Recently, there was a question in the blog about the veracity of Gamesville–for example, "Do people really win real cash at Gamesville?" Now, some of the people posing those questions may just have been trolls seeking to stir up trouble. But it is a legitimate question and it's one that's been around since we launched Gamesville in 1996, so I figured we should address it again for people who are new to the site.
For new or prospective players, some degree of skepticism about "free games for cash prizes" is to be expected: After all, many of us are taught that you never get something for nothing. Yet, Gamesville games such as Magic 21 and Three-Eyed Bingo and Frantic Fish are totally free to play–you don't pay anything to register and you don't wager or risk anything to play and win real cash–so how does Gamesville make money?
Simple: We sell advertising and sponsorships on Gamesville. You, the players, play our games and as you play our games, you generate ad space that we sell to advertisers.
Can't understand how anyone can make money by giving money away? Ask that question of a game show like "Wheel of Fortune" or "The Price is Right". They'll tell you, it's all supported by advertising. In a very real way, our games are online — and interactive — game shows, operating on a similar kind of model to our TV counterparts. Except, instead of you watching a handful of contestants vie for a prize, you actually get to compete and win!
I should mention, there is a conspiracy theory that says we make up our winners as part of some complex, elaborate, automated piece of fiction. If you subscribe to that theory, please ask yourself this: Why would we bother doing something like that? What are the possible benefits of that kind of deception? In what way would it behoove us to be anything less than 100% real and honest? Would advertisers like us better? Would players like us better? The answers to those questions, respectively, are: We wouldn't; none; nada; no; and definitely not. We run a clean business, and wouldn't want it any other way.
If you're a reader of this blog, you know that we own up to mistakes, and do our best to accomodate a wide array of requests. We do this because it's the right thing to do and we want you to enjoy the time you spend here (and spend more time, so we generate more ad space and, in turn, more money that we can invest in new games and new prizes).
If you have questions about winners, or anything, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
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i love this game site
Comment by redgrape29 — January 7, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
every time you run the ad for webfetti my comp slows down and i have to play catch-up———8c5p96why?
Comment by "barbjo-1" — January 8, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
Excellent article. I appreciate an honest, forth-right approach to a situation such as this. Keep up the good work.
Bob
Comment by rg1889c — January 15, 2008 @ 1:45 am
This an awsome site. I think if people have to question whether or not this an honest site, then they should play somewhere else.
Comment by "jamie1261" — January 15, 2008 @ 2:06 am
whenever the ad for webfetti is on it slows down my computer. Sometimes i miss the first chance at frantic fish or magic 21.
Comment by "Nayasha" — January 15, 2008 @ 2:13 am
i would think if the games were made easier to win like its was when the sight first set up,it would genrerate more players. thus making for more advertizement snd more money ………just might thought
Comment by "paulette" — January 15, 2008 @ 6:50 am
i,ve played this site since it first hit the web,,,i use to win every weeksomes twice in 1 week but since the switch over i have not won a thing ,,, i can honedty say gamesville is honest ..they pay off right away ..no guestions …no waiting long periods of time for the check…and you don,t lose your money because you didn,t claim it in time…….i love this site
Comment by "paulette" — January 15, 2008 @ 7:00 am
I am glad you posted the article, I have been asked so many times by new players do people really win. Although I personally never have, I have friends who have. Keep up the good work, alot of hard working people come to this site to relax and visit with their friends.
Comment by "hillbilly66" — January 15, 2008 @ 1:20 pm
I won a few small cash prizes back in the early days of gamesville when there was a speed blackput coverall bingo game that was a blast. You had to put little check marks in the boxes and refresh for new balls. I would say i won abot 75$ overall. The site has changed a lot since those days but it's still fun.
Comment by "Mike" — January 16, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
I have been a member on this site since 2002 , I haven't won but I knew people that did. I would love to win and I wish that they would go back to smaller more frequent prizes. I don't understnad these people that keep saying it's a hoax. If you feel that way then go somewhere else. Some people just play for the fun of playing.
Comment by "Melissa" — January 16, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
I have been playing since 2004, have yet to win but I am not gonna stop tryin~ I Love this site~
Comment by "Christy" — January 16, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
Hi I am newish to this game site…about 8 months. I love it, but never won but I am optimistic!
I am from the Uk….you do send cheques to the Uk I hope
Brill site…keep up the good work!
Comment by "roey33" — January 16, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
the webfetti ads mess up my whole game..it freezes????? why???
