Merkur Casino

[andysbetting1187]

Morning all,

Hope everyone is well.

Just wondering if anyone has visited a Merkur Casino before (not the usual slot places, actual casino). I visited the one in Milton Keynes this week and it was a bit of a strange experience. Casino itself is well laid out, usual tables (blackjack, roulette, three card poker etc.) and they have a mix of slots (usual ones you would see in a casino plus a load of £2 max stake FOBT's so there is a decent mixture)

I played blackjack for a little bit but it was getting busyso asked if I could get a private table - was told they don't do that. I explained I am happy to play large stakes and willing to stake X amount in total, again told no. Then told that they won't accept any cash amounts above £4k unless its in a sealed bag that can be traced back to a point of origin (e.g. a bank) and if I wanted to be able to withdraw more than £5k on my debit card then I would have to jump through some hoops (which I am ok with) but it would take a few days to approve and might still be declined by management. Found this to be quite confusing as I have never had this sort of response before - Ive had issues with Aspers in the past but the other big named UK brands have never stoped me from plahing for a few days and never had issues with me bringing in large amounts of cash (never been restricted to 4k max).

Has there been a change in legislation or is this just Merkur's own rules? I did ask this but basically got a "don't know"

 

[SYPlayer95]

Morning all,

Hope everyone is well.

Just wondering if anyone has visited a Merkur Casino before (not the usual slot places, actual casino). I visited the one in Milton Keynes this week and it was a bit of a strange experience. Casino itself is well laid out, usual tables (blackjack, roulette, three card poker etc.) and they have a mix of slots (usual ones you would see in a casino plus a load of £2 max stake FOBT's so there is a decent mixture)

I played blackjack for a little bit but it was getting busyso asked if I could get a private table - was told they don't do that. I explained I am happy to play large stakes and willing to stake X amount in total, again told no. Then told that they won't accept any cash amounts above £4k unless its in a sealed bag that can be traced back to a point of origin (e.g. a bank) and if I wanted to be able to withdraw more than £5k on my debit card then I would have to jump through some hoops (which I am ok with) but it would take a few days to approve and might still be declined by management. Found this to be quite confusing as I have never had this sort of response before - Ive had issues with Aspers in the past but the other big named UK brands have never stoped me from plahing for a few days and never had issues with me bringing in large amounts of cash (never been restricted to 4k max).

Has there been a change in legislation or is this just Merkur's own rules? I did ask this but basically got a "don't know"

Hey Andy,

If they are linked the to land based arcades, I have found them to be confusing at best.

The staff in their venues seemingly dont adhere to UKGC policies and procedures and make up their own.

I can understand restrictions regarding cash deposits. I wpuld want to check origin of funds for £4k+ cash deposits.

 

[L&L-Jan]

I played blackjack for a little bit but it was getting busyso asked if I could get a private table - was told they don't do that. I explained I am happy to play large stakes and willing to stake X amount in total, again told no. Then told that they won't accept any cash amounts above £4k unless its in a sealed bag that can be traced back to a point of origin (e.g. a bank) and if I wanted to be able to withdraw more than £5k on my debit card then I would have to jump through some hoops (which I am ok with) but it would take a few days to approve and might still be declined by management. Found this to be quite confusing as I have never had this sort of response before - Ive had issues with Aspers in the past but the other big named UK brands have never stoped me from plahing for a few days and never had issues with me bringing in large amounts of cash (never been restricted to 4k max).

During last year some landbased operations had been fined for failings in regards to anti money laundering.

I reckon they get more strict.

 

[Reelsoffun]

Yes many land based casinos have tightened up on this sort of thing. Things have definitely changed in the last year or so.

 

[Webzcas]

Yep apparently staff will come over and talk to you now, if you seem to have been spending an excessive amount of time on the slots or tables. This has happened to one of my friends in the past, whereby they discuss responsible gambling etc.

 

[andysbetting1187]

Thanks all. Its getting a bit silly now - ive closed all my online accounts in the UK as was getting bored with restricted limits; if the bricks and mortar casinos are going to start it as well then I think I am going to change tact moving forwards. Instead of playing high stakes every couple of months or so, I might just save it all together and have a decent blow out each year in a different location (ive done vegas multiple times, but never done atlantic city/monte carlo/Macau etc.) so might as well get some places off the bucket list at the same time

 

[dunover]

Stands to reason - if you surpass 2k in deposits online and have to have a DNA test, SoW and affordability and AML scrutiny etc. then the situation where you can turn up at a B&M casino with 10k in cash in your ass pocket, play it through tables/slots for tickets/chips or cash-out receipts to legitimize it, was never going to last, was it??

 

[L&L-Jan]

ive closed all my online accounts in the UK as was getting bored with restricted limits;

happy to welcome you back

we've moved away from financial thresholds so you wont get edd request if you did a table games / live casino session

 

[andysbetting1187]

happy to welcome you back

we've moved away from financial thresholds so you wont get edd request if you did a table games / live casino session

ffs which I had known about this before I pressed the button hahaha. I think this happened to my last time as well

 

[Guntis]

Never been to Merkur, but I’ve been to Hippodrome and Aspers (Stratford) many times. By the way, Aspers isn’t Aspers anymore, it’s Genting now, so the rules are different.

At Aspers, i could take up to £1k in chips from the cash desk. If I brought cash and played at the tables, there was no problem. All of them set limits on how much you can take from the cash desk using your card, but how much loose cash you can use at the tables varies.

At the Hippodrome, it’s up to £1k. After that, you need to show a receipt from a cashpoint even if it's literally right next to the tables.

Sealed cash usually isn’t a problem. It’s never happened to me that a casino wouldn’t take a sealed £1k pack, especially if it’s from another casino

When it gets warmer, places like Lisbon, Portugal, should be nice to visit over weekend instead of doing the same shite in London. They’ve got a big casino there, Casino Estoril. And a lot of things way cheaper than here.

Also, Slovenia has plenty of casinos near the Italian and Austrian borders, and Czechia has many near Germany and Austria. These should be good spots to check out instead of sitting London.

Other decent places, like Casino 2000 in Luxembourg and casinos in Swiss cities such as Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, and Lugano, should also be nice.

 

[TheAddict]

Looks like someone caught you driving to the Casino Estoril last time you were in Lisbon, Guntis!

 

[andysbetting1187]

thanks @Guntis - a few on there I have not got on my list so think I will add them on

From looking online Merkur only have two at present - Milton Keynes and Aberdeen. I know aspers has changed as the one in Newcastle is now a Bally's.

Never had any real issues with Genting/Hippodrome or Napoleons