Retirement times

I think the withdrawal times, as well as the verification requirements, are ridiculously long compared to the deposits we make. To deposit funds, they don't ask for anything at all, just that you have money in the account. We can deposit using a neighbor's card without any problem, but requesting a withdrawal is agonizing. Most people give up on receiving their funds because of the waiting time. What do we think of these guys?

Hi, I think that in some cases, both of these processes are unnecessarily lengthy.

In any case, sometimes casinos do this on purpose, other times it is justified. If verification is performed, the player cannot withdraw money. It is then up to the casino when to start it and whether to request all documents at once or step by step. 

When it comes to withdrawals, it mostly depends on the payment method, verification, whether the casino uses a third-party payment provider, or whether you are playing with a bonus, for example, and it is necessary to check the gameplay and so on. 

However, it is always important to remember that you need to be patient. I have seen many players who can hardly wait even a day.

So what is a long wait for you? 

For me, a long wait means that making a deposit takes only 15 or 20 seconds, but for it to be accepted, or let's say approved, it takes at least 3 days, assuming those are business days. If you happen to win on a Friday night, imagine the number of days you'll have to wait for your winnings. It's unsustainable for any player; the frustration outweighs the profits, especially in my case, since I consider myself a gambling addict. Luckily, I have the means to play whenever I want, but the withdrawal system infuriates me, and I find it unfair. If it were up to me, I'd stop all the players in protest against the injustice of withdrawals.

I think they should approve or at least remove the cancellation system within a maximum of 24 hours; otherwise, it's very easy for someone to hit a rough patch and decide to take the easiest option, which is canceling withdrawals. There are few fools left these days, and some casinos automatically offer to cancel withdrawals as soon as your balance drops. I'd call that shady tactics on the part of almost all, if not all, casinos.

It's probably not the best thing, but canceling withdrawals is also common in casinos. I'm not entirely sure if there are any casinos where this doesn't work. Maybe there are some where they send the money right away, so you don't even have time to cancel the withdrawal. But that's how it works today. If a player has the urge to keep playing and cancel the withdrawal, then I would also look for a problem in the fact that, as you mentioned, they may be addicted and should therefore seek help and stop playing at casinos. Because one time it may be a canceled withdrawal, another time it may be something else that players who are in a similar situation will find. 

Casinos are also at fault, that's for sure, but the fact that you get your deposit right away is often because the casino may not actually have your funds in their account yet, but basically we can say that they "lend" them to the player with the understanding that they will receive the deposit later. That's why players can play so quickly. If you deposit somewhere, you probably don't want to wait 5 days for your money to arrive. I understand that players don't want to wait long for withdrawals, but this is often conditional. Fair and honest casinos pay out as quickly as they can once they have verified the player. However, this depends on several factors, as I have described, so it is not always the simplest thing. 

What's simple in this life? Of course, the simple thing is to get paid and, if possible, not pay. That's how one gets rich and the poor get poorer. Think about it, and you'll reach the same conclusion.

After your response, I wonder if you truly believe that a healthy person without a gambling addiction would risk their money in casinos they don't know, casinos licensed in countries with unclear laws or that are tax havens? Or do you believe that 95% of the people here have some kind of gambling problem? Whether acknowledged or not, I'm sure they do; the only difference is that I acknowledge it. Could you give me your honest opinion?

Hello, I hope you don't mind me joining in because I have been asking myself similar questions, and we have talked about that many times in the past with our Head of Safer Gambling Team, Šimon.

In my opinion the official numbers are very far from the reality. Playing in casinos makes literally no sense logically or economically. I now view gambling more as a "way of living" than a mere pastime.

In my opinion, far too many players are pretending to be fine, knowingly or unknowingly, and continue to view gambling as a fun pastime. I see it as an escape, a fleeting sense of freedom of choice.

In any case, what I have been witnessing for the last few years is a changed mindset of the problem gamblers. It is not uncommon that an addicted player is very ready to repeat that he is addicted but considers the whole world responsible for his state, accusing casinos of almost anything believable and seeking ways to refund money, because that means if I can get the money lost back, then things are ok, and no harm is done.

This is a toxic yet very popular mindset, if you ask me. When I started this job, I often encountered devastated people who were aware of their conditions and desperately sought relief and support. Nowadays it is about using the problem as a shield to avoid personal responsibility towards ourselves.

I'm not judging; this opinion was also shared with me by our external support worker, who has struggled with addiction for many years.

From my perspective, if I have to ask the casino for self-exclusion due to gambling addiction, I should consider myself a gambler and accept the fact that any other choice to deposit in a casino is mine. I should be honest and clear with myself. That, however, does not work when gambling serves as an escape or compensation. I reckon. Looking around the forum every day still makes me think that the operators are covering the people's desire for playing.

Don't make me wrong here, please.

I've also met people who play on a regular basis with a set budget; they are aware that they are prone to binge gaming, and they do not consider gambling "fun." They are also very angry after losing or happy when the luck turns in their favor.

As long as you can manage, it is your call. Same with smoking, drugs, and alcohol, I'd say.

I think more casinos should allow players to lock withdrawals for players who feel they might go back and cancel it and keep playing/lose it all.

Of course, they should at least remove the option to cancel them so we can be sure that we'll eventually get paid; otherwise, it's too easy for them.

It would certainly be good, but I don't think it would be very profitable for the casino. Casinos are also a business and, of course, they should not focus on players who might have such problems. 

On the other hand, you have to ask yourself if you have a problem waiting for your money, whether it might ultimately lead to something that could cause you issues in the future. If the answer is yes, then it's best to stop playing.

The comment explains that verification and withdrawal processes can be lengthy and depend on many factors. Overall, the message is helpful, but some players may find it a bit repetitive and unclear where the real problem begins.

I know what the post is about because I replied to it, but thank you for pointing it out.

Have you ever had similar problems? 

The same casinos that are required to be on the lookout for problem gamblers etc meanwhile as you say are incentivized to design their site in such a way to take money from them in that situation. Kind of a double standard. Should players who frequently cancel withdrawals and lose those funds be considered higher risk and looked at? I would say so. I bet it does not happen in that scenario

Every casino has different rules. There are many casinos that take advantage of players in such situations, and that's not how it should be. Problem players should always be monitored if the casino has indications that could lead to this. On the other hand, I have also seen players abuse their addiction, so it is individual and complex. 

If you're speaking for my case, let me explain that I requested self-exclusion, clearly and precisely stating that I wanted to close my account because I couldn't control the game. I was legally and formally informed that it was done, and in the end, it was an abuse on their part to send me advertising knowing what I had told them the day before. So, the abuse argument doesn't apply to my case at all. If they had closed my account when I requested it, this problem wouldn't exist.

I don't mean this in your case, but rather in general, as is usually the case in casinos, or rather, based on my experience with players.