Bodog Sportsbook - Player Reviews

I recently started using BODOG for sports. I had a good day on the morning games for the NFL and wanted to bet the afternoon games. It was taking forever for my winnings to post so I added another $100 to my account and bet $50 of it. Later that day I requested a $200 payout from my account that had a balance of $402.29 at the time. Remember, I added $100 that morning. I received a message stating my payout could not be processed until my deposit cleared. This message mentioned a deposit of $100 from the previous week as well. Still, the left me with $202.49 in winnings that had nothing to do with my recent deposit. When I called to find out what was going on Rob told me in a very condescending tone that it is not his or BODOG's responsibility to ensure I read the fine print. I told him I did not appreciate the tone and it was definitely not the customer service I had received previous or expected to receive. He replied that he did not see a problem with his tone. I sent a complaint email that Rob answered himself again stating he thought he was fine. I find it interesting that a customer service rep can intercept a complaint on himself and then respond to it. I called to inform BODOG of this and Nyla told me that he should not handle a complaint that was lodged against him and would have a manger contact me. It has been four days since and I have not heard a thing. I have since requested an entire payout and sent another letter stating I would not use them again. I went with betonsports.com instead. It has been a long time since I encountered an employee that rude from a company that depends on customer service to make money. I will let everyone I know that bets on sports on the internet not to use BODOG under any circumstances!

Just as an aside, players who make deposits by echeck / direct deposit should remember that many books will not allow ANY withdrawals until ALL deposits clear.

The following is a letter I wrote to Bill Dozer concerning my problem with Bodog. Concerning the severity of the problem my overall grade is a D.

I have a very interesting story to tell regarding BODOG.com. A few months ago my cousin called and told me that he found a good book (we previously used Jaguar which was a disaster that I have previously emailed you about) called Bodog with actual real live people that spoke English that could be understood.

Shortly after that time I opened an account using a referral code he gave me. I was very happy playing there and played both in the sportsbook and the casino. I went on two bad streaks in the casino and got myself down almost $1500. Over the last few weeks I have been pretty hot at football (playing mostly $50-$200 bets) and won most of my money back. I requested a payout of $500 and was delayed due to the ever traditional, "your echeck hasn't cleared yet." The funds had cleared my bank 5 days previous. At any rate, after a few days I was then notified that the funds had cleared, but now I would need the ever popular, "account verification form" along with cancelled checks and photo ID. I provided all of these documents and received a message from security stating that all the documents were received and everything was in good order and that any pending withdrawal requests would be forwarded to the proper dept. and processed. ------ 12/04/2004 Documentation Received (please read) Dear Mr. Libbert Account: 152839 We have received your Bank Account Verification Form fax in good order, and your submitted information concerning your bank account is now verified. Any pending withdrawal requests will be returned to the withdrawal department for processing. Thank you. Sincerely, BoDog.com Security Department --------------- After 3-4 days no pending withdrawals had appeared in my acct. so I contacted customer service today regarding the situation. (This is where the story gets crazy.) I spoke with an agent that looked at my account and then asked if knew of any relatives playing with Bodog. I stated that yes I had a cousin that actually referred me to them. He then proceeded to tell me that we had both signed up on the same computer. I responded that it was impossible that I knew that was UNTRUE. I stated that he has on occasion came to my house and accessed his account or even on occasion played in the Bodog casino or poker room at my house, but that HE DID NOT sign up here, nor does he come here often and access Bodog. He then asked me to hold, he then comes back on the phone and tells me I am going to need to talk with "Carson" in the security dept. I then get connected to Carson who asks if I have friends or relatives with Bodog accounts and I then tell him about my cousin Chris Libbert (my name is Scott Libbert) and my friend Chris Herrick who I just referred. He then proceeds to tell me that WE have a problem, that my cousin has recently closed out his account and that he has closed his bank account that funded his Bodog account and that he owes them money. I was shocked. I proceeded to tell them that although I appreciate them telling me this that I think that it is inappropriate to tell me and that there should be some confidentiality. He then explains that he is telling me because this is causing ME A PROBLEM WITH MY ACCOUNT. He then tells me that they aren't sure that we aren't the same person. I then tell him that I have provided them with documentation to prove who I am and that If they have a problem with him that it is their problem. They proceed to tell me that it is my problem and that none of my funds would be released until the problem with Chris Libbert is resolved. They said I needed to have him call them. I told them I was a good customer who has given them good play and has told many people to use them. (I even was in the process of becoming a Bodog affiliate to refer from my website I am working on.) I explained that this had nothing to do with me. I told them that I would provide any documentation they needed on my end, but that I would not stir up problems with my family by confronting my cousin about his gambling problems or whatever "incident" occurred with them. Further more I explained that I DO NOT HAVE the power over another person to MAKE them call them. We argued back and forth and finally I told them that they might delay my payout, but they WOULD NOT be successful at blackmailing me to work out their problems and that they were losing a good customer and many potential referrals. (I also work in a casino as a dealer.) I then proceeded to throw out the name of your website and the fact that I thought Bill Dozer would surely like to hear my story. Carson then backpedaled a bit and said they would make a "one time exception" and process my withdrawal. I told him to process my entire balance of $1468.81. (I was almost even.) He then told me again that it was one time. I guess they don't want my play. I really can't understand this. After nearly 1/2 hour my account balance was still intact and no withdrawals pending. I was out of patience at this point and called a rep. and asked if a withdrawal was penning on my account and he said no. He said he saw where I had asked for $500 about 2 weeks ago, but it wasn't approved yet. I asked for Carson in security and after a brief wait was told he was "out of the office." I then told them that he better get back in the office and that someone needed to process my entire balance out of my account because my email was going to be sent to Bill Dozer in 15 minutes if they don't comply. (I intended to send one regardless) After another brief wait I was told that my complete withdrawal was being processed. I then verified my account on the internet and it appears that my electronic withdrawal is being processed. I will believe it when I get the money though. I would appreciate anything you could do to help me resolve this matter if it doesn't resolve itself soon. Regardless of the outcome I feel that this behavior is totally unacceptable and that some type of investigation or downgrade of Bodog should occur. What they did was totally unethical . . . telling me I won't get my money until they get their money from a 3rd party that I have no control over. I followed all the rules and provided them with any and all documentation they needed/asked for. I don't believe that they really believe that we are the same person. I think they just want to try to use me as leverage. Even if they did think we were the same person they had every opportunity to ask Chris Libbert for the same documentation they asked me for and apparently they did no do so. (I am not sure) I do know that at some point Chris hit multiple royal flushes in their casino on video poker and withdrew at least $8000 at one point. I can't believe that they would let him withdrawal that money without verification. My account was also active at that time. It would also be noted that there were times that he called me and said he was playing on Bodog (poker or casino) and that I was playing at the same time from my house which would prove that we were different people. At the very least I thing a definite downgrade should be issued based on this experience. The sad thing was that I really liked playing there and now must form a relationship with another book. This experience should be viewed as totally unacceptable behavior. I can't think of any other way to say it. Please don't heisted if you have any questions regarding this incident. I did nothing wrong and will not be blackmailed into "strong arming" family members. Thanks, Scott Libbert BoDog acct. #152839

SBR note 12/08/04: BoDog states that player was questioned due to player referral and the use of the same computer.