Join sites through affiliates or direct?

I joined FT through rakebrain.com but I'd give the Klup and email and give my custom to him for any new site. Make sure your cache and cookies are cleared before joining any new site or you may have trouble. Rake takes around 3 days to set up and is paid fortnightly (if I remember correct, been so long since I played on FT)

Thanks Ovalman.  Why would you give your custom to Klup?  He seems nice, though.

He will set you up with the same deal as rakebrain plus he's helped me out before, I like playing his tournaments and he seems a decent bloke. Only fair I should push people to his site.

Yes i joined a site through Klup's site. We aren't allowed to mention the name of the site though, apparently...

Cakeback on FT gets paid weekly btw.

Thanks for the replies.  I like the idea of seeing rakeback each week, instead of points 

Why anyone would play on FT is beyond me... looks at the difference in the exchange rate in and out and net that off your RB.

According to chalfont, FT now do withdrawals in currency of your choice for about 0.5%

They used to have a 25% spread

Sorry, I thought that full tilt was like betfair where you deposit in your own currency, then they change it into dollars for the game and then change it back again at the end of the games - so the exchange rate does not come into it.  No?

annie, you deposit in your own currency, then get it converted to $ at the rate at the time, when you withdraw the same thing happens, it offers you the option to withdraw this way or in $.

I did a withdrawl a few days ago, the rate offered was something like 1.583 when xe.com was 1.577 or something, I don't think that is too bad. You can check what it is before doing so.

As I haven't played on stars for ages, I don't know how it compares to there.

Thanks, turtle, milton and wonky, that has really put me off betting with them.  Why can't they do like betfair does?

Well, it's because your actual betting account on betfair is in sterling. When you want to use it to play poker, you have to convert to dollars because that is the normal currency played in for the network, when you finish the game any money left or winning gets converted back automatically to sterling. It's different with stars or ft because your account is naturally in $ to start with

good question annie all i can tell you is that PS is by far the best site to play on as far as the software goes it is quiet simply the best imo gl at the tables

So, just in case I have misunderstood, full tilt and pokerstars convert your sterling into dollars when you join at the going rate at that time and then when you want to withdraw convert it back again at the rate at that time, not what was originally used.  Do they just convert it at the rate at the time or do they deduct commission on it as well, like a travel agents?

They don't have a commission but some sites don't change from £ to $ at the same rate as they change from $ to £

fulltilt rip you off when depositing and withdrawing but give you cake.Pokerstars are fair with both deposits and withdrawals but only do loyalty. Also you should go with the klup as he'll look after you as if you are his only only customer. HTH

So is there a site that does what betfair does regarding dollars but where I can play 6 max cash, preferably pot limit,  2000 starting stack sngs and gives me rakeback in cash, not points?

no

Annie, I'd go with ft, the amount they deduct from the conversion rate is really marginal, for example if you withdraw £500 in sterling you lose out to the extent of about £1 - £1.50 compared to market price, it's nonsense to think that wipes out your cakeback unless you are literally raking about a fiver a month or something!

If anyone knows a travel agent that charges that liitle, please let me know

That should read $500, if you take £500 it's about £2. Either way well worth it, especially bearing in the top rate customer service.

Thanks, turtleshead 

At my current stakes it would probably wipe out my rakeback!  However, I am getting better and I'd hope a switch to a site with more pot limit games and 2000 sngs would help me.  Also I had hoped that seeing my rakeback in cash would be an incentive to get better. 

Do full tilt and pokerstars have more pot limit and 2000 starting stack sngs?

I accept what you say about the difference being minimal, turtleshead, but maybe that is because the dollar is relatively stable at the moment.  What would happen though if another 9/11 occurred just before you were going to cash out?  It is a bit worrying.  Although I supposed you could keep it in dollars and get it back if you went to america?

the standard on tilt is a lot higher than betfair

They do have pot limit, yes, although obviously not as popular as nl. However if you register for some of them first you encourage others to play them and they should start fairly quickly after, at least that is what I've found for omaha. Not sure what the starting stacks are but I would guess 1500 if it's the same as omaha.

The dollar is always going to be fairly stable baring major incidents, it might be a worry if you keep huge sums in, but really for small stakes games it shouldn't be a concern. I've had up to $5k in at any one time before withdrawing some, it's gone up and down over the two years or so since I had the account, it hasn't really bothered me tbh.

You might be able to get some out if you went to the US yes, but you'd probably need a US bank account or to actually go to one of their live events to do so, baring that I'd suggest doing a player transfer to someone you know and trust for a bank transfer in exchange. Either that or just accept the tiny charge Good luck anyway.

James, that is defo not the case with omaha, in my experience

What would happen though if another 9/11 occurred just before you were going to cash out?  It is a bit worrying.

Really, please catch a grip. Have you been on the sherry trifle this early in December? [smiley:crazy]

Thanks, turtleshead