2/4/2012 04:28 PM
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.
1/12/2012 01:51 PM
VIP Sports player never paid balanceOn 15 July 2011, SBR reported that VIP Sports (SBR rating B-) would close its doors. The Curacao based bookmaker announced that as of August 1st it would no longer be in business.
VIP, along with sister sportsbooks Nine.com and
Betgameday.com instructed players to withdraw their funds by that time. Many seasonal players were taken by surprise when logging on for football season and realizing that the VIP brands were defunct. SBR exhausted all avenues in contacting former VIP personnel and eventually procured a
statement that players would be paid.
GTBets.com (SBR rating C) surfaced the same week, using the same website skin, web server and telephone number as VIP Sports. SBR interviewed GTBets.com and learned that the sportsbook acquired the VIP software, hardware and retained key management. GTBets.com attempted to
solicit VIP's former clients into depositing; an attempt to capitalize on the brand and kickstart its own business venture.
GTBets.com later agreed to pay VIP Sportsbook,
Betgameday and Nine.com players that did not request their funds prior to the 1 August 2011 deadline. A total of $45,995 was owed to players and reportedly paid. GTBets assured SBR that it had attempted to contact all players that held unpaid balances with the VIP brands.
SBR has received a new complaint from a player that states he was never paid a $1,590 balance. SBR is contacting GTBets management to discuss the player's claim. VIP Sports players in need of assistance should submit a
sportsbook complaint form, or write to SBR directly at
help@sportsbookreview.com.
UPDATE 26 Jan 2012: The player's deposit ($1,590) was made in November of 2009. The player does not recall wagering with the sportsbook, and has no further information to document that a balance was maintained at VIP. SBR has asked the player to provide more information, and considers this matter closed.
9/5/2011 07:13 PM
GTBets.com to pay VIP Sportsbook, Betgameday, Nine.com playersGTBets.com (SBR rating C) tells SBR that they will honor
VIP Sportsbook players funds. GTBets.com is a new sportsbook that surfaced when VIP Sportsbook,
Betgameday and Nine.com went off-line on August 1st, 2011. GTBets acquired the VIP Sportsbook software, hardware and retained key management. GTBets first came to light when they began
spamming marketing offers to former VIP players, which included those account-holders usernames at VIP.
On July 15th, SBR
reported that VIP Sportsbook was preparing to cease operations. VIP,
Betgameday and Nine.com advised bettors via their homepages to request balances prior to August 1st, 2011. However, more than thirty players failed to see the warning on time and reported not being paid their final balances - worth more than $45,000. SBR continued to report that seasonal sports bettors missed the messages, reporting not being called or emailed with a heads up as to the closure of the Curacao based sportsbook family. A VIP manager
claimed on August 16th that players in the attached SBR list would receive payment, but that there was no support or accounting team able to service future player claims.
SBR first spoke with GTBets.com Thursday September 1st. Originally GTBets.com was prepared to offer VIP players a deal that if they made their final payout requests prior to October 1st, 2011, they would receive credits to their GTBets accounts and would be fully able to make withdrawals without playing requirements. After speaking with SBR further, GTBets took the restrictions off the good faith gesture so that all players able to confirm their final VIP balances would be able to be credited. |
Read GTbets.com statement
9/3/2011 03:50 PM
VIP Sportsbook players owed $45,995VIP Sportsbook players are owed $45,995. Thirty-nine players report that they were not paid their funds prior to VIP Sportsbook going offline on August 1st, 2011. The Curacao based operator claims to not have the manpower nor the ability to process additional payouts. The sportsbook company claimed in discussions with SportsbookReview that players were given sufficient notice to access their accounts to initiate their payment requests. Many seasonal sports bettors are logging in for the first time for the upcoming football season, and did not noitce the July notice on the VIP Sports,
Betgameday, or Nine.com websites. SBR will update this report.
8/31/2011 06:14 PM
VIP Sportsbook players owed $42,345VIP Sportsbook players report being owed $42,345.
On July 15th,
SBR reported that VIP Sportsbook and sister sites
Betgameday and Nine.com would be closing their doors on August 1st, 2011. A message was placed atop each sportsbook homepage prompting bettors to request their funds by that time. Numerous seasonal sports bettors that did not log-in to see the notice report not receiving any email or phonecall alerts from VIP Sportsbook to withdraw their balances.
On August 16th, "Jay" (a former VIP Sportsbook operations manager) told SBR that the players who filed sportsbook complaints would be paid. However, no mention was made of the sports bettors that have not yet contacted SportsbookReview, or who have not logged into their accounts to recognize the closure. On August 31st, SBR spoke with the VIP manager over telephone and it was stated that while players in the attached list would receive payment, no further payouts would be made. The manager claimed that the VIP Sportsbook office had closed and that there was no dedicated support team or contacts to field player inquiries, it was also stated that the primary reason for shutting the operation down was the difficulty of working with payment processors.
