Issue #178
weekly
Dear Reader,
I'm back on track and running with the flow. It's been hell getting caught up, but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I believe it's not a train. This is great! My life is beginning to seem normal again, more time to be jammin' some new reggae beats, checking out my DVD collection, or playing Candyland with the kids. Hope things are swell with you too.
Relaxingly yours,
Bryan
In this issue:
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This is a lot of friggin' money.
Now the player has been accused of using software, or a "robot" to accentuate his play. This is strictly forbidden in Hampton Casino's terms and conditions. The worst thing is that this player, P21, has admitted it via a taped phone conversation. Who taped the conversation? The casino did without the player's knowledge, and the player did the same to the casino without the casino's knowledge.
Both the player and the casino have posted bits and pieces of this conversation in cyberland: P21 claiming he was hoodwinked into confessing, the casino claiming the confession is good enough. Both P21 and Hamptons casino have been thrown into a lion's den, our forum, where both positions have been turned upside down, dissected, ripped apart, sewn shut, kicked across the floor, and opened up again.
And it ain't nowhere near resolved. Question: how will this be resolved? There is no way in hell that players will let this one go. The amount of money involved is one thing, but where is the regulating entity? There is NOT one. Players of these casinos have no protection, no safety net to catch them when they fall -- and it goes both ways, the casino has no one to turn to, to prove their case. Hamptons Casino is "licensed" in Panama. Where is this "authority" that should be stepping in to solve or resolve this matter? And Hamptons casino should be kicking themselves in the fourth point of contact (an old paratrooper term), by having been licensed here. One would guess that at this stage, the casino would also approach their licensing agency to protect them against fraudulent claims, or to act as an official regulator; someone to give us an authoritative voice. But I believe the Panamanian licensing agency is about as worthless as the Costa Rican one. Prove me wrong please.
The bottom line is, no matter how convincing the tape is (and it is if you have heard the entire 30 minutes - I have), the players need to be presented tangible evidence via a trusted third party who has expertise in this matter. Unfortunately, the casino waited too long to respond; the players' trust is a fragile one. And the damage has been done: Hamptons Casino will always be remembered by the players as the casino that didn't pay a dude $1.3 million because of a stupid rule.
And a stupid rule it is. Microgaming has "robots" built into their software, allowing players to go into autopilot, grab a beer or hot cup o' java while their computer plays away. Go Vortran, go!! But what the hell, that's no fun! I play because I like to play. I use good game play and strategy; I know what I'm doing. But I also go on hunches as well. After a certain number of crappy hands, I'll up the bet 5 or sometimes 10 fold, just so long as my bankroll can handle it. WHAM I hit it big, or I end up staring at .77 cents left in my account...that's why they call it gambling.
Casinos expect this, the erring human factor. Why do you think they serve you free drinks in Vegas? Someone's got to pay the lighting bills there. I spoke to Hampton Casino's manager Ron Lewin over the phone the other day, and he explained that this is one of the reasons they do not allow robot play. He wants to ensure that it's a human on the other end, someone enjoying the casino action, someone making judgement calls - playing on hunches, someone who is likely to error in the casino's favor. This is what they do in Vegas, this is what they do at Hamptons.
This is what the industry is all about.
Even so. It's still a stupid rule. Robots can be programed to play perfect strategy, but they can still lose. They don't "see" the cards on the other side of the table, they are only there as pseudo people. But it's the casino's prerogative to have this rule. And if you break the rules, all bets are off.
Anyway, here is my take on the whole situation:
The player did something that no one can figure out - it wasn't luck - something was manipulated - that's my gut feeling. No one has ever won this much money EVER on this game. As far as I know, P21 played this game exclusively over the past few months at RTG casinos. He is the only person making these sort of winnings.
Hampton's had the same gut feeling and called P21's bluff. P21 realized that he was caught, 'fessed up, and tried to cut a deal for $300,000. But he insisted that the casino would reveal how he was caught. The casino remained tight lipped.
Next: P21's significant other may have found out later that day and commenced to kick some serious butt -- P21's. P21 was convinced to change his story.
The next day, P21 claimed to be duped -- that he was tricked into confessing -- that there is no robot -- that he has been misunderstood and taken advantage of. He was merely playing the games. And so it goes.
DaveR, a long time respected member of our forum mentioned the following scenario in our message board:
What an industry. Oh, what a mess.
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3. This week's humor
From the archives:
A snail slithered into a bar, climbed up to the counter and said to the barkeep, "I'll have a beer please."
The bartender picked him up and without saying a word, threw the hapless snail out the window.
Two years later, the same snail slithered back into the bar, climbed back up to the counter and said to the barkeep, "What did you do that for?"
Government Verbosity:
Pythagorean theorem: 24 words.
The Lord's prayer: 66 words.
Archimedes' Principle: 67 words.
The 10 Commandments: 179 words.
The Gettysburg address: 286 words.
The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words.
U.S. Government regulations on cabbage sales: 26,911 words.
Ha ha ha ha
CASINO CAUTIONS
Going, going, gone?
Posts are appearing on the Internet from worried players to whom ProPoker.com is alleged to owe money. They are concerned at the lack of response to their emails asking about the following "For Sale" info on this site:
"Notice: ProPoker is now up for sale.
All parties interested please email management@propoker.com"
In the interests of a balanced report we invited comments on what will happen to client accounts and monies owed in the event of a sale, and whether the owners are leaving the industry or moving on to some other form of Got2bet. This reasonable question has received no response and we would therefore advise caution around this operation until the situation is clearer...and they communicate.
Don't bank on this
Online gamers with long memories or good research talent will recognise the name Jack Banks from the notorious multi-million dollar fraud charges several years ago. Information coming to hand this week would suggest that these folks may be touting new software and re-entering the industry.
The following brands are suspected of being involved:
Getacut (white label program)
iGaming Network (no download Java, 40 game software)
Gcash
g.cash
galaxiworld
Telton Ltd.
Jack Banks aka Banques was convicted of bank fraud and securities fraud in relation to founding Galaxiworld several years ago and was punished by what was referred to at the time as a "...mere slap on the wrist". His daughter Esther Willinger nee Banks seems to be involved in his businesses and runs marketing operations. Information from reliable sources indicates that the following casinos are probably involved and should therefore be approached with care.
ivegas.com
goldencairocasino.com
galaxine.com
galaxiworld.com
casino.centurion.net
casino.getacut.com
Does Antigua care?
Players and portalmasters alike continue to look askance at the Antiguan gaming directorate's continued silence on the Odds On - Forty Plus closure affair, and complaints have now been submitted to several governments. Odds On has offices in Antigua and appears to be licensed there despite its other premises in Costa Rica and Toronto, yet Antiguan gaming director Ron Maginley has apparently told enquirers that Odds On's involvement in the Forty Plus affair is outside his remit. At least one outraged player is said to be pressing Maginley on the issue, thus far without a reply. Forty Plus abruptly closed last year leaving players unpaid, and after some pressure and three months Odds On made arrangements for aggrieved players to receive credits at English Harbour Casino. Questions are being asked about the ownership links between the two companies, and about the questionable manner in which Odds On handled the Forty Plus issue. Antigua and the USA are currently at loggerheads in a dispute before the WTO on the impact of U.S. actions on Antigua as a fee-earning gambling jurisdiction. It would seem that some players have been paid and others not, a worrying scenario in an issue that has dragged on for far too long.
Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa news service.
Complaints? Kudos? Please let me know.
Peace
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Bryan Bailey Webmeister Casinomeister |  |