McHenry Savings now MSU Federal Credit Union’s Post

If you are a Fortnite video game player, the FTC has begun notifying people who may be entitled to compensation. The FTC settled with Epic Games over allegations that the Fortnite video game maker used dark patterns and other deceptive practices to trick players into making unwanted purchases. Info at www.ftc.gov/Fortnite Gamers aside - for businesses in general, the risk to be concerned about is deceptive or misleading practices and how your customers are making purchases of your products and services. What tactics and techniques are you using to pull customers into the buying process? Are they easily understood? Not toeing up to the line of generally being considered "dark" or deceptive? (sometimes this means a user does not understand disclosures or that clicking a button actually also includes consent to something not clear or related). Just check your buying process and disclosures process to make sure they are simple, clear, and well understood by your customers. #darkpatterns #deceptive #disclosures #fortnite #ManageTheFuture

At least we tried - How was the attempt to extend the settlement reached by Epic Games with the Federal Trade Commission regarding the #Fortnite case to consumers in Euroconsumers group countries concluded? As some of you may recall, in December 2022, #EpicGames agreed to pay $245 million in refunds for tricking users into making unwanted charges as part of a settlement with the #FTC. In light of that, on April 4th, 2023, we, as euroconsumers, requested that Epic established a compensation fund in Europe and Brazil, similar to the one established in the USA (the request was reiterated on May 24th, 2023). On July 6th, 2023, we were informed by Epic that the terms of the settlement agreement did not restrict the FTC from using these funds to redress consumers outside the United States and we were encouraged to contact the FTC directly for questions about the ability of non US consumers to obtain redress. So we did it on July 2023. We received a first answer on October 2023, saying that FTC was currently limiting the claims process to Fortnite players in the U.S. The current deadline for claims was January 17, 2024 and after that, there could have been an assessment of whether to expand who was eligible to apply for a refund.  The deadline was then extended to February 29, 2024. So we reached out again to FTC but, unfortunately, few days ago we didn't receive the good news we were looking for. What they told us if that, due a very large number of U.S. victims, expanding the pool would be almost impossible. Why did I write this long post? For two reasons: 1. Battles aren't always won. In fact, there are more losses than wins, but it's always better to try and fail than to do nothing at all. 2. Often, I find myself reading big announcements only to struggle to find out how things actually went. In a small way, I've resolved to act differently.

Good news – if your kids made surprise purchases in the game, you might be eligible for a refund! The FTC's $520 million settlement with Epic Games includes $245 million in customer refunds. Check if you qualify and submit your claim by January 17, 2024. Learn more on the FTC's page.   #FortniteRefunds #FTCSettlement ❓ Have your kids ever made unexpected purchases in online games like Fortnite? How do you feel about the option to get a refund now? https://bit.ly/48jTziI

I recently made time in Vegas to expose myself to bonus features on Blackjack games. I clocked the time from the win to the payout between 60 to 90 seconds. You could probably translate this into 1 to 2 rounds per event. Depending on the qualifying event, this could stop the game quite often. I noticed two 30-1 pays in 3 minutes during a snapshot. During a five-minute period, I saw the triggering event four times. When trying to find accurate results from many operators, I was surprised to receive a verbal blank stare when asking about the incremental performance. The vendors shout that these bonuses provide high margins. Facts: Most vendors do not receive statistical data on wins and profits from the operators. Watching another property's bonus games, it looks like a Let It Ride game and is packed to the gills, with everyone betting on the dollar bonus. After watching for half an hour, the game got 20 rounds completed. Does that mean these games are only getting 40 rounds per hour? It would bear to reason that there would have to be an incredible margin on that dollar to overcome the loss of 20 rounds an hour on the base and side wagers. For the record, I do not have enough data to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to these leased features. Should you decide to give them a spin, do a thorough analysis during any trial period. When it comes to IGaming, you can plop as many features as possible as you are at the player's mercy for time and motion. It's not the same at a brick-and-mortar casino. You must be aware of the pace and the financial impact on the customer, especially in a local market. As more of these features seem to be coming from the vendors, it's important, as operators, that we do our homework to ensure profitability.

We’re currently discussing the games that can be found in sweepstakes casinos. These are in some cases the exact same titles and games that are offered in a regular online casino. Quality, game-feel and design are usually good and not a problem. The one potential problem that we find with sweepstakes casinos is that the game library is almost always smaller, sometimes just one-tenth of your average online casino. Although we find that all game categories are covered there are going to be cases where a player can’t find the game or category they want to play. What games are you missing in sweepstakes casinos?

If your kids played Fortnite and bought some stuff, you may be getting some money back. I abhor the in-game purchase practice, but #gaming companies figured out long ago that this is where the money is, and just like modern cars are subscribed to now rather than owned, it seems most games still require regular in-game expenses to make games better even after purchase. At least there is some consumer protection in terms of lawsuits, but we should outlaw these practices outright. You purchase something once and that’s it, not this ARR model for everything that is not a SaaS service… https://lnkd.in/eNrYRvj4 #technology #regulation

Did you know casino bonuses have Terms and Conditions? Any bonus from a casino will have certain terms and conditions. For example, the bonus may apply to certain games or require a specific wagering amount. In addition, there might be several terms that might affect how you may use the bonus. Therefore, always read the terms before you choose to use the bonus for your benefit. #casinobonus #termsandconditions #didyouknow

As a retailer of wargames, table top games and board games I get bombarded on an almost daily basis with new games, or one that are a variation on theme. I am very rarely offered a demo copy. I normally have an MOQ (minimum order quantity) to satisfy. Yet if the game fails guess who loses out every time? Not the manufacturer Not the wholesaler It's the retailer that has to take the hit every time if a game system fails to sell, it's the retailer who has to sell at a massive discount, often at a loss. What happened to the days of sale or return ? When are wholesalers and manufacturers going to start proving the confidence they have in their products, when they are trying to convince me to buy it? Retailers are the backbone of the high street, they are the backbone of the economy, treat them a little better, and we can all prosper in these difficult times.