English Harbour Group Warning

[KasinoKing]

Just another update. Got credited with my winnings in a separate payment. Still not happy with this group, but at least they paid up what my full balance at English Harbour was. I'm sure Casinomeister and this thread probably had something to do with it. Thanks.

Good news indeed!

But please tell us - have they also given you the welcome bonus?

According to their T&C's, they should!

[caruso]

However, his original intention was to opt-out, so that doesn't seem to be a problem.

Right, I hadn't yet claimed any bonuses, I was willing to withdraw before receiving any bonus since I had been playing with my own money and got lucky.

That said, not receiving bonuses as requested isn't the whole story: his accounts were closed and he was told "they are going to refund my deposit of $275 at English Harbour", and revoke his winnings, because of "security flags". He has now been paid his winnings - so what were these "security flags" and why has the casino now apparently changed its mind? Surely a "reputable" casino has not just done another red-faced about turn?

This happens time and again. Lake Palace: player paid with no explanation; Integrity: all players paid after the "scamming" and "skimming" excuses; now, EH: player paid after "security flags" excuses.

The reason no explanation is ever given is because the guilty casinos HAVE no explanation; they were trying it on and got caught out.

Casinos know they have an approximate one in ten chance of being caught out with stunts like these. This is always a profitable ploy - and it isn't just "rogues", it includes casinos on the "recommended" list of one of the biggest casino portals in existence.

We all make make the right noises; we all go ga-ga about how "good" casino XYZ is; we post our pretty screenshots and shout "whoopee". But at the end of the day, it's incidents like this that tell us the bare TRUTH about the kind of trash sitting behind these operations.

[elscrabinda]

I know the meister did with a heavy heart remove Integrity casinos from his list but it would be nice to see the rest of the list a bit more 'fluid'. After all, casinos may be good once but if they've turned sour then they should be removed. I know nothings happened on the scale of Integrity yet but tbh it shouldn't have to. For a casino to be on the list they should be exceptional. It is clear that some on there are not. Well not exceptionally good anyway!

[jetset]

QUOTE: This happens time and again. Lake Palace: player paid with no explanation; UNQUOTE

Correction. This was not the case at all in the Lake Palace affair. A player complained to the eCOGRA Fair Gaming Advocate who ruled against him. One of the more responsible and practically public spirited posters here then wrote to the CEO of eCOGRA suggesting a review at a more senior level. The review was carried out and the FGA decision overturned in favour of the player, who was then paid out. The reason for the reversal (which was correctly based on the fact that the player had complied with the terms of the T&C at the time he wagered) was given, I believe.

Generating this sort of blanket casino-hate approach is not really constructive, Caruso.

[Dirk Diggler]

Those facts are pretty right Jetset regarding Lake Palace - however it doesn't matter how you dress it up it was still "another red faced turn around" by both eCOGRA and Lake Palace whichever way you look at it.

BTW The only reason eCOGRA gave for their change of heart was:

After taking into consideration what has been said by many respected voices in the industry, we are now revisiting our decision.

Not exactly an explanation.

Back to the point in hand, this is the second case I can remember in recent months where English Harbour have tried this trick. If they are indeed 'reputable' why are they trying to confiscate winnings, and then quickly back tracking and paying out when players have gone to the forums without giving any reason for the change?

[jetset]

I am truly surprised that, as the person who actually benefitted from this event you are still determined that it was a "red-faced turnaround" instead of at least having the courtesy to recognise a genuine review instigated by a respected member of this board, DD. Perhaps that member would come forward and tell the board what he was told by eCOGRA regarding the results of the review?

It seems that you are a difficult person to please.

[Dirk Diggler]

I wouldn't put it that I benefited from the review - more that I was cheated by the initial decision.

The fact of the matter for me was that I was dissapointed that the casino came up with the decision that it did - that was to confiscate the bonus that I had wagered for using the 'we reserve the right' rule. I was then amazed eCOGRA came up with the initial decision that they did and backed the casino.

They then only proceeded to do an about turn once I'd posted it on here and it was obvious to anyone that I'd complied with the terms for the bonus. To me that pretty much equates to a red faced turn around.

You mention that I'm a hard person to please - not at all, all I simply want is that casinos follow their own terms and conditions without trying to confiscate winnings and bonuses by using the 'we reserve the right' rule. I don't think that's too much to ask do you? If they do try to do this then they deserve all the bad publicity they get.

[Dirk Diggler]

Oh and by the way, I do actually totally appreciate what eCOGRA are trying to do by bringing some regulation etc to the industry - I've possibly come over as anti-eCOGRA in my posts on this thread which is totally not the case.

It's great to see them, RTG and now Playtech setting up mediation services. It's precisely what the industry needs and can only give added security to the player.

[Tdoggy]

If you play at an online casino and are following the terms and conditions than they should pay you. It's very sad that there are casions out there that scam. If you make a deposit and are following the rules and you win cash then they shoud have to live up to their end of the deal and pay. It's scary that there are so many casino complaints these days. Casinos trying to figure out a way to screw the player out of winnings because the player beat there casino fair and square and they just plain and simple don't want to pay.

[elscrabinda]

I wouldn't put it that I benefited from the review - more that I was cheated by the initial decision.

Exactly. Why players should somehow be grateful that a casino or a regulatory board actually plays by the rules escapes me.