Comment by "Christy" — January 17, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
ya, thats great that you have all these sponsers, but do you realize that THEY are the ones causing ALL these problems??? their ads freeze the games, and spam our ability to play your games…. so yes, its great that they "pay" for us to play, but sometimes i think the price is too high, when i have to keep quiting during intermission because and ad has frozen my game.
Comment by "winykittygirl" — January 18, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
Love this game site! I've been playing for years! Wish you would consider less jackpots and more frequent winners. I think you would have even more players if people won more often. I never won, but I keep trying!
Comment by "karenmzg" — January 19, 2008 @ 1:00 am
I've been playing at gamesville since 1998 when i got my first computer on the internet. I don't win any money here. I play and I play and I play and in don't win any money here. I've had a lot of fun wasting time here but i found a site that lets you have fun wasint time and they pay you. So thanks for the memories gamesville.
Comment by "crysta5558" — January 19, 2008 @ 5:36 am
I've been a member for many, many years. Haven't won anything in about 7-8 yrs. and then only $16 on regular Bingo game which has changed. I have even stockpiled my GV rewards to over million points and still not won. I agree that site should have more winners with maybe smaller amounts to keep us long-timers keeping the faith…still I am hopeful and keep trying to win.
Comment by "nannyty" — January 22, 2008 @ 12:38 am
hi there, it's truly an interesting read, however sometimes with all the advertising on this page gets the better of me and slows down the playing, it's worth knowing of other sites where we can play. Can you send a link thanx muchly.
Comment by "Dide" — January 22, 2008 @ 10:20 am
I still think it's a scam , why is it that the ones who they claim win are mostly people who do not have info in their profiles , thats kind of fishy , their profiles usually say in the info their answers are all "I plea the fith" Now why is that?????
Comment by lisadolenz — January 24, 2008 @ 3:09 am
I think there should be more money prize games (and not the $25 games either, Im talking progressive jackpots) so more people will win. When you only see two or three winners a year for the big games like Three Eyed Bingo and Magic 21, then you know why people would say no one wins here, because you stand a better chance of winning with a lottery ticket. Those like me just come here to play when Im looking to be entertained, because I do not ever expect to come close to winning a game. Unless you make more cash games…. like it used to be when Gamesville first came out.
Comment by "Danny Johnson" — January 24, 2008 @ 5:09 am
i ran a check on this site with the bbb and here the info i got Name: Lycos Address: 160 Waters Street Williamstown, MA 01267 Website: www.gamesville.com Principal: Mark Herrmann, Director Customer Contact: Mark Herrmann, Director File Open Date: February 2000 TOB Classification: Internet Services BBB Accreditation: This organization is not a BBB Accredited business.
Out of Business.According to information in the BBB files,it appears that the company is no longer in business. The phone numbers the BBB had for this company are disconnected,The BBB's mail to this company has been returned as undeliverable.
Comment by "anonymous" — January 25, 2008 @ 6:11 am
So whoever is running it is running it under lycos and gamesville name
Comment by "anonymous" — January 25, 2008 @ 6:15 am
For those of you, like "anonymous", who are curious about the history of Gamesville and its relationship with Lycos–Gamesville.com was launched in 1996, and then purchased by the Lycos Network in 1999. Lycos itself was purchased in 2004 by the largest Internet company in South Korea, Daum Communications. Daum owns the Lycos Network; Gamesville (among other sites, like Tripod and Angelfire) is part of the Lycos Network.
If you're interested in corporate information about Lycos, please visit Lycos' corporate site.
Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
Comment by gamesville — January 25, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
chris if we have a problem with gamesville or tripod how can we contact u to get it taken care of
Comment by jt144 — January 25, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
I have been playing gamesville for some time now. I have never won and like many I have wondered if people really win. I can honestly say one day I hope I win a hand or two.
I can say I miss monoply as a free game that you would play with others against on here. Instead now you have to download it to play the computer. Not as much fun if you ask me.
well off to play. Have a good day all
Comment by impalalady32 — January 26, 2008 @ 12:48 am
Hi jt144 –
To contact customer service for Gamesville or Tripod (or anywhere on Lycos) go to https://help.lycos.com/newticket.php and enter your comment or question. Be sure to select a "category" on the ticket form so the customer service representative knows which site you're inquiring about.
Thanks,
Chris Cummings
Manager, Gamesville.com
Comment by gamesville — January 28, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
I won the weekly drawing the last of April. How long does it take to get the check. It's been over 60 days now. Please send me a note. Thank you.
Comment by 68downup — June 25, 2008 @ 9:31 pm