Casinos using payment processors with different merchant name/category codes

As a follow up for the previous topic and as this one is more clear about the issue.

https://casinoguru-en.com/forum/complaints-discussion/question-about-gambling-websites-with-curacao-license-using-incorrect-merchant-category-code/138

Certain casino's based in Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus and some MGA based casinos do not debit casino transactions under the name of their casino (or managing company) but use through their payment processors different names and more important different category codes so banks will not block these transactions to protect the consumer from gambling too much. A while ago Reuters also figured this out: https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/exclusive-fake-online-stores-reveal-gamblers-shadow-banking-system-idUSKBN19D137/

This is a sad thing as it can dupe many consumers or addicted players in gambling too much or losing more money then intended.

In some countries (including mine The Netherlands) the casinos that do such things are in all cases illegal based casinos which are in 95% aware of this but simply do not care. For players this is of course an unfortunate situation, but as the merchants are not from the casino this also gives possibilities.

Several merchant names have been mentioned in the previous topic and I hope that with this thread which is more clear to continue so other users can find it easier.

Hello, thanks for adding some of your knowledge and surely the article from reuters can be helpful for players. It is certainly important to look into such things and try to find out what is behind it and whether it is worth depositing in such casinos. 

However, has it happened to you that you have discovered such merchants on your bank statement ?

Hi Jaro,

Unfortunately this occurred a lot probably as the casinos would like to avoid showing the real payment name and code as banks might block this to protect the consumer.

So in my gambling time of 8 years I found the following merchants (first you see the name as on the statement and their contact mail):

Nun-Tech/Kycoin/KyPay (support@nun-tech.com)

Bitsent (Support@bitsent.eu)

cpay.finance (customer_service@cpay.finance)

Altpay (info@altpay.uk)

coursespro.org (help@coursespro.org)

Csscanner (Support@camscanner.com)

Coinshop.work (support@coinshop.work)

Rankbeasts (Support@rankbeasts.com)

Dolcepay Kenya/Limited (support@dpkenya.com)

www.giftvista.io (info@kuvarsteknoloji.com)

TTV Games (info@ttvgames.com)

nTells Online Tech&Comp (info@ntells.com)

Dress Direct Clothing (hi@mydressdirect.com)

www.tangosm.com (info@tangosm.com)

Chillstock (support@chillstock.com)

Textime (info@textime.org)

Creapay (info@creapay.cz)

Talkout (support@talkout.com)

BP Wallet (support@bp-wallet.com)

Mobilumpay (support@mobilum.com)

Intrepid Data Systems (clientrelations@intrepid.co.ke)

Dstr Ltd (support@destream.net)

Giftingpassion.com (info@giftingpassion.com)

Kiwipay (support@kiwipay.ae)

Music Reverb (Support@musicreverb.com)

Transcomobile PC(pchub@transcomobilehub.com)

Mydates, London (support@grottobook.com)

Helpersm(ap) (support@helpersm.pro)

Do note that these mail addresses are found publicly through the website or their T&C page!

Thanks, maybe the information will help other players. 

Anyway, I was wondering, did you also request any chargebacks or refunds like the players in the thread you mentioned and linked ? 

I know that it became quite popular and some merchants eventually returned it and some didn't reply at all. How was it for you then ? 

It depends Jaro.

In certain cases I did file successful chargebacks only if the casino refused to pay out or did all it can to delay the procedure for payout. As you know this is a common method by some casinos hoping that the longer you wait the bigger the chance you play your money away which is a win for the casino.

In some other cases (which occurred a lot) I file for a permanent self exclusion to casino A which belongs to Company Z and ask explicitly for a operator wide exclusion and attend the casino that company Z is not allowed to operate in The Netherlands requesting them to stop promoting in The Netherlands and block the option. Then you get some standard reply we closed your account but the casino does not respond on my other two requests nor refuse them.

If I end up on casino B which also belongs to Company Z where I am also unable to withdraw or whatever issue I sent them a complaint asking for a refund which in 9 of the 10 cases get refused which lead to a chargeback. So far all the chargebacks I had to file are either won or were refunded. It only lead to a block with the casino which is no problem at all.

To be honest if enough players that get duped file for a chargeback and win (which is likely to happen as those fake merchants wont risk to get exposed for their illegal practices which could lead to serious sanctions and penalties from MasterCard/Visa) the casinos will stop eventually from operating in these restricted countries.

A colleague of mine knows someone who lost ten thousands euros to a casino while he was on the Dutch gamstop, as it turned out he was playing on an illegal casino without being aware of it. And some illegal casinos are also advertising through social media claiming that they offer plinko app with high RTP and payouts and if you download the app and open it you land on a casino that is illegal in this country..

https://www.casinonieuws.nl/online/illegaal-online-casino-maakt-reclame-met-app-ontwikkeld-door-kansspelautoriteit/#:~:text=De%20illegale%20goksite%20adverteert%20op,zijn%20uitgebracht%20door%20de%20Ksa.&text=Eerder%20dit%20jaar%20werden%20Nederlandse,van%20de%20Kansspelautoriteit%20werd%20gebruikt.

Apparantly the Dutch market is a good market for those casinos if you see how many illegal operators target this country. And the gambling in this country is actually regulated by the Dutch government.

Good day to you. Interesting summarization. As Jaro said, it could help others understand the side effects of legality and illegality.

Thank you.