SPORTSBOOK REVIEW NEWSWIRES

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.

YouWin Sportsbook balance confiscations

YouWin confiscated €3,838 from a player that was accused of suspicious betting. The funds forfeiture was made on January 25th, 2011. YouWin failed to provide clear proof of wrongdoing.

On July 13th, 20011, a player had a balance of €1,120 confiscated with no explanation. YouWin declined to discuss this complaint with the player or SBR.

On September 6th, 2011, a player requested a €1,357 withdrawal. YouWin froze the player's account, then confiscated his balance. No evidence of player violation was shared with SBR.

On October 10th, 2011, a player had his account closed and balance confiscated after making a €642 payout request. YouWin claimed that the player was guilty of clear fraud, but offered no specifics. YouWin claimed that their beliefs were confirmed after a telephone interview with the player....CONTINUE READING.

• Pinnacle Sports: Romney -221
• Bovada.lv: Romney -200 | Gingrich +450 | Paul +700 | Huntsman +1400
• SBR Points Sportsbook: Romney -250 | Gingrich +500 | Paul +800 | Huntsman +1350

TitanBet players in need of sportsbook assistance are asked to fill out a sportsbook complaint form. Alternatively, players may reach Sportsbook Review by writing to help@sportsbookreview.com or by dialing 1-830-255-4677 during normal business hours.

SynBet and PulseBet 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.

SBR has received complaints from four Betonline (SBR rating B+) poker players that their payouts were on hold while they were audited for suspected chip dumping. The first dispute was resolved amicably. In the second dispute SBR has concluded, and the player has since confessed, chip dumping took place. The third dispute involves a player suspected of being part of a fraud ring. The largest case is from a player with a balance of $65,000, who has been open to review his hand history publicly. BetOnline expects to resolve the matter by the start of next week. BetOnline, which rarely receives disputes surrounding sportsbook play, recently launched a poker platform that has become instantly popular due to their large player base and players' shrinking online poker options. BetOnline plans to expand its poker management and staff to avoid lengthy account audits and add more proactive risk management.

One problem Mike didn't account for in all of his planning - he would never see a red cent of it.

Mike made an account at Scam Book Xyz.com. After being on the ropes a few times, down to his last $200, Mike threw up a prayer. Except this was no Our Father; it was a Hail Mary, fourteen-team, NFL Sunday parlay. Chasing that ever elusive life-changing score, Mike won every game. That's when the music stopped and reality set in.

"Hi, I'd like to go about withdrawing my funds. What's the fastest possible manner I can do that?"

"Sir, the notes from management are that your account has been locked and is under review. Until the investigation is complete, no withdrawals are possible on the account, sir. May I assist in anything else?"

Mike's heart sunk in his chest. He had heard all the stories of scam sportsbooks but he blew off the advice of his friends and proceeded to part with his cash every second Friday of the month. After all, he was given a small reload bonus on every deposit. He doled out $300 at a time of his hard-earned, minimum wage paycheck and dreamed of that big score; the life-changer.

Mike would soon come to grips with what amounted to a cold shower. He failed to do his research and ended up with a scam sportsbook that had a history of not paying big winners.

________

The above anecdote is fictional, but it highlights a very real risk of playing with shady bookmakers. While online gambling is typically met with negative connotations in most circles, sportsbook players are no different than investors - from recreational players looking to have a good time, to middle of the pack grinders earning a little on the side to the full-blown professionals: A sportsbook deposit is an investment. Before making an investment to any online sportsbook, a player should consider the following:

How long has the sportsbook been in business?

Many sportsbooks pop up on the grid each year. Sportsbooks aiming to serve US customers typically surface prior to football season. These sportsbooks are at a disadvantage as they are attempting to drum up business in a tight, highly competitive market. To counter the reluctance players have trying out a new sportsbook, these companies usually promise to give away the farm - reduced juice, big starter bonuses plus reload incentives. The best measuring stick a player can use to gauge the safety of an operation is TIME. Any sportsbook can have a successful quarter or year; but can the sportsbook maintain a high level of service, fast payouts and good customer service season after season, year after year? SBR advises players to stick with online bookmakers that have been in business for a minimum of five years.

Are there any serious outstanding claims against the sportsbook?

The value of the internet is how quickly information spreads. A simple Google search of a company often yields relevant information for the player to consider before making his decision to play with an online sportsbook. SBR also provides an outlet for users to discuss sportsbooks without fear of censorship in the Sportsbooks & Industry section at SBR Forum. The SBR sportsbook ratings guide features over 1,000 online bookmakers - from various countries, with different platforms and  business models. For a more refined look through bookmakers considered to be among the industry's best, the official sportsbook reviews written by SBR provide thorough operation overviews.

How willing is the sportsbook to discuss disputes with SBR?

A good online sportsbook is no different than any other company in the public eye - they strive to provide good service and to be regarded positively by consumers, knowing that good press leads to more customers, and more customers allow business to grow. One of the aspects that helps shape a sportsbook  rating is their communication with SBR. In an industry rife with betting markets, wager types, bonuses and various payout methods, inevitably a dispute will arise where either the player or house is at fault. SBR logs player complaints in its industry news feed and posting forum, giving readers a chance to stay up to date with current online sportsbook news and disputes. Sportsbooks rated B+ and higher have historically been active in discussing disputes with SBR.

Players in need of sportsbook assistance are asked to fill out a sportsbook complaint form. Alternatively, players may reach Sportsbook Review by writing to help@sportsbookreview.com or dialing 1-830-255-4677 seven days a week during normal business hours.