What you Should do When an Online Casino Keep your Winnings
Every casino player registers with their casino of choice, intending to win money. The worst nightmare for a player would be to win but have the casino refuse to pay up. If the money involved is huge, it could easily lead to a legal dispute. The answer to whether an online casino can keep your winnings is yes. There are several reasons why a casino would refuse to pay out winnings. Some of the reasons could be legitimate, while others would be fraudulent.
Reasons Why an Online Casino Would Reject a Payout
The foremost reason why an online casino would refuse to pay a player’s win is that it is the wrong type of casino. Legitimate online casinos are governed by the licenses they operate under. These licenses hold the casino to the ethical conduct of business and the upholding of best business practices. On the other hand, an unlicensed casino has no qualms about fleecing its customers. If you opt to play at an unlicensed, unregulated casino, the chances that you get scammed are high.
All casinos are guided by rules and regulations that players agree to follow once they sign up. If any of the rules are infringed, that could be a reason for the casino to refuse to pay. That is why it is important to read the terms and conditions under which the casino operates, not forgetting the small print. Moreover, if you are playing a bonus, ensure you fulfill the wagering requirements before requesting a withdrawal. Similarly, if your withdrawal request is below or above the casino's maximum and minimum withdrawal limits, your withdrawal request is unlikely to be honored.
Sometimes a technical glitch in a casino machine or software malfunction could lead to a win the casino is unwilling to honor. For comparison, think of an ATM that begins to spew out money without any prompting. Even if you were to hit the jackpot, in such circumstances, the casino is unlikely to pay.
Online casinos may require you to provide proof of payment method or identity documents when claiming a huge win. As part of the Know Your Customer process, an online casino might require you to submit details about yourself, such as a utility bill. Such information also helps the casino verify that you are not an imposter or below the legal gambling age. Failure to provide this information could lead to the casino withholding your winnings.
Steps to Take When an Online Casino Withholds Winning
Once you realize that your online casino has withheld your winnings, you can take steps to resolve the issue and hopefully get your money. The first step is getting information. To find out why your winnings have not been paid, contact the casino’s customer care service. Through email, chat, or a direct phone call, find out where the problem lies. If it is a minor issue that requires some action on your part, the casino will advise you on the best way forward.
If your payment issue is not resolved the first time you ask the casino, you should gather evidence of your concerns before launching a complaint. Take a screenshot of your winning game and document the reasons the casino is giving for not paying you.
Familiarize yourself with the steps the casino gives for complaints. If you have spoken to a customer care official at the casino but with no success, you can ask to speak to the manager. Remember to remain calm and courteous when explaining your problem.
Should your efforts to get payment fail even after talking to the casino management, you could decide to escalate the issue. At the bottom of the casino home page, is an address of the gambling commission that oversees the operations of the casino. Contact them and explain your complaint.
Let them follow up on your complaint and resolve it. If the payout is still not handled to your satisfaction, you can opt to sue the casino. Seeking legal redress, however, is likely to be an expensive and messy undertaking. If your claim is small, you might decide to forego your claim.
Conclusion
Refusing to pay out a genuine win is bad marketing for a legitimate casino. Getting reported for infringement of a player’s right to fair treatment is also bad for a casino’s business. Most legitimate casinos will go the extra mile to address their customers' grievances. Indeed, casinos thrive out of advertising their huge payouts to happy customers.
If, on the other hand, you are dealing with a rogue casino withholding your money, the best option is to report them to licensing authorities and other industry regulators. Moreover, you should review them and alert other players of the casino’s shady activities.
Finally, the best way to avoid losing your winning at online casinos is to do proper research before you make any deposit. In particular, read the reviews and see whether other players have complained about difficulty processing withdrawals.
Cecilia Mwangi
iGaming News Writer
Cecilia is a passionate content writer who specializes in gambling content. With her 10+ years of writing experience and expertise, Cecilia loves sharing her knowledge on gambling and reviewing online casinos to help Canadians gamble safely at reputable online casinos. When she is not on her keyboard cooking up a storm with words, Cecilia loves playing online slots, traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her family.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-mwangi-content-writer-virtual-assistant/
