Player Issues New geo-blocking restrictions coming into effect.

[maxd]

As part of my work on the Player Arbitration (aka Complaints) side of things I routinely VPN into the player's casino from their country so that I see the casino as they would (more or less). Lately with (some) Curaçao casinos that seems to getting more difficult: casinos that I'd accessed many times in the past are now blocking access from places like the US, the UK, etc. In other words some -- not all -- Curaçao casinos are starting to restrict access as per the new Curaçao rules.

While the official Curaçao portal for the new licensing -- portal.gamingcontrolcuracao.org -- doesn't explicitly state it these appear to be the restricted countries:

• Australia
• Belize
• Curacao
• Dutch West Indies
• France
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America

I contacted one of the largest casino groups in Curaçao and they said that their casinos were always supposed to geo-block players from the restricted countries although I know for a fact that many weren't. Seems that now they are. So slowly but surely the new Curaçao Licensing is starting to take effect.

Max Drayman
Player Arbitration (PAB) Manager
Casinomeister.com

 

[The Dude]

Yep - there goes the world wide web thanks to dimwitted government officials - and a-holes who want to control what you can say or do online [shock - gasp!]

The Internet has gone from an amazing worldwide adventure to a narrow tube where you are dictated at and told where to go on your every move. If anyone here travels and tries to buy things on Amazon, HomeDepot, or even Boots - you know what I mean.

As for online casinos, I usually choose Iceland as a VPN (everyone like Icelanders) so I can look at the site and try to review it. It's maddening. I feel sorry for folks who got into the Internet of recent. It is nothing like it used to be.

/old man rant

 

[bamberfishcake]

Yep - there goes the world wide web thanks to dimwitted government officials - and a-holes who want to control what you can say or do online [shock - gasp!]

The Internet has gone from an amazing worldwide adventure to a narrow tube where you are dictated at and told where to go on your every move. If anyone here travels and tries to buy things on Amazon, HomeDepot, or even Boots - you know what I mean.

As for online casinos, I usually choose Iceland as a VPN (everyone like Icelanders) so I can look at the site and try to review it. It's maddening. I feel sorry for folks who got into the Internet of recent. It is nothing like it used to be.

/old man rant

It seems it is only going to get worse as well. The Trusted News Initiative is already demonetising and censoring those who don't fit the narrative. And governments around the world are introducing new legislation.

The internet has been a revelation, broadened many horizons and opened up communication, which seems like a fine idea to me. Makes you wonder why it's being cracked down on ?

 

[jasonuk]

I contacted one of the largest casino groups in Curaçao and they said that their casinos were always supposed to geo-block players from the restricted countries although I know for a fact that many weren't.

We obviously know why that was - nobody is going to ignore a "gold rush" of that magnitude when they're already operating in a grey area.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out with existing accounts - will they keep them on despite the country being blacklisted, if not will they pay out or will they suddenly remember their T&Cs and start "confiscating" (or possibly "stealing") player funds (e.g. through failed KYC checks) despite both customer support and affiliates providing information on VPNs and how to play from restricted countries.

/old man rant

Back when you could send executable files over email and not expect it to be a virus... understandably that trust was misplaced given how prolific ILOVEYOU was.

 

[moose06]

As part of my work on the Player Arbitration (aka Complaints) side of things I routinely VPN into the player's casino from their country so that I see the casino as they would (more or less). Lately with (some) Curaçao casinos that seems to getting more difficult: casinos that I'd accessed many times in the past are now blocking access from places like the US, the UK, etc. In other words some -- not all -- Curaçao casinos are starting to restrict access as per the new Curaçao rules.

While the official Curaçao portal for the new licensing -- portal.gamingcontrolcuracao.org -- doesn't explicitly state it these appear to be the restricted countries:

• Australia
• Belize
• Curacao
• Dutch West Indies
• France
• Germany
• The Netherlands
• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America

I contacted one of the largest casino groups in Curaçao and they said that their casinos were always supposed to geo-block players from the restricted countries although I know for a fact that many weren't. Seems that now they are. So slowly but surely the new Curaçao Licensing is starting to take effect.

Max Drayman
Player Arbitration (PAB) Manager
Casinomeister.com

So is this why I've suddenly lost access to Yabby and really hope I haven't lost access to the only places I deposit and that's the sister casinos group including Spinfinity, Roaring 21 etc

 

[tashi_duso]

Oh great! I was wondering why no games were loading on some casinos anymore...
As an Australia, what can we do?