Oh, the irony.
The very day after I rag on people about critisizing Crypto gameplay, Sands Of The Caribbean pull the first casino stunt I've been subjected to since...err...Cirrus, 18 months ago?
This is in fact pretty much identical to the Omni case:
https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/omni-casino-tricks.6147/?t=6147
On the monthly round of clicking on the Crypto casino sites to see what's what on the freebie front, I noticed Sands had added an Omni-esque "wager up front" monthly $100 bonus for $6000 upfront wagering.
They have a get-out clause in the T & C:
"This loyalty bonus will NOT be credited to accounts that have shown patterns of bonus abuse in the past ((ie wagering is done primarily using promotional funds and not deposited funds, or wagering is done primarily to satisfy minimum bonus requirements."
Fair enough.
I once had an issue with Sands, which was my fault but was resolved to my satisfaction, but which necessitated checking first with them that I was OK for this promo.
So I live-chatted - and screen-copied. See the "Sands chat" attachment below - all personal details edited out.
Here's a copy of the chat:
--------------
CSR: Hi, how can we help?
Me: (I post my account number)
CSR: I got your account up, (my name)
Me: Can you tell me if my account is eligible for the "wager $6000, get $100" bonus?
CSR: This offer is for the month of June, so yes, you sure are eligible"
Me: Great, thanks
CSR: yw
---------------
So I deposited $600 and played $15 blackjack up to $6000 in wagers, so fulfilling all requirements - and winning about $700 in the process.
No bonus come 5:30 EST as promised, so I emailed an enquiry.
Reply came thus:
---------------
"Hello (me);
"Your email was forwarded to the Promotions Department here at The Sands of the Caribbean in regards to your wagering patterns for our Monthly promotions.
"The reason the casino has opt to change our monthly promotion for June was to track and eliminate players who have been taking advantage of our Monthly Promotions.
"1) For the past months your wagering patterns have been exemplifying one of a Bonus abuser whereas (2) you are meeting the exact wagering requirement with the promotional funds only and only wagering for the promotion thus never risking your own funds and basically playing with the promotion only. 3) This is a breach of our Terms and Conditions to the promotion.
"Attached you will find a spread sheet of you life activity on this account, you will notice that every month you have met the wagering to the "T".
"I am sure you are aware that The Sands of the Caribbean is part of Peak Entertainment, which allowed me to view other accounts that you have with Peak, unfortunately 4) you were also blocked at Omni Casino and 49er's for the same wagering patterns, this is further indication 5) and ammunition that you are wagering at our casino only to take advantage of our courtesy promotion.
"I'm sorry to say but Peak Entertainment has opt to no longer qualify your account for further promotions due to these activates.
"If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to ask, I will be more than ready and willing to assist you the best way that I can.
"Abi
Omni Casino
Customer Service"
---------------
Many, many points to make:
1) This is a generic email. I haven't, in fact, played at Sands in about a year or so. The reference to "the past few months" is incorrect as far as it applies to me. This email is basically sitting on their desks, waiting to be forwarded to whomsoever they they choose.
2) "you are meeting the exact wagering requirement with the promotional funds only and only wagering for the promotion thus never risking your own funds".
Err, excuse me, but how can you make a medium sized deposit, wager about 350 hands of $15 blackjack, whilst "never risking your own funds"? How can you wager "with the promotional funds only" when there are no "promotional funds" in your account, and the ONLY funds in your account are your own?
3) "This is a breach of the terms & conditions".
Err, excuse me, but isn't it the casino breaching their agreement with me in the chat? Don't they have this one backwards?
4) "you were also blocked at Omni Casino".
Well now, this is very interesting. Take a look now at the second screenshot below, "omni chat". It's basically a repoduction of the first: same question, same response. To quote the most relevant bit:
"I see your account is OK to receive bonuses so you are good to go".
Omni casino told me the EXACT same thing, that I was fine to receive promos - and the Peak CSR I spoke to regarding the Sands incident tells me I would also have been denied there, had I played!
5) "this is further indication and ammunition that you are wagering at our casino...(etc)
Well, isn't that a fine, pugnacious attitude to take with a customer who deposited, risked his deposit relatively agressively having confirmed his entitlement to the monthly freebie, then requested said freebie as per the casino's above-quoted agreement? They want "ammunition" to use against their customers. What a fine state of affairs this is.
6) MY ENTITLEMENT WAS CLEARLY AND UNQUESTIONABLY CONFIRMED. I specifically gave my account number to the CSR to check, and the CSR confirmed I was good - at BOTH casinos, in fact. The reason I specifically asked was because of the stated get-out clause "This loyalty bonus will NOT be credited to accounts" being entirely fair, and although I've received regular monthly promos at Sands in the past without any glitch, it's beholden to an experienced player to check on all matters.
Yet I was denied - on the apparent basis of "risk-free" play, after depositing without a bonus and plainly risking my own funds (I could easily have wiped out at that level), and with the casino's expressly-stated confirmation that I would NOT be denied.
This I never expected this from Sands. I rate (rated) Crypto right at the top of my list of quality casinos. What an error.
Sands Of The Caribbean (and Omni) will say one thing to get your money, then turn around and say the exact OPPOSITE when they've got it.
Sands Of The Carribean (and Omni) are eliciting deposits under false pretexts and LYING to their customers.
This is Class A rogue casino behaviour.
Sands must be classed as a rogue casino at this point. And all for a hundred bucks.
