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Online Casino Not Paying Winnings

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danielb82

Junior Member
Hi, I signed up to winwardcasino.com and deposited $500 and got a $500 signup bonus. Their terms stated that I had to bet a certain amount before I could withdraw. I bet more than this requirement playing mostly blackjack, which was allowed in their terms.

My balance went right down to $400 at one point and then I started to get lucky towards the end and I was on $2300. I spoke to their support who said I had bet more than the required amount and I was free to make a withdrawal. I requested $1700 to be withdrawn.

After coming up with various excuses the first 2 weeks about why I hadn't received my money, they then sent me an email saying; " “Winward Casino reserves the right to refuse service to ANY casino member or prospective member, at management's sole discretion”

After analyzing your game patterns, and following up the investigation procedure started past week, it is management decision to permanently close your Winward Casino account. We will of course reverse your initial deposit, hence closing our business relation.

The reason is that we believe that your bets in blackjack are at a high risk and you have no intention of playing the game for entertainment but only to take advantage of our system.

Having said this, your account will remain disabled as of now, and you will not be allowed to create new accounts at our gaming network. The remaining balance in your account will be set back to zero and the account will remain closed after the refund to your NETeller account is processed."

There have no terms which says they will not pay out winnings if you happen to be good at blackjack. It doesn't matter how good a player is anyway, casinos will allways have a house edge on blackjack.

The casino is based in Costa Rica. What options do I have to recover money?
 


SHORTY LONG

Senior Member
You can file a complaint, though not sure if our Federal Government has jurisdiction,
but at least you can try:

http://www.answers.com/topic/online-gambling

Also, take a long hard look at this:

Before leaping into the litigation arena one should determine if it is legal to participate in
online gambling in the state in which one lives. Most states have laws prohibiting said
action and the federal government is still carrying on the debate of whether or not the
Wire Act is applicable. In addition, the party involved should consider all the consequences
in initiating a lawsuit; casinos are not in the business of losing money in any venue,
including a court of law. All casinos employ a veritable army of litigators who are
proficient in all legal areas, including state and federal regulations, tax laws, credit card
usage and so forth. The burden of proof would be upon the plaintiff, and it would take a
considerable amount of hard, substantiated evidence to even have a small chance of
prevailing. Nevertheless, seeking advice from legal counsel would be the best option.
Most attorneys offer free or minimal fee consultations, and all state bar associations offer
free referral services.

First you have to determine where the on-line casino exists. Many on-line casinos are
located overseas and outside the jurisdiction of the United States. Therefore, you either
have to sue them where they are located or convince a court in this country that it
has "long arm" jurisdiction over them to hear your suit. But even if "long arm" jurisdiction
is applicable, they may not show up in court and allow you to get a default judgment
against them. Then, how do you propose to collect on the judgment if the company is
overseas and has no assets in this country? You would have to go to where they are
located and convince a court there that it should recognize and enforce the judgment you
obtained in the U.S. Lots of luck!
 
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seniorjudge

Senior Member
Gambling is a tax on people who do not understand mathematics.

Internet gambling is a tax on people who do not understand mathematics or computers.
 

danielb82

Junior Member
I understand both very very well which is why I make consistantly make a profit. £35,000 since April.
Thanks for your post. :D
 

danielb82

Junior Member
I don't know. Do they apply? I know if a casino based in the UK refused to pay my money I could issue a claim through the courts to make them pay me.

I take it I would need a Lawyer to recover my money from a Cost Rican company?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
US LAW ONLY!

But I still think you're SOL :rolleyes: As they say, a fool and his money are soon parted...
 

seniorjudge

Senior Member
I understand both very very well which is why I make consistantly make a profit. £35,000 since April.
Thanks for your post. :D
I have some nifty swampland just West of New Orleans for sale and the price is a mere £35,000.

Send me the dough and I will mail you a deed.

Thanks.

:rolleyes:
 

cosine

Senior Member
After analyzing your game patterns, and following up the investigation procedure started past week, it is management decision to permanently close your Winward Casino account. We will of course reverse your initial deposit, hence closing our business relation.

The reason is that we believe that your bets in blackjack are at a high risk and you have no intention of playing the game for entertainment but only to take advantage of our system.
In other words, they have no intention of paying out to winners beyond a few souls who happen to win a small percentage above what they paid in (as a means to make it appear legitimate).

Or maybe you were using a "system" on them? Even Las Vegas casinos have ways to detect such things and procedures to avoid paying out.

The casino is based in Costa Rica. What options do I have to recover money?
Very few. And at these amounts, mercenaries are not worth it. You best option is not to deal with any businesses outside of your own country. And even within the USA, you could have lost everything in the latest (Madoff's) Ponzi scheme in the news, had you stayed "safe".
 

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