Futurebet:: Should they be "Not Recommended'?

[mary]

Bryan, Mike, and I all met with BJ of Futurebet.

Their position is that they are only a provider of software, and have no obligation to ensure that their licensees pay players. They do not train their licensees, test their knowledge of casino or sportsbook management, nor require a cash reserve to cover wagers.

They do control the hosting of their casino package to ensure fair results.

Black Rhino went out of business owing them money as well as the players. OPA investigation is now turning up more players left unpaid by Black Rhino using Futurebet software than was previously thought.

Your thoughts?

[valles]

BLACKLIST THEM!

[jetset]

This attitude won't wash in today's industry, because players expect more from a turnkey provider than this sort of "not our responsibility" stance.

Providers have the final say on whom they licence their software to, and that carries obligations as well as commercial advantage.

Players expect turnkey providers to exercise care in the selection of their licencees; to have clauses that give them some franchiser authority over bad casino practise, and to intervene when issues become critical (like this Black Rhino business that is currently coming to a head and seems to involve prejudice to players in the tens of thousands of dollars)

I think that the Association needs to be proactive in officially warning Futurebet that this course they have set will bring them into conflict with the players, and I believe that players should be informed of Futurebet's to my mind irresponsible position on this key issue.

The management over there needs to look at the more recent and responsible approaches taken in these situations by companies like Microgaming. Hell, even RTG has been meeting players halfway on this sort of stuff.

[gamemaster]

Rather than trying to change Futurebet's attitude through negotiation, shouldn't a list of their casinos be published along with a warning that the players' only recourse for dispute resolution is through the casino itself and there is no "safety net" in the form of the software provider? This is not to say that the casinos are less than honorable but the player better choose wisely because the software provider is willing to only provide software, presumably for a fee and with no regard for what happens after that.

A strong warning will hopefully put pressure on Futurebet through their client casinos and then Futurebet may contact the OPA about this at which time the real negotiations can begin. I, for one, am ready to put them on the "Warning" side of my Blacklist page.

Of course, Futurebet may just pay "lip service" to this idea and we'll have no way of knowing what their real intentions are until one of their casinos screws somebody. It seems to me that they're going to set a bad precedent for the industry with an attitude like this and the industry would be better off without them. Certainly the OPA will be doing the players of the world a service by warning them away from these clowns, er....people.

GM

[mary]

The dollar total for unpaid players has now passed $40k

I was thinking something along the lines of putting them on the "Not Recommended" list for six months and seeing if any of their casinos/sportsbooks survive. I think they have been concentrating on acquiring Starnet/Worldgaming licensees.

[mary]

It's going to be tough to generate the list, as many of the licensees don't bother changing their site text from the Starnet regime.

"Our software was described by Forbes magazine as the "Microsoft of the casino industry" & was featured on ESPN, Playboy & Nightline. " (Referred to Starnet, not Futurebet!)

These all link back to www.futurebet.com:

www.21onlinecasino.com
www.biggestbet.com
www.gamblingplace.com
www.bettheglobe.com
www.classiccasino.com
www.starlightcasino.com
www.trojancasino.com
www.trojancasino.com
www.heavensgatecasino.com
www.rodeocasino.com
www.limelightcasino.com
www.goodbetcasino.com
www.sportsbookusa.com
tropicalislandcasino.com
www.digitalwin.com
www.foxgambling.com
www.safaricasino.com
www.bet4charity.com
www.dorothyscasino.com
www.jackpot7.com
www.bigvegasplays.com

[mary]

This has a suprisingly Black Rhino look to it:

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Registrant:
G.I. Enterprises
Interactive Gaming
P.O. Box 642
Charlestown
Nevis, West Indies KN
KN
599 54 55091 (FAX) 599 54 55095
45060@whois.gkg.net

Administrative Contact:
G.I. Enterprises
Interactive Gaming
P.O. Box 642
Charlestown
Nevis, West Indies KN
KN
599 54 55091 (FAX) 599 54 55095
45060@whois.gkg.net

Technical Contact:
G.I. Enterprises
Interactive Gaming
P.O. Box 642
Charlestown
Nevis, West Indies KN
KN
599 54 55091 (FAX) 599 54 55095
45060@whois.gkg.net

Billing Contact
G.I. Enterprises
Interactive Gaming
P.O. Box 642
Charlestown
Nevis, West Indies KN
KN
599 54 55091 (FAX) 599 54 55095
45060@whois.gkg.net

Registrar..: gkg.net (http://register.gkg.net/)
Domain Name: BET4CHARITY.COM
Created on..............: 23-MAR-2002
Expires on..............: 23-MAR-2006
Record last updated on..: 02-JUN-2002

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[jetset]

GI = Global Interactive.

I like The Gamemaster's approach to this Futurebet problem....

[mary]

Keeping in mind that we have not heard Futurebet's side of this dispute, here is a page posted by a former licensee who is not happy:

http://www.7seascasino.com/global/

[mary]

Futurebet and Disgruntled licensees will both be in Vancouver. I'll try to meet the Disgruntleds.