Poker player Gordon Vayo’s court action against PokerStars for unfair non-payment of winnings of almost $700,000 has been postponed to November 6 whilst the question of judicial jurisdiction is sorted out.
Originally set down for September 25 before US District Court Central District of California Western Division Judge Frederick Mumm, the case centres on whether Vayo covertly played from within the United States in an event in the Spring Championship of Online Poker last year, contravening the T&Cs.
Vayo claims that he was in Canada at the time, but Pokerstars investigators allege he was actually using a mobile device in Los Angeles via a Canadian mobile internet provider, and the almost $700,000 he won was accordingly withheld.
Vayo claims that he was harassed during the investigation, and that Pokerstars has in the past approved U.S. citizens and residents for play, “happily taking their money” until they score a large win, when a “sham” investigation is triggered and payment withheld on grounds that the play was from within the USA and therefore in contravention of the T&Cs.
PokerStars wants the Vayo litigation pulled out of the California court, arguing that it is an Isle of Man-registered and licensed company and the action should therefore be heard there, but Vayo disputes this, saying that a California court is more appropriate.