Gambling Grumbles

Spin Palace
A smiling face but no payout
by Steve Russo
June 2010

If you are going to fake your ID -- which is never a good idea -- at least avoid using the picture of a well-known rock star.

That's the lesson that Cameron M of Newstead, Australia, learned. It was a lesson that cost him $3267. As Gambling Grumbles main website warns you, we won't be able to help if you use "false or misleading information" or engage in "other dishonest behaviour".

Sadly for Cameron, there is no reason to believe that if he had not altered his driver's license by replacing his picture with that of musician Pete Wentz, he would not have been paid.

To be fair, we don't think that Spin Palace handled this 100% correctly. There is no evidence, or even allegation, that Cameron cheated. At the very least, Spin Palace should have declared all of his bets void and returned his deposit. If it had done so, this report would have a "large smile" symbol on top, instead of the less emphatic "smiling face".

Indeed, even the "smiling face" is rarely given to a casino which keeps a deposit. Usually that earns a "skull and crossbones". It was only because Cameron was so clearly at fault -- in fact, he admits it -- that the "skull and crossbones" was avoided.

Cameron's initial letter which he sent to us read, "On March 15th I signed up and deposited to the casino, and was given a new player deposit bonus. I played only slots games, and I had a great lucky streak. When I had completed all their bonus terms and conditions for wagering, I cashed out approximately $3267. After not receiving my cashout, I e-mailed the casino asking why. They e-mailed me asking for my scanned drivers license and a utility bill. I didn't like the sound of this, but I complied and sent the documents they asked for. However I still have not received my cashout, months later."

When Gambling Grumbles contacted Spin Palace it sent us the scan of the driver's license which Cameron sent to it. It also sent an attachment showing the exact same picture of Wentz on an internet fan site.

We asked Cameron about this and he owned up to it.

"It's true," he said. "I doctored the license that was sent in. Or actually, had a friend who knows how to do it. I didn't think they would notice the picture. I worried about an employee at the casino doing something with my documents because it felt like they were already scamming me and I didn't want something worse to happen. I didn't think they needed to know what I looked like. I guess I was wrong...totally stupid of me."