The very day after I rag on people about critisizing Crypto gameplay, Sands Of The Caribbean pull the first casino stunt I've been subjected to since...err...Cirrus, 18 months ago?
This is in fact pretty much identical to the Omni case:
https://www.casinomeister.com/forums/threads/omni-casino-tricks.6147/?t=6147
On the monthly round of clicking on the Crypto casino sites to see what's what on the freebie front, I noticed Sands had added an Omni-esque "wager up front" monthly $100 bonus for $6000 upfront wagering.
They have a get-out clause in the T & C:
"This loyalty bonus will NOT be credited to accounts that have shown patterns of bonus abuse in the past ((ie wagering is done primarily using promotional funds and not deposited funds, or wagering is done primarily to satisfy minimum bonus requirements."
Fair enough.
I once had an issue with Sands, which was my fault but was resolved to my satisfaction, but which necessitated checking first with them that I was OK for this promo.
So I live-chatted - and screen-copied. See the "Sands chat" attachment below - all personal details edited out.
Here's a copy of the chat:
--------------
CSR: Hi, how can we help?
Me: (I post my account number)
CSR: I got your account up, (my name)
Me: Can you tell me if my account is eligible for the "wager $6000, get $100" bonus?
CSR: This offer is for the month of June, so yes, you sure are eligible"
Me: Great, thanks
CSR: yw
---------------
So I deposited $600 and played $15 blackjack up to $6000 in wagers, so fulfilling all requirements - and winning about $700 in the process.
No bonus come 5:30 EST as promised, so I emailed an enquiry.
Reply came thus:
---------------
"Hello (me);
"Your email was forwarded to the Promotions Department here at The Sands of the Caribbean in regards to your wagering patterns for our Monthly promotions.
"The reason the casino has opt to change our monthly promotion for June was to track and eliminate players who have been taking advantage of our Monthly Promotions.
"1) For the past months your wagering patterns have been exemplifying one of a Bonus abuser whereas (2) you are meeting the exact wagering requirement with the promotional funds only and only wagering for the promotion thus never risking your own funds and basically playing with the promotion only. 3) This is a breach of our Terms and Conditions to the promotion.
You do not have permission to view link
Log in or register now.
"Attached you will find a spread sheet of you life activity on this account, you will notice that every month you have met the wagering to the "T".
"I am sure you are aware that The Sands of the Caribbean is part of Peak Entertainment, which allowed me to view other accounts that you have with Peak, unfortunately 4) you were also blocked at Omni Casino and 49er's for the same wagering patterns, this is further indication 5) and ammunition that you are wagering at our casino only to take advantage of our courtesy promotion.
"I'm sorry to say but Peak Entertainment has opt to no longer qualify your account for further promotions due to these activates.
"If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to ask, I will be more than ready and willing to assist you the best way that I can.
"Abi
Omni Casino
Customer Service"
---------------
Many, many points to make:
1) This is a generic email. I haven't, in fact, played at Sands in about a year or so. The reference to "the past few months" is incorrect as far as it applies to me. This email is basically sitting on their desks, waiting to be forwarded to whomsoever they they choose.
2) "you are meeting the exact wagering requirement with the promotional funds only and only wagering for the promotion thus never risking your own funds".
Err, excuse me, but how can you make a medium sized deposit, wager about 350 hands of $15 blackjack, whilst "never risking your own funds"? How can you wager "with the promotional funds only" when there are no "promotional funds" in your account, and the ONLY funds in your account are your own?
3) "This is a breach of the terms & conditions".
Err, excuse me, but isn't it the casino breaching their agreement with me in the chat? Don't they have this one backwards?
4) "you were also blocked at Omni Casino".
Well now, this is very interesting. Take a look now at the second screenshot below, "omni chat". It's basically a repoduction of the first: same question, same response. To quote the most relevant bit:
"I see your account is OK to receive bonuses so you are good to go".
Omni casino told me the EXACT same thing, that I was fine to receive promos - and the Peak CSR I spoke to regarding the Sands incident tells me I would also have been denied there, had I played!
5) "this is further indication and ammunition that you are wagering at our casino...(etc)
Well, isn't that a fine, pugnacious attitude to take with a customer who deposited, risked his deposit relatively agressively having confirmed his entitlement to the monthly freebie, then requested said freebie as per the casino's above-quoted agreement? They want "ammunition" to use against their customers. What a fine state of affairs this is.
6) MY ENTITLEMENT WAS CLEARLY AND UNQUESTIONABLY CONFIRMED. I specifically gave my account number to the CSR to check, and the CSR confirmed I was good - at BOTH casinos, in fact. The reason I specifically asked was because of the stated get-out clause "This loyalty bonus will NOT be credited to accounts" being entirely fair, and although I've received regular monthly promos at Sands in the past without any glitch, it's beholden to an experienced player to check on all matters.
Yet I was denied - on the apparent basis of "risk-free" play, after depositing without a bonus and plainly risking my own funds (I could easily have wiped out at that level), and with the casino's expressly-stated confirmation that I would NOT be denied.
This I never expected this from Sands. I rate (rated) Crypto right at the top of my list of quality casinos. What an error.
Sands Of The Caribbean (and Omni) will say one thing to get your money, then turn around and say the exact OPPOSITE when they've got it.
Sands Of The Carribean (and Omni) are eliciting deposits under false pretexts and LYING to their customers.
This is Class A rogue casino behaviour.
Sands must be classed as a rogue casino at this point. And all for a hundred bucks.