Gambling Ethics

[WinJStar]

So, I was going to write a blog and vent, but decided your input would be more appreciated.

I had a member join last week. The golden member. This guy did not sign up through an affiliate, had no rakeback and no bonuses. In the poker world, it is unheard of and similar to a unicorn. This man cleared 9000 points in 3 days. Lets just say in the past I have been thrilled to have a player clear 1000 points in a week. He cleared +$400 in rake in one day and +400 the next. He made 23 deposits totaling $3000 and withdrew $1700. No payout to an affiliate, no rakeback - yea yea..... I be happy camper and was about to send roses.



I get a support ticket to be reviewed. The following is the norm on all poker rooms I am told. This player wrote to support saying he has a gambling problem and please cancel his account. He loves the site and can not control his impulses. Support wrote him back naturally obliging and sent him to gamblers anonymous and www.ncpgambling.org.

I should have sympathy and not be greedy. But -

Does Dunkin Donuts not sell to a customer because she tells them she is on a diet and not to? Will a liquor store tell an alcoholic they won't sell to them even if they have been asked? These people are the bread and butter. This is called business. If someone decides they watch too much porn, do you think if they call the cable company and say please don't sell it to me, they will listen?

Anyway, I am torn, my nice side says it is a disease like any other and should be respected, but wtf? I respect people that gamble!!!! Anyway, just irritated. I know its only right, but it seems wrong too.

Btw, all of you with 25% rakeback - get crackin. You add it up. That is a $100 bucks a day back in your account.

[spaceboy761]

Your job is to provide your customers with the most enjoyable gaming experience possible... you're not being paid to be an ethicist. Everything was handled the right way, and hopefully you referred him to the help he needs. Also, if everybody playing on tilt were disallowed from gaming, the business wouldn't exist.

Hell, any rational person shouldn't be gaming at all since every casino game on the planet is -EV. Why not disallow all gambling at that point to protect us from our own irrational actions?

[WinJStar]

Can not believe this didn't spark more. So, what do you think? I should cancel these accounts upon request or worse ban them from starting a new account? That is how they handle it now.

[voodoo1215]

if you ban him and he goes off the wagon, he will just find another site to play on.. giving his money to another... i say keep his account open... and send him to the Phil Ivey school of poker

this way its a win win situation

[WinJStar]

Here's a question - legally when they come to me to close account due to dependency - do I have to oblige? I think I may.

[WinJStar]

Btw, he created a monkey that we also blocked at the next day. Same credit card info, etc...

[Dale]

well he did ask and if asked u should obligate . but hell that was good rake , wish i had ref him

[CJ]

legally, I have no idea.
As a moral obligation, IMO, yes, close his account. Better yet, get support to have a "self ban" button like pokerroom had.

this sounds like some kind of scam, or set up for law suit.

[voodoo1215]

Btw, he created a monkey that we also blocked at the next day. Same credit card info, etc...

thats 1 monkey you should NOT ban

[spaceboy761]

I think that you're obligated to close his main account. You don't have to be his babysitter every time he opens up a monkey account for the 5th time in a week.