Boss Media's statement on the "snaffled jackpots" allegations, received this morning:
In response to your question regarding progressive dollar amounts from a
discontinued in-house progressive slot program, we appreciate that we were
asked for a statement on this matter and are happy to address these
concerns.
Many in-house progressives in Gold Pirate Slot and Caribbean Poker were
discontinued on July 1, 2002 to allow for the initiation of the multi-linked
progressive program. This new program is designed to offer players
outstanding jackpot sizes that will compliment any land-based casino. At the
time of introduction, casinos using Boss Media software had an individual
progressive. For accounting reasons, the starting value of the new
multi-linked progressive had to be set at a fresh starting value with all
participating casinos joining equally. In addition to accounting restraints,
it was not possible to add an individual progressive to a main progressive
for license agreement reasons.
With the absence of precedence regarding the closing of one in-house
progressive to then begin a new value added multi-linked progressive on the
exact machine or game type, it was thought at the time of closing the first
program that players would clearly recognize that the new progressive
platform would enhance their over all enjoyment of the games as the jackpots
would grow substantially quicker. To this end, we believed that in order to
enhance our gaming products and begin offering our gaming customers a truly
better progressive structure that it was vital to start the new program with
all casinos joining from the very beginning as this would be in the best
interest of the players.
However, thanks to player concerns and notations on this matter, we do
recognize our oversight as to the perception of the players that removal of
the old progressed values could be construed as misappropriation of such
values. Therefore, Boss Media and our licensees announce the following
course of action for the benefit our customers:
a)
By Friday November 29, 2002, all Boss Media casinos that opted to join the
new multi-linked progressive program will post on their websites the exact
value of the exact stated value that was removed on the date the progressive
switch occurred. The value presented is the total progressive amount less
the casinos initial seed of the Gold Pirates slot program and Caribbean
Poker program in that selected casino.
b)
To assure the public of our accountability, Boss Media will openly invite
PriceWaterhouseCoopers and all gaming commissions, of which Boss Media is an
approved software supplier, to examine our logs to ensure that we are
stating the correct values to the public.
c)
To ensure that loyal players of a particular casino had the chance to win
the discontinued progressed amount, we will seek and find all players that
won the first jackpot during the new program in each casino. The first
winner of the Caribbean Royal Flush Jackpot or Gold Pirates .25, .50, $1 and
$5 denominations in each casino will be paid an additional win amounting to
the exact funds that were removed from that casino. Specifically, this
amount is the stated progression in the game at the time of the removal less
the casino's seed amount. (The seed amount and new progressed funds were
already paid to the winning player.)
d)
In the event a player has not won a jackpot to this point in a particular
casino's Gold Pirate .25 .50, $1 or $5 machine or the Caribbean Poker Royal
Flush Jackpot, then that casino will post on its website a notation to the
public stating the additional funds that may be won if a player should win
on the selected Gold Pirate denomination or the Caribbean Poker Royal Flush
Jackpot.
e)
To further assure the public of our accountability, Boss Media will openly
invite PriceWaterhouseCoopers and all gaming commissions of which Boss Media
is an approved software supplier to examine our gaming logs to ensure that
the players that are due the additional win amounts are paid and that the
gaming was genuine.
f)
Lastly, as is common in online gaming, each casino will post the winners
(public screen name only) on their website. These names will remain public
for 30 days.
Boss Media wishes to thank our licensees and players for their understanding
regarding our unintentional oversight.
Kind regards,
Anna Kristin
VP Customer Relations
Boss Media AB
Vaxjo, Sweden
In response to your question regarding progressive dollar amounts from a
discontinued in-house progressive slot program, we appreciate that we were
asked for a statement on this matter and are happy to address these
concerns.
Many in-house progressives in Gold Pirate Slot and Caribbean Poker were
discontinued on July 1, 2002 to allow for the initiation of the multi-linked
progressive program. This new program is designed to offer players
outstanding jackpot sizes that will compliment any land-based casino. At the
time of introduction, casinos using Boss Media software had an individual
progressive. For accounting reasons, the starting value of the new
multi-linked progressive had to be set at a fresh starting value with all
participating casinos joining equally. In addition to accounting restraints,
it was not possible to add an individual progressive to a main progressive
for license agreement reasons.
With the absence of precedence regarding the closing of one in-house
progressive to then begin a new value added multi-linked progressive on the
exact machine or game type, it was thought at the time of closing the first
program that players would clearly recognize that the new progressive
platform would enhance their over all enjoyment of the games as the jackpots
would grow substantially quicker. To this end, we believed that in order to
enhance our gaming products and begin offering our gaming customers a truly
better progressive structure that it was vital to start the new program with
all casinos joining from the very beginning as this would be in the best
interest of the players.
However, thanks to player concerns and notations on this matter, we do
recognize our oversight as to the perception of the players that removal of
the old progressed values could be construed as misappropriation of such
values. Therefore, Boss Media and our licensees announce the following
course of action for the benefit our customers:
a)
By Friday November 29, 2002, all Boss Media casinos that opted to join the
new multi-linked progressive program will post on their websites the exact
value of the exact stated value that was removed on the date the progressive
switch occurred. The value presented is the total progressive amount less
the casinos initial seed of the Gold Pirates slot program and Caribbean
Poker program in that selected casino.
b)
To assure the public of our accountability, Boss Media will openly invite
PriceWaterhouseCoopers and all gaming commissions, of which Boss Media is an
approved software supplier, to examine our logs to ensure that we are
stating the correct values to the public.
c)
To ensure that loyal players of a particular casino had the chance to win
the discontinued progressed amount, we will seek and find all players that
won the first jackpot during the new program in each casino. The first
winner of the Caribbean Royal Flush Jackpot or Gold Pirates .25, .50, $1 and
$5 denominations in each casino will be paid an additional win amounting to
the exact funds that were removed from that casino. Specifically, this
amount is the stated progression in the game at the time of the removal less
the casino's seed amount. (The seed amount and new progressed funds were
already paid to the winning player.)
d)
In the event a player has not won a jackpot to this point in a particular
casino's Gold Pirate .25 .50, $1 or $5 machine or the Caribbean Poker Royal
Flush Jackpot, then that casino will post on its website a notation to the
public stating the additional funds that may be won if a player should win
on the selected Gold Pirate denomination or the Caribbean Poker Royal Flush
Jackpot.
e)
To further assure the public of our accountability, Boss Media will openly
invite PriceWaterhouseCoopers and all gaming commissions of which Boss Media
is an approved software supplier to examine our gaming logs to ensure that
the players that are due the additional win amounts are paid and that the
gaming was genuine.
f)
Lastly, as is common in online gaming, each casino will post the winners
(public screen name only) on their website. These names will remain public
for 30 days.
Boss Media wishes to thank our licensees and players for their understanding
regarding our unintentional oversight.
Kind regards,
Anna Kristin
VP Customer Relations
Boss Media AB
Vaxjo, Sweden