SBR review: Gibraltar

Facebook launches gambling app

Facebook shareholders may be happy to learn that the social media giant is taking steps to produce a potentially long-term profit generator — an online gambling app. Effective this morning, UK residents 18 and over are provided the chance to play online bingo for cash prizes. Facebook's bingo game is powered by GameSys, a private technology company licensed in Gibraltar.  | Read more

Parier.net enters the SBR Rating Guide at D-.

10a1 enters the SBR Rating Guide at B-

Gibraltar (SBR rating C-) UPDATE:

Management agrees to pay player $1,900 and change policy. Gibraltar’s General Manager, Andrew, tells SBR that the player will receive free-play bonus winnings via Neteller by 6PM tomorrow. Andrew also states that Gibraltar will no longer confiscate free-play winnings when the relationship with the player is terminated by the sportsbook.

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

Gibraltar (SBR rating C-) contacts SBR to explain balance confiscation. Management states that they will not honor $1,900 in free-play winnings because the player is a "professional who targets bonus offers". Gibraltar agrees that the player has not violated any rules but the book reserves the right to remove players at anytime and therefore prohibit them from reaching the 30 day rule required to validate funds won from promotional offers. Players should be aware that Gibraltar may apply a subjective label to account holders and void winning wagers that could have been placed at other sportsbooks at better odds.

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

Gibraltar (SBR rating C-) confiscates player’s winnings from free-play wager that was awarded upon sign-up. The BetonSports family of books has been known to void bonuses, and winnings from those bonuses once deciding they no longer wish to service successful bettors. Unjust confiscation of funds was a large factor in Gibraltar’s downgrade from C to C- earlier this year although management partially reversed its decision.

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

Gibraltar (SBR rating C-) partially reverses decision to confiscate bonus funds and winnings. Management has agreed to pay the player $427 he won from the free-play portion of his signup bonus. Ownership is unwilling to reinstate the 10% cash bonus portion of the signup incentive, citing that the player was not a customer for the required 30 days. This decision was made despite the fact that Gibraltar removed the player against his will. Players who have recently accepted a signup bonus at Gibraltar may benefit from leaving their account dormant for one month.

Rating Change: Gibraltar

Gibraltar downgraded from C to C-

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

Gibraltar (SBR rating C) confiscates customer funds. The book decided they no longer desired a player’s business and agreed to pay him in full. When he received his Neteller withdrawal he found that his bonus, and winnings derived from his free-play bonus, had been deducted. The player exceeded his roll-over requirement, yet Gibraltar kept a total of $577 that was previously included in his account balance.

“In the conversation, I was told that I will receive my full account balance, minus the $30 fee for neteller withdrawal, within the day. When I received my funds from Neteller, I realized that they’ve deducted $607.5 from my account ($150 initial deposit bonus + $427.5 won on freeplay + $30 withdrawal fee). I called them and I was referred to “Andrew" who is the manager. He told me that they do not want my action and they have the right to confiscate that money and he would not need to give me any more explanation on that because they are operating a business and it is their right to deduct my winnings from my free-play as well as the initial deposit bonus. No appropriate reasons were given. He also mentioned that I’ve won some money with them and they’ve paid me." -L.C

Sister sportsbook BettorsTrust (SBR rating D+) was also guilty of this same action last month. However, management promptly reversed this decision when SBR inquired on the player’s behalf. Players must be able to count bonus monies as part of their account balance when wagering requirements have been legitimately met. SBR to once again inquire with management.