Grand Royal Casino and Winners Playground - Looks like they folded

[jetset]

I'm not sure if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing at RTG. Earlier comments in this thread from them made no mention of a close down, yet in response to our latest enquiry we have just received the following (bear in mind that Montana is an offshore arm of RTG):

QUOTE:I think that was just a support issue and should now be fixed...although when we checked, we only noticed it happening on GrandRoyal.

Also, for public consumption...

----------------------
Montana Overseas has informed us that they are initiating close-down procedures on the properties known as Winners Playground Casino, Grand Royal Casino and GiantVegas Casino. All outstanding player liabilities will be paid during the liquidation. This process will start on March 1st, 2005 and players will receive notification of their options for withdrawal. UNQUOTE

We've asked for more detail, including whether Giant Vegas (which you will recall was part of Brian Goodman's Kiss Casino group) was taken over by WP and GR's owners.

This is a strange affair - only late last year WP was boasting about a new approach with a new management but the same owners, and there was a sudden spurt of overdue payments being made.

The bottom line is that WP and GR are closing, all players will be paid through Montana and the process starts.....TODAY.

Watch your emails for information on this which will presumably be going out soon.

[chuchu59]

Jetset,

I have not been able to login Portofino casino for the past few days. No response at all. Is it possible that they are sharing the same fate and is closing down.

[jetset]

Strangely enough, I have been picking up unofficial rumours from several sources this week that a change of ownership (yes, another one!) may be on the cards soon. But this is far from confirmed information.

I'll fly it past our RTG contacts and see what they have to say.

[Casinomeister]

Strangely enough, I have been picking up unofficial rumours from several sources this week that a change of ownership (yes, another one!) may be on the cards soon. But this is far from confirmed information.

I have the same rumor stashed away as well

[ortega]

Was anyone paid either during/post these guys shutdown? I sure wasn't from either Winner's or Grand Royal.

Thanks,
ortega

[jetset]

Have you lodged your claim with Montana yet? If not suggest you do so as RTG have said that Montana will handle all closedowns like this.

[suzecat]

Jetset,

I have not been able to login Portofino casino for the past few days. No response at all. Is it possible that they are sharing the same fate and is closing down.

I played at Portofino today, no problems.

[jetset]

Hampton and Portofino have had an interesting time of it since the Pirate days, going to Connect To Casino and then being offered earlier this year to Doloplex, where Warren Cloud declined the deal following the due diligence phase (or so we are reliably informed)

Apparently they were then taken by World eGaming, and if you Google that you'll see a familiar name - Avi Goldman of ADLM and Windows Casino fame.

This was all in Casinomeister News a few weeks ago btw:

CASINO CHANGES

RTG-powered casinos were in the thick of things this week with the news that the unidentified owners of Cool Cat Casino had taken over Palace of Chance and Club Player, both of whom have been the subject of players complaints. Other than a rather gushing and not very informative release from Cool Cat, a pall of silence surrounded who was involved in the deal and how much cash changed hands. CC Manager Bianca Fox will apparently manage all three operations.

Members of the Royal Casino Group, which includes Ruby Dragon, Casino Extreme and Casino Heat were shocked at the short closure notice that suddenly appeared on a dead site this week. Software provider Real Time Gaming has not responded to enquiries, but the brief closure notice advised players that they would be paid in full within the next 14 days.

Connect To Casino has advised that effective 1 March it no longer has any relationship with either Portofino or Hampton casinos, having sold its interest to World eGaming. Googling that title reveals that the new owner is Windows Casino partner Avi Goldman. The software remains RTG.

[evoid]

Was anyone paid either during/post these guys shutdown? I sure wasn't from either Winner's or Grand Royal.

Thanks,
ortega

I haven't been paid either even though I contacted Montana Overseas months ago, a long time before these casinos closed. Montana ignored my one or two requests for information as to what's going to happen.