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.
12/15/2011 05:16 PM
BetClic solicits losing player as VIP, then limits to €5 after €2,500 depositA BetClic (SBR rating D+) player writes in with an account dispute. The player signed up with BetClic, lost €700 within a week and then received a mailer indicating that he was well on his way to becoming a "
VIP" player. The player claims that the email solicited another deposit. The player reloaded €2,500 into the sportsbook and noticed that after attempting to make one bet that his limits had been cut to €5 maximum. In his previous activity with the sportsbook, the player noted that he was able to wager for €500 on a single game.
The player tells SBR that
BetClic will only allow him to withdraw his €2,500 if he pays a fee. The player argues that he was solicited as a
VIP customer , followed through with a deposit and immediately limited. The player had hoped to gain
VIP status with BetClic for additional bonuses and perks.
SBR is asking that BetClic either waive his rollover, restore his wagering limits or waive the withdrawal fee.
Sportsbook 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.
12/1/2011 05:32 PM
Player vs VIPSports.eu: $1,390 account disputeUPDATE: The player has been paid his balance. Management cites miscommunication for the confusion.A
VIPSports.eu (SBR rating C) player that deposited $500 and increased his balance to $1,390 claims that his winnings are not being honored. The player states that
VIP has told him that his deposit would be refunded to his credit card. The player filed a dispute with SBR suggesting that he has no idea why he is not entitled to his winnings. SBR is following up on the account dispute with both the player and sportsbook.
Recent VIP Sports.eu news
On November 28th, SBR reported that a
VIPSports.eu dispute was resolved. A player who had a $460 to win $400 hockey wager cancelled received credit for the wager he should have been able to make at his intended limits. The player also received credit for $35 in withdrawal fees which was docked by Moneybookers when
VIP returned the player's balance. After learning that his wager was cancelled, the player grew upset with
VIP and demanded that his account be closed.
VIP credited the player's Moneybookers account a total of $95 to close out the sportsbook complaint.
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.
11/30/2011 02:17 PM
Heritage Sportsbook upgraded to A-Heritage Sportsbook (SBR rating A-) placed third in the SBR
posters poll conducted last month. The sportsbook by all accounts has handled 4X the growth well so far this football season;
Heritage acquired all BetJamaica players earlier this year when the A+ rated sportsbook announced that it would
close down, Heritage also housed US-based
TheGreek (SBR rating A+) players.
Heritage has long been known as being a niche shop, one that was invite-only and catered to their group of
VIP players. Heritage Sportsbook's strong point over the years has been its financial strength and ability to process payments at or above the industry-standard in terms of time. Heritage Sportsbook's operation is headquartered in Costa Rica.
SBR has upgraded Heritage's rating from B+ to A-. Heritage players with feedback are asked to
write to SBR or post directly in the SBR
Sportsbook Industry news section.
11/28/2011 02:19 PM
Update: VIPSports.eu dispute resolvedEarlier today SBR
reported that a
VIPSports.eu (SBR rating C) player had a wager cancelled because the wagering software did not properly enforce limits. The player entered a $460 to win $400 wager on an NHL game Saturday, November 26th. After realizing that the wager was cancelled, the player said he missed out on re-betting the game elsewhere. The player then requested that
VIPSports.eu close his account and refund his deposit. The sportsbook obliged and refunded his deposit via Moneybookers, though a $35 fee was charged by the eWallet. SBR followed up with management to discuss both the wager cancellation and withdrawal fee.
Management told SBR that that a software glitch caused the player to be able to place a wager in excess of the limit for residents of his country. The error has since been identified and corrected. Despite his funds not being at risk—as the wager was cancelled prior to the game starting—the sportsbook will pay what he would have won at the intended limits ($60). That amount will be added on top of the $35 fee which the sportsbook says was charged by the eWallet processor unbeknownst to them. SBR considers this dispute closed.
11/28/2011 02:08 AM
VIPsports.eu cancels players pending bet; says he bet over the limit
VIPsports.eu (SBR rating C), which runs on the
BTG Gaming platform along with
SafariCasino (SBR rating D+) and
Dimeline (SBR rating C), canceled a players pending wager. The game had not yet started.
VIP implied that their software did not or was not able to properly enforce limits. The player states that because of their error he missed out on his winning play. SBR will seek comment from management.
VIPsports.eu: "Your wager on the hockey wager was cancelled. It exceeded our hockey limits for your account level. Also this game was a steam play and if you are here to bet those wagers your account will be closed.
Management"
VIPSports.eu is run by a former
VIP Sports (SBR rating B-) manager in possession of a customer database. The copycat branding is an attempt to capitalize on
VIP Sports' industry reputation. Another group of former
VIP management and marketing personnel also launched a startup brand after the company closure—
GTBets.com (SBR rating C)—and are in possession of the original software, while
VIPSports.eu is powered by the BTG Gaming software.
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.
11/16/2011 06:35 PM
VIPSports.eu deceptive marketingVIPSports.eu (SBR rating C) is still making deceptive sales pitches to former clients of the now defunct
VIP Sports (SBR rating B-) family.
