through all sorts of hoops and fill out different forms when he cashed for a few hundred $$$, yet you could play the cash tables and cash in any amount (maybe upto X amount, 10k?) without question.

I have no idea how it all works.

Its not the case, Americans have to pay 30% but by getting an ITIN number youre agreeing to pay all tax owed to the Irish gov. instead, tax owed 0%.

Jesus Wept

bohsman wrote:

Its not the case, Americans have to pay 30% but by getting an ITIN number youre agreeing to pay all tax owed to the Irish gov. instead, tax owed 0%.

Interesting, I would of thought the tax would be payable where it was won, rather than in the country of the winner.

Can you get an ITIN number before you go?

bohsman

Its a tax agreement between Ireland and the US, most countries dont have this agreement.

Im way too tired to look through this now http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

jacQues

The forms you fill out at the airport (not on the plane, bit late lol) are indeed what other people here said. Visa waifer (or whatever, sounds rather tasty ) Also cashing out in cash games is no problem unless you cash out 5k+. If that's the case simply cash out 3k and pocket the remainder of your chips, move to a different table and repeat.

Note that if your passport is an older type you still need to get a (real) visa in advance. Any passport with a laser-cut photo qualifies for the visa waiver.

For tournaments its a little more strict. Actually, cashing 1K on a slot machine will result in tax issues already. 30% could be correct, something like that anyways. But to my experience the hotel staff will provide you with all the papers on the spot if and when you win. And after filling them out and providing your passport they will pay you 100%.

jacQues

5starpool

jacQues wrote:

The forms you fill out at the airport (not on the plane, bit late lol) are indeed what other people here said.

Going from most countries, including the UK where LuckyLucky will most likely be going from, you don't need these forms filled out til you land. They hand them out on the plane. Mostly when I have gone to the States it has been from somewhere other than Ireland (via UK, Canada or from Australia in my case). You don't preclear immigration before you leave. In Ireland you do and you fill them out before you pass through immigration which is in Dublin/Shannon airport.

jacQues

5starpool wrote:

Going from most countries, including the UK where LuckyLucky will most likely be going from, you don't need these forms filled out til you land. They hand them out on the plane. Mostly when I have gone to the States it has been from somewhere other than Ireland (via UK, Canada or from Australia in my case). You don't preclear immigration before you leave. In Ireland you do and you fill them out before you pass through immigration which is in Dublin/Shannon airport.

I didn't know that. There was to be no boarding without having filled out those forms when I flew out last year from Shannon.

jacQues
(home-hamster)

DeVore

Last year we were warned off of telling them we were going to the WSOP to blog it as bloggers for MacWorld had been refused. Roy The Boy was refused on the basis that he was going for work too. I dont think that if you said you were going over to take part in the WSOP they would have a problem but if they think you are a pro then they might. Best to say you are going for a vacation to Vegas.

I wont go into the number of rows and problems I've had with security/imigration in airports.

DeV.

The Clamper

1st of all if you are going through dublin airport there is now an immigratioon point in the airport and all you do is fill out a form, easy, no visa required if you are an irish citizen, make sure your passport is in date and will be in date for at least a month after your return, they get nervy about passports that are about to expire.


dont joke with these guys, they do the jokes, not you
if they crack a joke, laugh,,even if its old and stupid, laugh like you never heard that one before

why are u going to the united states, holiday / pleasure
where in the usa are yuo going, las vegas
where in vegas, name your hotel
how long will you be intending on staying, state your return date

remember you are going on holidays and should be up, not smart alec or anything else, holiday mode ,,ok ?

regarding how much you can bring,
you may bring more than 10k but you have to declare it and they will ask you why, say you are going to vegas and you dont want to be broke too soon, that your friends have been telling you all about the things to do and you want to make it a holiday to remember, helicopter rides etc

otherwise bring less than 10k and bring a credit card with plenty of credit on it

regarding wins

i won only 2k and was facing a 30% loss to tax until i kicked up and they assisted me in getting an ITIN no. and didnt have to pay 1 cent, it took about an hour

when i won consideranly more in a $250 frezeout, they handed me a chit which i cashed at the counter

if you play cash games, its exactly the same, cash out at the kiosk, easy

personally i always found being up front with them guys at immigration is best, tell them you won a competition and you got a trip to Vegas

trip of a lifetime here we come

carrigeen

when i won consideranly more in a $250 frezeout, they handed me a chit which i cashed at the counter



they handed you a chit , that wasnt very nice:)

RoundTower

There is some pretty bad advice in this thread, I've chosen to highlight this post because every single point is wrong.

jacQues wrote:

Don't choose day 4. Its the biggest day, with a lot of alternates (25 minute queues for toilets during the 20 minutes break etc.) and with 14 hours a day of playing you'll also get less rest (since day 2 will be "sooner"). For the rest I don't see much difference.

