1/31/2007 07:01 PM
BetOnUSA (SBR rating D-) and sister books acquired by Jazette Enterprises Limited (D+ rated Sportsbook.com). Sportsbook management tells SBR the BetOnUSA Group (Empire Entertainment Ltd) was purchased last month. All customer service and accounting is now directed to the
Sportsbook building in Costa Rica. The purchase brings
Sportsbetting.com (SBR rating D-) back to the company and gives Jazette ownership of the World Gaming software code.
JEL states that it will look into no-pay claims against BetOnUSA, including the latest from a player waiting four months for $1,000.16. JEL sportsbooks also have their own no-pay complaints pending. During the migration of
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating D+) last October to Jel-owned
SuperBook (SBR rating D+) some accounts, balances and pending wagers were lost.
11/11/2006 01:28 AM
Sportingbet (SBR rating D+) and SportingBetUSA (SBR rating D+) users complain of deleted pending future wagers. Prior to Sportingbet transferring account balances to Superbook.com, some bettors reported disappearing pending bets. While management has agreed to reinstate wagers for many of these account holders at sister sportsbooks, reports of canceled bets continue. Players who have had a pending wager canceled at a former Sportingbet property are invited to contact SBR.
10/12/2006 04:47 PM
Sportingbet PLC sells Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D+) and US-facing business to "existing management team"
Statement: Sportingbet announces that it has sold, on 12 October 2006, its US-facing sports betting and casino business (the “US Operations”) to Jazette Enterprises Limited (“JEL”) (the “Disposal”). Sportingbet received cash consideration of US$1 for the shares and related assets of the US Operations, and has discharged excess liabilities amounting to approximately US$13.2 million. Had the business been closed, the Board estimated that the cost of severance and closure would have amounted to approximately US$14.0 million – a total saving of circa US$27.2 million.
Full StatementThe press release suggests that
Wallstreet,
Aces, and
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating D+) will move US players under a different brand, likely Sportsbook.com.
Sportingbet Plc has retained ownership of these highly marketable website domains. Paradise Poker will relinquish its share of the US poker market. The poker giant will also be retained by Sportingbet Plc and cease taking deposits from US players at 11:00 a.m tomorrow.
SBR is currently investigating claims that the group has canceled winning future wagers of players who reside in US states that have specific laws against gambling.
7/5/2006 01:15 PM
Sportingbet (SBR rating D+) Company continues Bait n’ Switch bonus scam.Sportingbet Plc steals winnings from player, citing a mystery "
bonus abuse" rule. SBR has received numerous complaints from players who were attracted to incentives from the many Sportingbet Plc brands, which include
Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D+) and
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating D+). If the player has accepted bonus offers from the different books and goes on to win, he is susceptible to the confiscation of all funds above the total amount deposited. SBR has contacted Sportingbet Plc on multiple occasions to verify that utilizing more than one site is not a violation of any rules.
SBR poster ’dvorak51’ shares his experience with the Sportingbet Group’s
Aces.com (SBR rating D+).
7/5/2006 8:32:38 PM Update: Sportingbet management refunds player’s winnings and adds free-play bonus for inconvenience.
4/21/2006 02:57 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Sportingbet Plc returns $24,000 confiscated from client in October 2005. Over the course of a year the player had used multiple Sportingbet Plc sites including
PlayersOnly(SBR rating D+),
LinesMaker(SBR rating D+),
SportFanatik(SBR rating D+),
SportingBetUSA(SBR rating D+),
Aces(SBR rating D+) and
Sportsbook.com(SBR rating D+). The amount confiscated was the sum of what the player had earned in bonuses and won overall from the family of sportsbooks. SBT management originally stated that the player was violating the spirit of the bonus although the company’s client support has maintained that utilizing multiple sportsbooks and incentive offers was acceptable. Other Sportingbet players hope to experience the same success in resolving their issue and recovering their funds. SBR is currently speaking with Sportingbet’s corporate office about these matters.
1/12/2006 07:29 AM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Two players claim balances were erased from their sportsbook accounts. A player from
Sports.com(SBR rating D+) and another from
SportingBetUSA(SBR rating D+), both of the Sportingbet Plc Family, report losing a total of $5084 on wagers they did not place. Customer service told both players that the funds were gambled away on virtual horse racing, a casino game neither bettor has played previously. The first player to experience this problem tells of the book’s apparent unwillingness to address the issue.
