Big Thumbs Up for the Fortune Lounge Group

[dirk_dangerous]

Ive been critical of the Fortune Lounge group in the past. Most of my criticism was directed at their security procedures and their frequent requests for all manner of documents.

However, it appears theyve worked most if not all of these problems out. Cash-outs are now smooth and quick, promotions are good and frequent. Best of all, this group does not sweat their winners. Other online casinos could learn a lesson or two from Fortune lounge.

Fortune Lounge group includes:

7Sultans
Vegas Villa
Vegas Palms
Royal Vegas
Platinum Play

 

[LRDell]

Withdrawals not great for everyone, iffy "VIP" services

Dirk:

I must differ with you on a couple of points. I have been a loyal 7 Sultans player (promoted to VIP status some time ago) and had several nice cashouts. But because I cannot use Neteller in my state and use Firepay or CLick2Pay, I am subjected to waiting periods of several days for my cashouts, despite running many thousands of dollars through their banking with 0 problems. BelleRock group processes these withdrawals to my Firepay account the next day.

I have also recently asked them to increase my Click2Pay limit, which according to Click2Pay should have been the click of a button and an email. Despite many apologies and several email exhanges, as far as I know they still have not been able to accomplish this.

For the moment I have stopped playing there, but I hope to be able to go back at some time in the future.

 

[sw2003]

This is rather peculiar. NETeller is not allowed but but Firepay and Click2Pay are?
What is the logic behind this?

 

[LRDell]

Has something to do with banking regulations in my state. I have checked back with them several times since this seems to be the vastly preferred method, and they told me that there are several states they cannot operate in without registering as a bank. Don't know how the others do it.

 

[dirk_dangerous]

Dirk:

I must differ with you on a couple of points.

Sorry to hear about your problems. Fortunately, I am able to use Neteller. Unfortunately, the problems youve described sound similar to the problems I used to have with the FL group. I was basing my judgment on my recent experiences with the group. Currently, I find their customer service to be very responsive; that wasn't always the case in the past.

I have been publicly critical of this group in the past, so I felt I should also give them credit for what I've perceive to be service above and beyond adequate. No business if perfect and hopefully the problems youre having are just glitches.

 

[jpm]

But how does bellerock treat you as far as VIP status?? I found that to be non-existant there and FL's treatment to be head & shoulders above them and everyone else.

 

[LRDell]

Some examples of BelleRock VIP treatment

JPM:

You are correct that BelleRock does not have a VIP program by that name, but I have found they treat their loyal patrons very well. For example, my husband and I will be sitting in 2 $100 seats to Phantom of the Opera next month (this was a special treat of my choice). I have received a beautiful wooden gaming set from them, I currently have two catalogs to select my next gifts from (my best guess is one is items from $10 - $30 and the other has items from $25 - $100).

And most importantly for me - they process my Firepay payments almost as quickly as they would Neteller.

I can't really think of any great benefit I have received from being a VIP with FL (other than the special VIP 800 number which connects to customer service). Can you give some examples of what you feel you have gotten from being a VIP with them?

 

[sw2003]

VIP customers? Does it mean you have to lose thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to earn that kind of honor?

 

[jpm]

Thanks LRDell,

FL's VIP program has the 800 number as you mentioned, for dedicated support. They also give better comps on your game play based on your VIP level. Also, they recently went around the country here in the US and with their VIP road tour and treated us to dinner at local 5 star restaurants, along with a couple hundred bonus for attending and then a drawing at the dinner with more bonus money up to $1000. They also would give me some comps when I had a run of bad luck, just had to ask. And there would be the occassional match bonus. Bellerock has done none of these things for me, and I've wagered $100K+ easily over the course of a couple of months, and lost a few thousand there and the only thing they did was give me 3 $100 match bonuses with high wagering requirements (Lost 1 entirely before finishing).

Not a damn thing else, no catalogs, no gifts, tickets, comps. Nada. Oh, and all my BuckstoBid money expired worthless because they didn't bother to mention that was being discontinued until a week or so before it went away. And at that point, there was ridiculously high bids on stuff that was worthless to me so that was gone. Did you get any of those things thru the bucks2bid or directly from them? And if you don't mind saying what kind of wagering and losses you've done there?

