News on scam sports betting operations, events and business deals within the offshore sports gambling industry.
02.11.2012 (02:29 PM CST)
WagerUp added to sportsbook ratings guideWagerUp (SBR rating C) has been added to the SBR
sportsbook ratings guide.
WagerUp is part of the
BTG Global gaming family. The sportsbook holds a gaming sub-license in Curacao and runs its marketing out of Canada. Management tells SBR that the sportsbook came online Thursday and targeted this weekend for a soft launch.
On November 3rd, 2011, SBR
reported that
VIPSports.eu (SBR rating C) was the latest licensee of the BTG Global group. VIPSports.eu is operated by a former manager of defunct, long-time industry bookmaker
VIP Sports (SBR rating B-).
Players with feedback from playing with the BTG Global group are asked to
write to SBR.
02.10.2012 (04:10 PM CST)
YouWin Sportsbook updateYouWin Sportsbook has satisfactorily addressed the outstanding player disputes. SBR
reported on January 5th that €14,677 in funds were reported as confiscated by nearly a dozen players. SBR's initial talks with YouWin management were unsuccessful — the company claimed that the players were guilty of fraud, but declined to share specifics. An SBR
video report highlighted the claims, which prompted a tenth player
report on February 2nd.
Following the exposure of these disputes, a
YouWin director reached out to SBR intending to shed more light on the situation. During discussion with SBR, YouWin addressed each of the claims and explained its KYC (know your customer) guidelines. YouWin also disclosed red flags the players' triggered. SBR agreed not to publicly share all of the sportsbook's findings, so as to not compromise anti-fraud controls. At the conclusion of the teleconference with SBR, YouWin clarified that it fully intends to pay all bettors that can produce an international passport and utility bill; regardless of evidence that attests to bonus abuse or wrongdoing.
SBR advises players to keep ID and utility bills stored on a secure flash drive. Gaming operators are required to be in compliance with KYC guidelines (as per conditions of their licensing) and must perform additional screening in cases of suspected fraud. While the account validation process can be an inconvenience to a legitimate punter, SBR notes that the screening is mandatory in most jurisdictions.
YouWin Sportsbook is headquartered in Malta - its parent company of Win United Ltd. is licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) of Malta. YouWin also powers the non-US Sportsbook.com player base. YouWin's rating has been upgraded to C- in the SBR
sportsbook ratings guide. |
YouWin complaints summary
02.10.2012 (11:11 AM CST)
TowerGaming agrees to credit players' winnings in confiscation disputesTowerGaming (SBR rating D+) has agreed to credit all winnings in the confiscation disputes that involved non-recreational players.
On January 20th, SBR reported that
TowerGaming confiscated €381 in winnings from two players. TowerGaming voided the winnings and refunded the players' deposits by stating that its welcome bonus was intended only to be used by recreational bettors. Since publishing that report, an additional three complaints were filed by players that also had their winnings confiscated. A total of €3,395 was zeroed from five players by TowerGaming.
Customer service at
TowerGaming originally was not cooperative with SBR. However, a manager recognized the situation and reached out to SBR explaining that the sportsbook concluded bonus fraud took place among the players that filed complaints. TowerGaming pointed to a number of details that led it to believe bonus abusers were collaborating to defraud the sportsbook, but ultimately lacked the type of evidence necessary to warrant voiding winnings. After considering SBR's viewpoint, TowerGaming reversed its decision and agreed to credit all winnings docked from players. SBR has reached out to the five players and asked them to confirm.
Summary of TowerGaming player confiscationsA TowerGaming player deposited €25 on February 1st, increased his balance to €138.95 and ordered a payment to Moneybookers. The player had accepted TowerGaming's welcome bonus, which matched 100% up to €25. After requesting payment, the player received an email from TowerGaming indicating that the welcome bonus was intended to be used by recreational gamblers. TowerGaming affirmed that it reserves the right to amend, cancel, reclaim or refuse any promotion as its discretion. In other words, TowerGaming was justifying not honoring its signup bonus. After being credited his deposit via Moneybookers, the player filed a
sportsbook complaint through SBR.
A TowerGaming player deposited €25 on January 16th, increased his balance to €134, then requested a withdrawal. Just as with the above example, the player was told that his deposit would be refunded and all winnings voided; TowerGaming pasted the same provision which allowed it to cancel a promotion and a bettors' winnings at its discretion. The player filed his sportsbook complaint through SBR three days later.
A TowerGaming player deposited €25 on January 17th, wagered his balance up to €272, then requested payment via MB. The player completely fulfilled wagering requirements on the welcome bonus. To his surprise, TowerGaming informed him that he was only able to withdraw his original deposit. The TowerGaming representative disconnected his chat when he protested and was unwilling to discuss further. The player wrote to SBR with his complaint on January 19th.
