We are STILL being misinformed.
Many of these statements, INCLUDING those from on high, contradict the facts so far, and communications of intent/excuses from individual casino operators.
From the official MGS statement, they have formally dropped Intertops in the sh1t. MGS are saying that all that has happened so far was 100% down to the operators, thus it was 100% down to Intertops for deciding to give zero notice so that comp points and incomplete bonuses could be summarily confiscated using action by MGS as an excuse as to why they were unable to be more "fair" about it.
Microgaming is confident that its licensees will be dealing with their players and affiliates in a fair and reasonable manner. In any event, industry player protection bodies such as ECOGRA will be prepared as usual to assist any players who have complaints.
Bollocks
If I were Intertops management, I'd be pretty pissed off if it happened as you say. Other casino groups (such as JPF for example) gave their players ample notice before IP banning them, thus giving them the opportunity to play out loyalty pts/pending bonuses, etc.
MGS and Casinos,
QUIT LYING AND BLAMING EACH OTHER
IF accounts are closed, pay ALL MONIES owed, INCLUDING anything that has been earned, but happens to sit in a separate partition, such as loyalty points. BONUSES given in good faith, and accepted by players, should be paid out in normal circumstances - it is not the PLAYER'S fault they were offered something, and were locked out the following week, or even day.
As far as I can see, American players are being LIED to as to what is REALLY going on, and who knew what & when, and whose hands were tied or not by decisions made by the other party.
A proper investigation is needed into cases such as Intertops, to determine whether they INTENTIONALLY manipulated the developing situation in order to prevent US players from moving comps into their main balance, and play out any remaining WR to encash existing bonus credits (or leave them be and accept return of cash).
Jackpot Factory are now beginning to contradict themselves too. On the one hand, all are agreed that NEW registrations from the US will cease, but EXISTING players can continue.
Having said this, only a couple of days later the screw turns again, ever tightening.
On Wednesday all Flash and progressive play will be blocked for US players. This includes:
Progressives in Viper
Flash play as guest / Real / demo by US players, based on IP. This includes the Flash links Brightshare provides to affiliates
Play for fun only fun casinos wont be blocked
Don't even TRY to convince us this is "business as usual" for EXISTING US players, it is removal of over HALF the existing facility, and December 1st (the rumour) is looking more like FACT, and may even be optimistic.
I would not be surprised if after FLASH is disabled, and then progressives, that EXISTING US players will then be told that access to the remains of the VIPER download casino will be blocked, and that they need to withdraw any funds etc (altyhough I expect some, like intertops, will perform a "midnight drop" on these players, preventing them getting out their comps, bonuses, and even completing any outstanding MPV tournaments they have entered).
MGS US players might as well throw in the towel now, and get out WITH any comps, bonuses, etc, and avoiding the mass evacuation that will no doubt hold up withdrawals, and look at what develops in the market over Christmas, by which time it should be clearer as to what other operators, such as RTG and Rival, are going to do. Come January, and a new president fully installed, the focus should change, and UIGEA regulations, flawed or not, will probably receive no further attention.
US players must remember that this situation is developing similarly to the fiasco surrounding Neteller, who tried to reassure players that their funds were safe, and it was pretty much "business as usual". Overnight it changed, but Neteller lied from on high that they were actually PROCESSING the repatriation of funds, while in fact they were doing nothing of the sort pending a lengthly trading process with the DoJ for the release of 2 hostages
Cryptologic was the same, Saturday - US players were told that they could no longer claim the monthly bonus, but were reassured that other than this, they could deposit, play, and claim any other promotion. Monday came, and their accounts were frozen, comps and bonuses confiscated, and they were then told that repatriation of their funds would NOT be the quick process it normally was through the cashier, but that they would have to engage in a lengthy process that was predicted to take around a month to get their deposits and available winnings returned. Better to have told the truth on Saturday, and released the REAL reason behind the sudden pulling of the monthly bonuses, such that Sunday could have been spent completing WR and making a cashier withdrawal (overnight?), before uninstalling the casino.
With this background, it is unlikely to be much different with MGS. Their attitude seems to be to milk every last drop from existing US players before they are FORCED out (rather than telling them now and losing the rest of November's profits), even though behind the scenes it seems that they have ALREADY reached a collective agreement with MGS to pull the casinos for ALL US players some time before Christmas.
One sign that it may be coming would be a distinct absence of any Thanksgiving related promotions, given this is on November 27th (and promos usually run through the weekend afterwards). If any MG casinos DOES run one, US players should get it done, milked for value, and balances withdrawn by the end of Sunday, so that they will NOT be caught off guard if they find EVERYTHING locked on the Monday.
Nothing seems to have come of attempts to get the Intertops rep to comment as to WHY US players were denied notice so they could redeem comps and play off bonuses (still "on the road"?), while MGS HQ is stating to the press it was nothing to do with them, but entirely a commercial decision down to the operator, Intertops in this case. Evidence is that MOST MG groups have NOT yet blocked existing US players, and many have given notice of intent to block only those in 14 banned states from Yesterday, and this at least allowed the weekend for the claiming of comps, bonuses etc, & making a cashier withdrawal.
Time will tell whether my take on the situation is correct, close, or way off
I have contacted the MGS casinos that I play at. They assure me that I am not in the current affected area. But it still concerns me. I love to play online, but think I will hang on to my money until this is straightened out.
You're confusing me LOL. I guess I should clarify: my question was, why would all the operators suddenly want to block the USA on a certain day when it's such a huge part of their business? It has to be an MGS decision - or at the very least a recommendation from them that threatens the licences, surely?
I'll gladly leave those 2 accounts locked.
