Welcome to our in-depth review of “The Pokies.net” casino, a highly popular yet controversial gambling site that has recently found itself on the blacklist. While it’s undeniable that this platform has attracted a significant player base, it’s crucial to shed light on the growing concerns surrounding its legitimacy. Reports of possible scams and unethical practices have raised red flags within the online gambling community, prompting us to delve deeper into its operations.
This serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thoroughly reading and understanding the terms and conditions before engaging in any online gambling activities. Join us as we uncover the truth behind “The Pokies.net” casino, shedding light on its blacklisted status and emphasizing the need for caution and due diligence when exploring the vast world of online casinos.
Not all casinos are created equally
One of the main problems concerning the Internet is the anonymity of those creating websites as well as those on Social Media. With this comes the ability to “hide” behind a curtain of secrecy to create mischief. Now when there is money involved the odds become more serious and people can get seriously hurt. In the case of Online Casinos there are those who prey on the naïve as well as those in the know.
Is it always Fraud or a Misunderstanding of the “Fine Print”?
Every review of the online casinos must be taken with a grain of salt. Some of the reviews could be from competitors to sabotage the site or from players who are unfamiliar with the basics of playing online. The latter of the two I will address as it seems to be an issue for new players.
After reading thousands of reviews (like the one we wrote on FairGO) over the past 10 years almost 90% have to do with receiving money from the casino. Here are just a few from real players.
“Still no update on this 🙁 it’s 21 days today since I requested my withdrawal.
888 casino do you know what the hold up is with this? Can you speed up the process please”
Thank you
…..”It took forever to get verified and once I did I waited 3 days after I tried to withdraw and they took all my winnings it was $ 9000…”
…..”I won a free bonus and won 180 Australian dollars. And I asked for a withdrawal. He said the account must be verified and when sending the documents after three, he sent me a message that your account was closed….”
“Same as above can’t verify Can’t withdraw
They Lying saying my docs are cropped when they are not .
They are low life predators stay away from these scumbags”
I assume from the above quotes you get the picture of the complaints. Many complaints have real merit while others seem to be a miscommunication or not reading the rules of play and more specifically banking. Every online casino is different, although there seems to be some basic rules for withdrawing winnings.
Unlike the popular land-based casinos which payout with every win whether on the slots or tables, online casinos have their own set of rules. Most casinos limit how much money you can withdraw at any given time. There are also rules for the amount of money you can withdraw each month. Even without the limits of the casino, many payment methods restrict the amounts of withdrawals as well.
The most severe restrictions are for any type of jackpot win whether it’s a progressive or nonprogressive jackpot. As with the mega lottery winners in the US where your winnings are paid out over your lifetime or a fixed amount, online casinos usually do something similar. It usually takes a few months to “verify” and they will then ask for more documents and then start some monthly payments. Most of this is in the fine print and is consistent through the online casino industry. There are sites that will be a sort of “representative” for you and contact the site to inquire about your issue.
If there is Fraud what kind of Fraud is committed by these Online Casino?
The fraud comes in many forms and is not necessarily harmful to the consumer in terms of monetary loss. In some cases, the fraudsters will set up a temporary casino site using other developers’ games (slots) and get people to sign up for a sum of $10. What follows is not much else and, in a few weeks, or months the site as shut down.
After a few attempts to get your $10 back from the casino most people will give up and write off the money and move on. The real crime is not the ten dollars from one individual but the fleecing of thousands of individuals adding up to tens of thousands of dollars. This helps the fraudsters stay under the radar as most people do not report their lost money.
Another type of fraud is somewhat similar but a bit more complex with returns of millions of dollars. Although many countries crack down on gambling, there is always demand, especially in Australia which has the highest number of gamblers per capita than in any other country. ACMA (The Australian Communications and Media Authority) has been keeping itself busying cracking down on the big fish in the proverbial pond.
With some quality programmers and imagination there is always a way to crack the system. One of the most common practices is to keep “reinventing” yourself through new sites. Fortunately, the ACMA was on the case and was able to bring down these criminals, although they casinos did many to scam millions of Australian dollars from unsuspecting pokie players.
Thepokes.net was one of the site which was shut down this past year by the Australian regulator. On average the site was receiving 30,000 visitors per month. If you know anything about online gambling 30,000 legitimate visitors s a big number and one where a lot of damage can occur. The complaints started when visitors who signed up to the casino and won were not given their winnings.
With the site making tens of millions of dollar the authorities were able to find the culprits and shut the site down. The problem is that it is easy to create another site with the exact same template and games. Because many of these sites are based offshore and not in the country of play, such as Australia, it is much more difficult to navigate and find out who these companies are.
What Casino Games was the Site offering?
The games which thepokies.net were using had been obtained illegally and without the permission of the developer. A few of the games included, Greek god-inspired Gates of Olympus, the dinosaur-themed Raptor Doublemax, and the Candy Crush-esque Sweet Bonanza. Most of the games were popular when they were posted which is a strategy which is used to attract visitors. Since all the games were stolen the illegal casinos use the most hyped games and what is popular at the moment. Despite the Australian $1.1 million fine these illegal sites continue to grow and are always playing the cat and mouse game with the authorities.
Why have Illegal Gambling sites grown recently?
Since 2019 when ACMA had the ability to ban these sites, there have been over 500 sites shut down. Certainly, a large amount but these sites continue to grow with the demand from players. COVID has been a boon for these illegal sites as new players keep popping up online. Being subjected to all the COVD restrictions has given the average person a reason to seek some entertainment. Many of these new players do not have the experience or knowhow to properly vet the online casino that that they decide to play and end up on the losing end.
There are cheaters, scammers, thieves, etc., in all parts of the world and anywhere where there is money to be made. Online casinos are no different and provide a platform to steal the money of hard-working individuals. This will unfortunately continue, and the truth is that these scams will always be one step of the authorities. You can only insulate yourselves so much but if you continue with your due diligence, you should lower the odds of getting scammed. With vast number of reviews online it should be somewhat easy to figure out which ones you want to stay away from.
Online Casino Fraud – Advice to Aussie players
Casino fraud is a serious concern that can cost unsuspecting players their hard-earned money and tarnish their online gambling experience. To avoid falling victim to scams like the ones associated with “The Pokies.net” in Australia, it is crucial to exercise caution and follow some key guidelines. Firstly, always do thorough research on the reputation and legitimacy of an online casino before depositing any funds. Look for licenses, certifications, and positive player reviews.
Additionally, carefully read and understand the terms and conditions, especially regarding bonus offers and withdrawal policies. Never share sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, with unreliable or unsecured platforms. Lastly, trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true or raises suspicions, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid the casino altogether.
By staying vigilant and adhering to these precautions, players can protect themselves from casino fraud and ensure a safe and enjoyable gambling experience.
Always remember that if it’s too good to be true, then it most likely is!
