NEWSLETTER # 4
24/01/2007
Newsletters also available on the Website
https://www.bridge4money.com/A/newsletters/newsletter.asp
Dear Members,
Always check your Members login page for any significant changes on the web
site and the information pages. This will be shown on the right hand panel at
the top under "What's New?" Particularly over the next 10 days we
will be busy on functional and information updates as we approach launch.
RESULTS DISPLAY
The results display have been improved and allow you to drill down into any
arbitrated games and see the result of the arbitration.
WAITING TIME INDICATOR
We recently installed a simple indicator as promised to help you ascertain our
busy periods. It seems to be a good indicator at these times and we will
continue to refine and develop methods to assist you get a game quickly and
advise you of the timings.
SEATING ARRANGEMENT
Be aware that once we go live, our updated seating algorithms will come
into play and you may experience slightly longer waiting times than we allowed
during the preview period.
PLAYER ABILITY RATING
This is nearly ready and it will be released shortly. David has also
mentioned this in his recent Bridge Bulletin but effectively you will see
your partner's rating show 1,2,or 3 stars. Until at least 50 boards
are played, a "hollow" 2 star image will imply a new member for you
to "assume" your partner is an average player (or whatever you wish!)
until they are properly measured.
MONITOR RESOLUTION
The best visual results on our system are obtained when using a monitor
with resolution of 1024x768 or more. Whilst we do provide a dynamic downsizing
capability to 800x600 (now regarded as low) we do NOT always guarantee nor fully
support our user interface at lower than optimum resolutions.
USER INTERFACE OPTIONS
Now we have had experience of users the default settings will shortly
be locked to each member and their preferences. You can choose from a large
variety of items so it is worthwhile experimenting to get what you like the
most go to the SETUP button at the top once you have entered the Club.
Obviously, some of the card layouts can only be seen when playing, so here, the
Practice Room when you are Dummy is an ideal time to experiment.
CLICK2PAY our E-Wallet Partner
Some have asked why we only allow the use of CLICK2PAY on our site?
Briefly some points are noted below.
1) If we use Credit cards, we are not allowed to refund to the owner more than
the original amount deposited.
2) Many countries will not allow credit cards or debit cards ( eg China) for foreign use over the internet without complicated clearance techniques.
3) Click2Pay has one of the largest connectivities to the worlds vast range of
cards, debit cards, banks and transfer arrangements.
4) We CANNOT be involved in the local country financial regulations about the
movement of money (e.g. money laundering etc)
5) All monies credited to us by Click2Pay are instantly available.
6) The ability to pay out winnings to clients is highly organized and again,
does not involve us - the member chooses the withdrawal methods that suit them
7) Remember that you can use your existing Credit or Debit Cards, whatever they
are, to setup an account with Click2Pay and in this way, NO MONEY is involved
in terms of deposit with them.
8) We believe it provides a higher level of financial control of the user funds
which is away from our site and therefore there is simply NO ROOM for fraud or
error effects on our side.
9) The setup procedure with Click2Pay is fast and efficient and as it is ONLY a
virtual card, unless you opt for their own physical credit card (you might
choose this to use for all your other Internet activity).
10) The credit checking process by Click2Pay gives us and more importantly,
other members who play on the site the assurance that ALL players who play for
real stake money are bone fide members.
HOW TO REGISTER WITH CLICK2PAY
The registration page will be shortly available and is very simple.
This will be prefilled in with data we hold from your registration with us.
Simply follow directions as requested, adding the remaining information. Once
you are setup all subsequent transactions and movement of money is instant to
and from our site (subject to our confirmation/checking of any large
withdrawals).
THE COST OF USING REAL MONEY
Bridge4Money.com does not charge a cent for any transaction charges, we
simply pass on the cost of all the charges to the customer from
Click2Pay. The cost of depositing money with us is less than 5%. Once we
have built up a relationship, certain players will get a VIP account with
Click2Pay which enables us to reduce this in the longer term. From day 1, we
provide a mechanism (the Bonus Account) to minimise or even eliminate these banking
charges for you. There is a similar level of charge for withdrawing money from
your account, again passed on from Click2Pay and again offset by us through the
use of your Bonus Account.
OUR COSTS FOR PLAYING
The model we use, as we have done since Jan 1st 2007, is a per board
cost so we meet with certain legal requirements and gaming exemptions. This
charge is different in each room and for example is 8 cents per board per
player in the $1/100 room and only 3 cents per board per player in the 25
cent/100 room. 100 boards of high quality bridge will cost you $3.00 in our low
stake room, but remember that you can play one board at a time or as many as
you like. The only other charge we ever make is for arbitrations as has been
explained and demonstrated to date.
SECURITY PIN Step by Step
It is important that all members familiarise themselves with obtaining
and noting their PIN number we provide as an additional security measure.
Without a PIN, no one, even if they were logged on your computer as you and
played as you, could move any money away from your accounts.
https://www.bridge4money.com/A/my_account/pin.asp
FEB 1st
OPENING
We will close the
competition on Jan 31st at midnight. The "PRACTICE" Room will once
again become active. Until such time as our systems have been reset and all
member accounts zeroed and the prize distribution arranged into the accounts of
those winners, there will be NO STAKE room open. This is anticipated to be
ready within 24 - 48 hours at the longest and should be significantly sooner.
Please excuse us if there is any delay in this initial process. Our web site
will keep you up to date on progress.
So, good luck for the next few days and we appreciate all your support and
feedback so far, see you in February!
Nick Justice
Managing Director
www.bridge4money.com