VIPSports.eu is distributing emails suggesting that it is the same as the terminated
VIP Sports operation. It is important for players to realize that the original
VIP Sports is not back - former marketing personnel are attempting to capitalize on the brand's name by releasing targeted emails to former
VIP Sports and
Nine.com (SBR rating B-) customers.
VIPSports.eu is hosted on a different wagering platform, in a different country, with different financial backing and ownership. Players should approach the new
VIPSports.eu as an unknown quantity and proceed with caution as with all start-up sportsbook companies.
On November 3rd, 2011, SBR reported that
VIPSports.eu is the latest licensee of the
Safari Casino Group. Safari provides
VIPSports.eu with wagering software, hosting and processors in exchange for a monthly royalty.
Safari Casino Group is most known for powering
Dimeline Sportsbook (SBR rating C),
BetTheGlobe (SBR rating D+), and
Safari Casino (SBR rating D+). |
VIPSports.eu email to players
11/3/2011 05:28 PM
BetIslands Sportsbook receives rating upgradeBetIslands (SBR rating B) players have continued to report positive experiences with the sportsbook. Much of the positive feedback surrounds General Manager "Jon Kreta", who prides himself on attention to detail and
VIP service of player accounts.
BetIslands is the youngest sportsbook to occupy a top five-slot in the SBR posters
sportsbook poll. The biggest hurdle has been website uptime - in June of 2011 the sportsbook experienced downtime due to technical outages within their building. Since that time, BetIslands infrastructure and website performance has improved.
As a result of their efficiency, BetIslands Sportsbook has received another sportsbook rating upgrade. The last upgrade made on August 5th was posted after SBR verified that the operation is backed by established industry bookmakers. SBR will continue to evaluate customer service and payout feedback as the sportsbook grows. BetIslands players with feedback are asked to write to
help@sportsbookreview.com; alternatively players may voice their feedback within the SBR
Sportsbook & Industry forum.
11/3/2011 04:37 PM
VIPSports.eu - SBR initiates rating coverage at C
11/3/2011 03:41 PM
VIPSports.eu targeting former VIP Sports playersVIPSports.eu (SBR rating C) is the latest licensee of the
Safari Casino Group. Safari powers
VIPSports.eu with wagering software, hosting and processors in exchange for a monthly royalty.
VIPSports.eu distributed thousands of emails Monday morning to former players of the now defunct
VIP Sports (SBR rating B-). The
VIPSports.eu manager was formerly employed by
VIP Sports and possesses an original database list of
VIP customers. SBR interviewed the owner of the Safari Casino Group/BTG Gaming software company who confirmed powering the new brand.
It is important to note that the original
VIP Sports.com went off-line without paying all players.
VIP Sports closed its doors faster than seasonal account-holders could react to a notice to withdraw their funds. SBR has assisted those players in receiving payments from another start-up sportsbook with former
VIP Sports personnel,
GTbets.com (SBR rating C). SBR believes that a significant amount of
VIP Sports players remain unpaid.
VIP Sports player: I am a long time, 7 year VIPsports customer, was never told it was closing. I only make bets during college football season (American football) and just noticed today that my account was closed. I had a 700 USD in the account and would appreciate the money back.
SBR advises players to steer clear of any
VIP associated property.
VIPSports.eu players with feedback or 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.
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.
8/15/2011 07:31 PM
ALERT: GtBets.com operating on VIP Sportsbook server, sharing phone number & website skinGtbets.com (unrated) has surfaced and is targeting slow-pay sportsbook
VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating B-) players.
VIP Sports announced that it would be closing down on July 15th, and asked players to withdraw their balances prior to August 1st, 2011. Fourteen players report not receiving $9,382. A
VIP Sports security team advisor, as well as a customer service represent have told SBR that no additional payments will be made to players that did not know to request their funds by August 1st. SBR has written and attempted to call
VIP each day following those statements, last receiving a response Thursday August 12th.
It is not yet known whether Gtbets.com purchased a customer list from
VIP Sports, or whether an unofficial rebranding has taken place. Players that have not been paid were given no additional updates from
VIP Sports.
SBR is following up on this latest development and will update this report. |
VIP Sports update thread
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.
8/3/2011 12:25 PM
EasyStreet targeting former BetJamaica, Greek, BetEd, VIP customersEasyStreet (SBR rating D) is sending promo emails to players offering a 35% cash signup bonus. While the email is titled "Attention all Greek and BetJamaica Clients", the opening lines also address former BetEd, Nine.com and
VIP Sports players. EasyStreet's promo mailer states that the sportsbook has no intent of leaving the US market.
Prior to each football season, all online sportsbooks begin to pump up their marketing and bonuses in an attempt to retain or reel in customer business for the coming pigskin year. Players are advised to avoid lowly rated sportsbooks with histories of unfairly dealing with players. In addition to the already established sportsbooks, many fly-by night scam attempts are made by rogue operators in possession of industry mailing lists. While
EasyStreet Sports is not designated as a
blacklisted sportsbook, its poor rating is largely attributed to the
theft of $46,000 from a winning casino player accused of robot play. |
EasyStreet spams former sportsbook players
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.
