Internet Gambling / Credit Cards

[tw347501]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Delaware

This is a cross post - didn't get many views/comments in the Internet Law Forums..

Long story short, a few months ago (3) I've made credit card deposits to a certain gambling website which I will call sb.com (made up). Two months ago - I got pretty lucky and made a fair amount of money. Over the last 60 days I've made several attempts to cash out these funds; however the checks sb.com sent me have bounced! - After going back and forth with sb.com - I don't have a fair amount of confidence that I will ever be paid.

Just for point of reference - I've made $3200 worth of credit card transactions 'funding' the casino - all in different increments. It should be noted that when depositing via credit card, the merchant on my credit card is usually some made up company which accepts the payment on behalf of the casino [not sure how legal/legit this is?]. My cash out requests (money that sb.com owes me) is around $6000.

What I want to do is salvage some of the money by initiating chargeback requests to my credit card company (Citi). Note - I do not plan on committing fraud here, I plan on letting Citi know these transactions were for Online Gambling. So - first question - Will Citi hold me liable for the charges and will they try to press charges against me since Online Gambling is Illegal?

Second question - if Citi does grant me the charge back - should I expect any legal course of action from either the payment processor or sb.com? Reading some threads on this site (prior to UIGEA) - it looks as though some Online Casino's threatened action with a collection agency?

Lastly, and worth mentioning - I feel this is my only course of action to 'break even' since it's apparent I won't be receiving the funds from SB.com - I don't want to come off as a 'stiffer' - I'm just looking for some advice. I've truly learned a learned a lesson from gambling online - that was a pretty stupid move!

 

[Debt Guy]

Note - I do not plan on committing fraud here, I plan on letting Citi know these transactions were for Online Gambling. So - first question - Will Citi hold me liable for the charges ?

God, I hope so.

How is it that you engage knowingly in an illegal activity and then whine that you got taken? Didn't you know it was illegal for a reason? What on earth where you thinking?

and will they try to press charges against me since Online Gambling is Illegal

Technically, Citi cannot "press charges" but they can and should report your activity to the FBI, IRS, the US Attorney, the DEA, and Homeland Security. Expect to be on every "no-fly" and "listen in on his phone calls" list for the rest of your life.

Banks do not want to be involved in activity like this. Complaining to the bank is like asking for a big jolt of electricity.

Why don't you just skip the middle man and go down and file a police report and ask the cops to help you get your money back?

f Citi does grant me the charge back - should I expect any legal course of action from either the payment processor or sb.com? Reading some threads on this site (prior to UIGEA) - it looks as though some Online Casino's threatened action with a collection agency?

Probably. It is getting hard to get collection agencies to get involved in work like this. You might expect a nighttime visit from Snake Head Frank and he can give you a chiropractic adjustment. Just be cautioned that Frank does not spend much time with FDCPA disputes.