Is it really that dangerous?

**rma20** · 10th March 2006, 01:36 AM

Hello everyone,

I just have a few questions about online gambling. I have heard from some people that sometimes some online casinos use threats and send people to your door if you mess with them. I think in most cases its if you owe them money etc. But I was just wondering how true this was. Is online gambling that dangerous? I mean I don't gamble at any shady casinos. I use casinos that are on CM list of good casinos. And I personally have not experienced anything like that ever. To me the online casinos I use act just like a regular buisness. But I was just wondering if its that dangerous and have any of you ever heard of this?

**vinylweatherman** · 10th March 2006, 02:13 AM

While Bullshit from rogue casinos that don't want to pay is common, sending thugs to the door of a player is very rare. I have only heard of ONE instance of this nature, and this was from the blackest of rogue operators (I cannot remember the name).
This will NOT happen with any CM accredited casinos, and Bryan acts as advocate for players for such outfits.
Not all good casinos appear as "accredited", as Bryan has to meet the operators in person as part of the accreditation process. It is worth searching the forum for any comment about any casino that seems OK, but is not accredited. Any casino that persistently acts in an unprofessional manner will eventually find itself in the Rogue or "not recommended" section. Casinos that change for the better will graduate to "under observation". This does not mean they have suddenly become OK, just that sufficient changes have been made to allow them a fresh start by not featuring under a search of the rogues.
The biggest "danger" in online gambling is not getting paid when you make a bad choice of casino, this can be avoided by joining accredited casinos, and only trying others once you are fairly confident in separating the bullshit from the real McCoy. The most likely trap for newbies is the documentation process. Most casinos only bring this up on the first substantial withdrawal, and this can lead to unexpected delays. Have a photo ID, and a supporting verification of address (utility bill), scanned and ready to go and delays should be minimised. If any sort of card is used then images and a purchase declaration form may also be requested.

**max1mike** · 10th March 2006, 05:49 AM

and rma...FYI ...

bryan = casinomeister...the head cheese...errr wait...head cheese is nasty...the BIG cheese of this place

just in case you being a newb didn't know who the hell bryan was.

**jetset** · 10th March 2006, 06:41 AM

Believe it or not, but the industry has become a better place as it has matured and ongoing consolidation has squeezed out many of the underfunded and integrity challenged - it really was like the Wild West at one stage.

Unfortunately there is still way too much dishonesty, inefficiency and bad practice by casinos, as any one perusing the complaints section at Casinomeister must agree, but really evil guys such as those you ask about "knocking on your door" are very rare these days, and it's mostly bluff by dumb-asses.

The one genuine case I heard about (and I have been in the industry since the early days) involved a member here, who will step forward if he wishes to give a first hand account.

Some palookas were sent to his office in LA, and that was the biggest mistake they ever made - he really sorted them out with some courageous and decisive action.

Then we had some Costa Rican lowlifes who ran Royal Dutch Casino (now a thing of the past, thank God!) They tried to intimidate another member here who was battling to get a long overdue payout that they claimed was the responsibility of a previous management (there's another such case ongoing here at present on PurePoker)

Royal Dutch had some intellectually and integrity impaired half-wit trying to BS the player into believing that "a Washington lawyer" was going to visit him - it was of course an empty threat.

On the sportsbook side, and in Costa Rica an online sportsbook webmaster has a nasty intimidatory, but no violence experience with some heavies from a less-than-trustworthy operator in that country.

Other incidents I can recall in ten years involved myself, with telephoned threats of violence on several occasions by operators (most of whom are now out of business, surprise, surprise) for running stories about their two-bit, cheesy outfits. Again these were empty threats. One case scared my wife, who happened to answer the phone and this made me very angry, but of course it was another nonsense call. Regrettably an effort to nail this cretin by national and international police, who take this stuff seriously , failed.

So, long story short, it is highly unlikely that players will be ever exposed to genuine personal danger in my opinion. If anyone so much as utters a threat, I would suggest you bring it here and we'll definitely deal with it. Crooks hate light and exposure.

To close, there are also more *sophisticated* ways of threatening, and Bryan at Casinomeister has certainly seen those. They take the form of lawyer's letters from the servants of companies that don't like having their shortcomings and sins exposed.

**Pinababy69** · 10th March 2006, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by jetset

Then we had some Costa Rican lowlifes who ran Royal Dutch Casino (now a thing of the past, thank God!) They tried to intimidate another member here who was battling to get a long overdue payout that they claimed was the responsibility of a previous management (there's another such case ongoing here at present on PurePoker)

Royal Dutch had some intellectually and integrity impaired half-wit trying to BS the player into believing that "a Washington lawyer" was going to visit him - it was of course an empty threat.

Ahhh Jetset, good old Royal Dutch. I will never forget them, simply because they were my initiation rite into the Casinomeister forum. That thread is almost worth a read just to refresh the memory on how scummy they really were.

**jetset** · 10th March 2006, 07:57 AM

There was one other case of serious intimidation, and that occurred several years back when one of the watchdog guys had death threats inserted in his (rural) U.S. mailbox and the tyres on his car slashed. That was reported to Police but the culprits were not, as far as I can recall apprehended.

**rma20** · 10th March 2006, 10:24 AM

Hey guys thank you so much for your input. I asked this question just because I have heard some people talking about this type of crazy stuff. It really is scary to think that could happen. But I think a good bit of people are still paranoid about online gambling. I mean don't get me wrong I think its very good to ask questions and be careful. But I wouldn't be running around telling people all online casinos are run by the mafia!lol Someone on another forum was suggesting that they all had ties to the mafia?

Anyways, I am not really that new to online gambling. I stick to pretty common casinos. I mostly play at allslots and alljackpots. Roxy palace. And I was looking into bodog casino. Do any of you gamble at bodog or know anything about them? Do you know anyone who has had a problem with them? Any cash out problems? Any info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks again for the replies!