PORTOFINO Casino sleezes me

[paul1]

I don't expect help with a RTG casino but I must report what happened so others can be warned.

I have only been in a few RTG casinos ever. I should have stayed out of Portofino. Afterall, I have read all the warnings at Casinomeister about RTG's. So I guess I deserved this rip off.

I deposited $100 and got their 100% match when opening in March. At the same time, I clicked the button (or whatever) for an additional $10 welcome bonus. Well, I then went and started playing and never gave it a second thought. Because at most Microgaming Casinos, like I am used to, they usually have a $10 freebie in addition to their regular bonus. No biggie.

Well, I started off winning and never looked back. I ran it up to over $500. Cash me out. They made me send all my ID and documentation. No problem. They said they received it and will begin processing my cash out. Yeah right. A few days later all the money was reversed back to the account. I called Support. They gave me a run around. I said that I HAD given them the ID and documentation and they conceeding that they had received it. They encouraged me to go back into the casino and try another withdrawal. OK. Whatever. Then they stalled some more. Finally they said that I cannot claim BOTH promos. Huh? What promos? They were talking about that extra $10 I got. I was confused. I told them to keep their bonuses, just pay me my winnings. Nope, they ain't gonna do it.

They offered me $40, instead of my $520. That's nice. I was HOT! They gave me a second option. They said that I could have my balance reduced to ZERO and start all over again. haha, they're funny.

Anyway, I won that money fair and square. But they only paid me $40 and returned my deposit.

PORTOFINO CASINO SUX!

 

[The Dude]

Starting this week, Casinomeister is "RTG Free".

I don't advertise their casinos. I don't help them solve their problems.

Simple as 'dat.

 

[paul1]

I will chaulk this up to a lesson of life. Gee, what would I have done with that extra $400 anyway? I already have enough beer.

Anyway, I will also advise ANYONE who will ever listen to me to tune in to Casinomeister for their Online Gambling News, and the straight-shooting wisdom of Casinomeister's Bryan Bailey, obviously a man of integrity.

 

[paul1]

WOW! Two days later they wrote me and apologized for the misunderstanding. I have my money now. It is in my Neteller.

Portofino Casino made GOOD and paid me everything.

Thankyou!

 

[colincaster]

I have had lots of experience with portofino and zero problems. The other day I cashed out a four figure win and had the money in my Neteller account within 12 hours. The problems with RTG sites in general are well documented on this site and elsewhere, but I think portofino just might be one of the good guys unfairly hurt by RTG's poor control.

Does anyone else have complaints specifically about portofino? It seems like they are pretty responsive to valid concerns aired on this site and others. Bryan, I know you are done with RTG sites, but is portofino possibly an exception to the RTG rule?

CC

 

[mrracetrack]

Posted by "The Casinomeister"...

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 -03:36pm:

Starting this week, Casinomeister is "RTG Free".

I don't advertise their casinos. I don't help them solve their problems.

Simple as 'dat.
--------------------------------------------------

Good for you, Bryan.

Removing "all RTG Casinos",
despite the "objections of certain webmasters", to an "overall boycott" of RTG, is a clear and pointed statement of how you feel about the manner in which RTG and their licensee's conduct
their business.

RTG and their licensee's have shown time and time again, that they will cheat, lie, steal, manipulate T&C, not respond to e-mails, and generally show a very contemptuous attitude toward legitimate "winning Players".

Their ethics border on "non existant".

To the "very few" RTG casinos that have NOT exhibited the above listed traits, you are unfortunately branded with the "Rogue / no good"
label, due to the "company you keep".

Numerous "former" RTG casinos have removed themselves from the "overall stench" associated with this company. You might want to consider that as an option.

A "controversial", but IMO, a "correct" decision on your part, Bryan. You did "the right thing" here.

People who read this board, and follow your advice on selecting a casino, will benefit from your decision.

I give Bryan a big "THUMBS UP" on this. :yes:

 

[The Dude]

Thanks Mr. Racetrack,

I've been getting slammed by a few individuals concerning some of my feelings on this, but they got slammed as well, so I'm not into the slamming thing anymore.

I was a tough decision, but I stand my ground. Unfortunately for the good operators, there are a number of portals who will be doing the same (if they haven't done so already). These guys will have to start marketing their casinos on their own.

 

[Antonia1953]

My experience with Portofino was very good also. They paid me promptly. Their customer service was both attentive and friendly. It's the only RTG casino I would play at again. It's a shame that RTG's common rogue behavior has hurt the good with the bad. The honest sites should have played a stronger role in bringing the dishonest practices of others under control. The industry needs to establish it's own committees to monitor and regulate the ethical behavior of their peers. Rogue casinos hurt the industry as a whole and every honest casino needs to participate in the process of creating a legitimate corporate presence. If they don't, they'll be reduced to the position of carnival-hawkers.

 

[amandajm]

May i dive in here so as not to strt a new thread?

It is entirely possible if taken to the extreme that a Portal Owner be a member of the gpwa and advertise solely for 1cnp and Ecash.

You should never have been a member there Bryan.

The Bailey protagonists were mostly annoyed that you made your resignation public via your newsletter.

Now you don't seem to want to talk about.None of it.The GPWA or RTG.

