What the procedure if you offer someone a gift certificate to join your open world, then they take that and join another world? Do you call them out? Do you leave it alone and say tough luck?

I'm not sure if this is a big deal or if it's actually despicable and straight up stealing.

What would you guys do?

It's internet scamming. Stealing. It's effectively a crime.

Have you addressed it with Admin? Certainly they'd be able to confirm your transaction of a GC. I would think they'd then be able to see that he used the credits to join the other world and not yours.

The reason I say so, is that you haven't fully gone public with it yet. If I were Admin I'd rather you took it up with them first, rather than just paint the guy's name on the wall here. He stole your money. You have the right to report it to them, and if they can't settle it for you, then we have the right to hang the guy in public.

^^^ good advice IMO

This also begs the question of why you'd send the GC before they joined your world. You should've made them join, waited for the world to start, then sent them the GC.

I find the incentive is better to give a discount to this current season than them having future credits. Usually people are moral and use the gift certificate for what was agreed upon. This was the first instance that someone didn't. When I confronted him about it, he said he'd join my league but I don't want people like that in my league.

I could ask for the money back but I'd rather not deal with him any more so we won't hang him in public (besides what we've already done)

Then it's gonna happen again. You should absolutely hold his feet to the fire until he returns the money he took.

Id say change your policy to after they complete one season. But ya its a chit move by the other party.

Man "Hang the guy in public" and "Hold his feet to the fire". You guys are violent ;)