Gambling Wages Challenge - Final Report

[JTodd]

Dear Members and Guests, Thank you all for your patience over the past two months as the APCW worked to resolve these several cases involving players and webmasters. There were a few minor player issues which we resolved without discussion which mainly involved the awarding of bonuses and other communications issues not involving payment of funds. What we will discuss in detail are the more publicized cases, and those involving larger sums of money. Listed below are the five (5) major cases we had in dispute with the Gambling Wages program that involved payment of funds. We have conducted in-depth research and interviews and believe that we have come to fair and reasonable conclusions regarding final dispositions. In each case you will see what the player claimed as the dispute, what Gambling Wages told us about their claim, and what the APCW eventually agreed to with Gambling Wages. We list only the basic details needed to understand the disposition. ========================================================= CASE #1 Player: "Julia" Casino: Bingo Knights Player Dispute: Player had several thousand dollars in winnings from a jackpot at Bingo Knights. She tried to cash out and was denied. Julia decided to play through some of the cash, leaving her final payout request at $1,250 which had gone unpaid up to the point it was brought to our attention by Sherry at the BPU. Gambling Wages Explanation: Gambling Wages contends that the player was told to call and "reset her account" before playing anymore, because the cash on deposit in her account was awarded as part of a bonus and not eligible to win jackpots. It was reported that Julia did not follow through with this request, and as a result an automatic hold was placed on her winnings. APCW Resolution: We were originally told by Gambling Wages several weeks ago that this player would be paid-in-full even if Bingo Knights did not honor the full amount. Bingo Knights is run from India and it has been near impossible to reach them for a final resolution.We did contact Bingo Knights while I was in Costa Rica, and they promised to make a payment to Julia, and Gambling Wages has agreed to credit any difference to the player so that she receives the full $1,250. Notes: We appreciate the fact that this jackpot was won with ineligible "bonus" money. However, we feel the bonus policy is archaic somewhat unfair. We're happy to see Gambling Wages make things right for the player. Total Recovered for Player: $1,250 ========================================================= CASE #2 Player: "Laurie" Casino: N/A Player Dispute: Player claimed to have sent Western Union and Money Gram cash transfers to former company employees who asked her for assistance to deal with "personal issues" in their lives. She originally claimed that she sent $1,250 in three separate wire transfers, but later discovered it was only $1,150. Gambling Wages Explanation: Current management asked for receipts to see these transfers and were shocked that one of their former employees would ask a player for money. These former employees has not worked for Gambling Wages in some time and will never be hired again. Documentation for these transfers was provided for two of the three occurrences. APCW Resolution: Since Laurie was only able to locate two (2) of the receipts for the transfers, Gambling Wages send the player what was documented plus $100. Both Western Union receipts showed a total of $600 transferred, and Gambling Wages has paid this player $700. Notes: We were shocked that an employee of a company (any company) would be so bold as to solicit funds from a customer. We were equally shocked that a customer would actually follow through and wire the money. While we are happy that current management at Gambling Wages paid this player, this case should serve as a huge learning experience for all parties. Total Recovered for Player: $700 ========================================================= CASE #3 Player: "Beth" Casino: The Virtual Casino Player Dispute: Player won a $9,000 jackpot at the Virtual Casino and was having difficulty cashing out her winnings or contacting support. Gambling Wages Explanation: Although Gambling Wages has admitted that the owners of their casinos also own The Virtual Casino, they correctly point out that they have no management privileges or access to player information for the property. However, at our encouragement, Gambling Wages did contact ownership and help investigate the situation, and has assured us this player will be paid-in-full. APCW Resolution: Gambling Wages could have dismissed this case under the pretense that they do not manage The Virtual Casino, and they would have had grounds to do so. However, the APCW did make them aware that players and webmasters are aware of the connection in ownership, and we rightfully told them that helping this player receive her funds would be a tremendous boost to their credibility as they not only admitted the connection to "Virtual" but produced a positive result for a customer. Total Recovered for Player: $9,000 ( To be paid in $1,250 installments every ten days ) ========================================================= CASE #4 Player: "Joanne" Casino: Palace of Chance Player Dispute: Player won a jackpot on +/- $6,800 and had not received her entire payment. Player admits having been paid approximately $1,100 toward the win, and to threatening chargebacks of all her deposits unless paid the balance. Gambling Wages Explanation: Gambling Wages told us that this player had not been paid due to the "Lifetime Max Cashout Rule". They claimed that this player asked for and was awarded far more in free chips over the lifetime of her play than she ever deposited. Management produced system generated documentation for this players lifetime deposits and bonuses which indicated $1,350 in total deposits and $4,500 in bonuses awarded. This would be a violation of their "Lifetime Max Cashout Rule", a copy of which we obtained on the internet archives from the exact time this player won her jackpot (see below).

