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On May 19th my wife and I flew from Philadelphia to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We were going to a friend’s wedding. The resort was the RIU Palace Punta Cana. This is advertised as a 5 star, all-inclusive resort. I booked the trip through Liberty Travel. After dinner on Wednesday night a group of guests decided to go over to the casino. The Casino was located within the hotel connected to our resort. It was inside the RIU Palace Macao. The casino is listed on the RIU website and on all the resort pamphlets. There are no disclaimers that the hotel does not own the casino.
When we entered the Casino a young woman greeted us at the door and said that they had a new game in the casino and gave us each a $5 chip to play the game. The dealer explained that the game was easy and if we began to play he would show us how to play. I played the game by throwing a cup full of seven red balls into a wooden wheel similar to roulette. As the balls dropped in to the various numbered holes the dealer would spin the wheel towards himself so that he could quickly count the total. I did not question this since in the beginning of the game I was winning a large amount of the time. As I later found out this is a key part of the scam. Why would anyone question a winning spin?
The goal of the game is to accumulate 100 points to win the jackpot. I quickly accumulated 99 points. Now that I was only 1 point away, the only number totals I got were the ones that doubled the amount of the next bet and jackpot. At this time the dealer slows down and shows you how the balls fell into holes that total the number that does not win any points but doubles the bet and jackpot. Since I’ve already gotten 99 points so quickly the thinking is that it would be easy to get just one more point. The dealer is cheering for you saying that someone just won a huge jackpot last week and he hopes that you will tip him when you win. He says that the only way the house wins is if you can’t make the next bet. Since the bet and the jackpot have been doubled many times at this point it was a 10, 000 bet to win 400, 000. The scam is that I was never getting any of the red balls into numbered holes that would total a number that gave points to me.
As I checked online I found many similar stories of people being scammed. I felt comfortable using the Hotel casino where I was staying. It is a International corporation and it was a five star resort. As it turns out there is no casino oversight and enforcement in the Dominican Republic.
The casino manager never explained that the credit card was being used as a cash advance. They also never explained that they were charging larges fees on top of the cash advance. They charged two different credit cards for a total of $33, 000.
Once went online and discovered how many people had experienced the same scam I tried to contact the hotel manger of both the RIU Palace Punta Cana and RIU Palace Macao. I left several messages and neither returned my calls or answered the phone when I called. The casino manger never returned my call either.
I contacted a customer service number for RIU Resorts. The person who answered the phone was in Mexico. They said they had no names or phone numbers of anyone I could speak to in regards to this problem. They offered me an email address. I sent an email and after a week of not getting a response I called the customer service number again. I explained that I needed a response and was given more email addresses. I got a response that told me it would be four weeks to hear back after they investigate my issue.
I called my Bank of America mastercard the next day to tell them to dispute the charges. they said that since I willingly gave the card that there was nothing they could do. I asked them to send me a dispute form anyway, which I have never received.
Riu resorts is a filthy rip off. the casino is a scam!
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If you are looking for some evening excitement, the casino at Riu Palace Macao is a must-visit. The venue is aesthetically pleasing and very well-ventilated. I had an absolute blast playing the dice game—the energy at the table was infectious. Then, the unthinkable happened: I hit the Jackpot on a slot machine!. It was an adrenaline rush like no other. Truly a 5-star experience in every sense of the word.
I visited the casino on my second night at the resort and I’m so glad I did. The place is very pretty and has a great vibe. I started with the dice game and had a winning session that lasted hours. Then, just before leaving, I played one last slot machine and hit the Jackpot! . The staff was very attentive and the cocktails were excellent. It’s the perfect spot to test your luck in a beautiful setting.
I was impressed by how nice this casino looks. It’s very classy. My night started at the dice table where the energy was fantastic and I won big. Then, I moved to the machines and—boom!—hit the Jackpot. The staff was very helpful with the payout. A must-visit while at the RIU!
Everything about the Riu Palace Macao Casino is top-notch. It's a very pretty venue with a sophisticated crowd. I had extraordinary luck winning a Jackpot on the slots and then winning again at the dice game. The thrill of hitting that Jackpot was unreal! Highly recommended!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere; it’s elegant and the service is great. I was lucky enough to hit a Jackpot on the slots and also did very well at the dice game. It was such an exciting night!. It’s definitely worth a visit if you want some quality entertainment.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere; it’s elegant and the service is great. I was lucky enough to hit a Jackpot on the slots and also did very well at the dice game. It was such an exciting night! It’s definitely worth a visit if you want some quality entertainment.