SBR will update this report.
8/26/2011 05:20 PM
VIP Sportsbook players owed $31,153The SBR mailbag is growing with letters from
VIP Sportsbook, Nine.com and
Betgameday players. The sportsbook family went off-line on August 1st, 2011, and has yet to pay all players.
On July 15th,
Sportsbook Review reported that the VIP Sportsbook group was preparing to shut its doors. In that report, SBR relayed the message hung on the VIP websites directing players to request their balances prior to August 1st. Many players never saw the message, however, and currently thirty players report not being paid $31,153. The amount seems relatively small considering that the family of sportsbooks has been online more than a decade, and was once considered an industry titan. While the exact amount of outstanding funds is unknown, SBR has received at least one report per day in the last two weeks of unpaid funds. Seasonal sports bettors were left blindsided by the move, many only logging into their accounts near the start of the football year. Players state that no email notices were sent advising them to request their funds, and that follow-up emails to the VIP support line have went unanswered.
SBR is attempting to make contact with "Jay", a former operations manager with VIP Sportsbook who claimed on August 16th that players would receive their final payment shortly. Jay also addressed the emergence of GtBets.com—a website hosted on VIP Sportsbook's server, which shares the same layout, customer service numbers—by acknowledging that former employees are behind the venture. On August 15th, SBR reported that
GTbets.com was sending marketing emails to former VIP players containing their VIP log-in information. While GTbets.com has not provided official comment on any connection to the now off-line VIP Sportsbook group, the operation is also headquartered in Curacao.
SBR is hopeful that the disconnect between the VIP Group and its former players is attributable to technical challenges following the sites closure and the termination of support mailboxes. SBR will update this report as any of the reported thirty players confirm receiving their funds, or as more non-payment reports surface.
8/23/2011 06:46 PM
VIP Sportsbook players owed $29,063Twenty-five
VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating B-) players report being owed $29,063. The players did not request payment of their account balances prior to the August 1st, 2011 deadline imposed by VIP. On July 15th, SportsbookReview reported that the
VIP Sportsbook group announced that it would be closing. While VIP management initially told SBR that players were given ample notice to initiate payout requests, several players have reported that they were not given any heads up.
On August 15th, SBR reported that
Gtbets.com (SBR rating C) surfaced targeting VIP Sportsbook Group players. GTbets.com shares the VIP Sportsbook server, customer service numbers and website skin. In addition, players forwarded marketing mailers which contained their VIP username and passwords. VIP Sportsbook operations manager "Jay" told SBR on August 16th that VIP, Nine.com and
Betgameday have nothing to do with GTBets. The manager confirmed that former employees are now working on the site.
SBR will update this report.
Players in need of sportsbook assistance are asked to fill out a sportsbook complaint form.
Alternatively, players may reach SBR by writing to
help@sportsbookreview.com or dialing 1-830-255-4677 seven days a week during normal business hours.
8/21/2011 04:28 PM
VIP Sportsbook balance holders asked to write to help@sportsbookreview.comThree new players have written Sportsbook Review to launch complaints against VIP Sportsbook,
Nine.com and
Betgameday. The three players are owed $1,030, $900, and $600 collectively. Each player reports that no notice was delivered to their registered email address informing them of the
VIP Sports group closure. VIP management initially told SBR that players were given multiple notices each, in addition to the prominent ad atop its homepage prompting bettors to withdraw their funds. The players point out that they are seasonal bettors who were unaware of the closure, and that they discovered the closure when trying to access their accounts for the NFL preseason.
SBR last heard from a VIP manager on Tuesday August 16th. The manager stated that players who did not request their balances in time would be paid once financial processes completed allowing VIP to send a final wave of funds. None of the 18 players on SBR's list have yet reported payment. The players are owed $12,183. SBR will update this report.
Players in need of sportsbook assistance are asked to fill out a sportsbook complaint form.
Alternatively, players may reach SBR by writing to
help@sportsbookreview.com or dialing 1-830-255-4677 seven days a week during normal business hours.
8/18/2011 04:37 PM
VIP Sportsbook updateSince SBR's last
VIP Sportsbook update on August 16th, an additional two users have reported that they held balances which have not been paid as of August 18th, 2011. The players did not request their funds prior to the August 1st deadline set by VIP Sports after the company closure was announced.
VIP Sportsbook,
Nine.com and
Betgameday are currently off-line. The total amount of outstanding funds owed to users is now $10,876.