APCW Resolution: Although we empathize with this player, and whole-hearted disagree with a "Lifetime Max Cashout Rule", there is nothing we can do to obtain additional funds for this player. It should be noted that this jackpot was won on a $25 deposit which (according to the rule) should have generated a payment of no more that $250. The player admits a payment of at least $1,100, or over 400% more that she was originally entitled to. Notes: This particular case is what led the APCW to strongly encourage Gambling Wages to change their bonus policy to a more realistic system. We believe the current policy is set up to ensure players fail to cash out their entire winnings. And if it's not set up that way, it is at the very least poorly planned. Total Recovered for Player: $0 ( Although $1,100 was paid originally ) ========================================================= CASE #5 Player: "Donna" Casino: Club Player Player Dispute: Player won a small amount of money and was having difficulty cashing out and receiving her winnings. Gambling Wages Explanation: They had no explanation. This case seems to have been lost in the muck of everyday business until we made a call. APCW Resolution: We understand that part of doing any business is that things will occasionally get misplaced or overlooked. However, this was very unfortunate timing for this particular type of player complaint. Gambling Wages realizes this and will be staffing a dedicated team for player services to help avoid such issues in the future. Total Recovered for Player: $125 ========================================================= Resolution: The APCW was able to secure over $11,000 for players. We are very pleased to have accomplished something positive in a situation many thought was impossible. Conclusion: We understand skeptical attitudes about our motivations, intentions, and the likelihood of getting any positive results when this all began. Hopefully, many of you now see that good results can come from a negative situation if you're willing to work for them. We do not expect players and webmasters to now accept Gambling Wages at face value. This is not an endorsement of their program, but an acknowledgment that the management there has taken responsibility for the actions of the past. This program understands that this was only the first small step in recovering an image stained by years of poor customer service. However, this is where that recovery must begin. We thank you.

[JTodd]

Hi Julia,

It would have been so nice if they would have paid you when they promised me they would... almost two months ago. But it's nice to see you stick it out and get paid in full =0)

[Julia Rayner]

Hi all

I havent posted for awhile and i am sorry, i have been playing the waiting game.

I would like to start by saying a big thank you to all the people that have helped me, BPU, APCW and steve at gambling wages.

It has been a long wait but i have finally received my full payment, i am so happy it could not have come at a better time, i really appreciate all the effort and time everyone has put in for me and kept in contact with me.

You have all been wonderful, i have been speaking with Steve from gambling wages who has put in alot of effort and time on my behalf to get this paid to me, as well as Jtodd and sherry and many others, i am so lucky to have so many people help and it paid off, i hope that anyone else out there that is owed money will get it soon.

I was offered alot of different offers but stuck to my guns and it paid off i hope to never have this problem again with any site, and pray noone else does either.

Thanks to all again

Jewels

[Julia Rayner]

Hi all

Am i the only one that has still not yet received payment or is there someone else out there too.

Was told on the 28th Oct it had been settled and would receive payment it is now the 19th Nov. hmm

If there is anyone else out there please let me know.

[JTodd]

Thank you, Earl. I am very thankful to have the support of good people like you, sir =0)

[Earl]

Keep up the good work JT. Sometimes a man has to just say shit on what others think and go on with what they are doing.

[JTodd]

Hi Jeannie...

I hope you got my reply to your PM =0)

Casinomeister is a very interesting group of individuals. Hard to read them... impossible to please them! All I know is that we did our honest best and were happy to recover 11 grand for players after all these years. Instead, well... you saw what we got.

