JF is closing off the US to NEW registrations

[Simmo!]

Bit more info on the Flash situation. From Star Partner (Golden Riviera, River Nile, Crazy Vegas etc)

On Wednesday all flash and progressive play will be blocked for all US players. This would include Progressives Jackpots in Viper; Flash play as Guest; real based on IP. Play for fun only if casinos won’t be barred from playing.

[Webzcas]

Happy to help

It still would be nice for them to actually have emailed me back to assure me this is indeed the case.

Anyhow. That is good news that they are indeed keeping a toe in the US Market.

Well, it seems your communication with FL at least brought this thread to their attention, Webzcas!

I have been approached by a Fortune Lounge manager who has denied that the group is planning to exit the US market on December 1st

He has confirmed that new US signups are being blocked, and that blocks have also been placed on progressive play and Flash action for US players.

I'm happy to post a correction to keep the record straight.

BTW, I took the opportunity to make the point that failure to communicate with your players can only result in speculation, alarm and frustraion from the folks who put the bread on the table and should therefore be the top priority.

[vinylweatherman]

Well, it seems your communication with FL at least brought this thread to their attention, Webzcas!

I have been approached by a Fortune Lounge manager who has denied that the group is planning to exit the US market on December 1st

He has confirmed that new US signups are being blocked, and that blocks have also been placed on progressive play and Flash action for US players.

I'm happy to post a correction to keep the record straight.

BTW, I took the opportunity to make the point that failure to communicate with your players can only result in speculation, alarm and frustraion from the folks who put the bread on the table and should therefore be the top priority.

Too Little, too late.

What about TODAYS bit of "screw tightening" from BelleRock, where an EXISTING player has been told it is not "Dec 1st", but RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!

Belle Rock have not told players this, and presumably this player found out from hearing about FLASH being blocked, and followed the advice to use Viper, only to find HIS ass had been having the smoke treatment, as according to BelleRock, it was their "Gaming License" that forced their hand.

Now that we have been told that FL are aware of this issue, they will be held to account should they pull any "stunts" with their US players having stated to Jetset:-

[B]I have been approached by a Fortune Lounge manager who has denied that the group is planning to exit the US market on December 1st

This does slightly change my advice, which for FL casinos (US players) is:-

Play off any bonuses, redeem any comps (remember, these have NO WR, and are CASH), and withdraw all balances during the week preceding Dec 1st, however, hold off from actually uninstalling FL, and try instead to access the accounts after Dec 1st to check that there has been no override forced by MGS (which they currently deny, but which I suspect is likely to be the case).

For those FLASH players locked out today, and with no official comment as to WHY they can't use FLASH, but MAY use VIPER (except in the case of BelleRock), try VIPER IMMEDIATELY, just in case this further tightening is not just related to BelleRock.

US players who have NOT been officially informed that they are blocked from VIPER, but merely experience "technical issues", then it is possible to obtain most VIPER download starters, as they are very small files, and can be sent via Email attachments. This should work UNTIL a full block on VIPER is implemented by MGS, or the casino operator (depends on whose "smoke" your ass finds most credible ).

This is exposing the industry for what is is. They (for the most part) don't give a flying *&^% about the PLAYERS, it's a little different for AFFILIATES though, they bring the players, and best not piss them off or they just might promote another brand altogether.
MGS is a PRIVATE company, so they do NOT have to worry about stock market rules when making announcements, so there should be nothing stopping them from being open.
MGS should remember that this episode is being documented in real time on several internet forums, and while they may get away with "spin" on a day to day basis, an analysis in hindsight next year will enable a full trail of each statement, announcement (or lack thereof) against actual actions, or lack thereof. It will be possible to accurately identify who lied to whom, and when (if not necessarily why). It should be possible to work out who KNEW what and when, but deliberately pretended not to, or tried to blame another party.

They should also consider the possibility of legal action from PLAYERS for punitive damages that resulted from any deliberate withholding of information, or any lies told that caused players to lose money by acting on them. This would most likely take the form of a class action, similar to that taken against Neteller for LYING about the true state of affairs regarding the funds "in limbo" after all US accounts were blocked overnight. I do not know what became of this, but it must have had Neteller worried, and they managed to negotiate a ransom with the DoJ that involved repayment of the funds as well as the release of the hostages. IF MGS become the subject of such an action, it will inhibit them should the change of administration pave the way for quick re-entry into the US market, leaving it wide open for it's competitors for some while.