The hotel looks amazing after the renovation. Very chic and modern. The casino is also a gem. I played SicBo and the energy was fantastic. Later that night, I hit a Jackpot on a slot machine. It was an unforgettable experience. The staff was professional and the cocktails were top-tier
The Riu Palace Macao is a beautiful resort. The pool area and the beach are great, but don't miss the casino. It’s very classy. I had a lucky streak playing SicBo and then won a Jackpot on the slots. Such a fun and rewarding night in a beautiful setting!
The renovation of this hotel is a total success. It feels very upscale. The casino is beautiful and has a great vibe. I tried my luck at SicBo and won, but the best part was hitting the Jackpot on a machine. I’ve uploaded the photo for the gallery. If you're feeling lucky, this is the place to be!
This hotel is a dream for adults looking for fun and relaxation. The casino is very aesthetically pleasing. I had a blast playing SicBo and walked away a winner. To top it off, I hit a Jackpot on the slots!. The energy at the casino is just what you need after a day at the beach.
The Riu Palace Macao is one of the most beautiful hotels in the RIU complex. The casino is sophisticated and very lucky for me. I won at the SicBo table and then hit the Jackpot on a slot machine. The staff handled the payout perfectly. A 5-star experience all around!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the renovated Macao. It’s very modern. The casino is a highlight—very pretty and elegant. I played the dice game SicBo and had a great time. Then, luck struck and I won a Jackpot on a machine! It was the best night of my entire vacation.
The hotel is gorgeous and the service is friendly. The casino is very nice and doesn't feel crowded. I was lucky enough to win at SicBo and hit a Jackpot on the slots. It’s a great place to spend your evening with a cocktail and try your luck.
The Riu bambu is impressive. The casino is a very pretty place to hang out at night. I had an incredible run playing SicBo and then hit the Jackpot!. If you enjoy gaming and a beautiful environment, this is definitely the spot for you
This hotel is perfect for a relaxing getaway. But if you want some thrill, head to the casino. It’s elegant and very lucky. I won at the SicBo table and hit a Jackpot on a slot machine. The whole experience at Riu Palace Macao was incredible!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the renovated Macao. It’s very modern. The casino is a highlight—very pretty and elegant. I played (SicBo) and had a great time. Then, luck struck and I won a Jackpot on a machine! It was the best night of my entire vacation
The hotel is gorgeous and the service is friendly. The casino is very nice and doesn't feel crowded. I was lucky enough to win at SicBo and hit a Jackpot on the slots. It’s a great place to spend your evening with a cocktail and try your luck
This hotel is perfect for a relaxing getaway. But if you want some thrill, head to the casino. It’s elegant and very lucky. I won at the Sic Bo table and hit a Jackpot on a slot machine.The whole experience at Riu Republica was incredible!
The hotel renovation is fantastic very chic. The casino is beautiful and has a great selection of games. I won at SicBo and then hit a Jackpot on a machine. It’s a very safe and fun environment to enjoy your night.
Riu have a beautiful resort. The casino is a great addition to the entertainment. I had extraordinary luck at the SicBo table and then won a Jackpot on the slots!. The vibe is sophisticated and very exciting. 5 stars
The renovation has made this hotel one of the best. The casino is elegant and very lucky for me. I won at the SicBo game and then hit the Jackpot on a machine. Such a fun experience in a beautiful setting!
The renovation has truly transformed this hotel into a premium destination. From the pool service to the room decor, everything is top-notch. The casino is a hidden gem within the resort. It’s very pretty and has a sophisticated atmosphere. I had a blast playing SicBo and, remarkably, hit a Jackpot on a slot machine shortly after!. If you want a mix of relaxation and high-stakes excitement, this is it
I loved the new look of the Riu Palace Macao; it feels very exclusive. The casino is a must-visit in the evenings. I decided to try Sic Bo for the first time there and the staff was very helpful I actually ended up winning! Then, just before heading to bed, I hit a Jackpot on a machine. Winning in such a beautiful setting made my vacation. Highly recommended!
The hotel is gorgeous and the 'Adults Only' concept is well-executed. The casino matches that energy—it’s very aesthetically pleasing and sophisticated. I had a great session at the SicBo table and followed it up with a huge Jackpot win on the slots. The staff handled the payout with total professionalism. It’s definitely a lucky spot in a beautiful resort