Scammed by gambling website - is chargeback possible

[Deleted User]

“I gambled money and lost it all - can I get a refund”

No. You can’t.

ST-User

Please tell us at last, what is the website? Thank you.

System

!!! wrote: »

“I gambled money and lost it all - can I get a refund”

No. You can’t.

I have literally said twice that that is not what happened if you actually read my post. I have more money than I deposited in the account I just cannot withdraw it. Why would you reply with this smug response without even reading what I wrote?

In answer to everyones question, the website is winnermillion.com/

I received an advertisement for the website via email and signed up as it looked like a legitimate casino to all intents and purposes.

I realise that this is a gambling website and so the responses have been rather smug and critical as opposed to how they would be if this was just a regular scam, however the fact is I have £260 sitting in that website which they are not allowing me to have, after depositing £215, as is the case with previous customers. Why I have to say this again is beyond me but I did not just 'lose the money', I actually won money overall, and they are now not letting me withdraw it, or even get a refund of just the deposited amount minus my winnings as their T&Cs state you can do.

If you look up this site on google this has happened to others before me, and the site doesnt even appear to have proper licenses.
I have been scammed plain and simple and dont believe I got the product I thought I was purchasing as part of this product is the ability to withdraw any winnings you make.

Obviously I would not be writing this post if I had just 'gambled away' the money.

ST-User

I've tried several online casinos but only for the cashback, playing safely with the minimum amount only. But all these casinos were linked from Quidco and Topcashback which is a kind of guarantee that they are genuine and licenced casinos. Withdrawal was always possible without any problems.

However, if you accept any bonus offer (e.g that they double your deposited money or free slots etc) then you have to wager it 30...35...40 times before withdrawing, which is equal with losing it all even with the safest play. Is it not possible that this wagering requirement is the problem?

System

ST-User wrote: »

I've tried several online casinos but only for the cashback, playing safely with the minimum amount only. But all these casinos were linked from Quidco and Topcashback which is a kind of guarantee that they are genuine and licenced casinos. Withdrawal was always possible without any problems.

However, if you accept any bonus offer (e.g that they double your deposited money or free slots etc) then you have to wager it 30...35...40 times before withdrawing, which is equal with losing it all even with the safest play. Is it not possible that this wagering requirement is the problem?

No nothing to do with a bonus. I appreciate what you are saying but I have used casinos before and never take the bonuses as they usually have too high wagering requirements to be worth it. This website actually allows me to withdraw the money but just sits indefinitely on 'pending' (some people have reported this being the case for months). Essentially after doing some research it is just a scam company plain and simple, with customers never getting responses to emails or phone calls, and even listing a fake address on their website.

I know I should have done my research first, however I won money plain and simple and they are now attempting to withhold it from me (as I have said before I am not concerned about any winnings now, just the amount I deposited..), and so I was just wondering is this would ever be grounds for a card chargeback as they are not providing the service they are required to?

[Deleted User]

No need for the PM.

It’s the usual outcome from posts like this that people are BS’ing with their stories

Do you normally sign up for websites and offers you receive randomly through email?

ST-User

Their website says:
"WinnerMillion is licensed and regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Authority, a renowned watchdog in the casino industry."

Google brought up this: https://www.legalgamblingandthelaw.com/worldwide-gambling-licensing-authorities/government-curacao
"There is no real infrastructure in Curacao which allows that country to issue gambling licenses, and as such when you find a site proclaiming to be fully licensed by the Curaçao eGaming, they will have obtained is a business license and nothing else!
With this in mind we advise everyone who wishes to gamble online to avoid signing up to and then ultimately gambling at any Curacao licensed site, for that license is not a gambling license and you will have no help at hand if or more likely when you run into problems at a gambling site licensed there."

And:

"How Long Does It Take to Get Paid my Winnings?It is no joke when we say that some people have been waiting for years to get paid from some Curacao licensed gambling sites, if fact there have been gamblers who have found sites licensed there have simply closed up shop overnight and have never been seen or heard of again.There is no standard time frame for getting paid your winnings if they ever get sent form a Curacao licensed gambling site, and as such you will always be at the total mercy of the gambling site in regards to when and more likely if they choose to pay you your winnings."

This means that you've got nothing to lose, the casino will not pay so I'd suggest to contact your bank and let them know that the payment went to a fraudulent company, maybe they can do something with it.

Edi81

A quick google brings up scam warnings on the first page.
Chances of you getting anything is remote.

antrobus

Tom222 wrote: »

...
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.

...

I don't believe that chargeback is applicable to cash withdrawals.

ST-User wrote: »

Their website says:
"WinnerMillion is licensed and regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Authority, a renowned watchdog in the casino industry."

Yup. There t&cs state;

All https://www.winnermillion.com products are jointly operated by Sprocess Online Limited 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, UK, WC2H 9JQ a company licensed and regulated by the laws of Curacao license number 8048/JAZ.

Sprocess Online Limited was incorporated on 23 February 2017. Its accounts are overdue. Sole director is Moshe Acoca who is an Israeli.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10636327

P.S. Curacao is a small island in the Caribbean. Even without Gooogling it, I'd bet it had FA in the way of 'regulation'.:)

jonnygee2

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

I think a processed charge back would be successful here. The blocker will be getting your bank to listen.

It's true that the vast majority of gambling charge backs are rejected (either by the bank or they just lose the process). But this sounds like a scam website, and looking at it, it looks untrustworthy. I would gather as much evidence as you can (what antrobus just posted will be extremely helpful!) along with concrete evidence that you 'won' the money etc, and ask your bank.

Bear in mind, though, that ultimately its your banks call if they process a charge back. And some might say no, just because its a gambling site. Unfortunately for you, anyone processing charge backs in a bank is approached all day, every day with requests to charge back or treat as fraud gambling transactions. You have no rightto a chargeback, its at your banks discretion.

Just a note - I do trust you but also bear in mind, if you have been at all untruthful here and the company submits substantial evidence you actually lost the money gambling, this could get your accounts closed and CIFAs added.