Let's talk currency options

[Azzurri]

Hi all,

My topic for discussion is quite simple.

If a casino you play at regularly offers your preferred currency, but either through human error or it not being an original option when you first signed up, you are playing in a non preferred currency, should they then do all they can to amend the option to your preferred choice, even if this means having to close and reopen the said account?

Obviously we all know that some of us have to lose a fairly hefty chunk of change due to conversion rates sometimes, so imo it makes sense to change this option for the customer if means you keep a loyal customers ongoing business, especially if the preferred currency wasn't an option on original sign up.

What is your opinion?

 

[fun4all]

What is your opinion?

I believe everyone should be forced to open an account in their own currency when opening an account.

If your own currency is not available then a choice of either USD or EUR seems sensible. I think EUR is by far and away the better option there.

If you end up in a situation where you have an account not in your home currency but the casino does have the facility to have an account in your home currency the ability to switch to the correct currency should be there, be it just by a backend change or a new account. Players should realise this could be problematic in its execution however.

 

[fun4all]

through human error

Just to make something clear but if the wrong currency was picked on the account opening by the player then I think that is a significant error, as bad as putting in the wrong date of birth for yourself. If that has happened then the player should notice it immediately on seeing the account balance/cashier and inform the casino. We all know what can happen with wrongly inputted details etc and that sort of error should be sorted out ASAP before any gambling commences.

 

[spintee]

I think things like this should be an esay switch, I have been there and done it I selected euro with slottyvegas, Made a good few deposits than ask could I change to £, They closed my account and opened up a new one,

I am sure I lost a few penny's on my super charge and achievements, I could nether understand why it could not of been done any easier, I do not no what's involved, But I have seen may of times that must choose the same currency if the option is there, Like fun4all said that casino's could use this as breaking terms as well,

 

[Azzurri]

I never thought about the breaking terms factor, but that is an excellent point.

I only mentioned the human error factor as I assumed it could occur, however it never has with me personally.

I do have a current issue where a casino group I play at regularly introduced my currency (AUD) after I had already registered and been playing in USD, the only other option I could choose.

I wasn't notified that AUD was then introduced, and only found out by accident after a non related discussion with the rep here. I then asked the chat agents if my account could be changed to AUD, and I was advised it could not be as the system won't allow it.

I thought this was fairly rough, as I was a good customer at both sites, and was losing a lot of cash to play there in USD.

I have since spoken to the rep and he confirmed it can't be changed, but said he would see if closing and reopening the accounts is possible.

Now besides the obvious issue with all this, I think from a customer service perspective :

A) Australian customers could have been notified when AUD became an option, as it could have saved us a lot of money.

B) If the customer is valued, the process to switch over should be an easy one, or if even not so easy, done anyway in the name of fair and superior customer service.

I'm still awaiting the reps response from last week, however if the answer is it can't be changed, I'm afraid I'll have to stop playing there, which is a shame.

The fact you guys have now raised the concerns regarding breaking the terms, just adds to the negative consequences of it all, and I can only hope that no Australian players are ever unwittingly stung by such a thing.

I'd like to think this group wouldn't do that to a customer, but we have seen good casinos use terms to their advantage regarding payouts before.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[Tirilej]

I believe everyone should be forced to open an account in their own currency when opening an account.

If your own currency is not available then a choice of either USD or EUR seems sensible. I think EUR is by far and away the better option there.

Why would they be forced to do that? I have my Neteller in USD and that is the currency I want to play in.
I'm used to it so playing in SEK is only confusing for me.

To play in EURO that many casinos have as the only option, is way too expensive for me.

All casinos can open a second account to their customers if another email is used, I have no doubt about that.
Maybe it can create problems but they can.

 

[fun4all]

Why would they be forced to do that? I have my Neteller in USD and that is the currency I want to play in. I'm used to it so playing in SEK is only confusing for me.

Hey yeah - It's just my opinion, I think it makes things easier and clearer for everyone. Not that I will ever be in such a position of power but if I ran a casino that would be a rule. We can agree to disagree on that one. I do think its probably quite unusual to want to play in a different currency from your natural one, but your reason for wanting to totally makes sense.

