I will start by saying that I have been a loyal player on WorldWinner for 15 months, from the time I created my account (August), to when it was closed (October). I had a shaky start, meaning I had lost some money when I was getting good at their games. But I played lots, in fact I logged over 40,000 cash competition in my career on WorldWinner.
I started to get good at a game called Swapit! In about December of and was the game I actually started winning in. While at the same time becoming better and better in a card game called Freecell. It wasn't long before my situation would turn around. Around March I was banned from Swapit! Because "there were not enough people at my skill level to evenly match me". Even though scores as good if not better than mine were still winning tournaments. It was 2 months before I was allowed to play again, but this would not last long.
While I was banned from Swapit! I became better and better with a game called Solitaire Rush, though some days I would lose in excess of $100 playing it, some days i would win some of that back.in May I was allowed to play Swapit! Again, but this would last less than a week. Following my ban from Swapit! In May, I would never be allowed to play it, until the closure of my account at the end of October. I was now angry at not being allowed to play Swapit, simply because people as good as me continued to play, and I was deemed to be too good.
So I continued on my path in playing Solitaire Rush and Freecell, getting better with more and more practice. At this point I liked to maintain a balance simply because there were sometimes days when I'd lose over $300, but in the end I was coming out ahead, because I was amongst the best - since I played almost non-stop; several hundred games on certain days. And I had as much speed, and experience as it would take to get ahead. It wasn't a big income by any means, but at least I was coming out ahead...
Now we come to even more negatives (aside from my ban from Swapit!): Their, new for tax policy was to withhold 30% of net income. On top of the 33% they take in commission. But the taxes were of course much more than 30% because upon losing a game, you dont get your spent taxes returned. Because of this I ended up paying in excess of 50% tax on my net winnings... The IRS being reluctant to issue me a tax ID because the category of this company is not quite clear... Is it gambling, or business income?
Ok, so I paid heavily out of my success, but in the end I was at least winning, most people who play lose. I started to like low player competitions less and less because for every game won, you would likely lose 2, that number higher for bigger fixed # of competitors tournaments.
Then October 27th comes around, when without warning or any reason that was well explained to me, my account is closed.
At the time of closure I was leading a big tournament, where my score would have won me well over $1000, My account balance at this point was $630, and I had also spent $83 in two other progressive tournaments, where I may, or may not have come out ahead.
After communication with them the best reason provided was: "It was a business decision to close your account, and void all winnings, because we believe you to be using unfair methods". The implications of this are not true by any means, I would never, nor have I ever cheated or used "unfair methods" in playing games. But if playing well is a crime then many more people need to be locked away.
I had left many pleas for a reversal of this decision, offered to prove that I am not using any such methods by recording games, or playing in person, or any other means. But was constantly told that there is no point in continuing my efforts, that a final decision has been rendered.
I ask the readers of my writing, what kind of a "fair business" makes a "business decision" to close a players account when this business has so much to gain? Their gain as a result of this decision was near $1000 (on which I had paid taxes), my loss of potential winnings was well over $2000. If there was a good reason for closing my account (other than to make a $1000 profit) then maybe I could understand their decision, but falsely stating that I am using "unfair methods" does not constitute proper conduct for the fairness department, in fact the unfairness of this incident makes me die a little every time i try to laugh, pure irony.
I don't know what will come of my complaint, maybe people will read it and know better than be good at anything.
Hopefully everyone who reads this will be warned!
My hope is to have WorldWinners decision reversed, and have my due winnings sent to me.
I would still like to compete there, but many things will have to change for that.
Maybe some players remember me from WorldWinner, the hint to my ID lies in: wdwac.
Alex
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
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