A TowerGaming player deposited €25 on January 13th, wagered until his balance reached €707.68, then ordered payment through Moneybookers. The player was asked for documents (ID and utility bill) to verify his account. The player obliged and provided the requested documents. After receiving the documents, TowerGaming debited the player's balance by €682.68, leaving the original €25 deposit. The player was told that due to not being a recreational gambler, he was eligible only for his deposit. The player filed his complaint with SBR on January 16th.
A TowerGaming player deposited €25 on January 24th, wagered until his balance reached €2,294.16, then made a withdrawal via Moneybookers. The player noted that he was refunded €25 through Moneybookers but that TowerGaming failed to specify why his winnings were voided. The player filed a sportsbook complaint on January 24th.
TowerGaming players that have not been credited winnings back after having deposited refunded are asked to write to SBR. Players can also email SBR directly at help@sportsbookreview.com, or make a public post in the SBR Sportsbook & Industry section.
02.09.2012 (05:52 PM CST)
Moneybookers refunds two players' 21KBet depositsMoneybookers has refunded two players' 21KBet deposits. The players were credited a total of €210; each player had been waiting for payouts of more than €400.
21KBet has refused to honor its outstanding payment obligations, claiming that it has no access to deposited funds. Moneybookers has received a slew of complaints from 21KBet users, and has communicated with SBR to verify the situation. 21KBet is presently not replying to SBR's inquiries on the status of player funds. 21KBet users have reported being slow-paid more than €28,000. The last reported payment from a 21KBet player was a €670 bank transfer posted last month.
21KBet is currently rated D- and a part of the SBR
scam sportsbook blacklist. 21KBet's rating will be adjusted to F if no attempt to settle the delinquent requests is made by the close of the month. Players that are owed funds from the sportsbook that have not yet written SBR are asked to file a
complaint form.
02.08.2012 (09:12 AM CST)
Industry news update (video)
SBR Forum video analyst Peter Loshak breaks down the latest
sportsbook industry news in the below piece:
21KBet (SBR rating D-) players have submitted 28
payment complaints. The players are owed €28,342. Most of the players are waiting for payouts via Moneybookers, while some are hoping for bank transfer and Paypal.
21KBet has gone dark in its communication with SBR, and provides only generic updates to players. The sportsbook has largely blamed Moneybookers for the delays. SBR received a statement from Moneybookers that clarified 21KBet is not a registered gaming merchant, and that it would look into the user complaints. 21KBet offered 100% bonuses to lure in players, and appears to be uninterested in righting the ship. The last known payment was €670 last month to a player by bank transfer. 21KBet remains on SBR's
sportsbook blacklist.
WSEX Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) is now more than
$700,000 behind on payments. The troubled sportsbook has seen its player debt increase each month, as users continue to file complaints against the once well-regarded outfit.
WSEX is still pinning the blame on procesors and the US climate for the delays, although most people by now recognize that the sportsbook is simply not making enough money to pay all of its players, and is either unwilling or unable to clear the debts out of pocket. WSEX is in a state that is referred to as "operating on the float" - that is, only releasing payments once more deposits come in. Based on the amount of payments that are being reported, the indication is that not many deposits are rolling in for WSEX. WSEX is still working email to try to bring in new clients, launching different casino promos and creating the impression that all is well with the Antiguan bookmaker. WSEX players have been waiting as far back as October of 2009 in some cases.
In a refreshing bit of good news, SBR reported that the
DGS casino was certified as fair by renowned company Jacobson Gaming LLC. Headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica, DGS is one of the industry's most widely used software. Jacobson Gaming, which is run by Dr. Eliot Jacobson, PhD, extensively tested the random number generator used in DGS games. DGS successfully passed the auditing process, which includes game fairness tests, RNG and statistical testing.
Players in need of sportsbook assistance have numerous options to get in touch with SBR. Players can either file a
sportsbook complaint form, write to SBR
directly, telephone SBR (1-830-255-4677), or sound off publicly by
registering at SBR Forum and creating a post in the
Sportsbook Feedback section.
02.07.2012 (10:24 AM CST)
12Bet enforces unfair bonus rules12Bet Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) is the subject of dispute analyst Justin7's "Are You Serious?" video segment.
12Bet Sportsbook is enforcing an unethical rule that allows for the confiscation of bonus + winnings, if a bettor fails to meet rollover in a 30-day period. One such player wrote SBR, detailing that he deposited €1200 for a €230 bonus; the player won €5186, but did not meet the rollover in a one-month timeframe. 12Bet voided the bonus and all winnings.
12Bet's rules also state that wagers placed at odds less than 2.00 (+100) do not count toward rollover. A 12Bet player who would have met rollover (counting favourites) had €3252 in winnings confiscated for not having met rollover soon enough.
A third 12Bet player wrote SBR with a wagering complaint. The player placed a soccer match at odds of 1.77 (-129) and noticed that the next day his ticket was adjusted to read 2.77 (+177). Following the settlement of the wager, 12Bet voided the play.