To play in EURO that many casinos have as the only option, is way too expensive for me.

I don't quite understand that though. Confusing it would be but just deposit/bet less to make it the same end value? If you only ever bet the minimum bet though that is true. Also currency exchange rates would make it expensive from a USD neteller but not the actual playing?

 

[Tirilej]

I don't quite understand that though. Confusing it would be but just deposit/bet less to make it the same end value? If you only ever bet the minimum bet though that is true. Also currency exchange rates would make it expensive from a USD neteller but not the actual playing?

Mostly minimum bet depending on how much I win of course. More money = more playtime.
Actual playing, no difference at all

 

[Azzurri]

Thanks Spintee and fun4all for your responses.

Just letting you know I won't be taking any further part in this discussion.

Thanks.

 

[Jasminebed]

I have had accounts closed and been permitted to open a new one in CAD.

Bet-at did not originally offer CAD. The only thing I lost was achievements in games like IR.

32Red also assisted me in closing a USD and opening a new CAD account. My loyalty status was also transferred over there.

It is usually only against rules to use GBP if not living in UK. Most casinos permit any user to choose either USD or Euros.

Despite having CAD accounts, I still get foreign transaction fees as processors are not in Canada, but I don't get exchange fees at least.

I am pretty sure there have been others, but I don't want to trawl back through records to be certain of which ones. In all cases old accounts were closed and new one opened.

 

[chayton]

I had some Playtech accounts back in the old days that I opened in CAD (thinking it would save me on the exchange rate) and then I realized that I was paying a set 20% exchange rate per spin whenever I played a progressive game - for instance, Wall St. is a 50 cent max bet, and playing in CAD it cost me 60 cents per spin. At the time the Canadian dollar was quite strong (like 97%!) so I questioned it and was told that if I was playing in USD every deposit I made would be exchanged at (almost) today's rates, but playing in CAD I had to pay the set 20% whenever I played progressive games.

Anyhow I'm getting offtrack here, but the point was that I asked if they could switch my account to USD (which I thought would be simple) but they said that I'd have to close the CAD one and open a different one in USD. They of course closed my account, but it was up to me to open the new one.

TBH I never understood the need to close and open accounts simply to change the currency option anyhow. It does seem like it would be something that could be easily done by support, but in my experience at least, it's never been that simple.

 

[K2C]

Some casinos explicitly allow changing currency in their T&C.

BWIN:

You may also be asked to choose a preferred currency for Your Account from the currencies available from time to time ('Account Currency'). Please note that once You have chosen, You will not be able to change Your Account Currency more than once without Our approval (which may be withheld or delayed at Our sole discretion). Should You wish to change Your Account Currency more than once, please contact Us. Any Account Currency changes will be made on the terms and at the Exchange Rates offered by Us at the time of conversion

BET365:

Once a currency is selected, funds are deposited, wagered and winnings paid in that currency. If you wish to change the currency used, please Contact Us.

Others explicitly or implicitly disallow it.

BETSSON:

We accept payments made in EUR, SEK, NOK, DKK, USD, GBP You must choose one currency as the currency of Your Member Account. Any payments received by the Operator in a currency other than the one chosen by You as the currency for Your account will be converted into the currency chosen by You as the currency for Your Member Account at the prevailing exchange rate determined by the Operator. Please note that any exchange premiums are payable by You.

Also for many casinos their back-end application simply does not have an option for changing the account currency. Sometimes they would advise you to close your account and open a new one in the desired currency. In this case I would strongly suggest screenshotting/ saving the chat, because a week later a clueless employee from another department may flag you as "multi-accer" and deny you bonuses or even lock you.

Speaking of bonuses, many casinos "reserve the right" to withhold them if a player opened an account in a currency other than his home currency or USD if your currency is not on the list. This was particularly common for them to impose when GBP/USD and EUR/USD rates were up high.

Conclusion is the usual: read the T&C before signing up and playing, particularly when singing up with a currency other than your own.