If you're gonna do something about RTG then talk to us about it Bryan.

If you tell us you're not wanting it in your forum then i for one won't push it past this post.

 

[The Dude]

Hi Amandajm,

Actually, I have said enough about the GPWA and about RTG really. Everything that I have said has been published in my weekly newsletter or in my webcasts. Everything is archived so it's not so difficult to dig up.

As for my "antagonists" (protagonists are main characters), what I said was directed towards my audience; it wasn't all that public. My audience are those who subscribe to my newsletter, or those who care to listen to my webcasts. So actually it was a private "captive" audience. It just happens that my newsletter made the rounds (it was also posted at Bet2gamble's forum by the webmaster), so it became public via other devices.

I didn't even start a thread or post my feelings about this situation in my own message board mainly since I felt it was already covered. What has needed to be said has been said.

But it's not like I'll clam up if anyone has any questions about either case. It's just I have other things to focus on.

 

[amandajm]

Ok.I'll not bother you then.

I'll just rant.

Firstly a thumbs up to Mr Abbott.

Any Webmaster that cannot see RTG as a Software Company deserve to be called rogues are missing the plain and simple fact RTG of their own volition set up an RTG complaints procedure to which they have not adhered to.

Disassociation from the bad behaviour of errant licensees because they are in the business of providing a software platform,not great casino's,ceases to be a valid defence once the complaints procedure was implemented.

To fail to implement ones own,self enforced level of ethics,just has to be behaviour nothing short of rogueish.

 

[jetset]

I have the feeling that Bryan's principled stand on the extraordinarily high level of bad casino practice encountered among RTG licensees may well be followed by other webmasters of conscience.

I would hope so, because the GPWA is more of a webmaster-focused, voluntary body that can bring only a limited amount of peer discipline to bear on it's members and should therefore not be expected to act as a player advocacy entity per se.

This is a summary from another MB with which GPWA guys were in agreement:

"The GPWA is primarily a webmasters group, but it recognises the importance of the consumer and individual webmasters are generally prepared to assist aggrieved players. The group does not have an obligation to do so and it is not a specific objective.

"The group has no authority over individual portalmaster members and does not have an obligation to police their activities. It does, however give members access to guidelines, help, information and recommendations, for example on casinos that may repeatedly indulge in questionable practices. The manner in which members deal with such information is at their discretion.

"The group has a primary spokesperson in Slycin as its manager, and unless otherwise stated she speaks for the membership who are informed and consulted through its internal mechanisms.

"GPWA has plans for structural changes in the future but it does not see itself as a player advocacy group now or then, although there is the possibility that some sort of partnership with a player-reporesentative group in the future is not ruled out."

So effectively it is up to the individual webmasters' consciences and ethics concerning what actions they take to protect players from the depredations of RTG's bad apples. Several of them have already acted.

The truth is, in this unregulated industry there is a vacuum out there when it comes to safeguarding the consumer's interests.

There is no credible (on track record) body presently capable of exerting effective pressure as a partner on turnkey suppliers that do not guarantee the paybacks to clients in the event of casinos folding or straighten them up if their licensee choice is bad, or allow bad practice at their licensees to go unchecked. Or, in this hopefully more enlightened era cares little for the tribulations of its consumers and ignores their complaints.

The IGC, for all its admirable work in the political and lobbying field has not impressed on player issues, most of the so-called licensing jurisdictions do not even bother to respond and even proposed new "assurance" bodies like eCOGRU have not highlighted equal player involvement in their initial publicity (in fairness, this is still very new and there could be more development which negates my comment here)

As has been said ad nauseum, the player holds the ultimate power - his hard-earned cash.

Unfortunately, the lure of a good bonus often supercedes player caution or indignation at the antics of a bad casino, and there are always the newbies who probably get hammered every day if they have not developed the skill of researching and communicating before playing.

Those who feel strongly about a fair and reasonable business will continue to try and assist aggrieved players, lend a hand with their claims and warn others not to fall into the same traps, but it's a relatively small group of individuals in a sea of player hassles.

Long story short - players have to communicate with each other constantly through the better fora and do their research before awarding their business.

Thus far, widespread criticism over the last two years or more has seemingly done little to change the way RTG operates and it is unlikely that they are going to change. Therefore, be on your guard.

 

[gamblinboi]

portofino/hamptons pulled a similiar scam on me. I outlined it on WOL but I will summarize it here again:

I had an account with their old software. They released new software. I signed up under the new software, got the freebie and lost it all. I tried to get the signup bonus but the system said to contact live chat. I did. I asked if I could get thee signup bonus if i had an old account at the previous software, he said yes no problem, told me to deposit and gave me the bonus manually. I played through and won.

Fax back forms later, I get told that i "Combined" the bonuses. I told them that was nonsense. Two hours after that, they gave me a new line - that I was on a negative database. Hello? If i was on a negative database, why was I allowed to signup? To get the freebie? To deposit? To get a bonus manually added by customer support who TOLD me that I was eligible? To play and risk my own funds? And yet they still voided my play and returned my deposit.

To this day they still owe me $100 in winnings. Typical Bait&Switch Scam - win win for the casino, lose lose for the player. Stay away from 'em!