Robbery at CASINO SOLEI (Playtech): reasons not disclosed

[caruso]

This was posted on the GPWA "players' corner" forum. Because of the uncomfortable relations between the GPWA and Casinomeister I'm not posting a direct link, but it shouldn't be too hard to find your way there for those unfamiliar with that board. (hint hint hint >>> Google search<<<). I'm posting it here for the much wider reach of Casinomeister.

EDIT: Link:

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It seems the player deposited big for a 10% bonus and won about $5000. His account was locked and he received the email below; the wording is priceless - "Players who appear to make deposit(s) in order to...", "...and fail to play a reasonable amount...":

------------

"Sir,

We regret to inform you that a recent review of our player accounts has resulted in your account being deactivated. As explained in our terms & conditions we maintain a strict procedures to identify customers that fall into one or more of the below categories:
Players who appear to register in order to take advantage of sign-up bonuses and fail to play a reasonable amount before requesting a withdrawal.
Players who appear to make deposit(s) in order to take advantage of deposit bonus(es), and fail to play a reasonable amount before requesting a withdrawal.
Players who appear to make multiple deposits and withdrawal transactions in order to take advantage of deposit bonuses, and fail to play a reasonable amount.
Our systems have identified your account activity as belonging to one or more of the above categories. Correspondingly, we will refund your initial deposit using the transfer method of your initial deposit immediately. Please note the managements decision is final."

----------------

This casino certainly likes to keep its options open: if you simply give the "impression" of depositing for bonuses and fail to wager a "reasonable" amount - an amount which is not specified - Casino Solei will rob you.

It would seem the manager is currently keeping his head down and not responding to requests for clarification as to what is was the player actually DID do that was somehow improper.

Business as usual at Playtech.

 

[Casinomeister]

This was posted on the GPWA "players' corner" forum. Because of the uncomfortable relations between the GPWA and Casinomeister ...
...Business as usual at Playtech.

I consider the issues I had with the GPWA from two years ago water under the bridge. If they still have a problem with me - that's their problem.

That being said, I think you'll see Playtech taking care of this situation. If this player decides to PAB here, I'll make sure it gets to the right person.

 

[caruso]

OK, thanks. I've added the link.

I had no idea what the current situation was on either side, I was just assuming worst case scenario and treading carefully.

 

[roryjc]

Hi I am the person who is being stiffed. Cindy tried to contact their manager and they have not responded to her with any explanation. Should I fill out a PAB or write to Playtech first? Please tell me how to go about this and I will do it.

It was a 20% bonus by the way, not 10%. It was their sign up. I deposited $1750 for a $350 bonus and wagered more than they required and followed all rules. They returned my deposit but took my $3400 winnings. I hit a royal flush there that I have a screen shot for.

Thanks to caruso for this post.

Rory

 

[mary]

It's usually not a good idea to have multiple mediators working on the same case. It leads to confusion and gives the casino (if they are rogues) more excuses to delay things by finger-pointing (Well, we told her this...and she said...and he said...) and so on.

After you have an explicit "I'm off the case, really can't do any more" from Cindy, then you can PAB.

 

[Tdoggy]

Royal Flush!!!!

Royal flush and you have the screenshot!!! Wow!!! Can you post it on this site??? Would love to see it. Thanks

Later Tdoggy








Hi I am the person who is being stiffed. Cindy tried to contact their manager and they have not responded to her with any explanation. Should I fill out a PAB or write to Playtech first? Please tell me how to go about this and I will do it.

It was a 20% bonus by the way, not 10%. It was their sign up. I deposited $1750 for a $350 bonus and wagered more than they required and followed all rules. They returned my deposit but took my $3400 winnings. I hit a royal flush there that I have a screen shot for.

Thanks to caruso for this post.

Rory

 

[roryjc]

Mary - I only mentioned PAB because casinomeister said he would make sure it goes to the right person. I don't think Cindy has contacts there but she has tried. I understand what you are saying but I will wait for casinomeister to tell me what to do so I know I'm doing this right in case I need his help.

Tdoggy- I will send it to casinomeister so he knows I hit it but I don't want to give these guys publicity by posting it on a public forum until my issue is resolved. Sorry.

Rory

 

[Casinomeister]

Mary - I only mentioned PAB because casinomeister said he would make sure it goes to the right person. I don't think Cindy has contacts there but she has tried. I understand what you are saying but I will wait for casinomeister to tell me what to do so I know I'm doing this right in case I need his help.

Tdoggy- I will send it to casinomeister so he knows I hit it but I don't want to give these guys publicity by posting it on a public forum until my issue is resolved. Sorry.