[catrina m]

It is time to sit back and watch

I think I will take a break from microgaming, maybe all of them.

Tunica is close enough that the money I save from online will give me a nice weekend where they give out real comps.

[RobWin]

With regards to the Fortune Lounge Group where I have been playing for the last eight or so years, I just had a chat with one of their VIP Reps there and this is what I was told...

Looks to me like this is an individual group decision and not a widespread MGS decision as David Brickman had first mentioned...

Connecting to server...

[Welcome Message]
Welcome to the Support Desk.

An operator will be with you shortly. Please have your account number ready.

Waiting for available agent...
Found available agent: MCC agent. You can chat now.

MCC agent: Good day, you are chatting to Valinteno - how may I help you?

RobWin: My account number is frvr00000000

MCC agent: How would you like me to assist you with this account of yours.

RobWin: I've been hearing a lot of talk on the various internet casino forums that MGS are pulling out of the US market...will I still be able to play here ??

MCC agent: By all means yes. We are not taking on any NEW registrations from the USA to our group, but existing Players from the USA are still able to play.

RobWin: And there are no plans of dumping the existing players ??

MCC agent: Not at all, we are still servicing our existing Players from the USA.

RobWin: That sounds great and I appreciate your help

MCC agent: It's a great pleasure.

RobWin: ok, talk soon

MCC agent: Is there anything else that I can help you with?

RobWin: No, that was all, you have a good day

MCC agent: Thank you for playing at the Fortune Lounge Group and have a fantastic day!!!!!


Chat session ended.

Chat session ended.

It could also be that I am a special type of Fish that they don't want to lose as a customer too though...

[Pinababy69]

Just to play Devil's Advocate here (Spear, where are you?)....Rob, do you think they would tell you NOW, if they were going to shut off the U.S. players two weeks, or a month from now? Forthrightness does not seem to be one of the attibrutes of too many of these casinos lately. Just the other side of the coin is all. And where is the Fortune Lounge rep? And David for that matter? To put it in print here that they have NO intentions of dropping U.S. players anytime soon.

EDIT: I knew I forgot something, lol. Rob, can you check your download software at one of the FL casinos and let us know if you can access any Progressive games? And also check your account at any of the FL flash casinos?

[RobWin]

Just to play Devil's Advocate here (Spear, where are you?)....Rob, do you think they would tell you NOW, if they were going to shut off the U.S. players two weeks, or a month from now? Forthrightness does not seem to be one of the attibrutes of too many of these casinos lately. Just the other side of the coin is all. And where is the Fortune Lounge rep? And David for that matter? To put it in print here that they have NO intentions of dropping U.S. players anytime soon.

EDIT: I knew I forgot something, lol. Rob, can you check your download software at one of the FL casinos and let us know if you can access any Progressive games? And also check your account at any of the FL flash casinos?

Yea, I just did that a few minutes ago and I am still good to go...I can still access it all...like I said, I must be that special type of Fish that they want to keep !!

[jas2587]

I just logged into River Belle
an played Tunzamunni n/p

played at Royal Vegas
last night did a nice cashout
sooo we will see

Cindy

[cynthial]

From Fortune Lounge Group today.
So they are still cranking out the US Player enticements.


Dear Cynthia,

It has been some time since you last played with us, but if you play this week, we’ll reward you with a 70% bonus.

At 7Sultans the fun never stops!

* This 70% bonus applies to the sum of all your deposits up to $100 made between November 12, 2008 - November 17, 2008, (23:59 EST).

* Make your deposit and we'll credit your account within 4 hours.

* It's your choice whether you use your bonus on one Fortune Lounge account or split it up between your Fortune Lounge accounts.

[sdaddy]

Yea, I just did that a few minutes ago and I am still good to go...I can still access it all...like I said, I must be that special type of Fish that they want to keep !!

I'm thinking the same thing: that perhaps some valued players from the U.S. will keep access to progressive games. At three different MG groups where I'm a VIP, I haven't seen any change yet.