Absolute Poker Not Paid My Winnings On Blackjack

[superchip]

Hi Guys,

Opened an account at AP on the 5th Oct and deposited $750, got a bonus of $750 and needed to wager $75000 on blackjack before I was allowed to withdraw.

On the 8th Oct received an email saying "our security system suspended your Absolute Poker account because it detected an abnormal deposit pattern, please provide us with ID".

So I send in my passport, front and back of credit card used, utility bill showing my address and an agreement form for the credit card". On the 9th receive an email back saying "thanks your account is now back open and sorry for the inconvenience".

So I continue playing blackjack and on the 13th completed the $75000 requirements, at that point my balance was $1840 and I requested a withdrawal via moneybookers.

After 4 days hadn't received the money so tried to log into AP to see the status but it wouldn't let me in, so I rang CS and was told my account had been closed and all money was seized (including my deposit), apparently the reason being that the card processors had told them I was risky in some way. This is nonsense they just don't want to pay my winnings.

I have now received my deposit back onto my credit card after contacting Natwest although I am about £25 down because of the exchange fees but they flat refuse to pay my winnings accusing me of fraudulent activity.

I have PAB but as yet haven't had a reply but I know there is a big issue with AP on the poker side and Bryan is no doubt busy helping with that.

Only wished I'd spotted the poker threads before I deposited but would appreciate any help from you guys.

[c_note]

I have now received my deposit back onto my credit card after contacting Natwest although I am about £25 down because of the exchange fees but they flat refuse to pay my winnings accusing me of fraudulent activity.

Since you have charged back (getting your bank to get your money back for you), you will have no further recourse to your funds. AP will refuse to deal with you at all on this matter as they will consider your actions fraudulent.

[superchip]

Since you have charged back (getting your bank to get your money back for you), you will have no further recourse to your funds. AP will refuse to deal with you at all on this matter as they will consider your actions fraudulent.

I don't hold much hope in getting the winnings anyyway given they are now fully rogued, contacting my credit card issuer and letting them investigate was the only thing I could do given AP said they were keeping my winnings plus deposit.

[vinylweatherman]

Don't underestimate the rogueness of their action. AP say it was YOU CARD ISSUER that branded you a fraud, and this is LIBEL against NatWest if it proves to be untrue. Also, if true, NatWest have commited LIBEL against you by telling AP you have committed transaction fraud, and although you may find it hard to pursue AP, NatWest can be taken to task and forced to explain what their part is in all this. the FSA may require NatWest to compensate you for the consequent damage of falsely representing you to AP as a fraud unless they can show that you are indeed one (that is show to UK law standards of proof, not AP standards).

Considering how LONG AP allowed a huge potential fraud to run involving hundreds of thousands of dollars, it seems odd that they were so "trigger happy" over a $750 deposit with some inconsistencies. This really looks like the big poker fraud was ALLOWED to continue, not that AP knew nothing was in the slightest bit suspect happening at the time as they would like us to believe.

AP will probably go bust over this.

Since your deposit was in October, and the new UK Gambling act came into force on the 1st September, you might like to know that there is no longer provision for gambling related debts to be considered "unenforceable", and you might be able to use the consumer credit act on NatWest to get EVERYTHING back - you will need some legal advice, maybe some internet research to formulate a case for the FSA to consider. Put it to NatWest first, as to complain to the FSA requires you to have exhausted all avenues with the card issuer and the merchant.

[GrandMaster]

Don't underestimate the rogueness of their action. AP say it was YOU CARD ISSUER that branded you a fraud, and this is LIBEL against NatWest if it proves to be untrue.

He wrote card processor, not card issuer. A different beast altogether. No chance of collecting large libel settlement from NatWest.

[YodaJedi]

After the cheating that went on with Absolute poker I don't know that I'd trust their blackjack game to begin with! In any case I wouldnt want to give them any money after the blow they've delivered to online poker.

[SlotsWizard]

Was this the first time you have ever charged back a deposit to an online poker room or casino?

[vinylweatherman]

He wrote card processor, not card issuer. A different beast altogether. No chance of collecting large libel settlement from NatWest.

It'll be the processor that gets sued then. However, it is STILL the responsibility of the card ISSUER if the end merchant acted against the terms of the contract. It may be possible to make an "adverse merchant report" to the card "brand", either VISA International or Mastercard. I once contacted VISA international because I thought Winward were pulling a stunt in asking for my 3 digit security code, and they asked me whether I wanted to make an adverse merchant report. I was told that if they receive enough of these, they ban the merchant or processor from accepting their brands of cards.
This almost never happens, because they don't make it well known this possibility exists, and many customers are happy to pursue the card issuer for a refund.

A complaint to the UK Gaming Commission might help, as Kawanake are seeking addition to the Whitelist, and allowing their licensees to pull stunts as AP have done is not going to go well for them. This may also be why they have been so seemingly active in their desite to pursue an investigation.

If the processor thought you were a risk, your initial deposit should have been declined and AP told to lock your account. This looks like you are only a risk after you managed to win on what some seem to think is a rigged Blackjack game.

The case may be weakened if the OP has indeed made a chargeback from another casino or poker room for frivolous reasons, such as a bad run; however, making a chargeback through a firm breaching it's contract or going bust is NOT wrong, it is one of our CONSUMER RIGHTS, protection in law against the activities of rogue businesses.

[bernynhel]

Can't help you but if it's any consolation, Ive played a lot of BJ at AP while in poker games there and, I gotta tell ya, anyone who can come away from THAT BJ table with anything at all is a winner in my book. It figures that they don't want to pay. They probably fainted from shock when they saw you're withdrawal request. Probably trying to figure out what you did to their BJ table! And probably more than a little embarrassed at the possibility that someone could have out cheated them!

[pokeraddict]

And probably more than a little embarrassed at the possibility that someone could have out cheated them!