"They originally told me it would take 24 hours, then 48 hours, then a week, it has now been 15 days and they still have not given me the IP address of the origin of the disputed wager. Who benefited from the wager? SportingBetUSA. Who refuses to provide needed information in the investigation of this matter? SportingBetUSA. Why won’t they cooperate? My ISP tells me they should have been able to provide that information within 24 hours. They did give me the date, time, and time zone, but that is worthless without the IP address. The time zone they gave as the origin of the disputed wager was the Pacific time zone. I am in Ohio (Eastern). They know it was not my wager. I really think they did it themselves."
8/25/2005 11:38 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: SportingBetUSA (SBR rating C) deducts $500 in winnings from customer account. The sportsbook claims the player bet a "bad line" (wrong odds that are the result of a line manager’s mistake) on Tiger Woods to win the British Open, which took place a month earlier.
SportingBetUSA has not made an effort to show the player how the line on Tiger Woods was an "obvious error" and has not followed their own rule which is stated below. SBR will continue to speak on the player’s behalf and expects management to rectify or justify these actions.
"Every effort will be made to ensure that all information available on the Internet site is accurate. However, if an error is made in the prices or conditions published on-line, we reserve the right to correct any mistakes and to settle any bets already laid at the correct price."
7/11/2005 03:39 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Sportingbet Plc family of sportsbooks refusing to pay players this week. Players file multiple complaints against such books as Sportsbook.com,
SportingBetUSA.com and Aces.com, citing that the below notice was first posted today.
"Note: There will be no withdrawals processed the week of Monday July 11th to Friday, July 15th. Withdrawals will resume normal processing July 16th. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."
Sportingbet users complain that they were not given any notice that their funds would be inaccessible. Many players will actually be forced to wait until the 18th, due to some banking methods being available for processing only on weekdays. Sportingbet management claims that this freeze on player funds is due to a website upgrade, which suggests players could have been informed well in advance. A likelier reason for this hold on account balances is that Sportingbet recognizes a very slow week in sports and would like to prevent a wave of withdrawal requests that occur when there is little to wager on.
5/28/2005 01:19 PM
An open letter from a player and a message to all that gamble: Be Careful! I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO INFORM YOU OF MY ONLINE EXPERIENCE WITH
SportingBetUSA. I JOINED THEIR GROUP THREE YEARS AGO AND WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT ONLINE GAMBLING.
IN 2.5 YEARS I LOST IN EXCESS OF 100K TO THEM. I BANKRUPTED MY COMPANY MY HOME AND WORSE YET MY SISTER. WHEN I HAD NO ACCESS TO MONEY I USED HER CREDIT CARDS TO THE TUNE OF 60K DOLLARS. THEY WIILLING TOOK MY DEPOSITS AND HAD NO RESRTICTIONS ON LIMITS OR SECURITY ISSUES (FAXBACK CV2 OR EXPIRATION DATES. ALL OTHER SITES HAD THESE CONTROLS IN PLACE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF CASHING OUT TWICE IN THAT THREE YEARS. THE FIRST ONE FOR 3500 AND IT TOOK A MONTH TO RECEIVE FUNDS. THE SECOND TIME I GOT LUCKY IN THER
CASINO FOR 5000 DOLLARS . I REQUESTED THIS CASHOUT THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT A RESPONSE EMAIL FROM MY SPORTSBOOK WHO THEY ONLY DO MANAGERIAL DUTIES FOR. CLAIMING A ROUTINE AUDIT FOR A CASINO THEY ONLY MANAGE. I WAS ALSO TOLD FIREPAY HAD RETURNED CHECKS. I DID NOT HAVE A CHECKING ACCOUNT AT THAT TIME. I TOLD THEM TAKE ALL DEDUCTIONS THEY WANTED AND SEND ME THE DIFFERENCE. MY ACCOUNT WAS IMMEDIATELY CLOSED AND NONE OF MY EMAILS WERE RETURNED. GOING TO COURT NEXT WEEK WITH MY SISTER WHO COURTS DATE NEXT WEEK . PLEASE PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE SO OTHER PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID. GR
SBR would suggest all players be aware of the potential damage that gambling can cause.
5/4/2005 11:05 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: SportsbookReview receives a new batch of complaints against the Sportingbet Group.
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating C) continues to delay withdrawal requests by performing account audits. More than a few players have also complained that
SportingBetUSA payouts have been delivered by check, despite the fact that they had requested their funds via Neteller. In some countries players are forced to pay large processing fees when cashing these checks. The book has declined player requests to reimburse these costs. These lapses in customer service have resulted in a downgrade of SBTusa from C+ to C.
5/4/2005 10:43 PM
SportingBetUSA downgraded from C+ to C
4/15/2005 10:55 PM
SBR mailbag: Customer Service Complaints
Intertops (SBR rating C+) – Customers complain that Intertops now taking three business days to process Neteller withdrawals. The change from two days was not noted on the website. Players also have reported that the book is not responding to email inquiries.
