You would think...

[silcnlayc]

I don't know if anyone else has thoughts such as this, but wouldn't one think that these online casinos would allow players from the US to continue to play in fun mode until the law changes, knowing the law will change, and then have a large database of fun players to convert back to real when the switch is flipped back on?

I can't imagine any casino not allowing players to play in this mode. Maybe I am missing something here?

I know the casinos that are allowing US players to play either in fun or real or both will be in a superior position to take a lot of the market share because as a player, one tends to stay with what one knows and is comfortable with (especially one that is an accredited casino).

Don't these casinos understand this?

Playing for fun is NOT illegal....yet...ya know?

Just wondering out loud.....




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[tim5ny]

Maybe they just don't want George Bush playing in fun mode.. so we all have to suffer for it. That's my take on it anyway!

[vinylweatherman]

It is because "fun mode" has NOTHING to do with allowing a load of players to play for fun ONLY. It was ALWAYS intended that fun mode was a marketing means to first get the player's personal information (note how you still need to give this even for fun mode), and then to use that information to lure them into real money play. Fun mode is just an overhead on their servers, and if they are not allowed to convert "fun" players from the USA there is no need to burden themselves by maintaining fun accounts for them.
The view may be short sighted, but there is no certainty about the law changing, and even if it does, it could take years.
For players who once had real accounts, they have the information already with which to lure these players back with any change in the law. They probably hope that time will make many US players forget the way they were screwed over by those casinos that locked accounts overnight without notice, and then refused to honour part wagered bonuses. Many even made the final exit as difficult as possible, even though only a day earlier said players could have logged in and easily withdrawn. Nothing ACTUALLY happened that prevented casinos from paying out balances in the same way as before, they just decided to do this as an exit strategy.

NEVER forget what Intercasino did, Sunday - bonuses still available, but not credited as expected, with support then saying US players could not have them, BUT they were welcome to play with their own funds. Monday - accounts locked, and a 4 week timescale given to pay remaining balances that had to be requested and dealt with via support. Clearly, they knew full well what was going to happen, but they let US players believe that it was business as usual over that first weekend. Bush didn't actually SIGN the act for a further fortnight, at which point, all the ports were safer

[aka23]

Many do allow US players to play in practice mode. Some allow anyone to play in practice mode, without registering. This is especially true for flash/java casinos like Net Ent, Chartwell, Wagerworks, Microgaming Flash, and Futurebet (I don't recommend real mode, but can play in practice mode without creating account). Other casinos allow US players to play in practice mode, but not real mode, like Grand Virtual and various others that I do remember.

Playtech has an interesting position. US players can play in practice mode on an existing account, but they cannot register a new practice mode account due to an IP address check. Playtech casinos also are notorious for providing poor support for persons in the United States, including US affiliates. The answer to any question or comment directed to support is usually something along the lines of "You are from the US... We do not allow US players." Totesport is a pleasant exception to the above.

Microgaming also has a unique position about practice mode accounts. Some casinos allow you to choose either practice or real mode each time you log in. But other casinos remove the practice mode option after you play in real mode for the first time. Instead you need to go through support to get a practice mode account. I recall that Vegas Partner does not allow you to redeposit after you run out of your practice mode money. Once you run out of fun money, you must play in real mode. Support gave an interesting justification for this.