INTEGRITY OR MARKETING PLOY?

11 January 2008

Virgin to return surplus progressive funds


Virgin Casino's announcement that it is to pay out some GBP 55 000 in surplus funds from discontinued progressive jackpots appears on the face of it to be a laudable attempt to distribute those funds to the players who created same. However, the company has put a marketing spin on the initiative which suggests otherwise.

The respected online gambling site presented the offer thus:

"Were you registered as a cash player at Virgin Casino before the 6th of November 2007?

"If the answer is yes, then for 5 days in January, you could grab your share of a staggering £55 000!

"That's right! We're giving away £11 000 a day for 5 days. There'll be 173 winners every day for 5 days and a total of 865 cash prizes to be won between 6th and the 10th January 2008. Happy New Year!

"Why is the 6th November 2007 so important? That was the date we took down our progressive games, Bananarama and Winner Takes All and as there was money that hadn't been won in the jackpot pool, we figured we should dish it out to all our players who had played before the 6th. It's your money after all!"

The blurb goes on to outline how players can claim this money - they must be cash players at Virgin before 6 November 2007 and play at least one cash hand on any game between 6 and 10 January 2008.

But....and it's a big but .....that does not qualify them for a share in the largesse. This qualifies players only for a place in a draw for a share of the largesse. "Winners will be chosen at random in a daily draw that will take place every day for 5 days between 7th and 11th January." the blurb informs.

Does that not exclude players with a claim to this money other than those chosen at random? This smacks of a marketing motive rather than a genuine attempt to distribute a GBP 55 000 defunct progressive surplus.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa