On March 7th, 2011, the Sunday Million 5th Anniversary tournament was played at the world's biggest poker site, PokerStars. The tournament run smoothly and ended up being a huge success. But it didn't take more than a few days before chocking rumors on one of the finalists started popping up in different forums online. The rumors were that 'zeurrr', who won $518,402 on the final table, is a minor [...] Read more » PokerStars donates confiscated funds from minor to charity ($518,402)
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
A minor geting to a final table of a huge tourney like this and end up winning it? The only thing that surprises me is that Pokerstars, aparently, only investigated the player condition after the tourney. They should have done that work before. Minors have lots of free time so, after having access to PC and Internet, next thing they will do is find games and play, like a regular nowadays kid. Some remember poker and try to create an acount, without being noticed. But that is why we all have to show identification card. And then again, one can not have drivers license, but there are always other docs to prove identity and age verification. Can't understand why this continue being possible. But i am sure there are thousands of 16 and 17 yo kids playing online world wide.
------------ A minor geting to a final table of a huge tourney like this and end up winning it? The only thing that surprises me is that Pokerstars, aparently, only investigated the player condition after the tourney. They should have done that work before. Minors have lots of free time so, after having access to PC and Internet, next thing they will do is find games and play, like a regular nowadays kid. Some remember poker and try to create an acount, without being noticed. But that is why we all have to show identification card. And then again, one can not have drivers license, but there are always other docs to prove identity and age verification. Can't understand why this continue being possible. But i am sure there are thousands of 16 and 17 yo kids playing online world wide.
Joined: Dec '10
Location: Finland
Age: 31 (M)
Posts: 429
I feel so bad for him.. I mean of course he shouldnt have been playing as a minor.. but still thats a huge amount of money and he might never win such a nice prize again ...
Joined: Apr '08
Location: Finland
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1613
If you dont follow the game rules you arent wort to win a single dollar ... pokerstars didnt have any other choice, if they would have let this guy get any money they would have to let EVERY player on PS that doesnt have the required age to get money.
Well... I'm sure many underage kids are playing poker and I can understand it, but he must be stupid to play so big tournament knowing that it's illegal! spacegravy played underage, a few pros admit they did it as well. But of course they didn't go for so HOT tournament, with such field and prize pool...
If I were him I would bust like in top 30 - it's better to earn just decent cash and actually get it than to win big and lose all money xD But once again, I wouldn't play such tournament underage...
Joined: Feb '10
Location: Canada
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 197
Fakiry is definately right, pokerstars should have found out that he was underage before the tournament even started. Having to upload some form of photo identification should be a MUST for poker sites, not sure why more sites make this mandatory ?
Joined: May '09
Location: India
Age: 37 (M)
Posts: 4873
really sucks for the kid - won a fortune and before he could get his hands on it, it taken away from him. but it was his mistake in first place - lesson well learnt for him i guess.
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Australia
Age: 40 (M)
Posts: 6483
Posted by ierons: this is disgusting !!
pokerstar = motherfxxxx !!
To be fair - which ever gaming commission governs PS probably wouldn't allow a payout to the minor. It's pretty sick; but ultimately it's the kids own fault - it's clearly stated in the T&C
it's all his own fault if he wasn't bragging about this...i'm sure he could have arranged an secret deal with pokerstars that he would receive his money when he turns 18...what an bragging idiot lol
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Romania
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 6669
Sorry to say this but i totally agree with pokerstars this time, minors shouldn't be allowed to play poker on real money. End of discussion. If they want to play other type of games and even poker for that matter on play money is okay but you shouldn't let a minor play on real money considering that they don't know the value of money and most of all how money are made in real life. I also must say from that money Pokerstars should also pay some private sessions with a psychologist for that kid, such a hit on a such early age could mark you for life and have very bad influence over your future development. Still after his reactions on forum probably he wasn't too affected by the news. I would also agree if poker sites would require an id check before making an account in order to avoid this kind of problems.
Joined: Jan '11
Location: Romania
Age: 32 (M)
Posts: 167
A minor geting to a final table of a huge tourney like this and end up winning it? The only thing that surprises me is that Pokerstars, aparently, only investigated the player condition after the tourney. They should have done that work before. Minors have lots of free time so, after having access to PC and Internet, next thing they will do is find games and play, like a regular nowadays kid. Some remember poker and try to create an acount, without being noticed. But that is why we all have to show identification card. And then again, one can not have drivers license, but there are always other docs to prove identity and age verification. Can't understand why this continue being possible. But i am sure there are thousands of 16 and 17 yo kids playing online world wide.