 

[jpm]

VIP customers? Does it mean you have to lose thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to earn that kind of honor?

No, actually you don't have to lose any, but you do have to wager I think $25k/month or more at FL.

 

[sw2003]

No, actually you don't have to lose any, but you do have to wager I think $25k/month or more at FL.

May be you haven't got anything from BelleRock is exactly because you haven't lost enough! There is no free lunch!

 

[jpm]

Well that's what I was thinking, but I'd think that a few thousand in losses would be enough for at least an occassional $100 bonus! That's hardly unreasonable. I think their loyalty program for regular players like me just plain sucks. Their marketing people don't even reply to questions, assuming the CSR actually forwards it to them when they tell me they do. At FL, I can contact the casino host or VIP folks directly via email or phone and I get a prompt reply.

 

[ftg]

They also give better comps on your game play based on your VIP level.

Speaking of the comp programs, I don't find FLs attractive at all.

"For every $1 wagered on Slots and Keno, Club Members will earn 1 Fortune Point. Similarly, for every $2.50 wagered on Table Games and Video Poker, Club Members will earn 1 Fortune Point." (and 1000 fortune points convert to $1)

which measn for every $2,500 wagered, FL gives you $1 (For Gold VIPs, they give you 10% more which means $1.1 and Plantinum VIPs $1.25) while many others would give you $2.5 at the entry level.

So for example if I have to achieve Plantinum status (75,000 comp points), I have to wager 75,000 x 2.5 = $187,000 on table games and I will get $75 besides the status. If I wager the same amount in other casinos, they would give me $187. What a big difference!

And I just wonder how many of us can wager $187,000 every month to maintain the vip status.

Anyway, I do like their consolidation of the comp points into a single primary casino account.

 

[dirk_dangerous]

Some of the reasons I like the Fortune Lounge group:

Weekly bonus offers: real money bonuses with reasonable wagering requirements

VIP support: when you contact them, they actually deal with your problem

Extra loyalty points throughout the year: 2 or 3 times a year, they add extra loyalty points worth $50-$100 to my account

No fuss, no muss payment processing. Deposits and withdrawals are handled quickly. No Golden Riviera style, wait 2 months to be paid, nonsense.

I was also invited to one of the stops on their dinner tour of the U.S., but I couldnt make it. Judging by the reports Ive read, these dinners were a big hit.


Gifts are nice, but I say show me the money. Id rather have bonus money than gifts any day of the week. Im always playing for that next Royal, so give a few extra dollars to do it with and Im a happy player.

 

[jpm]

Speaking of the comp programs, I don't find FLs attractive at all.

Well I never said it was attractive, unless you're a slots player. I like VP, so it does take alot more play than a slots player to maintain your vip level. I was just saying that the comps get better if you are a VIP here.

Best comps around are at Big Dollar, and its the same on whatever game you play.

 

[LRDell]

Numbers for JPM's request

Did you get any of those things thru the bucks2bid or directly from them? And if you don't mind saying what kind of wagering and losses you've done there?

JPM:

No, I did not participate with the Bucks2Bid program, or most of the other silly promotions (scratch cards were a big bust as far as I was concerned). I went back and ran my numbers for the last couple of months. For July and August at Riverbelle and Lucky Nugget I deposited $16,521, wagered $202,894, and withdrew $17,700. If I were smarter in when and how much I withdrawal, I would have had 2-3000 more in withdrawals. I am still learning.

I probably did lose more when I first started with them in the fall, but I am holding my own now with them and most places. They have not changed how they treat me since I have been winning.

 

[jpm]

JPM:
No, I did not participate with the Bucks2Bid program, or most of the other silly promotions (scratch cards were a big bust as far as I was concerned). I went back and ran my numbers for the last couple of months. For July and August at Riverbelle and Lucky Nugget I deposited $16,521, wagered $202,894, and withdrew $17,700. If I were smarter in when and how much I withdrawal, I would have had 2-3000 more in withdrawals. I am still learning.

Interesting info, thanks LRDell. I'll have to go back and look at my numbers, but it looks like you were doing a bit more business there than I was. Still pretty good that you came out ahead, even if only a bit ahead.