Is "Some" Microgaming Casinos becoming

[mishun]

rogues like "Some" RTG?

I signed up at Lake Palace this week. I deposit $300 and got $100 bonus. I begun wagering $25 a hand of BJ (3 spots). Right in the middle of a game, My account was locked. I contacted support, And was told that I had an account with another one of their casinos from 2006. And that I couldn't claim a bonus at their sister casino. So Fine, I asked them what about my incomplete game of BJ. They instructed me that risk management would contact me.

Hi Mishun

Thanks for the mail.


As per our conversation on live chat, we cannot unlock your account and allow you to wager the balance.

I have forwarded your e-mail to the Risk team as they are best equipped to assist you.

You will receive a response form them within 48 hours

Okay, I didnt hear anything for a few days. I contacted again, this time I was told that they were tired of people signing up a their other casinos claiming bonuses and that my account would be remained locked. So I asked for my deposit back. Soon after risk management sent me this:

Dear Ms Mishun

Thank you for your patronage at the Grand Privé Group of Casinos. Please be advised, In compliance with upholding our e-Cogra seal, your gaming account with Grand Privé has been closed and any balances / cash-ins frozen, for the period of the next 6 months. Once this time-frame has passed, your account and any pending funds will be made available to you once again. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. Should you have any further queries, please feel free to contact the Customer Services Team, at anytime.

This is bullshit. I am tired now. To be honest, MG is no better than RTG. I have never had a problem with any RTG. Even Powerbet, Cool Cat, and Palace of Chance has "ALWAYS" paid me. Out of my 5 years of online gambling. You know who i've had trouble with? Casino Rewards, Fortune Lounge, Belle Rock Entertainment, and Jackpot Factory. Casino Rewards told me I used auto-play. Belle Rock won't tell me why. I guessed I turned $50 deposit and $200 bonus into $1500+. Fortune Lounge because of the wire payment deadline back in early 2007. They lied like they couldnt find away to pay me. But they did (by wire) after 6 weeks of run around. And finally JF with that firepay BS.

I think I am going to hang it up. Im gonna do a chargeback and let this be the end of my chapter. Its a gamble now to gamble.

[GaryWatson]

Thats unfortunate. I would have assumed the 6 months clause would give them sufficient time to complete a pending investigation. The investigation has been done to their satisfaction so that is a penalty clause. In that case, I dont think that is allowed

[Mousey]

What a crock of bull. Whatever has happened to Grand Prive? Once upon a time, they were one of the best....

Can someone explain what would be the problem in returning the player's deposit as s/he is locked out and was given a bonus Grand Prive decided they didn't want to give?

Telling the player s/he has an account at another GP casino.... Is Grand Prive saying this is equivalent to having mulitple accounts? (p.s.: As you've signed up at one of their casinos in the past, I think they now use the same log in info across all casinos.)

[Nifty29]

Methinks it may have something to do with the fact that Grand Prive now has a single sign-in e.g. by email address which is used at all GP casinos. So, if you create an account at ANY of the casinos in the group, it established ONE account across the board. If you then go and sign up through a different casino in the group, you effectively have created multiple accounts and therefor claimed the same signup bonus a second time.....but maybe you knew that...???

However, GP really suck IMHO and the fact they are holding on to the cash for 6 months is a load of baloney. Ive never charged back, but in this case I would do it.

[paul02085]

What a bunch of thieves. If they are so damned worried about people signing up at multiple sites why dont they create a mechanism to stop the people from doing it? Hell i might have played at one of their sites 4 yrs ago and have no idea which other ones they own. IMO its just a cheap rogue way to steal peoples deposits.
RTG would be proud of you Grand Prive.

[vinylweatherman]

Methinks it may have something to do with the fact that Grand Prive now has a single sign-in e.g. by email address which is used at all GP casinos. So, if you create an account at ANY of the casinos in the group, it established ONE account across the board. If you then go and sign up through a different casino in the group, you effectively have created multiple accounts and therefor claimed the same signup bonus a second time.....but maybe you knew that...???

However, GP really suck IMHO and the fact they are holding on to the cash for 6 months is a load of baloney. Ive never charged back, but in this case I would do it.

Complain to eCogra first, a chargeback has to be the LAST resort.

Grand Prive tried this one before with a player who THEY deemed to be under age, even though it was LEGAL for her to play elsewhere. They told her she had to wait till she became of age before she could withdraw what remained of her balance. This went on for ages, and was documented on the forum. In the end, eCogra made then return the deposit. Since this is all you want, you should also be able to get a similar ruling from eCogra.

Had you been intent on "bonus abuse", surely you would have deposited only $100, got the $100 bonus, and THEN had some big Blackjack bets.

Their "multiple account" issue is BS, UNLESS they have a one bonus per group policy and you already had the bonus in 2006, or this sign-up was AGAIN at Lake Palace, the same casino as in 2006.

Their weird system is unique, and I have not seen this at any other MG casino. I expect they are using systems similar to sportsbooks, where the balance is held in a general purse, and appears in whatever of the 5 skins you play in with your single sign-in.

