Rescue mission. Casino Rewards steps in on Tusk debacle

20.03.2008

Online casino players with accounts at Tusk Investment's Casino Action group currently in the throes of liquidation can breath again - the Casino Rewards group has announced that it is to take over the online casino assets of the failed group. But the announcement warns that the acquisition does not include the widespread online poker assets of Casino Action.

All online casinos formerly operating under the Casino Action group such as Golden Reef, UK Casino Club, Nostalgia, iBig, Music Hall and Challenge, will soon fall under the Casino Rewards management, and ready for a grand re-opening on March 25, 2008.

Online casinos already in the well established and successful Casino Rewards group include: BlackjackBallroom.com GoldenTigerCasino.com, CaptainCooksCasino.com, Casino Kingdom, Casino Classic and LuckyEmperorCasino.com. The group is reviewed and monitored by eCOGRA.

All Casino Action player accounts in the acquired casinos will be safely transferred to the Casino Rewards network, with all account balances, withdrawals, and bonus credits available for immediate use.

"We are happy to welcome the new casinos into our network. We are working around the clock to integrate all of the casinos so the players have the best experience possible," said a spokesman for the Australian group. "Every cent of their account balances and bonus money will be accounted for and migrated over. They will be able to log in to the casinos just as they had previously and can play safe in the knowledge that the CasinoRewards logo will be on these casinos ensuring the security, reliability, and professionalism for which we are known."

The Casino Rewards team is working around the clock to finalise the migration. Unfortunately the online casinos will have to remain closed while the migration takes place but will be reopened on March 25, 2008. All players will receive a notification when they are able to play again.

Only the six casinos will migrate to Casino Rewards. Any poker rooms associated with Casino Action or any of its affiliates are not part of Casino Rewards and Casino Rewards has no knowledge whatsoever of the situation therein.

Whilst the fate of the poker rooms remains uncertain, the takeover of the online casinos in the failed Casino Action group will be welcomed by players and affiliates alike, as it assures their payouts. Casino Action's troubles started some weeks ago when a review team from the player protection and standards body eCOGRA discovered departures from its standards serious enough to warrant the immediate and public suspension of its 'Fair and Safe' seals.

Confidentiality obligations prevented eCOGRA from revealing the nature of the non-compliances, however Tusk subsequently advised its software provider Microgaming that it intended to go into liquidation, causing the immediate suspension of its software license and closure.

Tusk Investments, the owners of the Casino Action group have been remarkably silent on the issue, and have not communicated directly with the player community or the public on the issue. It is understood that the appointment of liquidators has been finalised and awaits the approval of the Vanuatu jurisdiction.