6/2/2011 05:50 PM
BetHorizon Sportsbook reopens under Heritage Sports platform
BetHorizon Sportsbook is now accepting player registrations. On May 10th, SBR reported that BetHorizon was acquired by Heritage Sports (SBR rating B+).
Heritage Sports is an invite-only sportsbook that offers what it considers
VIP-level service to their handpicked members.
1/12/2011 01:53 PM
VIP Sports, Matchbook no longer accepting players from Washington StateWashington State residents are no longer able to ante up at
VIP Sports (SBR rating B+), or
Matchbook (SBR rating B-). In 2006, the United States SAFE Port Act was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Bush. The act contained a last minute passage regarding internet gambling, labeled the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). The UIGEA makes it illegal for US banks to process transactions to and from known gambling operators. The act does not state that it is unlawful for citizens to wager online and does not list penalties for doing so. |
Full report
12/17/2010 02:00 PM
Player vs VIP Sports, $77,500 winnings disputeUPDATE - SBR finds in favor of VIP Sports. The player failed to provide sufficient proof that his deposits cleared. The player also declined to authorize SBR to request a bank-printed statement on his behalf to solidify his position.A
VIP Sports (SBR rating B+) player reports a $77,500 winnings dispute. On December 4th, the player states that he deposited $1,500 via instant deposit. In the following week, the player increased his balance to $79,000. On December 12th, the player states that after attempting to log into his account he received a message that his sportsbook access had been disabled. The player called the number left on the screen for him, and was told that his deposit had been declined due to insufficient funds and that his winnings were nullified.
The player claims to have followed up with his bank and received confirmation that no debit attempt was made for the amount of $1,500.
VIP disputes this, adding that three years ago the player had an $8,000 insufficient funds dispute which was ultimately settled. SBR has scheduled a call to discuss the winnings dispute with
VIP's operations manager.
On 12/6/2004, SBR
reported that instant deposits were a source of complaints from some players who carelessly left an insufficient amount of funds in their bank accounts, or caused the deposits to bounce by spending funds before the sportsbook could debit them. The general processing time for instant deposits can be up to 3 business days. Players must ensure that a sufficient balance is left in their accounts to avoid insufficient funds disputes. |
VIP Sports Player comments
7/27/2009 10:53 PM
Congratulations to SBR Bash VIP winner, Mr KonckSBRforum poster
Mr Konck won first place in the SBR Bash '09 Baseball Capping Contest. Mr Konck has won first class airfare, a Limo to the Golden Nugget, and an upgraded suite. Posters
Jpowderly and
Mr Leisure, 2nd and 3rd place finishers, will also receive upgraded suites at the SBR Bash. Forum posters can still sign up for the
SBR Vegas Bash 2009!
7/20/2008 11:36 PM
VIP Sports lowered from A- to B+
3/15/2008 10:03 PM
MyMoneyCashier scam report prompts stiff processor to resurface
MyMoneyCashier's front woman, "Gabriela" called more than one of the books MMC stiffed to say she sent a partial payment and would like to start doing business again. Gabriela claimed that on the following Monday she would email the current office address and new payment information. No payments or information was sent to these merchants. The sportsbook operators tell SBR that the theft will not affect payment to their players but believe the processor, which is no longer using the website MyMoneyCashier.com, is trying to work with other smaller books under a new name.
My Money Cashier is the newest scam from professional thieves formerly behind the
VIPBetZone (SBR rating F- ) Sportsbook Group.
1/30/2008 09:15 PM
MyMoneyCashier operated by VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-) Scammers
VIPBetZone's scam was first identified by SBR in 2004. The book closed with player funds for good in 2005 before owners opened other deposit-only blacklisted scam books such as BetNowOnline, GoWagers, SelectWagering and BetGateway. MyMoneyCashier, which stiffed multiple books, was operated by Gabriela who handled accounting at VIPBetZone. Gabriela is the sister of VBZ owner, Mauricio, who is the administrator listed for websites affiliated with the missing financial processor.
4/12/2007 06:23 PM
2/28/2007 09:39 AM
VIP downgraded from A to A-
2/26/2007 11:05 AM
VIP (SBR rating A) and sister books no longer accepting new clients from the United States and Canada. Canada-based users will have access to their accounts until April 1st but new deposits will not be accepted. Existing U.S. customers that have deposited in the past may continue to use their accounts as normal. Phone wagering will no longer be offered. Customer service by phone will continue as normal.
