GoldenPalace.com
GoldenPalace.com is an online casino, hosted by the Kahnawake Mohawk First Nation near Montreal. It is well-known for its publicity stunts. They are also known for large 'bonuses', free chips for play at their casino. On several occasions this has led to controversy when the site refused to pay players seen to be only playing in order to claim the free money and not for the entertainment value. A key incident described at WizardOfOdds and at WinnerOnline led to the site's former software provider, Microgaming, terminating their agreement. This led GoldenPalace to move to rival Playtech software.
The casino has paid many boxers to wear temporary tattoos on their backs promoting the site. GoldenPalace.com has been accused of far more disruptive stunts. The casino is widely believed to have sponsored serial streaker Mark Roberts in several of his escapades, including his "performances" at the 2003 UEFA Cup final and Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004; at both events, he wore a temporary GoldenPalace.com tattoo. Individuals have also disrupted other sporting events, including the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics. Famed free climber Alain Robert also wore such a tattoo when he climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2003.
In less controversial acts, it sponsored both Roberts (who was fully clothed) and former NBA star Dennis Rodman's participation in the 2004 Running of the Bulls as a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis charities. It also has sponsored several competitive eaters and competitive eating competitions, one of which was profiled on the A&E TV show Airline (ironically, a grilled cheese sandwich eating contest, which the casino famously paid for with the image of the Virgin Mary). It is also sponsoring the da Vinci Project's attempt to fly a reusable manned spacecraft for the Ansari X Prize.
Bids at Internet Auctions
GoldenPalace.com is also well-known for its winning Internet auctions, mostly for bizarre items that have become Internet memes. For example:
- In July 2004, they paid €28,050 for the soccer ball that David Beckham kicked nearly 20 rows up into the stands while missing a penalty shot during a penalty shootout at Template:Ec2.
- In November 2004, the company paid $28,000 US on eBay for a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that is purported to bear a representation of the Virgin Mary in its toasted bread.
- In February 2005, the company paid £422 on eBay to have their web address temporarily tattooed onto 27-year-old Glaswegian Angel Brammer's 42GG chest [1], paid $8,900 for the rights to advertise on Elise Harp's pregnant belly [2] and $75,100 for a prop from a McDonald's ad campaign launched for Super Bowl XXXIX: The Lincoln Fry, a plastic french fry shaped to look like the profile of Abraham Lincoln.[3]
- In March 2005, the casino paid Terri Iligan $15,000 to change her name to "goldenpalace.com".
- In April 2005, they paid $650,000 for the naming rights of a recently discovered monkey species; the GoldenPalace.com Monkey was officially named Callicebus aureipalatii. They also paid Edward Rouzin-Moy, a student at Eastern Illinois University, $232.50 US for a chicken breast that looked like Pope John Paul II.
- In May 2005, it paid €188.938,88 ($244,524.73) to German student Benjamin Halbe for a VW Golf car which formerly belonged to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now better known as Pope Benedict XVI. With over 8.5 million visitors, the auction became by far the most often viewed auction on ebay.de [4].
- In June 2005, Karolyne Smith sold the right to permanently tattoo an ad for the URL of goldenpalace.com on her forehead for $10,000 US.
- In September 2005, they paid $51,100 US for a helmet that Robby Gordon threw at Michael Waltrip during the NASCAR Sylvania 300. The money was donated to efforts for Harrah's employees following the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
- In January of 2006, the casino paid $25,000 (US) for the kidney stone of actor William Shatner, with all proceeds going to the Habitat for Humanity charity.