Issue #279
weekly
Dear Reader,
It's freaking hot!
Faintly yours,
Bryan
In this issue:
Can't read this newsletter in HTML? Click here (or copy and paste this link into your browser): http://www.casinomeister.com/newsletter.html#skip for the bitchin' online version.
Situation: The player gets a bonus offer from Club Player Casino - an RTG casino affiliated with Cirrus Casino, Palace-of-Chance, Coolcat casino, and a number of other Costa Rican outfits. He deposits $20,000 USD in July of 2005 and makes a staggering collective win of $150,000 (after their sticky bonus was removed). The casino then proceeded to implement their terms and conditions for payouts: he was to be paid $2500 per week until his balance was 0.
They made two payments - one on 11 August and another on 12 September. In October of 2005, they amended their payout policy, adding a clause stating that inactive accounts (such as his) would be paid $1000 weekly at the discretion of the manager. In March, amount was again reduced to $500 per week at the manager's discretion.
This is from his complaint:
I should add that I have never been anything less than polite and professional to any employee of the Club Player Casino, even in the face of such childish tactics. As your site suggested, I submitted my problem to Montana Disputes almost two months ago. They didn't address the casinos modification of their weekly max, but managed to extract a promise from the casino to continue to make weekly payments broken immediately. I assure you this is not a joke. I have just discovered this resource and I would be very grateful for any assistance you can render. When stories like mine circulate, they cause embarrassment to the entire industry. I have gambled quite extensively on the internet and I am well aware that the vast majority of the industry treats their players respectfully and honestly. Club Player has done neither one. Thus far I have kept things entirely private but I am rapidly losing my patience.
I'd also like an apology.
So - it's a "wait and see" mode; wondering what's up and how this casino plans on sticking to its payment plan. What irks the hell out of me is that quite a number of casinos enforce these "payment plans" at whim. If they are clearly stated in the terms and conditions, then no problem. But if the casino fails to immediately credit back the deposit, and reneges on its agreement, well that is definitely roguish behavior. Players don't need the grief. Last week, there was even a Microgaming casino that had a "piece meal" payout scheme for a progressive win. C'mon, get with the program! You claim to be a casino, well act like one.
MORE STUFF
Spoke with Amit, the General Manager of the Virtual Casino Group. They are continually trying to clean up their image, and he wanted me to make sure I forward any complaints directly to him so he can get involved. So far there haven't been too many with this group of casinos. It's mostly the stories from ex-employees and others that have had personal encounters with them. It just creeps me out, that's all. But sure, if anyone has any problems with the Virtual Casino group - send them via PAB and I'll have Amit get it sorted.
This really sucks, not just for him, but for the entire industry. He and his partners are being brought up on specific charges which can be found here:
Federal Indictment
This is rattling the cages of probably most anyone who deals with sports betting and accepts bets over the telephone. This is against the law - no grey areas here, and if you think you are untouchable just think about David Carruthers and co. What gives the US Feds the right to nab a British citizen whose main business is not on US soil? Well it looks like he is breaking the law by accepting these bets from US players over the phone. The Feds allege that he is operating illegally and not paying US taxes on these wages. He has committed mail fraud by claiming that his casinos are "legally licensed and insured" (hmmm, where have we heard that before?). These are a number of other allegations.
One thing that bothers me is the following:
(23) On or about April 12,2006, BETONSPORTS PLC owned web site BETonSPORTS.COM solicited and accepted wagers from an individual residing in the State of Washington, in violation of that State's laws.
That's scary. Side note: it's a federal offense in the State of Washington to place bets on the Internet - this goes for casinos and pokerrooms. This could open up a whole can of worms if the Feds are able to make this stick. If Carruthers and co. are convicted of this - then everyone hold on to your hats - it's going to be crazy town. Are the feds going to start extraditing casino CEOs and owners to Washington state? Look out William Hill, you just might have a pending visit to a rainy place called Seattle. Stanley Ho? How's your English? Hope you've boned up on it pretty well because you might find yourself in a pickle if the Feds can pull this one off.Imagine what will happen if the Senate passes the anti-online gambling act this fall.
Calvin Ayre, CEO of Bodog, has stated that the Fed sting was BetOnSports specific and that his operations are completely different. He's probably safe as long as they aren't taking bets via phone lines. In fact, anyone who is doing this should not make this available to anyone residing in the states (especially from the "Evergreen State").
I'm glad I never really dealt with sports books, especially those in Costa Rica. They've always sort of creeped me out. I don't know what it is, something about seeing images of American Football, Basketball, and Baseball players on web sites gives me the heebie-jeebies. That ten foot pole just got longer.
You can now download the webcast as a MP3 file for your iPod or other MP3 player!! Now you can now listen to us at the gym, at the beach, while shopping, having sex, or on the train on the way to work. Isn't life grand?! You can download that here:
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Was Mr. Ed a horse - or was he actually a disguised Zebra from the Jungleland animal park in Thousand Oaks, California?
Ha! thought I pulled a fast one on some of you, since at Snopes.com there was an article on how the studio used a trained Zebra to act as Mr. Ed. It was a Red Herring. Congrats Jonas W. of Sweden - he's our winner of $50!!
This week's question:
What happened to Jimi Hendrix's guitar that he burnt at the Monterey Pop festival?
The first person who contacts me with the correct answer (with cited references) wins $50 or $50 worth of Beer. One entry per person (make sure it's correct) and please include your age and mailing address.
*If you've already won beer (or cash) during this beer fest, that's your share until next year. Don't bogart that beer my friend.
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There was an Italian, a German, and a Frenchman all on holiday in Saudi Arabia. They were busy partying drinking illegal beer when they were suddenly busted by the Saudi cops.
They stood trial the next day - were found guilty of illegal Beer consumption - and were to be punished by the traditional 20 lashes.
The judge told the Frenchman, "Before you receive your sentence, I will grant you one wish." The Frenchman thought for a moment and stated "I wish for a nice thick pillow to be strapped to my back before my lashings."
No problem - the judge ordered the guards to strap a pillow to the man's back. After the fifth lashing, the pillow exploded into a cloud of feathers and the French guy was victim to the following 15. Ouch.
It was the Italian's turn, and the judge asked him if he wished for something before his sentence was to be delivered. He said, "Yes, make it three thick pillows strapped to my back!"
The pillows were strapped on, and then the whipping began to commence. The pillows lasted until the eleventh blow when they exploded into a cloud of feathers and the Italian got the rest.
All eyes were on the German. The judge, feeling sorry for the other two said, "I'll tell you what, you may have two wishes before the lashings occur."
The German thought for a moment - then said, "For my first wish, I wish for 100 lashes."
"Oh my, said the judge. You may not survive the punishment."
"And for my second wish," continued the German, "I wish for the Italian to be strapped to my back."
ha ha ha
Complaints? Kudos? Please let me know.
Peace
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Bryan Bailey Webmeister Casinomeister |  |