Bitcoin Rush (formerly Casino Bitcoin) ripped me off and cannot be trusted

[bitedge]

TL;DR
Bitcoin Rush took my bitcoins from my account because they did not like the review I posted about them (the review was more positive at the time than it is now).
  
I run Bitedge which used to be called the Bitcoin Betting Guide.

I am posting this because I care about the bitcoin gambling ecosystem and I am sick of amateurish operators acting dishonestly.

What happened
After some disagreement about our Bitcoin Rush review and inclusions on my site I was surprised to receive the following in an email from Bitcoin Rush.

"Per the terms and conditions on this page https://www.bitcoinrush.io/affiliates Management and I have decided to no longer process your affiliate payments"

I thought it was petty and a bad business decision but if that was all then I would not be making this post, it’s their affiliate program after all. However it was much worse than that.

Bitcoin Rush took my cleared funds out of my account! The previous day I could bet with those funds or withdraw them just like any user who has deposited their own bitcoins or had affiliate payments in their account. Then my bitcoins were simply gone from my account.

I was surprised because I had always defended Bitcoin Rush as being an honest and reliable operator, I did not think they were as high quality as the best bitcoin sportsbooks but I did say in the review that users funds were safe with them. Now we know they are not.

I sought clarification and to get my funds back multiple times and was told I had gone against the affiliate terms and conditions without any specifics of what I had done that was against what term or condition. I could not see anything in those vague terms and conditions I had gone against so I asked again and was told.

"You flat out call BitcoinRush.io one of the worst sites around, only catching any sense of traffic because we listed on Havelock? Calling us pretty much the worst bitcoin site in existence disqualifies you from any further affiliate payments."

So there it is, Bitcoin Rush stole my bitcoins from my account because they don't like what I said about them. I never called Bitcoin Rush one of the worst sites around, that is them exaggerating, and even if I had have done so that would not be against the terms and conditions. Even if I had have gone against the terms and condition nowhere do they say that gives Bitcoin Rush the right to take the cleared funds from previous deposits or affiliate payments out of my account.

As such Bitcoin Rush should no longer be trusted by the bitcoin community, provably fair does not help much if they steal your bitcoin for reasons they make up as they go along. Luckily there is no reason to risk it as there are far higher quality, more professional and more trustworthy bitcoin sportsbooks and casinos reviewed on Bitedge

For those interested here is the full backstory of the disagreements leading up to the theft.

https://bitedge.com/blog/bitcoin-rush-ripped-me-off-and-cannot-be-trusted/#backstory

[DebitMe]

Hmm, they have been around a very long time, so this is a little surprising (please note I am no way affiliated with them besides being hired to advertise in my signature).  Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

I think it is perfectly fair of them to no longer pay out affiliate earnings if they so desire, but any money previously held in the account, either through affiliates or deposits, should be released.  No matter what is said, you cannot steal money.

I assume someone from Bitcoin Rush will be weighing in here shortly, lets get the other side of the story.

[bitedge]

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

[pedrog]

Like previously said, they do have a clean history and I do have them in high regard because all my dealings in their sites.

This behavior seems quite erratic and it's theft, hope you got back what is owned to you.

[casinobitco]

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

[sherbyspark]

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

[casinobitco]

I can see this viewpoint, everyone on the team can actually... we are pretty reasonable folks.

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

We will reach out to James to rectify the situation like adults and not through the forums.

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

[OrangeSeller]

I can see this viewpoint, everyone on the team can actually... we are pretty reasonable folks.

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

Lol, if a player of yours post in your thread that your site is a trash then you will frozen his account too? Lame site lol

[bitedge]

this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment.

You did not hold the BTC0.155, you paid it to me as normal then later took it out of my account.

general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

On what matter? The matter of me giving an accurate review in my opinion rather than the review you wanted. This was long before I stoped linking to BitcoinRush, I stoped linking to bitcoinRush about 30 minutes before I posted this.

[casinobitco]

James - give us a PM or email at admin[at]bitcoinrush.io (with a receiving address), and we'll sort this out.

this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment.

You did not hold the 0.155, you paid it to me as normal then later took it out of my account.

general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

On what matter? The matter of me giving an accurate review in my opinion rather than the review you wanted. This was long before I stoped linking to BitcoinRush, I stoped linking to bitcoinRush about 30 minutes before I posted this.

[sherbyspark]

I can see this viewpoint, everyone on the team can actually... we are pretty reasonable folks.

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

We will reach out to James to rectify the situation like adults and not through the forums.

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

I am sure you guys will probably sort it out, but since you guys are running a professional company, therefore resorting to freezing(equivalent to stealing) customer funds only because he didn't rate your casino high enough or slandered your name is also not mature.
Hope you guys sort it out .

[anderson00673]

Well, this is alarming.  I agree that even if you cancel affiliate status, earned money is still earned money.  It is too bad that he had to complain on the forums to get any attention.  Thanks for the heads up, OP!

[casinobitco]

I'm hopeful we'll sort it out like adults as well.

Clarification - James is not a player... James is an affiliate. We have certain guidelines (that have never changed) in the terms and conditions of our affiliate program. In the view of management, once James no longer had our odds on his site, coupled with the rather poor reviews after we made big strides in a redesign, new comp system, faucet with our Peer to Peer game, etc etc  we withheld his last withdrawal after communicating with him.

