Microgaming pulling out of the usa online gaming industry?

[blacklabrador]

Hi folks! Newbie here, great site so far after reading several threads. I play on 3 online casinos, Riverbelle, Casino Grand Bay and Sportsbook.com. Recently grand bay changed their software from Microgaming to something else. I asked the phone rep why and she said it was due to microgaming pulling out to serve usa customers and it will no longer be around for USA customers.


Anyone know if there is truth to this? Also wondering what online casinos you prefer, and what software. Sportsbook uses RTG, I think its ok but doesnt seem to pay out as much as microgaming. Thank you for any input!

 

[SlotMonster]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I'd suggest you to take a look on CM Accredited Casinos list here: https://www.casinomeister.com/accredited-casinos/

 

[Simmo!]

Hi Blacklabrador and welcome to CM.

To answer your question, the answer looks like yes - but based on hearsay rather than official announcements. There is some discussion on it here:

https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/casinoshare-u-s-what-will-the-software-be.37906/

Cheers,

Simmo!

 

[blacklabrador]

32 red?

Seems as if 32 red is the casino of choice on here, couple questions.

1)Do they offer bank wires? I do not like using 3rd parties to get my money, moneybookers, etc etc.

2. Any USA players ever had trouble getting paid from them? I had an issue with riverbelle when the laws changed and it took months to get paid

3) Whats the playthrough on the initial buy in match bonus?

4) And this is question for casinomeister, I havent seen a site like this in while. Are there any perks on 32 red for being a casinomeister member since you pimp out their casino? lol

 

[Pinababy69]

32Red hasn't allowed US play since the UIGEA came into effect, or shortly thereafter.

I don't believe you will be able to open a new account at ANY MG casino, as things stand now. You are left with whatever existing accounts you may currently have....and after June 1st, probably only those ones which will be using the US version of the MG software.

 

[Simmo!]

32Red don't take US players unfortunately. Well, no Microgaming casino accepts US players anymore so they're not alone. Unfortunately a by-product of the

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is that most of the top online casinos pulled out. There's been much discussion here on the irony of a law supposedly designed to protect US citizens putting them more at risk, but there you go. That's politics

 

[blacklabrador]

That's it, I'm moving to Canada! The US has a plethera of issues , yet they continue with their "war against online gaming". How pathetic this country has become in the last 15 years, its ashame.

So if I continue to play online, I am stuck playing with software that casino management can control how loose the payouts are? At least thats what it appears on the surface after doing some research. I've always played nothing but Microgaming sites, I have a hard time trusting other software. Riverbelle still has it as of now but it appears inevitable that will change soon.

 

[Simmo!]

So if I continue to play online, I am stuck playing with software that casino management can control how loose the payouts are? At least thats what it appears on the surface after doing some research.

RTG operators can't change the payout ratios. They used to be able to but the functionality was removed some time ago. Bodog may be an exception as they run a copy of the original RTG source code. Can't speak for Rival casinos though. But unfortunately at the moment those are about your only choices and as you have probably gathered, the slots are mostly high variance (streaky!). You'll probably find about 5,000,000 threads on this issue from the past 6 years or so and I guess this will probably become another one now LOL.

Bottom line - 1) stick to the Accredited list and at least you know you are in safe hands, 2) if you suspect online casinos rig the results, don't play online and 3) play fair with bonuses.

On the bright side, things are changing and you may find more choice at some point. I think that's what the market needs. Not a big RTG fan myself and can understand the frustrations but a bit of competition and choice will help everyone.

 

[blacklabrador]

Simmo, where would u recommend a USA player to play at of those on the list?

 

[Simmo!]

There's a few on there I have played/do play but the very first RTG I ever joined was iNetBet and I've never once had any issue with them. But bear in mind I don't play with bonuses so opinions will differ LOL.

 

[lost2much]

I just got done with livechat at CR asking about D-day (June 1). The person in chat said that they have no idea what microgaming is going to do and they haven't heard anything as yet. I find it hard to believe that with 2 weeks to go they haven't heard anything. This leads me to believe one of two things:
1) all will remain status quo and nothing will change or 2) they are staying mum about leaving the US market so as to suck in every last dime until the end. I personally fear that I will go to log in after June 1 and find that the site is either gone or locked. In any event, I won't be depositing until after that date unless the situation becomes crystal clear in the next couple of weeks. Here we go again..

 

[lost2much]

I just got a response from Inetbet about this same issue and James tells me that it will be business as usual for them after June 1. Haven't heard from 3Dice yet, by the way did they do away with live chat?? I don't see it offered in the support tab.

 

[cpdnd31]

enzo was in chat room today and i asked him he said bussiness as usal and they haqve backup solutions upon backup solution so no worries at 3dice.

 

[lost2much]

That's good to hear!!

 

[Cant_Get_Right]

I just got done with livechat at CR asking about D-day (June 1). The person in chat said that they have no idea what microgaming is going to do and they haven't heard anything as yet. I find it hard to believe that with 2 weeks to go they haven't heard anything. This leads me to believe one of two things:
1) all will remain status quo and nothing will change or 2) they are staying mum about leaving the US market so as to suck in every last dime until the end. I personally fear that I will go to log in after June 1 and find that the site is either gone or locked. In any event, I won't be depositing until after that date unless the situation becomes crystal clear in the next couple of weeks. Here we go again..

