Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
TJWestsd
Enthusiast - Level 1

I am a long time customer of Verizon and a new customer of Ultimate Poker. I am outraged that Verizon has blocked Ultimate Poker from accessing my geo-location even though they have my permission to do so. Everyone in the word (Google) has access to my location. Ultimate Poker is legal in Nevada as long as they can verify my physical location in Nevada via my cell phone. All the other carriers allow this--not Verizon. Time to look at ATT.

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Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
okamsrazor22
Contributor - Level 1

I agree 100% TJ. Keep insisting with VZW to give you an explanation on why it is not working. They will either fix it or explain why it does not work and can't/won't be fixed

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
budone
Legend

A silly question, do you have all three GPS options checkmarked on your device?

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
Not applicable

In this article it states the poker site partnered with locaid http://www.loc-aid.com/  And they do the actual pinging   http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/04/ultimatepoker-to-become-first-legal-real-money-online-pok...  It may not be a Verizon issue just a thought.

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
budone
Legend

Excellent find Elector and it just started in the last week

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
dnatoli2
Enthusiast - Level 2

I mean you no disrespect with the following response. I must say you apparently did not fully understand what this discussion was all about. Please allow me to respond to your statements: >Final notice, further discussion concerning moderation will result in restrictions to your account, from being set to read only or a ban from the forum.

Please read the following,<

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First off, nowhere in my discussion does it say I want to play online poker on my cell phone. It would have to be on a desktop or laptop computer.

Second, your assumption is incorrect regarding AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. These wireless carriers do allow the triangulation of their phones to UltimatePoker.com. As it pertains to this discussion, It is necessary for this legitimate  Nevada based poker website to prove to the Nevada Gaming Commission that:

1) Prospective online poker players are playing on a desktop or laptop computer with an IP Address located in the State of Nevada.

2) Prospective online poker players are physically here in the State of Nevada while playing online poker on Ultimate Poker website. This is proven via your wireless cell phones GPS.

Third, you are assuming if a phone's GPS has been set up to allow triangulation, it should be giving your GPS whereabouts to the poker server. One would think this is a true statement. The Smart Phones of today, such as my HTC Thunderbolt, do have GPS Location Services provided by Verizon and Google. Unfortunately, the issue we Verizon customers are having is that Verizon Wireless themselves are blocking our GPS Signal to UltimatePoker.com, whereas other carriers are not.

Forth, I do not have to take it up with the poker website. They have done their due diligence to legally offer online poker playing on their website to any person 21 years or older. The person must allow their physical location to be verified through their cell phone's GPS Locator via the Location Based Service Ultimate Poker uses to triangulate location. Also, the IP Address from the prospective player's computer would need to be physically located in the Stare of Nevada while they are playing.

Fifth, you are speaking about a whole different subject in regards to what Websites Verizon chooses to grant/block access or guarantee any rights to. Your statement has nothing to do with this discussion. We are talking about Verizon preventing their own customer's GPS Location and cell phone number from being verified by a Location Based Service on behalf of a legitimate online gaming website. F.Y.I, Verizon does not prevent their customers from viewing porn and gaming websites over their network. It's up to apps or software such as Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus, or Parental Controls to block these types of websites. However, Verizon will block a website if they receive complaints regarding objectionable material or photographs of a sexual nature involving underage children.

Sixth and final, your sarcastic statement regarding "How much you pay each month does not get you any perks other customers are not getting" is out of line and tries to put words into my mouth. You have taken what I said out of context. I don't think I'm above anyone or are owed any special rights or privileges. On the same token, Verizon Customers, such as myself, should not have to issue ultimatums to the carrier they have long defended and remained loyal to for the past several years. However, if Verizon keeps preventing their customers the right of playing legalized online poker, they may leave us no choice but to sign up with a different carrier. That doesn't mean it would be enjoyable or fun for me to do so, let alone give up all of the UNLIMITED DATA I receive for $24.90 a month.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps other Verizon customers who may of had questions regarding this issue.

David

Still a Verizon Customer.

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
Not applicable

David I apologize, when I read the post I noted what you said and instead of looking it up as I did this time I read its a validation schema set up by that legal poker site. I just looked past everything when I read about the other cellular companies, and the part of what is paid etc. I was totally out of line and should have researched it fully. That was my error.

I cannot say if Verizon is the bad guy in this instance since I found locaid was doing the actual authentication for Ultimate Poker hence I think if you email them or even call and ask if Verizon is blocking a legal gambling site.

My other concern is what if you had no cellular device? What if you only have a laptop, desktop or tablet why would a mobile triangulation be a given? Would disenfranchise possible customers would it not?

Again in anger with another forum poster your concern was then locked out. Please accept my apology and I hope you have seen that now I am trying to give you a starting point to resolve your issue.

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
cb1618
Newbie

I'm also trying to get some information on what is going on. Not sure where to get the answers.  I posted on the FB page....no response there either except from others who are upset about the same thing.

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
dnatoli2
Enthusiast - Level 2

Elector, thank you for your quick response as I did call Verizon to inquire. It sure sounds like the techs I spoke with are not being given much info from their supervisors on how to give a definitive answer to the customers.

I totally agree with your concern regarding people who do not have a cellular device. Unfortunately at this time, the whole concept of state run legal online poker is just in the infant stages.

I'm hoping down the road they will be able to take the necessary "baby steps" to include people who'd like to play on their website via a computer, laptop or tablet without the need to use a cellular device with GPS. I'm hoping the State Law can be amended to explore other avenues to verify a persons physical location in addition to an IP Address from a computer.

Thanks again,

David

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Re: Ulitmate Poker blocked from accessing my geolocation
OneTime3
Enthusiast - Level 1

All,

In my communications with Verizon via my open tech support case here is the information I was provided today.

“We have an agreement with Ultimate Poker to enable Verizon Wireless  customers in Nevada to play poker online using their personal computers,  once the geo-location  of their mobile device validates that they are  within the state. We are working through the final technical issues to  get it implemented.”

Soon fellow players....Soon