In hindsight this was a mistake and we should have just processed the 0.14 payment and parted ways.

I can see this viewpoint, everyone on the team can actually... we are pretty reasonable folks.

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

We will reach out to James to rectify the situation like adults and not through the forums.

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

I am sure you guys will probably sort it out, but since you guys are running a professional company, therefore resorting to freezing(equivalent to stealing) customer funds only because he didn't rate your casino high enough or slandered your name is also not mature.
Hope you guys sort it out .

[DebitMe]

I'm hopeful we'll sort it out like adults as well.

Clarification - James is not a player... James is an affiliate. We have certain guidelines (that have never changed) in the terms and conditions of our affiliate program. In the view of management, once James no longer had our odds on his site, coupled with the rather poor reviews after we made big strides in a redesign, new comp system, faucet with our Peer to Peer game, etc etc  we withheld his last withdrawal after communicating with him.

In hindsight this was a mistake and we should have just processed the 0.14 payment and parted ways.

I can see this viewpoint, everyone on the team can actually... we are pretty reasonable folks.

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

We will reach out to James to rectify the situation like adults and not through the forums.

This is incredibly childish and petty, we've never not paid a player, and this is actually the first time we've ever held an affiliate payment. The amount in question is 0.14 btc.

We've had several email exchanges with James on this matter, and given the hostility from James, his threats, and general reluctance to be reasonable on the matter - we decided to no longer pay him as an affiliate, this was after he stopped linking to BitcoinRush.

Full disclosure, the amount withheld from his account was ~0.14 BTC. Over the life of his account - he was paid 5.2451 BTC without issue.

Could you please let us know how much you had in your account that they won't allow you to withdraw?

Its a small amount, less than a bitcoin, but that does not change anything really.

If you guys chose to terminate his affiliate payment, it is still not ethical to block his affiliate amount earned from the past. The amount is not in question. Just in a similar way someone who criticizes your casino and has some balance on his account on your site, shouldn't have his funds frozen.

I am sure you guys will probably sort it out, but since you guys are running a professional company, therefore resorting to freezing(equivalent to stealing) customer funds only because he didn't rate your casino high enough or slandered your name is also not mature.
Hope you guys sort it out .

Well this seems pretty cut and dry to me.  Way to go casinobitco in getting this handled.  I would say this about wraps up everything since they have offered to pay the sum in question and I assume cut all ties thereinafter.

Lets go ahead and lock this thread then bitedge, you have/will get what is owed to you, no problems, and there is no further reason to continue posting here.

[IanQuinn]

Already have some issues with casinobitco posting

• Why would you every use a persons real name when they posted with a handle.
• He never stated the actual bitcoin amount, and again why did you disclose this amount?
• Many people have a short fuse, and rant (including threats).  But a site should be above all this; closing someones account or not paying them is unethical.

Sites support teams are so unprofessional these days, that's amazing that people play with this type of support.

UPDATE

In hindsight this was a mistake and we should have just processed the 0.14 payment and parted ways.

Well, if you want good KARMA you should do this and let everyone know.

[bitedge]

If James was a bit more mature and chose to deal with this situation in a more "adult" fashion, as opposed to slandering a company that's been in operations for 2.5 years without issue - maybe the outcome of his situation would be entirely different.

I wrote multiple "mature" emails asking why my bitcoins were taken and requesting they be returned. I was refused. All I have done here is told exactly what happened.

James is not a player... James is an affiliate.

Again not true, I was both a player and an affiliate.

[casinobitco]

1 - His full name is in the OP, and all over his site.

2 - It was asked, he answered, we clarified.

3 - You're right here - our decision was short-sighted, and we have sent him his last payment (James can confirm if he desires).

Already have some issues with casinobitco posting

• Why would you every use a persons real name when they posted with a handle.
• He never stated the actual bitcoin amount, and again why did you disclose this amount?
• Many people have a short fuse, and rant (including threats).  But a site should be above all this; closing someones account or not paying them is unethical.

Sites support teams are so unprofessional these days, that's amazing that people play with this type of support.

UPDATE

In hindsight this was a mistake and we should have just processed the 0.14 payment and parted ways.

Well, if you want good KARMA you should do this and let everyone know.

[bitedge]

I just added this to the post to wrap things up.

After I posted about this on the bitcoin subreddit and Bitcoin Talk Forum BitcoinRush defended their action and refused to pay me back.

They dishonestly labelled me as hostile, threatening, unreasonable, slanderous, childish, petty and immature. Most of what they said publicly was deliberately misleading, they understated the amount, they said it was after I stopped linking to them, they said I was an affiliate and not a player, all untrue.

After they saw most community members disagreed with them they edited some of the above mentioned comments and paid me the amount owing. So I do owe thanks to the bitcoin community for pressuring BitcoinRush to do the right thing which they otherwise would not have done.

Good luck and have fun bitcoining!

[DiscoverCebu]

Good luck with your payment but you should probably move this thread to Scam accusations.

[santa_marta]

Good luck with your payment but you should probably move this thread to Scam accusations.

did you literally read at least one freaking post in this thread? Or are you just boosting your sig. campaign.