Live MG Support may not know what is going on. I remember a few days before Casino Action group was bought out by Casino Rewards. I was chatting with a lady at Golden Reef casino. I asked her about the buy out rumor. She had no ideal and a few days later.She lost her job due to the buy out.

 

[Cant_Get_Right]

Also If I were US players. I would be taking the June 1 deadline very seriously. From a little birdie...They are planning on cracking down very hard on depositors who is knowingly breaking the law. Something similar to the laws passed in the State of Washington. You will hear more legislation on this coming real soon.

 

[KasinoKing]

RTG operators can't change the payout ratios.

Did you really mean to type that???

RTG software is the one and only where we know 100% for sure that they can change RTPs.

KK

 

[jod5413]

KK,

I believe that Simmo is saying that only RTG, the software provider, can change the RTP. The casino operator itself can not do that.

So, if the casino operator wants to change the RTP, he has to get in touch with RTG and have them do it.

I know a lot of folks don't believe that. Me? I would have agreed a few months ago. Now, not so certain.

 

[jetset]

Hi folks! Newbie here, great site so far after reading several threads. I play on 3 online casinos, Riverbelle, Casino Grand Bay and Sportsbook.com. Recently grand bay changed their software from Microgaming to something else. I asked the phone rep why and she said it was due to microgaming pulling out to serve usa customers and it will no longer be around for USA customers.


Anyone know if there is truth to this? Also wondering what online casinos you prefer, and what software. Sportsbook uses RTG, I think its ok but doesnt seem to pay out as much as microgaming. Thank you for any input!

Regarding Grand Bay, there are numerous and not very complimentary threads here on this online casino's owners - Grand Prive, which recently changed to Betsoft software and now uses the prefix "bet" in its url.

 

[Simmo!]

KK,

I believe that Simmo is saying that only RTG, the software provider, can change the RTP. The casino operator itself can not do that.

yes thats right...

RTG software is the one and only where we know 100% for sure that they can change RTPs.

Erm...how did we know 100% for sure they could? I'm happy to stand corrected...

Grand Prive, which recently changed to Betsoft software and now uses the prefix "bet" in its url.

Actually it's the hitherto unheard of BetOnSoft rather than BetSoft, who are also a software provider (licenced in Alderney).

 

[The Dude]

Just returning from the GIGSE in Montreal, and some of the talk was around the UIGEA. Prof. I. Nelson Rose spoke a bit about this and provided an excellent paper on the subject which I'm still reading - and the bottom line is that all the regulations do is require financial institutions and other payment processors to conduct "due diligence" when creating a relationship with a new commercial customer. The regulations didn't change any laws - it's only enforcing them. That's why it's called an "enforcement act". If you weren't doing anything wrong prior to Oct 2006, you aren't doing anything wrong now.

It's the Y2K of online gambling.

 

[Mavin1]

Also If I were US players. I would be taking the June 1 deadline very seriously. From a little birdie...They are planning on cracking down very hard on depositors who is knowingly breaking the law. Something similar to the laws passed in the State of Washington. You will hear more legislation on this coming real soon.

Is this comment something we need to worry about?

 

[Simmo!]

Is this comment something we need to worry about?

Depends on this bit...

...You will hear more legislation on this coming real soon

...and what it is.

 

[jetset]

Well, the governor got away with a player-specific ban and draconian penalties in Washington State, although it has not been rigorously applied.

I suspect that's because the authorities know that it would trigger massive media coverage, litigation and public anger - can you imagine a citizen being hauled into court for gambling on a laptop in his or her own home...and then receiving a sentence the equivalent of a child molester?

Such legislation would appear to run against the general vibe that there's a chance for legalisation in the US, although I think that's more likely to be medium term rather than imminent.

I'm sure the likes of Spencer Bachus and Jon Kyl would love to control US citizens to that extent, but any attempt to do so would provoke a major outcry, and it would be a thorny issue to initiate, putting political popularity at risk.

 

[Simmo!]

Jetset - you can probably answer this, but am I right in thinking that although the UIGEA went through, the original legislation from which is was extracted for a "quick kill" is still potentially on the table?

 

[KasinoKing]

KK,
I believe that Simmo is saying that only RTG, the software provider, can change the RTP. The casino operator itself can not do that.

Yes, that's right - but who asks RTG to change them!

RTG software is the one and only where we know 100% for sure that they can change RTPs.

Erm...how did we know 100% for sure they could? I'm happy to stand corrected...

Well for starters DogBoy confirmed they can, so did CasinoJack.
It was also stated on RTG's own Game Data Sheets which were available online until about 2 months ago. They have now been taken down (or moved to a secure site?), but not before someone had taken copies of them all...

Here's an example (Big Shot Slot):-

 

[Simmo!]

Yes, that's right - but who asks RTG to change them!