2/21/2007 02:50 PM
VIP lowered from A+ to A
12/4/2006 01:17 AM
SCAM Alert: ExecutiveSportsbookdr (SBR rating F-) The scam was first documented operating through
CypressSportsbook.com. The con artists have opened many sportsbook sites since to perpetuate the scam. Players are brought in through tout sites and are made to feel like they are getting a special deal for large
VIP players. The
sportsbook then sucks the player for all it can before he or she begins asking for the funds back. The group is known to request the bettor to send Western Union transfers to Poland. Below is an email sent to the player by Executive:
"Mr. ******* thank you very much for becoming a member of the internets premier sports wagering websites executivesportsbookdr.com . In setting up your account your referrer Tony made an error with the minimal deposit requirements for a Platinum Plus Member. All Platinum Plus accounts need to be at the minimal deposit level of $2,500USD. We will need to receive an additional $1,500 from you and your account will be activated immediately. After we receive your additional deposit today your ATM Card and Sports pager will be shipped to you immediately and you will receive everything no later than tomorrow November 29th, 2006 via Federal Express. Thank you for your business and we apologize for the error that was made on the start-up of your account. Thank you Sir. -Chad Halloran Accounts Mgr."
11/30/2006 11:44 AM
Nine, now on-site and fully integrated with
VIP Management Services, receives upgrade from B+ to A.
10/22/2006 11:48 PM
SuperiorBook (SBR rating D+) attempts to scare players away from current sportsbookSBR has received many complaints from readers about Superiorbook, a turnkey site from
BetEmpire (SBR rating C-), regarding an unprecedented amount of spam. The latest batch of email sent to customer lists claim that
VIP (SBR rating A+) has closed and players should now join the
safer Superiorbook. This prompted the recently privatized
VIP to send an email to it’s users stating:
"It has come to our attention that emails containing false information about our company are being circulated. VIP.com is now under private ownership and the company is secure and successful as always. We will continue offering the same great products and services that you have come to expect from VIP.com – now and in the future. VIP.com will always communicate with you from a VIP.com email address, we will never ask for your username or password by email, and you can always call us at 1-800-300-BETS if you ever have any questions about our company."
This is not the first time the group has resorted to underhanded marketing tactics. Earlier this year Empire blamed third party marketing for sending emails containing fake links for well-known sportsbooks that lead to BetEmpire.com.
10/11/2006 10:31 AM
SBR has confirmed with sources within
VIP (SBR rating A+) that all North American facing business will carry on under a private ownership group. The management and staff are planned to remain the same.
10/10/2006 09:48 AM
Leisure & Gaming plc to divest in US-focused properties The brands, which include
VIP (SBR rating A+) and
Nine (SBR rating B+) are expected to continue as is under private ownership. SBR has learned that several A+ sportsbooks are competing with a management led bid to acquire the properties.
10/4/2006 08:17 PM
SBRforum Congratulates The Baseball Bankroll Contest winner, Manly, who took first place with a score of 28.25 units and a record of 50-20-1 for the season. Manly has won an all-expense paid trip for two to the Caribbean island of Curacao, with airfare and 5 nights deluxe accommodations courtesy of
VIP (SBR rating A+).
10/3/2006 02:35 PM
Nine (SBR rating B+) to leave Costa Rica and operate from Curacao, along with sister site
VIP (SBR rating A+). Both brands are owned by Leisure & Gaming plc. Nine.com users will not experience an interruption in service.
7/28/2006 06:29 PM
SBRforum: Today is the last day new contestants will be eligible for the Grand Prize, A Trip for Two to Curacao, for the
VIP Sports Bases Bankroll Contest. Current standings show posters Kdmfox, Manly and Stump in the lead and less than one unit apart! All players are eligible for monthly cash prizes through the end of the MLB regular season.
6/30/2006 02:48 PM
Leisure & Gaming Plc consolidating properties under new VIP.com (SBR rating A+) brand. Bet19, BetOnGames, BetOnRaces, FairDeal, FiveCardCharlie, and WSSB players will be redirected to
VIP.com on Wednesday evening. Balances and account history will be available in the player’s new
VIP account. Management expects a seamless transition, as
all sites use
IGW software.
6/28/2006 12:34 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Newest Leisure & Gaming Plc sportsbooks,
Nine, BetCom and MyBookie receive upgrades from B to B+ after inheriting A+ rated
VIP Sports’ wagering rules and policies.
VIP’s terms of service were implemented today.
5/31/2006 01:19 PM
New Entries Still Eligible for Baseball Bankroll Contest Grand Prize. SBRforum posters are competing for a trip for two to the Caribbean island of Curacao; with airfare, 5 nights deluxe accommodations, and $1,000 spending money courtesy of
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+). Contestants are also competing for monthly cash prizes in their
VIP accounts. Congratulations to last month’s winner,
Stump, who took 1st prize with a record of 16-4. Enter contest and see full details here.
5/22/2006 11:32 AM
VIPSportsbookPlayers - SBR initiates rating at D-
4/2/2006 10:18 AM
Free Baseball Bankroll Contest Begins Today. SBRforum posters will compete for a trip for two to the Caribbean island of Curacao, with airfare, 5 nights deluxe accommodations, and $1,000 spending money courtesy of
VIP Sports(SBR rating A+). Contestants will also compete monthly for betting cash prizes in their
VIP accounts. Enter contest and see full details and rules here.
3/28/2006 11:48 AM
VIP Sports announces a full year gross profit of $80,900,000, cites early 2006 growth exceeding 26%.