Rory

Go ahead and PAB and I'll send it straight to Playtech. I believe there is a possible dead end at the management level...

 

[roryjc]

Just sent it. Thanks to casinomeister for the help.

Rory

 

[caruso]

Well now, how about this? 23rd April was five days BEFORE this matter came to public attention on the GPWA board.

Once more, casinos and software providers keep players and affiliates in the dark.

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Playtech and Casino Solei Part Ways
Monday May 9, 10:21 am ET

NICOSIA, Cyprus, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Playtech regrets to announce the termination of its software license granted to VBC Ltd, operators of Casino Solei since 2003.
Playtech and VBC, the holding company of Casino Solei (www.casinosolei.com), have agreed to end their two-year relationship. The decision was an amicable one agreed by both parties.

Casino Solei (www.casinosolei.com) has been using the Playtech online gaming platform since its launch in September 2003. The casino license with Playtech was terminated on 23 April 2005.

In line with its established high standards of customer care, and in agreement with Playtech, Casino Solei will continue to serve the needs of its players. All requests related to the resolution of final balance withdrawals or any other financial issues should be sent to support@casinosolei.com.

Playtech wishes the management of VBC and the Casino Solei team the best of luck in their future endeavors.

About Playtech

Playtech develops unified software platforms for the online gambling industry, primarily targeting existing online operators wanting to upgrade their system; sportsbooks looking to diversify and land-based operators making their online debut. Playtech gaming applications - online casino, poker, bingo, live gaming, land-based kiosk networks and fixed-odds games - are fully intercompatible and can be freely incorporated as stand-alone applications, accessed and funded by players through the same user account and managed by the operator by means of a single powerful management interface. Founded in 1999, Playtech today has over 340 employees distributed globally, approximately one-half of whom are engaged in research and development of current and future gaming technologies.

 

[roryjc]

Caruso - I JUST saw this posted at winner online and came here to post about it, but you beat me to it. I don't always keep up with these message boards. So what now??? Will Playtech cover for their theft? I haven't heard anything new about my case and I was trying to think positive but now reading this I am worried. Casinomeister - have you heard anything? Now that they are parting ways with Playtech, what will happen?

Thanks,
Rory

 

[jetset]

My reading of their press releases on the parting of the ways suggests to me that Playtech are telling players to contact support at Solei regarding their outstanding account balances and presumably other financially oriented questions.

However, there has been much talk (but so far no apparent action that I have seen) on Playtech starting a dedicated dispute channel, so if you don't come right with Solei that might eventually be a route, too.

 

[Macgyver]

In addition to Playtech dropping them, I can't access Solei's website since yesterday ... every time I've tried (as part of some research I'm doing), the connection times out.

 

[caruso]

Site gone.

"We can't find "www.casinosolei.com"

You can try again by typing the URL in the address bar above."

They must have just folded - if they were jumping ship, why would they renege of a not particularly large cashout? Hardly the way to start afresh, is it?

Playtech's stuff about contacting Solei for all problems was probably their way of ducking the debt. Hopefully pressure can be brought, via Herr Bailey's new rapport with them, and they'll cough up eventually.

Don't hold your breath, Rory - Bryan's away until the end of the month or so. Normally I'd be confident you'd be paid, but with Playtech the lines are very fuzzy.

 

[sirius]

This casino was already dumped/blacklisted on my site for various reasons. They are linked to a land based casino in Croatia and there are some contact details at the bottom of this old press release:

LAND-BASED CROATIAN CASINO LAUNCHES DIGITAL PLATFORM
1 October 2002

Casino Solei, located in Umag, Croatia, today became one of few fully licensed land-based casinos in Europe to offer real money gaming online. CasinoSolei.com has been launched from Solei's online operation in the gaming jurisdiction of San Jose, Costa Rica.

Casino Solei has operated in Croatia along the Slovenian and Italian borders since July 22, 2000. The newly-launched online enterprise, www.CasinoSolei.com, is being operated by Casino Solei's Costa Rican subsidiary which obtained a 10-year renewable license from leading casino software provider, Playtech. The software features both "play for fun" and "play for real money" player modes as well as player retention tools like VIP scoring, live chat and real time game and transaction histories. CasinoSolei.com will be the first Playtech licensee to offer a choice of 70 games, including 9 Table games, 10 Video Poker machines, Keno and 50 Slot machines.

Playtech's Director of Marketing Esther Abramowicz said that one of the elements in running a successful online casino is the ability to harness advanced technologies to the benefit of both the player and casino operator. The Casino Solei development team has invested a great deal of R&D devising a system which sets both new standards in user experience and offers the casino owner an unprecedented degree of analysis, management and fine tuning of the casino environment. The software and technology used has been vetted by leading regulatory bodies for fair play and random game output; Casino Solei will continue to subject their system to the close scrutiny of these and other licensing institutions in the future, thereby ensuring 100% credibility and reliability.