Well for starters DogBoy confirmed they can, so did CasinoJack.
It was also stated on RTG's own Game Data Sheets which were available online until about 2 months ago. They have now been taken down (or moved to a secure site?), but not before someone had taken copies of them all...

Here's an example (Big Shot Slot):-

Yeah well obviously RTG can change them LOL Apparently it works like this: the operators can put in a request with justification, probably the same with any software provider actually, and certainly the same as land based casinos. But a) it takes time to implement, b) the operators cannot change them themselves, c) it is system-wide, not on a player-by-player basis and d) you can't change it on individual slots, only "groups" of slots.

Casinojack's story was either based on an old version of the software no longer in use or he meant RTG change them.

 

[jetset]

Jetset - you can probably answer this, but am I right in thinking that although the UIGEA went through, the original legislation from which is was extracted for a "quick kill" is still potentially on the table?

As you know, the UIGEA went through on the coat tails of essential security legislation, late at night and just before Congress recessed - clever political timing by Bill Frist and Jon Kyl, who were its primary architects and tacticians.

The US legislative scene is so damned convoluted and busy that it's not difficult to lose track of all the proposals and manouevreing, but I seem to recall that before that fateful night's work back in late 2006, there was another piece of legislation, I think by Goodlatte and some other anti-online gambling politico who's name escapes me at present.

In order to avoid as much opposition as possible, this was very carefully crafted to preserve all the inequitable carve-outs for fantasy sports, horse racing and state lotteries in previous proposals, and I think it backed the Wire Act too.

From what I can remember this didn't really go anywhere useful and was sort of eclipsed by the UIGEA. I assume it must have dropped off "time expired" in that session of Congress, but to be honest I lost interest in it as the UIGEA became the dominant anti-online gambling vehicle.

Then there was all that banking and other opposition to the UIGEA and the difficulties that the Treasury and AG departments had in actually framing workable regulations to support the act - that took well over the timetable voted by Congress and even now it's definition of what constitutes an illegal gambling transaction is pretty wooly and much criticised.

The regulations are due for implementation June 1st after being postponed for six months by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner....and it doesn't appear there will be any reprieve this time.

However, as Bryan pointed out earlier in this thread, the Act doesn't penalise players - it's intention is to disrupt or stop financial transactions with "illegal" online gambling companies.

There are widespread fears that banks trying to come to grips with the imprecise definition of what is illegal online gambling will err on the side of caution, resulting in over-blocking and monumental foul ups.

There have already been two state lotteries adversely impacted by over zealous ban decisions, and we're only just getting to the starting gate on this punitive measure.

Edited to add that the feds are touting a recent prosecution of an i-processing manager as the first real UIGEA prosecution. Thirty-six year old Massachusetts resident Todd Lyons is the subject of a criminal prosecution involving 36 counts of racketeering, money laundering, operating an illegal gambling business, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, filing false tax returns and a variety of other related charges, according to the Department of Justice, which unsealed a multi-count indictment last week. (see Casinomeister News for the full report).

 

[Simmo!]

Oh and don't forget tomorrow at 09:30 is the Ways & Means hearing on taxing online gambling.

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[blacklabrador]

Wow what a bunch of great responses, thanks folks! I think I am steering clear of microgaming sites for now . Does anyone play on sportsbook.com casino? I enjoy their download casino, not so much the flash casino. And you want to talk about FAST payouts? They wire my money in 2 days, 3 tops after its been processed. Only downfall is they have 1 free withdraw a month, then charge $40 per after that, but I dont mind because I only deposit about 12 times a month. If i cash out a grand, Im fine with the $40 charge ...... I guess.

 

[perky34b]

From what I have heard and what I can guess, microgaming software itself stopped taking us players long ago. The casinos that still let their us players play do so behind microgamings back, which is why we haven't been able to download any of the new games. I am thinking grand prive had a falling out about it with microgaming, and my guess is vegas partner lounge casinos are next as they are promising a transition to a us only casino. Sad really, because I for one still like the software even with the old games. i am hoping they don't go with that same crappy software grand prive chose, at least go rtg or something a little interesting. Just my observances on the microgaming issues with usa players, and the little gossip i have heard from my friends in the industry.

 

[blacklabrador]

From what I have heard and what I can guess, microgaming software itself stopped taking us players long ago. The casinos that still let their us players play do so behind microgamings back, which is why we haven't been able to download any of the new games. I am thinking grand prive had a falling out about it with microgaming, and my guess is vegas partner lounge casinos are next as they are promising a transition to a us only casino. Sad really, because I for one still like the software even with the old games. i am hoping they don't go with that same crappy software grand prive chose, at least go rtg or something a little interesting. Just my observances on the microgaming issues with usa players, and the little gossip i have heard from my friends in the industry.

Grand Prive new software is RUBBISH. I played with Grand bay also for years along with riverbelle and when they changed software, i played the free $100 they gave me to try it and I immediately deleted it afterward. That is the worst software I have ever laid eyes on, my goodness.

I played YEARS ago on English Harbour, I am about to re-download that one and give her another whirl, anyone play on there?