A VIP Sportsbook operations manager claimed that the players who did not request payment in time would receive payment. SBR has followed up to inquire on whether accommodations would also be made for players that did not contact SBR not VIP Sportsbook to arrange to be paid their final balances. SBR will update this sportsbook report as more information becomes available.|
VIP Sportsbook players outraged
8/16/2011 02:27 PM
VIP Sportsbook says players will be paidA former VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating B-) operations manager has contacted Sportsbook Review today stating that players who did not request payment in the allotted time—the
August 1st deadline—would be paid. The manager explained that the two individuals SBR had communicated briefly with were no longer servicing exiting VIP players inquiries and that their mailboxes were not being monitored. The manager stated that he would be contacting players on SBR's list to inform them that they would be paid soon. SBR questioned VIP as to the relationship with
GTbets.com (SBR rating C), the newly surfaced sportsbook that shares VIP servers, software and customer support. The manager denied a business overlap from an ownership perspective, but conceded that former employees of
VIP Sports are managing the new brand.
Players that did not request payment from VIP Sportsbook prior to the August 1st deadline where VIP Sportsbook,
Nine.com and
Betgameday announced their closure are advised to write to help@sportsbookreview.com with their account usernames and balance information.
8/13/2011 03:51 PM
VIP Sports, Nine.com,
Betgameday downgraded from B+ to B-
8/13/2011 02:43 PM
VIP Sportsbook players await their final paymentTwelve VIP Sports (SBR rating B-) players report being owed a total of $8,432. The players did not initiate a withdrawal prior to the VIP deadline of August 1st, 2011. Sportsbook Review
reported on 7/15 that
VIP Sportsbook, along with sister sportsbooks
Nine.com and
Betgameday would be closing their doors. Management has not provided a time-table on when the players who did not request their balances in the allotted time can expect payment. SBR will update this report as more information becomes available.
8/10/2011 03:17 PM
VIP Sportsbook updateVIP Sports tells SBR that all future bets were refunded to players on July 1st, 2011.
VIP launched notices via its family of sportsbook websites and email asking bettors to withdraw their balances before the operation closed doors on August 1st, 2011.
Three players have written to Sportsbook Review stating that a total of $1,700 was not paid to them as they had not responded to VIP's notice to withdraw funds by the given deadline. SBR is discussing these players situations with VIP management asks all bettors who have not received balances held at VIP, Nine.com or
Betgameday to write to help@sportsbookreview.com with their account usernames and balance information.
8/8/2011 02:33 PM
VIP Sports, Nine.com, Betgameday payment feedbackOn July 15th, Sportsbook Review
reported that VIP Sports (SBR rating B+) and its sister sportsbooks would be closing on August 1st, 2011. VIP displayed a note atop its webpage asking players to request a payout prior to August 1st, 2011. SBR has received two letters from players that were not aware that the sportsbooks were headed off-line. These players have not been contacted yet with instructions on how to proceed with requesting their funds. SBR has followed up with VIP support about these inquiries and has specifically asked what will happen to pending future bets in the system. SBR will update this report.
7/15/2011 10:37 PM
VIP Sports to close August 1st, 2011VIP Sports (SBR rating B+) has announced it will close on August 1st, 2011. VIP Sports and sister sportsbooks Nine.com and
Betgameday.com each display a note atop their homepage asking players to request a payout within the next two weeks. SBR is following up with VIP to ask what will happen with pending futures bets, and to inquire on who players should contact if their funds are not requested prior to the August 1st closure date.
VIP Sports historyVIP Sports has long been a player favorite, with a reputation of catering to their "VIP" customer base by offering personalized rewards programs.
VIP Sports was based in the Dutch Antilles, operated by parent company Stockdale Investment Ltd. VIP Sports was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2005, and continued its prominence by acquiring the MyBookie Group which included Nine.com and Betcom.com. VIP Sports also acquired the English Harbor Casino Group in November of 2005. In the spring of 2006, VIP Sports announced a full year gross profit of more than $80M, citing a 26% growth from 2005. VIP Sports lowered it's profile in the fall of 2006, deciding to no longer accept new player registrations from the United States on the heels of the UIGEA act. VIP Sports continued to operate a well-run sportsbook for the next six years. Its next major announcement came in January of 2011, when the sportsbook announced that its grandfathered Washington State players could no longer maintain accounts with VIP, amidst legal questionmarks surrounding players from that state.
Players with any questions pertaining to their upcoming withdrawals for VIP Sports or any sister sportsbook should write to SBR at help@sportsbookreview.com. SBR may also be reached by phone during normal business hours at 1-830-255-4677.
2/4/2004 05:34 AM
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) Family of books under DoS attack by extortionists
VIP Sports 800-606-3576
BetOnGames 888-426-3800
Betgameday 800-386-2387
12/21/2003 05:29 PM
Betgameday (SBR rating A) SBR receiving complaints on web site
8/30/2003 12:00 AM
Betgameday Upgraded from A- to A
7/17/2003 11:23 AM
SBR Tour Surprise visits planned for 15 sportsbooks. Scheduled visits this coming week to include: BetRoyal, Pinnacle, VIP,
Betgameday - Next month: Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Philippines