Oh well, I am off to CASINOMEISTERS 50th BIRTHDAY BASH in London! LMAO!

Wanna bet I make some new friends there?

[jeannie]

You did a Great job! I was impressed. Not to say that I saw casinomeister doing it! They seem to only back the ones that they like! You give more information in one video than they give in a month at the forum!

[JTodd]

Julia,

We are currently in Boston working our butts off on yet ANOTHER deal to help players and webmasters in this industry. However, I have read some of the posts at Casinomeister (I try not to go over there I was dragged! LMAO!) and I must say that I am a bit surprised by the comments about me by those I tried to help. Talk about ungrateful! HA HA! However, the comments from the BPU members and other "Casinomeister Cronies" are quite predictable by now.

Since I know this post will be copied and pasted by those most interested in stirring the pot-o-chit, here's some things the CMC's can chew on (I'll keep them as simple as posible):

1) I will stand before God Almighty and swear that my intentions through all of this were 100% honest and pure. The only reason we took on this "challenge" was to get players funds returned when no one else could. These players contacted us asn asked us to get them their money. No one else would have put their ass on the line like we did. No one else would have flown to Central America like we did.

2) We have gotten Gambling Wages to pay some players and a promises to make good on other player payments. We will hold them to that... we always have. We also got them to admit on camera their connection to Virtual (which they previously denied) and to change their stupid bonus policy (which they refused to do for years). Still all we get from the CMC's is crap, greif, and hostility. Oh well... rubber stamp another thread =0)

3) I have never taken one damn cent from Gambling Wages other than the standard APCW Membership dues. Yes, they paid for the plane ride and my hotel. That's it. I am a working man with a family to support, after all, and there's not a thing wrong with what I did. I mean really... taking bribes? Is that the BEST you people can do? Sad... so sad...


======================================================

Personally, I am sick of killing myself for ungrateful people like the majority of rabid dogs at Casinomeister. It's been less than a week since we aired the video and they are waiting on payments while most online sites are taking 20 to 40 days to process right now. Ok... sorry about that. Why not ask us to follow up? Why not commend our efforts? Why not say a simple "thanks" for doing things never done before?

Instead, people jump on the idiot bandwagon with all the other clowns and criticize because it's easier to tear down than contribute something productive (more fun, too, I bet! LOL). They don't even realize how some BPU members manipulate the conversation, along with other "special needs" posters like MrRacetrack, and do nothing positive for the industry. We kill ourselves every week, going to the source of the issues and facing these things head on, while others sit behind their monitors and flame like cowards.

Bryan is a great guy and the only one on your boards who's met me in person and known me for some length of time. Why not ask him if he thinks I took a bribe... or if he thinks have been "paid-off"... or if he believes I did anything else wrong you can dream up . If it wasn't for cooler heads within the APCW I wouldn't deal with Casinomeister people at all. Personally I think you all deserve one another.

Oh, for the record, the "hand jesture" I made was from the movie "Psycho"... you'd think the music would have been a big enough clue that even CMC's could figure it out... but I guess I overestimated my audience! LOL! It was no where near an obscene jesture. But this just further demonstrates how ready you people are to believe anything negative... and that's what's truly discusting.

[Julia Rayner]

Hi all,

Just a quick reply i have not yet received any winnings yet, this is Julia by the way, however as soon as i receive it, if i do i will re post and let you all know,

Thank you for getting this for me Jay i really appreciate it as to me it is alot of money that at this time i need.
Also i was never contacted and told to reset my account until i requested the withdrawal when my balance was around $3000+ also was told that if my balance reaches 0 that resets my account, was told a few different things to be honest and all it seemed to do was try and stall me.
I hope i receive this money as i did win it and always played by the rules as i read all rules to a site before playing, it has been 3 months now since this all started so to see a end and finally receive this money would be wonderful.

Again thank you
just wanted to clear a few things up and i hope next time i post here will be positive and to say i received my winnings.

Jewels

[JTodd]

Thanks for the positive feedback. I wish everyone was so enthusiastic, but as usual no good deed goes unpunished. The typical group of negativity warriors has been out in the forums posting how the APCW did this only to line our pockets and take kick-backs.

I swear these people must kick puppies.