3/15/2006 04:43 PM
SBR BillDozer reports: SBR meets with Bet4Aces(SBR rating D-); discusses affiliation with BetGateway. Edward, part of Bet4Aces ownership, tells SBR that they will take responsibility for its association with SCAM sportsbook BetGateway and settle all delinquent accounts. Edward assures SBR that Bet4Aces will "
right this wrong" and contends that he is operating a legitimate sportsbook. Ownership acknowledges that the company was built on BetGateway’s platform, that they utilized the same servers and equipment, and employed a Gateway manager, but is adamant that the company was purchased and is controlled by new ownership. Edward went on to say that Gateway manager, Henry, is no longer with Bet4Aces and noted that Bet4Aces is in the Torre del Este building and not in the Law Offices of Mauricio Gomez like past reincarnations of
VIPBetZone scam sportsbooks.
View Bet4Aces office photos here.
3/2/2006 07:30 PM
SCAM ALERT: BetIsGlobal(SBR rating F-) becomes LasVegas777.com. Changing names to avoid being identified as a scam operation is a common practice for the
VIPBetZone Group.
2/16/2006 11:39 PM
Nine (SBR rating B) office tour: SBR’s latest photo shoot covers one of the nicest offices in the business. The Nine building has been remodeled to promote the brand, which is now owned by A+ rated
VIP Sports.
View photos here.
2/12/2006 11:35 AM
Merger and Aquistion activety at all time high. VIP Sports is the most active buyer. YouWager, BetRoyal and many smaller books are all said to be Sellers actively seeking buyouts. BetCRIS could also be a Buyer under the right circumstances which recently has focused on bailing out small operators. BetWWTS has made several trips and has signed at least one confidentiality agreement although we are unaware of any serious interest. Sportsbooks who have had made M&A headlines in the recent past that appear to be holding pat; Hollywood, BoDog, SportsInteraction are said to be no longer active Sellers. Smaller operations such as BetMaker, YouWager and Sportbet along with operations that have difficult reputations such as Royal Sports have mostly signed confidentiality agreements giving buyers a chance to possibly make an offer. SBR expects a pick-up in M&A activity despite rising valuations.
2/5/2006 11:56 AM
SBRforum Super Bowl Contest: Posters can still enter the Super Bowl contest which will be open until 4PM EST. Contestants will predict the results of the game for a chance to win up to $500 in their
VIPSports(SBR rating A+) account.
Enter contest here.
1/31/2006 06:33 PM
SBRForum: $1500 Super Bowl Contest All posters are invited to join the first annual SBRforum Super Bowl contest. Players can win up to $500 in their
VIPsports(SBR rating A+) account for giving their picks to questions like:
Which team will score first? and for giving their prediction on who will be the game’s MVP. The contest will even award a $100 booby prize to the player who proves to be the worst capper in the forum. Read contest rules and enter
HERE.
1/19/2006 02:45 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: BetIsGlobal(SBR rating F-) new sportsbook from the VIPBetZone(SBR rating F-) Group. Past scam books include
VIPBetZone, BetNowOnline, GoWagers, BetGateway and most recently, Bet4Aces(SBR rating F-).
1/14/2006 12:24 PM
Current SUPER TOP 10 Sportsbooks. Consensus of 3 top experts. The following is the combined SUPER TOP 10 according to;
The Sportsbook Review (SBR) Top 10 Recommended List
The EOG Top 10 Sportsbooks in the World
TheRX.com poster voted top Sportsbooks1. Pinnacle (36)
2. CRIS (30)
3. Olympic ( 29)
4. Hollywood (20)
5. VIP Sports (18)
6. WSEX (17)
7. 5 Dimes (10)
8. BetJamaica ( 9)
9. Bet365 (9)
10. BetCascade ( 9)
Others receiving votes: BetWWTS(7), Skybook(7), Bodog(3), Mansion(2), Legendz(2)
Sources:
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Recommended+List/http://www.eog.com/news/index.aspx?id=1126http://forum.therx.com/showthread.php?t=337810
12/10/2005 09:27 PM
Powerhouse VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating A+) reaches a market value of $125 million USD (68 billion Costa Rican). After gobbling up up Nine.com, SBR sat down with the honorable Alistair Assheton, CEO of
VIP in the executive offices in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles:
SBR: Is
VIP still in the acquisition mode?
Mr. Assheton : "Yes. We will be extremely selective however. We would look to acquire a strong brand with strong management that could compliment our present operation."
SBR: Any names you could mention?
Mr. Assheton : No. From your early report on our previous acquisition of Nine.com, I don’t especially think you need me to name names, correct?
SBR: Yes sir. Thank you Mr Assheton.
Mr. Assheton: It’s my pleasure.
11/19/2005 02:34 PM
SCAM ALERT: Bet4Aces is the new website for scambook, BetGateway (SBR rating F-). BetGateway has been off-line for two days and active players are now being asked to log in at Bet4Aces and use Bet4Aces’ Neteller merchant account. This is the latest scam site from former
VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-) owership.
