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Visited Riu Republica with 3 other couples in January 2023.
Although the hotel it self was only mediocre, and Sunwing lost our bags, the real nightmare started about on of our 10th day of vacation, when we get approached to get FREE ride to the casino at Riu Macao and free $20.00 to play.
So looking for something to do other than the same old boring shows at the hotel we went. Upon arrival we are met by a lady (poor English) offering free money to play a game called "Razzle" (they called it Sic Bo). At first game is going well and in our favour. 100 points are needed to win a jackpot that keeps growing and it goes great until you reach 98, or 99 points. Now the jackpot is incredible (over $100,000.00) but your bet also grows incredibly. However, you are now so far into debt and so close that it does not make sense to quit.
The game was run by an old rough looking american (the only one speaking understandable English in the place) who, when the stakes became high, was sweating profusely and had to keep wiping his forehead. No one else in the casino was allowed to watch the game being played. Only he counted the numbered balls and covered them with his hand as he counted. As you get close to 100 points (we were at 99) the jackpot grows and the bets double when you hit a "Double". Once 98 and 99 points are reached the harder it is to get that ONE needed point to win. But by now we were over $30,000.00 into the game and only needed that O N E point to win.
Also we were offered FREE drinks, FREE VERY VERY STRONG drinks. I, myself had 2 rum and coke and was sick for two days.
We took $50.00 cash each to play, needless to say credit cards came into play in order to to keep playing what seemed like an impossible to loose game. Upon (thank God) having my credit cards declined, the manager let forgo the last $5000.00 owed for the bet which my credit card would not honour. If this was all above board, no way the manager would allow this.
Not only did he allow it but let us come back the next day after i cleared things up with my credit cards, as my limit on the cards were not reached.
Needless to say and as Bad Luck and stupidity took over, we went back, with a friend whose credit card was not maxed out in hopes of getting that ONE POINT. AGAIN, needless to say, no win and we now owed our friend more money.
BECAUSE THERE IS NO GAMING COMMISSION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, this is allowed, and thus allowed by RIU HOTELS AND PROMOTED BY RIU HOTELS.
At the end of the day, it is the Riu family that not only allows this, but promotes it from hotel to hotel. SHAME ON YOU LUIS RIU GUELL AND CARMEN RIU GUELL.
Carmen Riu Guell, CEO and heading up many departments, and Luis Riu Guell in charges of Sales, Marketing, Operations, plus much more...is it really your "Instinct and passion that is key to your projects and Riu Chain"?
Because if so, you are DAMAGING YOUR FAMILY NAME by allowing the aforementioned form of extortion to happen to your hard working vactioners.
I know that i worked very hard for my retirement and can not afford to loose that kind of money to a hotel chain like Riu who not only allows this INJUSTICE, but also promotes it. SHAME ON YOU BOTH CARMEN AND LUIS RIU GUELL, SHAME ON YOU!
The larger percentage of vacationers at your resorts have to save to vacation and do not have the financial freedom to loose the kind of money that your hotels are luring them into loosing. YES, we are our own gambling control, but when fed FREE alcohol and luring incentives by expert extortionist we easily fall prey to these con artists hired under YOUR WATCH.
AND HOW EMBARASSINGLY STUPID ARE WE WHO FALL FOR YOUR SHADY BUSINESS PRACTICES. YOU SHOULD ALL BE JAILED AND HEAVILY FINED, RIGHT DOWN TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CASINO.
Even my credit card companies called your merchant name "shady and unsecured". CARMEN and LUIS you are allowing this to happen to hard working humans with families and children...like you...put the shoe on the other foot...you would not like it, but you are doing it to US.
NONETHELESS, we dreamers fall prey to you vultures who operate in the name of Riu Hotels.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on you LUIS and CARMEN for allowing this to happen to us humans.
Desired outcome: some compensation, doubt that will happen as there are too many of us who fell prey. Although they have the financial resources to do so. the very least that could be done is have this casino closed, and those responsible fined heavily.
