Scammed by gambling website - is chargeback possible

Legacy_user

Im not sure if this is the correct place for this, however I recently signed up to an online casino, and made four transactions totalling £215. I then gambled this and attempted to withdraw £260.
I am not usually a big gambler so didnt do my research, but having looked online, the website seems to not have proper licenses, use an inactive phone number and fake UK address. It seems everyone who tries to withdraw money from the website has it stuck on 'pending' like myself indefinitely.

My situation isnt that I have lost money gambling and am now trying to get it back, I actually made money but realise I will not get these winnings, I just want my deposited money back.

Is this a case that would be able to be charged back through my bank? Or is this hopeless for me!?

Tallaght

What is the website ?

McKneff

Your bank most certainly wont reimburse you the money you have gambled away

I do wish you well in getting your depositex money back though

DCFC79

No harm in speaking to your bank.

System

As I said though I havent 'gambled away' any money - I made more money than I deposited. I am not bothered about the extra money I am just wondering if the amount I deposited would warrant a chargeback?

veryintrigued

Tallaght wrote: »

What is the website ?

Yep - what is it?

Tallaght

If you say the name of the gambling website then maybe more people can help.

EssexExile

Tom222 wrote: »

Im not sure if this is the correct place for this, however I recently signed up to an online casino, and made four transactions totalling £215. I then gambled this and attempted to withdraw £260.
I am not usually a big gambler so didnt do my research, but having looked online, the website seems to not have proper licenses, use an inactive phone number and fake UK address. It seems everyone who tries to withdraw money from the website has it stuck on 'pending' like myself indefinitely.

My situation isnt that I have lost money gambling and am now trying to get it back, I actually made money but realise I will not get these winnings, I just want my deposited money back.

Is this a case that would be able to be charged back through my bank? Or is this hopeless for me!?

Therein may be your problem.

Dragonfly1

1. Did you sign up and get a bonus?
2. It is common for new members of gambling websites to be unable to withdraw money until you pass their anti-fraud checks. This usually involves sending them a photo of ID.

I'd imagine it's either down to a bonus you agreed to on sign-up, or fraud checks.

If you are not a big gambler, presumably you have used a "reputable" UK gambling website (I use the term reputable in the sense that they are well-known on the high street or a household name).

Terry_Towelling

And the website is called?

Been out of cards for a while now and I am assuming you deposited money by card because you are referring to Chargeback protection that only relates to cards. However, it could be argued that you tried to deposit money into an online account and that is exactly what happened. The service cost you nothing and what you requested is what was done.

If you want to argue that the service you expected was to have your deposit wagered in order to win something, then you would have to demonstrate the value of that service (which we already know was free) and prove that the money was not wagered (which you can't because it was - and you won!).

Please note I am only theorising here - anyone currently in the cards industry able to offer anything more concrete?

How did you find out about all of the others who have suffered the same fate?

At the very least, you should tell your bank because, if this is a scam, they will be able to communicate with the retailer's acquirer and potentially freeze their accounts and close them down.

If it isn't a scam, Dragonfly1 may have provided your answer because some withdrawals are restricted during bonus periods - what do the T&Cs say?

Jlawson118

First question that came to mind for me too was "What is the website?" But after most people on here have asked the same and we've still had no response, then I'm guessing the post is typical spam.

However, if this is a real query, then it is possible for banks to issue a chargeback to this website. But whether they choose to go ahead with it is a different story. I fell victim to a PayPal hacking on William Hill about three years ago, and both my bank and PayPal refused to help me out with it without investigating further.
I did however, take it higher and won the case.

Contact your bank, there's certainly no harm in trying.