I have four of the 'sister' sites downloaded and installed on my computer and have had them for months and months. Occasionally, I have deposited at BingoGala (small amounts) with no problems.

However, this morning I logged into one of them, got to the game room, and clicked the 'schedule' link to check out any promos going on and was directed to a page that states "Your State authorities forbid you to access this site."...and this page had a new log in box, which again shuts me out.

I tried each of my BE links and got the same results for each one, and can't access any links to the site, including the cashier, except the 'contact us' one. I sent an email to Gala asking about this but haven't received a reply yet.

I know two years or so ago, the BE sites abruptly shut out all USA membership when the USA laws went into effect about online gambling, but they reversed themselves shortly after that and again allowed us access.

Could some of you (especially you USA players) please access the BE site (any one of the sister sites will do since I have the same problem with all of them), log in, and let me know if you are experiencing the same issues? I would think that if we weren't allowed access that the download would also shut us out, but that isn't what's happening. I can open the game room after successfully logging in to the download....I just can't access anything else.

Hi NM

A player from the US just signed into Gala they had no problems at all. They were able to access everything. They also signed into all the BE sites
with no problem.

There could be a glitch somewhere on your end but US Players can access the sites with no problems.

Hope this helps.

Players Unite. Unity is strength we can and will make change.

states that although my state of VA doesn't have restrictions, my IP address might be originating from another state nearby, like Kentucky, that DOES have that restriction.

I talked with my internet provider (satellite modem service) and they indicated that since my IP address is dynamic (never is the same and changes frequently) it may occasionally be originating from various land service stations, especially if weather is causing problems at the normal one I would originate from.

I think I will be requesting a static (constant) IP address for an extra couple of bucks each month from the new provider I will be going thru next month.

At least I have the issue answered.......

Navymans mom that is quite the little tidbit! I did not know that IP addresses could move around- no wonder some of the crappy things that go on online (and I am not talking bingo, just other things in general) can continue to happen and they are so hard to track. That was a great little read.

Very interesting to hear that as I never knew that either. I always thought that IPs were static and didn't change. If they keep changing wouldn't that make it difficult to sign into the same sites all the times because it would be the same name from another IP address and that could cause confusion. IMHO

Examples of how they work: An Internet Provider Service is normally a service that has a small server located in each area they provide service for, so even a larger IPS like earthlink, aol, time-warner, etc., will have specific IP addresses (say 123.456.X.X) assigned to each area with a wide variety available where the second, third, and fourth numbers can be different for each customer....the first three numbers in the set will always be the same for that area and are assigned exclusively to that server location. For normal customers, the dynamic IP assigned to you for, say Cleveland, Ohio for time-warner, will be something like 123.445.1.0 when you log on to the internet. If you are on dsl or cable, which are 'always on, that number pretty much stays the same or constant unless your power goes out or you make changes to your hardware or have to unplug the modem during a storm, etc. forcing a 'reset' of the modem. That would change your IP address automatically to something else that nobody else in your area would have, such as 123.445.0.9 or something so no two customers are using the same IP address at the same time....this avoids 'road crashes' on the net. BUT the first three numbers never change because the SERVER location never changes....and the first three numbers are the first thing that a bingo site will notice when you go to sign up, then the next three numbers. If your IP is pretty popular, the second set of numbers might change slightly, but would still red flag your IP to that bingo site because the numbers would be close. When a site decides to 'block' your account using an IP address only, it actually is blocking an ENTIRE area of people in your area from getting okayed for an account because an IP address comes in blocks of numbers and they are forced to block the whole area and not just ONE customer. When I worked at cnet.com we would have hackers that would crash/flood the system just for fun and we couldn't just block that one member from accessing our site, we had to block an entire block of IP addresses in his area of 'numbers' which literally closed out hundreds and hundreds of potential new members because all that person had to do to get back in was to unplug his modem, plug it back in and he would get a new set of numbers EXCEPT for the first three. Many people who are very determined will actually change IP's if they understand what happens just to get into a site again that they have been blocked from because they know they will get an ENTIRELY new set of numbers, including the first three, because each IPS gets their own set assigned to them for that area.

With a static IP address, you pay extra (usually about five bucks per month) in order to NEVER have your numbers change. The reason many do this is because they have a website that they actually host from their own servers (such as a spare computer in their house that has server software installed on it) so they don't have to pay a website to host their site, it will always be available as long as their power doesn't go down, and most times they can service and make changes to their website easier themselves since they don't have to rely on a web tech to 'get around to it'. Most of these people will also have a UPS (battery back up power supply) hooked up so even if the power goes out, their website stays intact. These are also usually internet store type websites where they have customers placing orders, etc. so it is important to them to have their site always up and available.

Because MY modem is getting a signal from a satellite in the sky rather than a phone dsl line or cable connection, there was a possibility at the time I wasn't able to get into that site because they said I was restricted, it might have been that the main server location that my signal bounces from on the ground to the satellite and then to me might have been experiencing down time due to tech problems or a storm and my signal was diverted for a short period of time to another location (another state where another of their servers is located) and that particular state has STATE restrictions where MY state doesn't. It was a weird situation that I never actually was able to find out anything about, but I am using my own assumptions and deductions about the IP address and how it might have fluked on me.

Thank-you for this explanation NMM. I have no problems as I have a permanent IP addy and if I do happen to go into a site that I have forgotten I already registered I get a message saying this IP already registered. Sites are using IP addy's more and more so the things that happened to you with the BE sites happen. This is also the cause sometimes of players being denied withdrawals for a duplicate acct.

The sites that are reputable will usually accept a players explanation and go out of their way to accomodate a player but as always we have the ones that won't and ignore players continually.

My best advice to players if you are having problems and playing at a reputable site get hold of support or management and see if a problem can be solved before you get all flustered and always remember start off politely and then if no satisfaction use the resources available.