'Misleading' marketing?

[rreevy]

I just wanted people's thoughts on a promotional offer I received a few days ago, which I feel is misleading. I will not name the casino as I haven't PM'd the rep on here, or given them a chance to comment.

I was sent a bonus offer on the basis that I hadn't been in the casino for some time. I thought this was odd as I played there last month after receiving a similar promotion. The e-mail also gives a list of new games they've added since my last visit, which implies they know when my last visit was. It's written as if it were a private communication to me ('We would very much like to see you again' - and so forth).

Tonight I happened to notice (luckily, because I'd already downloaded the software and had opened the e-mail to check something else entirely) that I wasn't eligible as I had deposited within the last 60 days.

Does anyone else share my objections to this? I'm not saying casinos can always avoid sending out promos to people who aren't eligible for them, but if there's a risk of that happening, it should say fairly near the top who is and isn't eligible. Not in the small print, at the bottom of a page-long e-mail that's worded as if it were a personal invitation.

[vtlady]

Yes, I object to it. I would say they just want to get you to play, once they think they have got your attention. Not a very nice thing to do . It would just make me not want to play there. Hardup for business I guess.

[ballysdb]

I object too. Sometimes I download a casino without realizing I had an account there 4 or 5 years ago. How come they don't realize it when I register a new account? How come they don't realize it when they send me an email stating that I am due a "new player" bonus? They only realize it once I have made my first purchase and I inquire about my bonus. "Oh we're sorry but you had an account with us back in 1999."

[henryVIII]

Yes, I object also.

I got an email today ... well, i say email it was spam really. never played there before but it had (basically) come and play, 100% bonus on furst deposit, etc.

Absolutely nowhere did it mention any terms attached to this. If you were new to 'the game' you would be 100% forgiven for thinking it was just what they said. first deposit gets 100% bonus (even had "thats right!!").

Then the next thing is they'd taken all your winnings of you because you played an excluded game.

I would never recommend to anyone to play an online casino unless i sat with them to guide them through all the traps.

[rreevy]

Yeah I've had that too henryVIII. Some months ago I got an e-mail from a casino where I already had an account: I was pretty sure it was the sign-up bonus they were on about, but there was no indication of this on the promo e-mail, nor any T&Cs whatsoever.

I guess that, in the case I mentioned above, I was just annoyed that they'd send an e-mail in which they tried so hard so sound like they were addressing you personally, when I wasn't even allowed to participate. As casinos mostly don't design their own software, I wouldn't expect them to, say, be able to select all accounts that have been inactive for 60+ days an just e-mail those people. I was just annoyed that the e-mail had been sitting in my inbox for 5 days before I noticed I wasn't eligible.

This is quite a reputable casino, and I've complained to them about it. Also surprising is that they sent me exactly the same offer last month. (I'm not sure if the term about being inactive for 60 days was there - I hadn't played there for a few months until last month).

[rreevy]

The casino has now resolved this and I am more than satisfied with the outcome. They have apologised, explaining how the mistake occurred, and have apparently put a credit in my account. They also said they would have honoured the promotion sent to me in error, despite the fact that I actually wasn't eligible. So all's well that ends well.

[vinylweatherman]

I keep a list in MS Works of ALL accounts I have EVER had at ANY casino. This includes the few I didn't get round to using.

I once had an E-mail from Phoenician, offering a bonus, which turned out to be the sign-up £1200 deal. I knew that something was amiss, but it was not obvious from the E-mail as it actually named me and had my account number, and did not actually state it was a reminder for the sign-up.

When I pointed this out, the Casino Action VIP services told me that it was indeed the sign-up offer sent out in error, but then went on to say, in effect, "we sent it, so you can have it all over again".

I am not sure they would have done this a third time, but they never made that mistake again! (probably would not have done this for me after I moaned about those damn "blackjack tournaments" being cocked up at the end of last year either ).

Legal Note.

This post has NOT been influenced in any way by the matter currently on "Winner Screenshots".
If I see another debacle in the style of the " non - blackjack tournament" or the "$10,000 Christmas draw/tournament/ no -I mean random tournament, sorry, draw etc....." That BS Repellant will emerge again!!

[chuchu59]

The casino has now resolved this and I am more than satisfied with the outcome. They have apologised, explaining how the mistake occurred, and have apparently put a credit in my account. They also said they would have honoured the promotion sent to me in error, despite the fact that I actually wasn't eligible. So all's well that ends well.

The right thing has been done. Care naming the casino?

[rreevy]

The casino in question was iNetBet.

I originally didn't name the casino because I hadn't PM'd the casino rep or submitted a PAB, neither of which seemed necessary, so I thought naming the casino might be against forum rules. I just wanted an opinion on that kind of marketing practice in general.

Now that the issue is resolved I have to point out how impressed I am overall with iNetBet. I decided to play there again last night. Withdrawal paid into Neteller about 9hrs after cashing out. I know fast Neteller withdrawals aren't unheard of nowadays, but I'm still pretty impressed.

Does anyone else find RTG's blackjack streakier than MG/Crypto?

[chuchu59]

From my play at online casinos, Crypto BJ is by far the streakiest followed by Playtech. MG and RTG BJ are quite fair, IMO.