This year day 1 is being broken up into day 1A, 1B and 1C. Most likely there won't be substantially more players on any of the days and there may not be any reserves, since the Rio has more capacity than last year and there will be less entrants. As Oscar said day 1A has its own problems, but they affect everyone the same. What you really want is the day with the most internet qualifiers and the least professionals. I forget what we thought this would be last year, but I think 1B because people try to take one less day off work (in the US you aren't guaranteed holidays).

jacQues wrote:

You do indeed need a visa, but you get one no problem. You'll have to fill out a visa form or two before leaving and upon arrival in the States they'll take your picture and fingerprints (ink-less). It may seem very heavy but its not all that bad. The most annoying thing is getting asked the same questions half a dozen times by half a dozen Americans. "What are your doing here? Where are you staying? When are you going back?"

You do not need a visa if you have an Irish or UK machine readable passport (any passport in good condition with the <<<<< at the bottom). Most likely you will go through immigration in Europe, certainly if you fly via Shannon.

jacQues wrote:

Once you reach the money you'll get a tax form to fill out. You then get an American tax number assigned and because you live in Ireland you don't get to pay any tax what-so-ever (Ireland is tax-exempt). In other words - when/if you win it will all be sorted for you.

To claim a prize over $x (i forget what) you need a SSN or an ITIN. You can apply for an International Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in several places in Las Vegas. This takes about three working days. I recommend doing this in Caesar's Palace -- the only Harrah's property that handles it -- before you win any money. Ask the slot manager and say you play a lot of slots in another Harrah's property and you will get treated like a VIP instead of a poker bum.

Some casinos will release your money after you have filled in an ITIN application, recording your ITIN as "pending". Don't take a chance though unless you are comfortable waiting a few days or have checked with the specific casino.

Based on last year there should be 2-5, 5-10, 10-25, 25-50 and maybe higher PLO in the Rio round the clock. Generally play fairly big and moderately soft. However waiting lists are very long in the Rio. You can try the Bellagio. For NL any of the other big rooms (Bellagio, Wynn) should be busy during the WSOP, slightly worse games but less waiting. If you want to play 1-2 or 2-5 NL I would say avoid the Rio, a dozen rooms will have better service and just as good games, you won't know where the games are softest till you get there.

Jesus Wept

RoundTower wrote:

.

Based on last year there should be 2-5, 5-10, 10-25, 25-50 and maybe higher PLO in the Rio round the clock. Generally play fairly big and moderately soft. However waiting lists are very long in the Rio. You can try the Bellagio. For NL any of the other big rooms (Bellagio, Wynn) should be busy during the WSOP, slightly worse games but less waiting. If you want to play 1-2 or 2-5 NL I would say avoid the Rio, a dozen rooms will have better service and just as good games, you won't know where the games are softest till you get there.

My advice is too play at one of the poker rooms where the tables have an in-built card shuffler, this means the game moves far faster than a normal table where the dealer shuffles up.


This is based on Last Summer:

Rio - No
Ceasars - No

MGM - Yes
Wynn - Yes

I wasn't in other casinos, so, dunno, would be interested to know of other casinos that do.

Clareman

I went on holidays to the States last year from Shannon, when you check in first, before getting your boarding pass you give your information, reason for travel, etc. Then you go to the departure lounge, in here don't go through to the customs till you have to (give yourself about 20 minutes before boarding time, max) cause there's nothing past here. You'll be asked more or less the same questions except by a US Customs offical, you'll get your passport stamped then with a holiday visa.

Everyone that goes to Vegas goes to gamble, it's a holiday, so just say your going for pleasure. Don't lie on any of the forms, you never know when they might do an audit and that could cause you trouble while either over there or in the future.

The best part about going to the States from Ireland (well Shannon for sure, don't know about Dublin), is that it's viewed as a special airport where the customs is handled before going, not when you arrive at the other side, so there shouldn't be much of a hold up

connie147

The-Rigger wrote:

My advice is too play at one of the poker rooms where the tables have an in-built card shuffler, this means the game moves far faster than a normal table where the dealer shuffles up.


This is based on Last Summer:

Rio - No
Ceasars - No

MGM - Yes
Wynn - Yes

I wasn't in other casinos, so, dunno, would be interested to know of other casinos that do.

Hi paul,
I was over in Vegas last month and all the casinos I played in had the built in automatic shufflers in the table. In Caesars palace and the Flamingo this was the case but they only have them in the cash tables obviously.

Jesus Wept

connie147 wrote:

Hi paul,
I was over in Vegas last month and all the casinos I played in had the built in automatic shufflers in the table. In Caesars palace and the Flamingo this was the case but they only have them in the cash tables obviously.

cool! I guess the big casinos have all caught up

LuckyLloyd

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