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating C+) – Player complains about LiveChat service.
“When I was on the live chat with one of their staff members, Frank, I was assured of a 15% immediate bonus within 24hrs. I waited 24hrs to no avail. So I did 3 live chats in 2hrs. The first guy (David) told me it would be credited in minutes. The 2nd guy at first told me it’s 24-48hrs but later corrected himself when I reminded him it is spelt out on his website (within 24hrs). The 3rd guy really dropped the bombshell, said that I need to show more patience and this being a Sunday usually experience heavy traffic and my bonus will take up to 36hrs! What crap, now I know why you guys give them a C+”
BetonUSA (SBR rating D-) – SBR continues to receive a steady flow of complaints.
“Hey Bill, I contacted BetOnUSA last night to see about the status of my Neteller withdrawal. They are completely giving me the run around. Last night I talked to a lady who said it would be processed within 48 hours and then it would take another 48 hours to receive it in my Neteller. That seemed logical as I went back and checked out the withdrawal slip and it said it would take 48 hours to process. Tonight I talked to a guy who basically said that they were sending it in a completely different way then I originally requested it (via Neteller). I told him that it was a mistake and it was supposed to get sent to my Neteller account as I requested. He said that he would change it making it another 48 hour processing wait and 5-7 days to reach my account. Thanks for the help! This will be the last time I deal with a book with this poor a rating.”
3/14/2005 11:03 AM
Sportsbook.com (SBR rating C) comes clean on their infamous ’audits’ that cause unnecessary long payout delays and announces they will eliminate withdraw audits. Many insiders, including SBR, long suspected the highly unpopular ’audits’ are mainly used as a way of punishing winning players and discouraging withdraws. This procedure has continued to be a drag on the entire Sportingbet group rating, of which Sportsbook.com is the largest member. The group last sported a top 20 sportsbook in 2002 with their second largest member
SportingBetUSA, which reached a peak rating of B+.
12/14/2004 12:27 PM
SportingBetUSA downgraded from B- to C+
7/20/2004 04:44 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: SBR receives influx of
Sportingbet PLC sportsbook complaints.
Sportfanatik (SBR rating D+) client reports unjust bonus confiscation.
Allstar.com (SBR rating C-) player files complaint over missing check. A
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating B-) client claims withdrawn funds left his player account but never reached his Neteller account. A 2nd
SportingBetUSA player contacts SBR about unjust bonus confiscation.
Mysportsbook.com (SBR rating C-) loses multiple bank wires during processing.
5/6/2004 12:42 PM
Grande upgraded from B+ to A-,
SportingBetUSA upgraded from C+ to B and Sportsbook.com upgraded from D+ to C+
4/8/2004 03:53 PM
Player files slow pay complaint against SportingBetUSA (SBR Rating C+). SportingBetUSA C.S. Supervisor Charles says this customer's account and his wife's account are both being audited. Initial deposits have been returned to customer's credit card. SBR to follow up in this process.
4/3/2004 09:24 AM
SportingBetUSA(SBR rating C+) Informs SBR and other analysts that recent quarterly profit was no fluke and that restructuring and risk controls implemented last year have paved the way for consecutive quarters of profitability. Common stock shares of Sportingbet have soared a 100% since January 1st.
12/1/2003 04:24 PM
SportingBetUSA (SBR rating C-) Once an A rated book -slow pays like
this one are now all to common
10/23/2003 05:53 AM
Complaints from;
Internet1x2(F-), Playerstime(C-), SportingBetUSA(C-), Sportingbet(C-), BetonUSA(D+), WSEX(A-), Sportsbook.com(D+)
8/21/2003 12:00 AM
Sportingbet.com,
SportingBetUSA - Upgraded from D+ to C-
3/27/2003 05:03 PM
Sportingbet shares tumble again - Holding Co. for
SportingBetUSA, Sportsbook.com has fallen 70% in past 12 months - nagging customer service complaints possibly indicative of poor mgmt.
10/24/2002 10:59 AM
SportingBetUSA - Downgraded - removed from the Recommended List - excessive complaints
9/5/2002 09:47 AM
SportingBetUSA - Drops out of Sportsbook Review top 10 - CS issues have resulted in a 4 month slide from 5th to 13th - Rio jumps three places
7/28/2001 12:14 PM
Sportsbook.com - Upgraded - Removed From the Black List - Agreed to be acquired by
SportingBetUSA
7/13/2001 11:24 AM
SportingBetUSA - Downgraded - Removed from the Recommended List