Warning: Casino Max (Roaring 21, Cherry Gold etc)

[Shelix]

Hello!

 

I can't make a casino complaint or request intervention because CasinoMax isn't in the database of casinos here.  I found it through these forums; a couple senior members and an administrator had posted that they'd gambled there and one member said they knew someone who worked there if anything went wrong.

 

I'm a US resident. I very carefully researched them to be my first online casino, made sure they would accept and pay to US residents.  I verified my account prior to depositing (took a few days).  Then I deposited the maximum $500 (with no deposit bonuses), gambled around with it a little bit on their roulette table to test the interface, then made a withdrawal request to finish the loop of testing them (I gamble thousands at a time, so stepping in cautiously here).

 

This is where I ran into trouble.  CasinoMax only offers two withdrawal methods, wire transfer or check.

 

1.  I attempted wire transfer first.  CasinoMax requires receiving institutions to have a SWIFT code to wire transfer, which is an identifier used by financial institutions that buy and sell foreign currencies.  My bank does not.  In fact, as far as I can tell, even the banks (like Bank of America) that *do* have SWIFT codes have them for specific business units that are not bank branch or customer facing, so wouldn't be applicable even if I were to open an account at one of them.

 

2.  That took me to a check.  I requested a withdrawal by check, paid the withdrawal request fee, was contacted by CasinoMax a couple of days later via phone to confirm the withdrawal request.  After two weeks of no updates, I talked to their live chat again, started chasing down an update, and the check was issued on August 1st or 2nd, and delivered via FedEx envelope two days later.  

 

I took that check (issued from TD Canada Trust) to my US bank for deposit.  My bank told me that it couldn't be deposited as is, because it was using Canadian routing (8 digit routing) which isn't compatible with American routing (9 digit routing).  My bank created a "Direct Collection Item Request" which is an authorization for my bank to forward this check and a collection authorization to the paying institution on my behalf and directly collect the money, for which I had to pay a $10 fee.

 

My bank then sent the check from CasinoMax (labeled as 9359-5353 Quebec Inc) to TD Canada Trust to make a direct collection.  TD Canada Trust rejected the check, and said it wasn't a payable check against that business account.  TD Canada Trust returned the check to my bank, where I am going to go later today to pick it up as a souvenir of useless paper.

 

I then reached out to CasinoMax again, who stringently told me that they issue thousands of checks all the time, and have never heard of this issue - but that next week they will cancel the check, and re-credit my account.  From that point, I'll attempt to do an international wire transfer using "NOSWIFT1" to try bypassing the SWIFT code requirement (I read that somewhere).  There's no guarantees, but that's the last-ditch effort I have available to me.

 

However, I've been at it more than a month, I'm $100 into fees on a $500 deposit, and at this point, I definitely think that Casino Max and their sister properties are not friendly or available for US-based players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Afi4wins]

That's one more painful story to hear, Shelix, but you are not the only one either, as you may already know by now, yet, there is almost nothing that anyone can really do to help you out, sad to say. 

 

Casinos that accept US players probably know damn well of the long time frames it would take to make payments to them, which is favourable for the casinos no doubt, and very painful for the players concerned...but humans being humans...US players would still play at these casinos, for one reason or another, which is yet again only beneficial for the casinos.

 

Anyway, hope can you finally get around this problem and get your payment, Shelix...and all the best for you! 

[Mshella29]

I have an account at chase and have no problems with bank wires or checks and I’ve deposited many. I also have an account at TCF and they deposit checks but do not have a swift code. ( both in the US) It definitely depends on your bank. I haven’t had any problems with Checks from Cherry.

[dmlgaines]

Hey, I know this is an old post, but it sounds to me like your bank is DEFINITELY most of the problem there.  I have Bank of America, they have the same SWIFT code for all US customers(BOFAUS3N).

Also, never had a problem with depositing Canadian/foreign checks there, but I do have to go to the teller(can’t put them in the ATM).  I haven’t played at Cherry Gold, but I’ve never had the slightest problem at Roaring21/Casino Max(It’s my only go-to now)

 

Maybe they’ve improved since last year?  R21 takes Bitcoin now and I usually get paid in two business days of using crypto.