The question is "How clear were the terms about this?". Given that some players may sign up to another Grand Prive skin, having had one from before they had the group sign-in, were the guidance notes, and terms and conditions clear on the fact that if they had already signed up to another skin, they must use these old details to access the new skins, and not create a new registration.

Because of some obscure bugs in their unique system, you would have got the bonus anyway, as it will trigger in all five skins provided you make a $100 deposit from within each skin's OWN banking page.

Their line about bonuses in all 5 seems odd, since they spam the **** out of me for individual skins, as well as "Big Dollar", which is still them, even though they deny it One of their big selling points is the "signature bonus", where they will invite players to have the bonus in the four other skins if they sign up at one, the "bug" seems to be that you get it anyway, even if not "invited" - just don't WIN with it

I suspect it was the $25 BLACKJACK play that got your account locked, and later investigation found the links to an account in 2006, so they found an excuse not to pay, and stall for 6 months - which would neatly place your complaint "out of time" with eCogra, although they would probably deal with it if after the 6 months they confiscated the winnings and balance rather than releasing them to you as promised.

MG do seem to be turning worse though, this is simply following a trend among MG groups where they are pulling these RTG like stunts. What this has mainly done is reduce MG to a brand "just like the others" - it no longer has the credibility it once had as a software brand players could rely on not to get ripped off. Players now have to research MG casinos with the same due dilligence as they have to apply to RTG and Playtech.

Casinos feel they can get away with more for US players, since these players are already doing something they are not supposed to, and are far less likely to go to the authorities since this will mean admitting to gambling online, and any complaint, such as making a chargeback, would likely cause their accounts to come under closer scrutiny, leading to them being unable to continue to make gambling related deposits and withdrawals through their bank, however well disguised.

[mishun]

Well...I just called and cancelled all my debit cards. Except the one im charging back on. I closed my quicktender account and asked that it NEVER EVER be reopen again. I closed my e-mail address that I get casino promotions from. I am dead serious. I QUIT THIS BS. GOD GIVE ME THE WILL NOT TO GO BACK, PLEASE!!! ITS NO LONGER WORTH IT. 1) Im tired of losing money that i've already had. 2) The table games are questionable 3) Im tired of waiting 4 weeks or more for checks. 4) Im tired of paying fees for QT deposits & withdrawals 5) These casinos are broke and struggling and gonna get worst with the pullout of Germany. 6) IT'S JUST TIME TO STOP!

MR or MRS CASINO, I GIVE UP! YOU WIN! YOU HAVE BROKEN MY SPIRIT. I AM NOW FREE FROM THE LIES AND MISERY. I USED TO COUNT ON YOU TO HELP PAY FOR THIS OR THAT. NOT ANYMORE, PAUL! GET IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE THIS PETER IS GONE...AND I FUCKING MEANT IT!

[footdr]

You are entitled to the bonus when a new player, at each of the casinos. The problem may be that you played BJ. Normally, BJ excluded from bonus, or has different playthrough rules.

I never play anything except slots until playthrough met. Never had a problems like the ones you have had and have played for over 3 years.

[RobWin]

Mishun, did you check to see if BJ was allowed for the playthru requirements?...as for myself I have never had any problem with this group at all and I have an account at all of the casinos within their group. I have been payed faster by this MG group than any other one out there...it has been no longer than six hours at the longest to get my cashin back to my QT account for the past year...

I also took a bonus at all of their casinos too...so just wondering if this does in fact have to do with you playing BJ...but I still can not understand for the life of me why in the world they would hold your account up for six months, this definitely seems extreme !!

[aka23]

You are entitled to the bonus when a new player, at each of the casinos.

In May 2007 they changed it to 1 bonus among the group of casino. This is listed in the terms. In any case, the player should certainly recover the money from unfinished bets.

Regarding some MG becoming rogues, there is no doubt that MGs as a whole are not as reputable as they were in the past. A summary of various issues in the past couple years is below:

Fortune Lounge -- Locked thousands of accounts and confiscated winnings from many players. It was temporarily put on rogue list here. As of this week, a player reported that they are still up to their old tricks with confiscated winnings.

Casino Rewards -- Players have had winnings denied for using autoplay, "irregular betting", and various other things. It is known for bonus banning players who sign up at more than 1 casino, or more accurately seeming to give bonuses, but not letting players recover them.

MiniVegas -- Has a history of making cashouts awkward and blaming "fraud rings." Many players have reported being unable to withdraw via Neteller or other method used to make their deposit and being forced to choose an alternative, which may have fees. It almost seems like they are intentionally making cashouts awkward. At least one player had winnings confiscated for "serial promotions abuse."

Grand Prive -- See first post in this thread. Also some incidents in the past that I don't recall the full details. I believe it related to problems claiming bonsues.

Jackpot Factory -- Had poor promotions incident awhile back... Playing slots cured my cancer type of advertising. No recent incidents that I am aware of.

Prime Casino -- A few bad incidents at their startup including illegally removing players' winnings from their Neteller accounts and starting a thread here listing my real name.

Casino Action -- Was suspended from eCOGRA accreditation this week, for unclear reasons