11/9/2005 07:10 AM
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) to acquire the MyBookie Group to include Nine.com and Betcom.com VIP will also acquire English Harbor Casino group.
8/30/2005 02:28 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: BetGateway (SBR rating F+) part of the stiff VIPBetZone Group? Special thanks to SBR reader Bill who points out that
BetGateway is using the same email box as defunct sportsbook VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-).
8/15/2005 03:08 PM
Sportsbook and People making news: VIPSports aquires the domain VIP.com. SBR has learned that
VIP will announce a name change to
VIP and new player interface software in the next few days.
Pinnacle Scotty (who no longer works directly for Pinnacle) - has another son! Congratulations and we are happy to report that mother and child are doing fine. Little Terry has checked in at 8 lbs and there are already unconfirmed reports that the Chicago Bears have traded their 2nd round draft pick for the rights to Terry who they think will be their future middle linebacker.
SBR John - Finishes his golf practice round in Costa Rica and breaks camp for Las Vegas ahead of the 3rd annual Rx bash golf tournament where he is the defending champion. SBR John comments:
"It was easier last year when I was the only one who showed up in the rain. My 12 year old boy lost interest on the last couple of holes and I gave him a pair of 10’s and won by a single stroke. It was a pretty exciting finish. It’s gonna be tougher this year with a field of 15 players, but I’m ready".
8/9/2005 01:56 PM
VIPSportsbook.Com (SBR Rating A+) stock continues to soar since the public offering two months ago. The
VIP stock up another 3% today continues to rise as investors bid up the price. The shares have now nearly doubled.
VIP is recognized as having one of the top management teams in the industry and offers excellent bonuses and loyalty programs for casual players.
8/4/2005 12:35 PM
SBRLines II will debut on August 19th in Las Vegas. There will be no need to refresh the page on SBRLines II. This first ever
FREE web page application will show line moves as they are changed by bookmakers in *REAL TIME. SBRLines II welcomes Mansion (SBR rating B), as the latest sponsor to join SBRLines II. Current sponsors include: WWTS, Pinnacle, CRIS, Hollywood107, 5Dimes, Canbet,
VIP, BetJamaica, Bowmans, Mansion and Matchbook.
www.sbrlines.com*SBRLines II will be between 0 and 10 seconds delayed depending on server speeds and other variables.
7/10/2005 06:40 PM
VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating A+) goes public; shares begin trading on the London Stock Exchange. Share prices for
VIP continue upward as the investing community becomes familiar with this well run operation.
6/2/2005 09:09 AM
Acquisition minded VIP Sports(SBR rating A+) to raise millions of dollars in an Initial Public Offering(IPO) on June 28th. VIP looks to swell its considerable acquisition war chest. Take-over candidates that
VIP has been rumored to be considering include; BetWWTS(SBR rating A+), Intertops(SBR rating C+), SportsInteraction(SBR rating D+) and Bowmans(SBR rating A-).
4/13/2005 01:37 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: New SCAM Sportsbook BetNowOnline soliciting deposits. SBR has confirmed that BetNowOnline is operated by the same crooks that have stolen thousands from players using
VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-) and sister book
GoWagers (SBR rating F-).
The two sportsbooks are responsible for a recent influx of no-pay complaints to SBR. Both sites went offline two days before BetNowOnline was launched. BetNowOnline enters the SBR rating guide at F-.
4/5/2005 10:39 AM
WSEX (SBR rating A) will soon join SBRLines. The full list includes:
| Pinnacle |
A+ |
| CRIS |
A+ |
| VIP Sports |
A+ |
| BetWWTS |
A+ |
| BetJamaica |
A+ |
| Hollywood107 |
A+ |
| 5Dimes |
A |
| WSEX |
A |
| Bowmans |
A- |
| Canbet |
B+ |
SBRLINES.COM
4/1/2005 04:57 PM
VIP Sports(SBR rating A+) to offer shares in a public offering on the London Exchange. According to eGaming Review (
egrmagazine.com) the market value of
VIP Sports will be about $185,000,000.
3/9/2005 10:32 AM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Players report being stiffed a total of $42,536 from
VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-) this week. This amount includes payment plans that have not been honored.
2/12/2005 12:09 AM
Sportsbook complaints sent into SBR hit 12 month high. Sample of todays complaints: BetPlatnium (SBR rating D-) "I have been waiting 6 weeks to be paid. I believe your rating of D- is too high"
BetWWTS (SBR rating A+) "I transfereed money from the sportsbook to the casino. After the transfer the money was in neither account. They did take care of it but it was a hassle."
BetOnGames (SBR rating A-) "Have you noticed the web site is down more since VIP bought them? BetOnGames is (or was) the best book out there but not if they can’t keep it up on the internet."
Pinnacle (SBR Rating A+) "They have a $500 minimum for a free payout. My account was at $480 so I deposited $20 to make $500 to get the free payout. They still charged me $15. Grrr!"
