Question about Gambling websites with Curaçao license using incorrect Merchant Category code

Hello,

I have gone through som older bank statements and noticed that deposits i’ve made with credit card to a few betting/casino websites with a Curaçao license just show random company names in countries like Kenya, Nigeria etc that barely show up when I google them.

The deposits themselves were successful,but normally, my bank should’ve rejected these transactions If they had the merchant category code 7995.

My suspicion is that the gambling websites have tried to bypass bank restrictions by making it look like i’m buying e.g clothes and something like that.

My question is - is this even allowed under the Curacao license or in general? And would it be a valid complaint to raise, or will they just ignore this?

Hello.

This is a returning topic, I see.

I'm sure you'd find some older threads focusing on the very same debate here on the forum.

I think you made a good point. I doubt this is a fair approach, for certain answers, however, you need to contact the licensing authority or perhaps discuss it with your bank.

Care to try one of these tips out?

Yes, the merchant codes. I recall the very same issue. I'm sorry you have to go through this.

Actually, I remember that players have not found a solution because those different codes can't be recognized sooner than the damage is done. See this:

https://casino.guru/forum/casinos/magic-win-casino---general-discussion#post-47106

https://casino.guru/forum/casinos/jupi-casino---general-discussion/10#post-33510

I recall some others, but sadly could not find them anymore. 🙁

I suggest reaching out to the regulator, though I'm not sure how likely any solution is.

What do you say, care to try?

well, it‘s a huge THING! Follow us on reddit: RabidiNV Victims

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gambling-usa-dummies-exclusive-idUSKBN19D137

Interesting, also read that article, but can see it’s a few years old.

Well, its not the casino and as a player there is another way…

Go on reddit and reach out - we should have a call

Happy to help.

I do not dare say how legal this is; I'm not a lawyer after all. On the other hand, I'm convinced there must be some regulator or let's say some supervisory authority, to which this has a meaning to report.

Since it is called a merchant codes, how about informing the payment provider? I partially understand that the bank is quite helpless. Still, if you pay by Visa card, for instance, I think the Visa payments department should be interested in this. In my opinion, this issue is closer to the option used for deposits than to banks in general.

But it is just an opinion.

What do you think?

Could you explain what you mean? You know, perhaps the information may help especially vulnerable players avoid this dangerous trap.

Consider that, please.

Thanks for your insights. I think the legal aspect is uncertain here too, but it’s hard to know who to contact and if it’s worth my time at all.

What concerns me is that card deposits can potentially be a loophole for people like myself who struggle with addiction. And it feels crazy that gambling operators can just set up bogus companies to allow these deposits from happening and that they can get away with it without visa/mastercard/banks reacting…

I'd like to say there is a way to report such a situation, but you read the discussion too. It seems this is no man's land when it comes to supervising.

I agree that it feels crazy. When I come across anything useful, I'll surely let you know. I'd love to be more helpful, but for now, I have no ideas...

https://www.visa.co.uk/about-visa/visa-in-europe.html#2

check the rules for online gambling and in general the rules for merchants…

to be continued….

Then this should be a way to report that, right?

well, beside the known and authority protected fraudulent business activities of Rabidi and others, the circle of haze goes far beyond…

Good morning, I have recently been made aware of this post and I would like to offer some further insight - hopefully to be of assistance.

I work for a bank, and recently, came across a case where a customer had been making payments to a certain online casino with a Curaçao gaming license - where the funds intended to top up his balance had been paid via card in both attempts and successful transactions to at least 7 'different' payment destinations, all of which I believe to be shell companies operating on behalf of the casino.

I believe the reasoning for these shell companies operating is quite simple, and also extremely unethical at best.

By disguising the payment destination, this is a measure that can be employed to try and evade measures such as Gamstop, as the system will fail to trigger that the payments - made to shell companies who offer kitchen supplies, baby clothes/items, online games design courses (all evidenced examples from the particular casino I am looking into) - are for a completely different purpose.

At the end of the day, disguising the payment destination is always a suspicious move - but I believe that this is being done specifically by the casino in order to evade protective measures that customers can put on their bank accounts - which I believe puts particularly vulnerable customers (who are doing what the can to protect themselves) at incredibly high risk

This is something that I have raised as part of my role, and I hope that the bank that I work for can take appropriate action to protect our customers

Hello, dear Owen!

I'm glad you made it here. Thank you for this quite rare or let's say uncommon initiative.

Hi Owen

I am so encouraged to read this. it is something I have been saying for such a long time and it is happening more and more. I can tell you so many names of 'shell' companies doing this. I am currently in a dispute with another casino for doing the same, slowly I am getting my money back and now I have learnt a valuable lesson to NOT play at all as I am vulnerable. I am so encouraged by this I would be happy to share my email address and talk more. Many thanks

This is not as rare or as uncommon as you may think Radka, I have been bitten so many times but now I have seen this happening all over casinos, especially those that are bypassing GamStop!

Hi there,

If you provide your email, I will get in touch with you later on today - and I will also provide you with some advice for speaking to your bank to raise awareness with them

I would be more than happy to take the names of other shell companies that are being used by casinos, especially if they are doing this to get around protective measures like gamstop, as this shows complete and utter disregard for the safety of their users

Hi Owen, perhaps Radka could tell me how to send an email address in private, I have spoken to my bank at length and did not get far, I can talk to you about that more in private.

I am currently in dispute with a casino operating under a Curacao License and am awaiting an outcome by an ADR! I am so incensed by what is happening out there that I will stop at nothing to call them out. Banks 100% could do more, especially mine!