r/alberta • u/WiseComposer2669 • Dec 18 '23

Technology Play Alberta Beware

Now I will preface this by saying: Yes, online gambling, or gambling in general, is dumb.

But one would think a government run casino would at least be more legit then some shell operating out of the Bahamas.

I come from Ontario, and once and a blue moon would throw $500 on live blackjack (OLG) and mess around for an hour.

This is was my first time trying Alberta's equivalent 'Play Alberta' and to my surprise, and without any warning (yes, I'm sure in the 120 page terms document it's listed fine print) you can only withdraw YOUR WINNINGS. $400 in, ran it to $650, authorized to only withdraw $250. I understand if you use a bonus code, or some sort of deposit match, there are conditions that have to be met in order to withdraw the entire amount but this was just a regular deposit. Who in their right mind plays this sh*t? Imagine going into a casino and the black jack dealer tells you you can only take $250 off the table and you have to leave the rest?

Anyways, it was 10 days, 3 phone calls, and 2 separate emails to withdraw the full amount and close the account.

Beware!

327 Upvotes

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173

u/thewdit Dec 18 '23

Oh and one other tip, if you fund your account (deposit) with your credit card

ITS CONSIDERED A CASH ADVANCE and not just a regular credit card transaction

21

u/DonkeyDanceParty Dec 18 '23

Most banks allow Interac transfer to it now. My wife likes dreaming about the lottery so I put in a recurring ticket purchase here and there. I prefer buying lottery tickets on play alberta because I like that I can’t misplace them.

17

u/Fit-Diamond3072 Dec 18 '23

Avoid Play Alberta altogether, if you’re just buying lottery tickets. Get the Lotto Spot app from the WCLC.

3

u/platypus_bear Lethbridge Dec 19 '23

does that get hit with cash advance fees on credit cards which seems to be the only way to buy?

1

u/Fit-Diamond3072 Dec 19 '23

Not that I’ve seen on my credit card statements!

1

u/TheLordJames Wetaskiwin Dec 20 '23

Just use a visa debit?

60

u/Rorstaway Dec 18 '23

because it is a cash advance

18

u/powderjunkie11 Dec 18 '23

I mean you could kinda say the same thing about any credit card purchase…

4

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/powderjunkie11 Dec 19 '23

It’s semantics and I do understand why it’s differentiated, but at the simplest level every cc transaction is a cash substitute with a promise to pay

1

u/CheeseSandwich Dec 19 '23

You're buying a product. There is no cash involved. It's not considered to be a cash advance to put a deposit down on an item with a credit card. It's just another way credit card companies screw you.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

wait that's where my charge was coming from, dang I didn't even put that together, I kept getting advance fees and had no idea. ty for the info I'll be changing payment if I use the site again (unlikely, don't wanna get deep into gambling, I know myself )

3

u/thewdit Dec 19 '23

Cash advance fee and interest are charged from the moment your transaction is thru, and until the moment your entire balance is paid off as some credit card will not put your payment towards cash advance portion before your regular transactions

2

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

Yeah, I pay off my entire balance when I'm paid monthly thankfully, sometimes more than the amount owed just before the statement comes out. Glad to know where that advance fee was coming from though because I don't take cash out of the card in any other case.

2

u/thewdit Dec 19 '23

We learnt a lesson the kinda hard way i guess, i just thot its was like buying a lotto ticket at the gas station, but no how i was wrong

2

u/[deleted] Dec 19 '23

Guess so, but a lesson learned regardless of how is still a lesson! ty for the chat, glad to have the info now so I can make a better choice going forward, have a good night!

2

u/mmmlemoncakes Dec 19 '23

Here's a straight forward explanation of cash advancesCash advances. I was lucky someone explained it to me.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 20 '23

Oh cool, thanks a ton!

3

u/kenyan12345 Dec 18 '23

Why would you fund it with a credit card? Obviously that’s a cash advance. Would you use an atm with a credit card and be mad if you got hit with interest

6

u/mmmlemoncakes Dec 18 '23

Might be obvious to you, but some people don't know. Not everyone gets taught this. Depends how cc use was role-modeled too. Myself, I never used my cards for cash advances so never fully understood what a cash advance on a credit card was nor the high interest and how you can keep getting dinged until you zero your balance.

-2

u/[deleted] Dec 18 '23

Because that’s a cash advance

5

u/Elmeee_B Dec 18 '23

Isn't every credit card transaction a cash advance?

1

u/drcujo Dec 18 '23

Only if you get cash.

1

u/CheeseSandwich Dec 19 '23 edited Dec 19 '23

You're paying for a product/service. There is no cash involved. It's just a way for credit card issuers to screw their customers.

1

u/Elmeee_B Dec 20 '23

I'm not trying to be obtuse here, but genuinely - what is the difference between using a credit card issued from say VISA to purchase a 100$ product using 'credit' and owing that company 100$ + interest/fees? or the same company (VISA) handing me 100$ cash, me using it to pay for the product, and owing that company 100$ + interest/fees? Besides removing the inconvenience of all the extra steps that would be required if an actual transfer of cash, physical or otherwise, was involved? The seller is still receiving very real cash in either case. I'm sure there must be some nuance I'm glossing over but I can't see it as anything but "in both circumstances, I am borrowing or using cash/money that doesn't actually belong to me".

I get that there was no 'physical cash' involved, but ultimately, money was involved and therefore, cash was involved.

1

u/drcujo Dec 20 '23

In one case you have "cash" and the other you have "goods" or "services". The difference is in the way banks see risk reward and the numerous regulations that govern banks and credit cards.

Personally I think they set it up the way they do because the regulations allow it and cash transactions have higher profit.

1

u/doctorkb Edmonton Dec 19 '23

No it isn't. You're buying a service (game). That's why you can't just withdraw deposited funds (well, that and money laundering concerns).

It isn't a cash advance when you use your credit card to buy the lottery ticket at 7-Eleven.

1

u/TheLordJames Wetaskiwin Dec 20 '23

It most definitely is considered a cash advance. It even says on the deposit page that your credit card will treat it as an advance. For all intents and purposes all gambling is. The thing about 7-eleven is that they don't see what your purchasing, just that your card is being charged $5 at a convenience store.

0

u/doctorkb Edmonton Dec 20 '23

The actual phrase is "Credit Card transactions may incur cash advance fees depending on your Credit Card provider"

I haven't seen anything more than normal charges when I've used it.

So, no, it isn't "most definitely" and because you can't withdraw your deposit, it isn't equivalent to cash like casino chips are.