GRAND MONACO CASINO SENDS ME A CHECK ON A CLOSED BANK ACCOUNT

[looknolines]

About a month ago, I won 650.00 at Grand Monaco Casino. After about 2 weeks, I received the check and cashed it. Well, I got a notice that the check was drawn on a closed account and not only do I now owe the bank 650.00 but because I cashed a check that wasn't any good, I owe them an additional 50.00 for returned check fees. I contacted live help at the Grand Monaco and was given a reference number and told that I would hear from the casino within 48 hours. Needless to say, 48 hours came and went and when I went to live help today the operator disconnected with me. Thinking this was purely accidental I went to live help again and again I got disconnected after giving the operator my reference number. I have a copy of the check showing that the account is closed and when I offered to send the casino proof of this I was told that it wouldn't be necessary..their processors would be able to see the results of the check. After being told that, I am beginning to think that this casino has known for a month that this check was no good and since they have made NO ATTEMPT to reimburse me.. this casino must be a scandalous, NON-PAYING casino. I would really like to know what I can do, if anything, to make Grand Monaco pay me the money that they owe me!!??

[helloworld96]

The same thing happened to me with Grand Hotel. I received a $1000 check that was the first of four cashouts I made in a 2 week period in January. I took the check to the bank and it was returned for insufficient funds. I called Grand Hotel and they apologized and blamed the US attack on the bank payouts. They are supposedly going to pay me via ACH, but I still haven't seen any of the money.

ed

[vinylweatherman]

Best pursue the matter of constantly being disconnected by the operator. Try contacting them, but omit the reference number and see if the "error" of being disconnected still occurs. If not, mention to the operator that you constantly get disconnected, and could they phone you right now on a "call back".
If they put the phone down on you it will be a lot harder for them to blame the software or the internet connection.

If casinos start bouncing checks, and then appearing to treat the payees rudely when they complain, they deserve to suffer the consequences of loss of confidence from players.

I think Grand Monaco is accredited here, so a PAB is an option. If they are members of eCogra, this would be another. The more valid complaints eCogra get about problems paying US players (while happily accepting their deposits) the better to force honesty and transparency on the situation. Players can then be fully aware of the risks should they WIN, let alone the known risks of losing.

[Mousey]

Might I suggest a PM to the casino rep?

http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...s/jon-jon.html

Unfortunately, we're seeing this happen too often even with reputable casinos. It appears that this could be what's happening: at the moment the casino issues a paper check it is good. However, if the casino's payment processor suddenly pulls out, *blam* the player is hit with a bounced check and the ensuing bad check charges.

Also, (though this doesn't seem to be the case in this instance), US banks are sometimes refusing checks from suspected casino payment processors. They'll accept your deposit slip and the check, but they may simply refuse to process it and return it to you a few days later.

Please (especially US players) never spend money from casino paper checks until certain the check has cleared and your bank has the money.

Good luck.

[looknolines]

well, i finally got through to a live operator and i am still troubled about this whole thing. First of all, the account that the casino wrote the check on, was a closed account and that is illegal. I cashed the check at a check cashing service and now they are coming after me for the amount of the check plus additional service fees. Tell me if i am wrong, but i really don't think that the casino should have the right to close their accounts or take any action against checks they write and if a US bank won't clear it, that's a whole different issue. Why has it become so hard for US players to withdraw their winnings, but yet, it is still such an easy process to deposit? I may be out of line but i really think that this has just given a lot of the shady casinos a way out. Can you tell how my conversation went with live help!!

[GrandMaster]

What's more likely is that the bank closed the account because it realized or at least suspected the connection with online gambling.

[Jon-Jon]

Hi All, and looknolines apologies sincerely for the problems that you have experienced so far.

If you could please give me until Monday to take a look into the matter (I am involved in other areas, but will follow up with the right (senior) person who will get back to you) and I assure you we will resolve this.

This has been a rough time for the (USA players) casino industry, bit I can guarantee you we are making every effort to make sure players are paid and kept as happy as possible under the current processor "dark cloud".

Also be aware that because of the time involved in processing checks and you receiving them (can be a few weeks) a lot has changed.

Have a great weekend, and as said I will have this sorted within a few days.

[ok2playme]

The same thing happened to me with Grand Hotel. I received a $1000 check that was the first of four cashouts I made in a 2 week period in January. I took the check to the bank and it was returned for insufficient funds. I called Grand Hotel and they apologized and blamed the US attack on the bank payouts. They are supposedly going to pay me via ACH, but I still haven't seen any of the money.

ed

I can sympathize with you. This is just so frustrating. We are told one story which is contradicting by another story blah ...blah...blah.. We wait we wait we wait - we check our accounts waiting to see the funds. A weekend is here YEEHAA maybe I will get it before the weekend. What casinos are doing to US players is a joke and no one is helping us. How would they feel if we all cancel all of our deposits based on we paid for a service and THEY are in breech for not holding up to their end of the bargain. If Americans know that is a viable option maybe these casinos would payout as easily as they take in. If they can't do a payout timely with certified cleared funds then they certainly should not be taking our funds. Is it not the bible that says "do onto other as they do onto you" or should I continue to "love thy neighbor"?

[ok2playme]

well, i finally got through to a live operator and i am still troubled about this whole thing. First of all, the account that the casino wrote the check on, was a closed account and that is illegal. I cashed the check at a check cashing service and now they are coming after me for the amount of the check plus additional service fees. Tell me if i am wrong, but i really don't think that the casino should have the right to close their accounts or take any action against checks they write and if a US bank won't clear it, that's a whole different issue. Why has it become so hard for US players to withdraw their winnings, but yet, it is still such an easy process to deposit? I may be out of line but i really think that this has just given a lot of the shady casinos a way out. Can you tell how my conversation went with live help!!

You are by no means out of line. You are right! This is wrong. Everyday we live by broken promises in hopes and prayers the money will be there. You finally get an overseas check run around to find someone to cash it and its a closed account. Now collectors are chasing you. That is "f" up!! If they can easily take our money they should easily pay our money. If they can't do both sides of the equation then don't accept US players. If they knew we could cancel our deposits based on we paid for a service and the service did not provide to the extent of the agreement - then they are in breech and the transactions should be disputed and canceled. The only way to hit these non paying casinos is to prove to them US players are not going to take it anymore. If they take our money than they MUST pay us in a timely manner the same as we paid them or deal with the ramafications of breeching the service paid for.

[vinylweatherman]

Chargebacks would be a drastic step to take, but as this situation continues, especially where casinos hide the true nature of the dificulties they are having in paying out from deposits, there could come a time where the US players decide that they are getting nowhere, and a situation may develop where the US banks and/or legal advisors start advising players that their actions were illegal all along, and they should unwind their position by cancelling all deposits.
This could hurt the industry if the US allows the cancellation of deposits from way back, where withdrawals have already been paid. Such a scenario will effectively kill 9off the entire industry as it would not have the funds to pay back, however, the DoJ may see this as a great way to end the problem once and for all, short of arresting execs, money is the next best weapon to employ. They have shown they CAN do this by forcing Neteller to freeze funds of US players, INCLUDING at least one case where the funds had nothing to do with ONLINE gambling.
Players who feel the industry had treated them well will refuse to cooperate in such a move, but players who feel they have been royally screwed over may well decide to quit gambling online altogether, cooperate and not really care than no online casino will ever take their wagers again.

Best thing for casinos to do now is spell out the WORST CASE scenario, not as at present, a schedule for withdrawals which is probably over optimistic.