SportsInteraction (SBR rating D+) "I made a withdraw request on Jan 28th. I deposited using Neteller and requested a Neteller withdraw. They asked me for my drivers license and credit card statement (even though I used Neteller). I sent them in and so far nothing. Can mr. Dozer help me? I did not realize their rating was so low. I know why now."
2/10/2005 02:50 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: SCAM operation
VIPbetzone (SBR rating F-) launches new sportsbook
Gowagers. Players should avoid both books at all costs.
2/9/2005 12:02 PM
27 websites currently displaying real-time betting lines from SBRLines - Freaks Forum,
Sharp Action Sports and
System Plays are the latest quality sites to add live-lines, handicapping stats and scores provided free by
SBRLines.
The current line-up of sportsbooks on the SBRlines feed include: WWTS(SBR rating A+), Pinnacle(SBR rating A+), VIP(SBR rating A+), CRIS(SBR rating A+), BetJamaica(SBR rating A+), Hollywood107(SBR rating A), Bowmans(SBR rating A-) and Canbet(SBR rating B).
1/3/2005 12:12 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Sportsbooks encouraging players to assist in Tsunami Disaster Relief. Some Sportsbooks like
BetJamaica (SBR rating A+) have a link for
The American Red Cross website on their homepage.
VIPsports (SBR rating A+) and
Gameday (SBR rating A) allows players to make donations directly from their playing accounts. This allows players who have scored a big win to give something to those who have lost almost everything.
12/23/2004 12:18 AM
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) acquires BetOnGames (SBR rating A-). Already fully under
VIP management,
VIP Sports makes the move to acquire a 100% interest in BetOnGames(BOG). BOG was part of the highly touted big 3 new sportsbooks of 2003. BetJamaica (SBR rating A+) backed by Olympic and BetOnGames have been successful star performers while BetPanAm (SBR rating F-), proved to be nothing more than an amateur run sportsbook that eventually failed. The move to acquire BOG makes the 3rd
VIP acquisition in as many months.
12/19/2004 10:43 AM
IGW Software President, Bran Abboud, meets with SBR. Armed with a collection of high-powered designers and programmers, IGW announces they will release a revolutionary new sportsbook management software in the summer of 2005. Currently IGW powers about a dozen sportsbooks with the most popular being
VIP Sportsbook (SBR rating A+). IGW Software is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Entertainment Holdings/Equities Inc., publicly traded under symbol GAMM
12/8/2004 10:29 AM
Webmasters: Put SBRLines on your website in 2005.. And brand it as your own! The revolutionary
real-time lines complete with match-up stats will be made available in early 2005. Websites will be able to brand the proprietary real-time SBR feed and offer the best handicapping stats. Websites will have full control over all branding and banner placements. The world class line-up of sportsbooks committed for 2005: WWTS,
VIP Sports, BetJamaica, 5Dimes, Hollywood107, WSEX, Bowmans, Pinnacle, CRIS.
11/9/2004 11:47 AM
SBR confirms VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) buys GlobalWager and BetWorldWide. Alistair Assheton, Managing Director of
VIP, confirms the earlier SBR report that
VIP Sports has, as of today, purchased both Costa Rican sportsbooks which were owned separately. Eric Gomez, the GM of GlobalWager, tells SBR that after four years the opportunity to sell to
VIP Sports was one they could not pass up. Mr. Gomez goes on to say that his customers will be wagering through the
VIP system tonight and full customer service will be transferred by Thursday.
11/9/2004 10:17 AM
VIP Sports (SBR Rating A+) buying two Costa Rican sportsbooks. Awaiting confirmation from
VIP Sports, however, SBR sources report that
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) will buy Globalwager and Betworldwide for an undisclosed amount of cash. Both books have been nothing but trouble for players.
10/27/2004 06:26 PM
SBR surveys three top sportsbooks on how they did with the 2004 baseball season: Pinnacle(SBR rating A+): Baseball was good this year. There was one stretch just after the all-star break that I think the players were using tomorrows paper to pick the games....players were feasting on under valued favorites. Overall, this has been an excellent baseball season, probably the best ever, for Pinnacle.
VIP (SBR rating A+): This year broke character with the last four years. In the previous few years, players won early and won big. This year the book had a good start but the players roared back with a vengeance in the final 1/3 of the season. VIP added 1st inning and first 5 inning props as well as others and overall I think this was a decent year for us in baseball, certainly not great.
BetJamaica(SBR rating A+): Baseball was definitely better this year than last; we got off to a very strong start, an amazing start. The players got it together in late August and have been winning most of the big decisions ever since. So for BetJamaica this has been a terrific baseball season. We handled the professional crowd but the general public hit a lot of big games down the stretch.
9/29/2004 03:04 PM
Popular email question to SBR: Which sportsbook has the fairest and best casino? At this time Pinnacle (SBR rating A+) has the highest return to the player casino. A long time favorite is
VIP's. Both do not require a download and both allow the player to use funds from their sportsbook account without having to transfer funds from sportsbook to casino.