12Bet's unusual rules are often referred to as "gotcha" rules. These rules are designed to profit from players that unknowingly agree to bizarre and irregular terms. In contract law, such enforcements are rarely upheld. 12Bet has been assessed with an opening rating of D-, and is indexed on the SBR blacklist.
Players with feedback or grievances should file a sportsbook complaint form, or write to SBR directly at help@sportsbookreview.com. Additionally, players may dial 1-830-255-4677 to speak with a dispute analyst.
02.07.2012 (08:16 AM CST)
Unibet to acquire BetchoiceUnibet (SBR rating B-) Sportsbook has signed an agreement to acquire Betchoice. Unibet will enter the regulated Australian betting market. Unibet's acquisition price is £13.6 million; the deal, which transfers 100% of Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd.'s shares, is said not to contain any liabilities. Completion of the deal is still subject to approval by the Northern Territory regulator; this process is expected to be completed before the end of Q2 2012.
Unibet intends to completely rebrand BetChoice to Unibet following what they refer to as a "short transition period". Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström spoke of the acquisition in an official company press release distributed this morning.
Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnström: “This strategic acquisition gives Unibet immediate access to the regulated Australian market, which is currently open to sports betting and horse racing. We intend to rebrand the business quickly to Unibet. Betchoice already has a strong offering and market position in horse racing and through Kambi, Unibet has the opportunity to enhance the quality and performance of Betchoice’s sports betting offering and so to deliver revenue growth and margin improvements... In addition to benefit from the already existing Australian product offering, the acquisition of Betchoice will provide Unibet with a platform to facilitate other gambling services and opportunities should market conditions continue to improve.”
SBR expects Unibet to refine its standards of enforcing house rules as they enter a regulated Australian market. Though Unibet is licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) of Malta; SBR has found that operators prefer Malta for its lax positions on player disputes and the ease of setting up shop. Unibet's operating procedure has until this point been to cut off communications with a player determined to be in violation of house rules, and has not been willing to fully satisfy SBR's inquiries in regards to player confiscations, such as in this
sportsbook dispute reported in December of 2011.
SBR will attempt to revisit outstanding claims with Unibet, hoping that the company's recent good news will compel it to more satisfactorily address player disputes. |
Read the full Unibet press release
02.06.2012 (04:29 PM CST)
BetUS bonus dispute resolved; new complaint submittedBetUS (SBR rating D+) has credited $350 to the player whose bonus winnings were confiscated, from SBR's
report on January 30th, 2012. The player was labeled non-recreational and had only $383 refunded from an $1,100 balance. SBR spoke with BetUS to discuss proration of the player's bonus winnings.
BetUS reopened the player's account and credited $350. The player is free to request a withdrawal. SBR considers this dispute fairly resolved.
A BetUS player has filed a sportsbook complaint. A player tells SBR that he requested approximately $400 more than five weeks ago, and has yet to be paid. SBR is following up on this player dispute.
BetUS players with payout complaints are asked to submit a sportsbook complaint form, or dial 1-830-255-4677 during normal business hours to speak with a Sportsbook Review dispute analyst.
02.05.2012 (07:32 AM CST)
Blacklisted sportsbook 21KBet now slow-paying 28 players21KBet Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) now has 28 slow-pays on file. Players are owed €28,342.
21KBet claims to be headquartered in Malta. SBR has confirmed that the sportsbook does not hold a license from the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA). The LGA itself categorically denied that the slow-pay outfit held a license, after 21KBet displayed a seal on its website.
21KBet is refusing to address the payment issues. The sportsbook has made wild accusations that Moneybookers is the reason that players (even those who used bank transfer or Paypal) are not receiving payment. Moneybookers spoke with SBR to deny that that the sportsbook was a gaming merchant. SBR notes that even if 21KBet has used its outgoing transfer limit as a MB business account, it would still be free to withdraw its balance and immediately make payment to players an alternate way. The last confirmed payment from a 21KBet was a €670 bank transfer.
On January 16th, dispute analyst "Justin7" made a video report concerning 21Kbet:
21KBet is indexed on the SBR
scam sportsbook blacklist, and is to be avoided.
02.04.2012 (04:28 PM CST)
VIP Sports player still waits for $500 paymentA former VIP Sports (SBR rating B-) player writes to SBR with a payment complaint. The player says that he was supposed to be sent a $500 check to settle his account with VIP Sports last year. The player has shared communication with VIP Sports that indicates a specific courier method as well as tracking number. This payment was never received. The
VIP Sports customer service box is no longer being managed, after the sportsbook (along with sister sites Nine.com and BetGameday)
shut its doors on 1 August 2011.
On September 5th, SBR
reported that
GTBets (SBR rating C) would honor all VIP group players' balances. GTBets is a new Curacao based bookmaker managed by former VIP managers and using the VIP servers and software. The sportsbook mirroring VIP is an attempt to capitalize on the good name the brand once held. SBR has confirmed that GTBets has honored more than $35,000 in payments, which was believed to be all outstanding requests. SBR will speak with management concerning the $500 botched check withdrawal.