Add the PokerinVenice online poker network to the sad and deeply worrying list of supposedly well-regulated online poker operators licensed by Malta’s Lotteries and Gaming Authority that have closed their doors, leaving players unpaid with their account balances unshielded.
Posts on the twoplustwo forum indicate that the operator shut down in June this year after months of slow-pay excuses, leaving players with the option of transferring to a Play2B operator where cash-outs were made conditional on rake generated.
At least on this occasion the LGA has not simply washed its hands of the matter, although it is difficult to see what it intends to do about a licensee that has already to all intents and purposes folded.
In a notification posted rather belatedly this week here: http://www.lga.org.mt/content.aspx?id=367131 the Malta regulator advised that PokerinVenice’s remote gaming licenses have been suspended w.e.f. 25 November 2013.
“PIVGame has thus been directed to suspend all gaming operations, cease to register new players, not take any further deposits, not offer any games falling under the Authority’s licences, provide registered players access to their accounts and to settle all players’ dues,” the LGA advised, adding that any websites operated by PIVGame or associated with PIVGame and which make reference to the Authority or the above-quoted licences “….are not approved by the Authority.”
It’s the closing paragraph that will interest players, however, indicating that the LGA will accept complaints:
“Players who deem to have any outstanding payments due to them on the mentioned licences are to send an email to complaints.lga@lga.org.mt and should submit the following information:
1. Name and Surname;
2. Registered Address;
3. Date of Birth;
4. Copy of Passport or ID Card;
5. Telephone Number;
6. User Name; and
7. Screenshot of Balance or any pending Cash Outs (if not available an estimated balance is to be submitted).
The long saga of PiV and its financial disappointments for players can be accessed here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/poker-venice-withdrawal-problems-1311286/index2.html and here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/28/internet-poker/unofficial-piv-situation-progress-thread-1341144/index5.html