In the early sixties, Croatia became the first country in the Communist block to legalize casino gambling. The country's long gaming past lead to the creation of the Croatian Gaming Board, whose regulatory committee keeps a close watch over the operations of land-based casinos, including Casino Solei's operations in Umag. The same high standards of business practices are mirrored in Casino Solei's licensed online operation in San Jose, Costa Rica. The company has also hired the services of a consultancy firm with the over twenty-five years' experience in the industry. This experienced group will advise and train Solei Casino's management and staff in such issues as practicing and encouraging responsible gambling amongst its players. Casino Solei.com is dedicated to preventing underage persons from gaining access to their site and has implemented measures to detect and block players below the age of 18 - yet further proof of the casino's reluctance to allow its operation to be tainted by lax business morals. To help prevent credit card fraud, the casino demands full player identification and credit card verification before real money deposits are taken; suspicious cases will be required to fax documentation to the casino or may be blocked altogether.

Casino Solei.com's President Mr. Borut Lozej said that his plan is to create a pampering casino environment where players can relax and play from their own homes. Slated for release soon is a complimentary point system - or 'comps' - where players can choose to convert their points for cash, spend them in the land-based facility, or use them to purchase gifts on offer at the casino website. The casino's table and Slots' limits will target a wide range of players: 5-cent Slots and 10-cent Roulette are available at the lower end, whilst higher rolling players will enjoy individually set game limits based on their deposit or credit line. Casino Solei.com will regularly post game statistics on the site homepage including individual game performance and overall payback percentage. Playtech's licensees are currently producing an average payback rate in excess of 97%, audited and validated by an independent accounting firm.

Casino Solei.com's President Mr. Borut Lozej said that company's objective is to enter the estimated $4bn market with the same high quality service, atmosphere, security, and dependability offered at their land-based operation in Umag. As a medium-size European casino, Solei hopes to dramatically expand its market throughout Europe and on the internet worldwide. Research has shown that many Internet players prefer playing in online versions of real land-based casinos rather than spend money in casinos belonging to unknown Internet entities.

Corporate contact details:

Borut Lozej - President, CasinoSolei.com
Tel: +506 242-4938

Dragan Pavlovic - Casino Umag D.D.
Tel: +385 52 741-301

 

[vedat]

they bought megasportcasino

as i know they closed casinosolei and bought megasportcasino they will transfer old balances to there

 

[jetset]

QUOTE: as i know they closed casinosolei and bought megasportcasino they will transfer old balances to there UNQUOTE

Would you mind expanding on that statement, please Vedat? This might be useful information if players need to contact these guys (assuming they run into trouble clearing their account balances) Is your source reliable?

Has Solei sent out emails to its players advising them of this?

 

[vedat]

go to their site www.megasportcasino.com

hello as i have recived an email for in turkish it was saying they bought www.megasportcasino.com and will goon with this site and the funds could be transfered it was saying like that go to www.megasportcasino.com they have the sama support for casinosolei i think they will help

 

[jetset]

Many thanks.

 

[johnsteed]

Heads up!!!

Whew! Glad to know I quit going there just in time. I guess in retrospect, I never should have gone. Hmmm...

 

[caruso]

Confirmed that the Casino Solei management can now be found at Megasport.

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[Casinomeister]

Just popping in for a sec - Playtech emailed me last week stating that the manger had promised that this player was going to be on Thursday the 19th. I guess that didn't happen. Even though so, I'm pretty positive that it will happen since the operators are still under contractual agreement to make all payments due.

Bye

 

[roryjc]

I wanted to say thank you for your help. I was finally paid my $3400 today and it is a huge relief. Big big thanks to Bryan for contacting Playtech and getting this resolved but also to caruso for starting this post and to Cindy from the gpwa for her help too. I am so glad this is over.

 

[nektar4d]

Great! this is wonderful!

I am very glad to hear u finally got paid!
It seemed so difficult situation and yet communication did its miracle!


(just 1 question here mostly to admins: in such cases that the problem is resolved, should the poster edit the initial title with "resolved" sign? What do u suggest?)

 

[Casinomeister]

I wanted to say thank you for your help. I was finally paid my $3400 today and it is a huge relief. Big big thanks to Bryan for contacting Playtech and getting this resolved but also to caruso for starting this post and to Cindy from the gpwa for her help too. I am so glad this is over.

Good to hear! Just found this thread again. I was pretty much in the loop with the whole scenario from the beginning, and had no doubt you'd see your winnings.