Recreational gambling is all about having fun, not making money. The potential to win adds spice, but it’s not the main reason people play casino games online or in a live venue. That said, sometimes players do win big, and when it happens, they expect (reasonably so) to be able to withdraw their winnings. Normally, this is a straightforward process: you take your chips to the cashier or make an online withdrawal request. From time to time, however, you may hear about land-based or online casinos not paying out. Keep reading to find out the potential reasons and what you can do if it happens to you.
Wagering Requirements
A common reason for casinos to withhold payments is not fulfilling wagering requirements that apply to casino bonuses and deposits. Make sure you understand your casino bonus offer before accepting. Be sure to check the terms and conditions, because most bonuses have specific wagering requirements that you need to meet before the casino will pay out. Typically, you’ll have to wager the bonus amount a certain number of times (usually 30x–70x). Additionally, some bonuses only apply to specific games.
When it comes to deposits, most casinos won’t allow you to withdraw the money directly after depositing. This is to protect themselves against money laundering. Ordinarily, the wagering requirement on deposits is 1x–3x the deposited amount.
Account Verification
Gambling online isn’t legal everywhere in the U.S., and each state has different gambling laws. Where casinos are permitted, gamblers are required to provide proof of their legal age and name, address, and banking details. To comply, new members have to undergo a simple Know Your Customer (KYC) process, which typically involves uploading a photo of their ID along with a bank statement and recent utility bill. Players aren’t allowed to make any casino withdrawals until this process is complete.
Deposit and Withdrawal Limits
A common reason for online casinos to legitimately hold back funds is that they all have minimum deposit and withdrawal limits. If your balance is less than your withdrawal limit, you won’t be able to cash out. There are often different withdrawal limits for different payment methods, too. Minimum withdrawals can vary from $10–$100, depending on the casino.
There may also be maximum weekly and monthly withdrawal limits, at around $1,000 and $50,000, respectively.
Gambling Intercept
More than a dozen states and numerous tribal casinos participate in the Gambling Intercept Payment program, which collects gambling winnings from people who owe child support. States can also intercept winnings from players who owe income taxes and other fees or fines. The money is then channeled to where it needs to go. It’s a great idea in theory, but there are millions of names on the list, and sometimes mistakes occur. For instance, a player who has paid off their debt could have their winnings intercepted if the database is outdated. Unfortunately, casinos can’t do anything about this, as it’s in the hands of the authorities.
Self-Exclusion
Problem gamblers who need help to cool off can place themselves on a casino’s self-exclusion list for a specified period (which could be a few months, a year, five years, or even permanently). The casino will then refuse them service for that period. Needless to say, a self-excluded gambler who manages to slip into a casino they’re excluded from and win won’t be able to cash out. In fact, they may be arrested instead, and the state will take their winnings. Casino companies operating in multiple states will ban excluded players from all their properties.
Machine Malfunction
Slot machines can sometimes play up and award jackpots or credit prizes in excess of their top prizes. This is usually the result of what’s known as a display error. A notorious example is the $42,949,672.96 win, where a code malfunction triggers a win of 232 (that is, 2 to the 32nd power), which works out to 42,949,67,296.
It can also happen that the electro-mechanical reels of older slot machines don’t stop where the computer tells them to, causing a casino payout anomaly.
As a general rule, if a slot machine displays a win in excess of its advertised maximum payout amount, the casino won’t pay out. This is why you see the sign “Machine malfunction voids all pays.”
Fraud
There are many crazy casino scams out there these days. Some players, to get an edge, have been known to conspire with crooked dealers, use hidden cameras, slide dice, swap cards, count cards, rig slot machines, or act on inside information. Needless to say, no winnings obtained through fraudulent means will be paid out. Instead, players caught attempting to defraud casinos are harshly prosecuted.
Rogue Sites
These are all legitimate reasons for a casino to withhold winnings, but sometimes, players fall victim to rogue online casino sites that simply refuse to pay. When this happens, your options for recourse are limited. You can opt to sue, but this can be difficult and expensive. The best way to stay safe online is to play only at reputable, regulated online casinos that actually pay out.
What Players Can Do
Here’s what you can do if a legitimate casino refuses to pay out. First, make sure it’s not your fault. Ensure your account is verified and your winnings aren’t being restricted by any wagering requirements. Second, contact the casino help desk, which is usually available 24/7 via email and live chat. Usually, this is enough to sort things out. If the help desk doesn’t respond or makes excuses, contact the casino’s licensing authority and register a complaint. If all else fails, you can file a lawsuit against the casino operator.
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