9/12/2004 12:46 PM
Sportsbooks gear up to handle the onslaught of football players on the internet. The top A+ group of sportsbooks reporting no problems handling the load are Pinnacle A+ (
www.pinbet.com),
VIP Sportsbook A+ (www.
VIPSportsbook.com). Load problems have caused slow downs at BetWWTS A+ and BetJamaica A+. A complete phone listing for all sportsbooks is located
here.
9/9/2004 05:13 PM
Part II of the exclusive interview with VIP Sports (SBR rated A+) CEO Alistair Assheton. Meet the man behind one of the first online sportsbooks.
Read part 2 of this entertaining two part interview.
9/8/2004 05:45 PM
Exclusive interview with VIP Sports (SBR rated A+) CEO Alistair Assheton. Meet the man behind one of the first online sportsbooks.
Read part 1 of this entertaining two part interview.
9/8/2004 04:01 PM
Curacao-based sportsbooks operating with minimal or no staff due to Hurricane Ivan. Players may notice an absence or decline in service at the following sportsbooks:
VIP Sports, Game Day, Bet On Games, Fair Deal, Bet19, ASAP, Pinnacle Sports and the BetRoyal Family of books. Most are expecting to be operating as normal by morning.
9/6/2004 03:03 PM
Coming this Thursday: In-person interview with VIP Sports (SBR rated A+) CEO, Alistair Assheton Catch this rare in-depth interview with the creator of one of the most player-friendly sportsbooks. Think all bookmakers are cigar smoking hustlers? Think again; find out why the well educated Mr. Assheton is thought of as the top executive in the industry today.
9/5/2004 09:37 AM
Two of the top 3 rated sportsbooks start football with aggressive 20% bonus. Both WWTS (SBR rating A+) and
VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) are offering extremely high bonus packages for new and existing customers. These limited time bonuses will start expiring on September 12th.
8/23/2004 09:34 AM
SBR Scam Alert: VIPBetZone (SBR rating F-) This
scam sportsbook is back - Players beware! Originally downgraded by SBR to an F rating on July 28, 2004 after just 4 weeks in operation. The operation disappeared on August 2nd stiffing all clients.
8/2/2004 05:46 PM
VIPBetsZone lowered to F- from F
8/2/2004 03:41 PM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: VIPBetZone (SBR rating F) seemingly disappears with player funds. Website and phones down.
7/28/2004 11:16 AM
SBR Bill Dozer reports: VIPBetZone (SBR rating F) putting player on payment plan. VBZ's last employee tells SBR that all customer accounts and funds were stolen by two former members of their staff.
7/28/2004 10:59 AM
VIPBetZone lowered from D- to F
6/25/2004 12:41 PM
SBR discusses rating with VIPBetZone (SBR rating D-) who states that their business model caters to a novice client base. VBZ agrees that they are operating at high risk; offering high bonuses, high limits and soft lines. SBR reaffirms D- rating.
6/17/2004 11:05 AM
VIPBetZone enters rating guide: SBR Rating D-
5/23/2004 12:42 PM
Pinnacle Sports (SBR rating A+) and VIP Sports (SBR rating A+) in the news - Pinnacle invites industry to sneak preview of much anticipated casino. SBR team to arrive Wednesday.
VIP Sports in final stage of preparing to open Euro division based in London. Staff training has begun with an anticipated launch in mid July.
2/26/2004 12:00 AM
VIP Sports family of books under DoS attack - sites expected to be back up by mid afternoon
2/24/2004 12:00 AM
SBR receives tentative approval for the SBR Co-op player insurance plan from
VIP Sports
2/22/2004 12:00 AM
Acquisition talk: Canbet (SBR rating B+) has had at least two books in the SBR top 5 show interest - SBR has confirmed that neither book saw value or will make an offer -
Sportbet(SBR rating D) having no luck finding a buyer so far -
WWTS(SBR rating A+) is looking to buy a top 15 book -
Pinnacle(SBR rating A+) has an eye on a specific sector and one company specifically to help its foreign expansion -
VIP Sports(SBR rating A+) has turned down an offer to merge with an SBR top 10 book and instead has looked at acquiring turnaround candidate SportsInteraction
2/21/2004 12:00 AM
SBR visits Pinnacle(SBR rating A+) Office space has doubled and many new staff have been added since the last SBR visit in October 03. Pinnacle is well known for hiring the best talent in the industry, SBR was told by a Curacao source that Pinnacle pays double what island competitors pay - Pinnacle has recently hired several key employees away from
VIP Sports(SBR rating A+)
2/11/2004 12:00 AM
Also coming soon SBR in-depth and hard hitting interviews with the CEO's of Pinnacle,
VIP Group, WWTS, Olympic/BetJamaica, Hollywood, Bet365, CRIS
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
2/3/2004 05:41 AM
Multiple complaints received
VIP Sports(SBR rating A+) - DOS attacks continue to disrupt operations
12/14/2003 05:27 PM
Intertops &
VIP introduce new web sites - player comments have been very positive for both
10/9/2003 05:57 PM
SBR meets with CEO's of WWTS,
VIP, GameDay and Pinnacle - Next stop, BetPanAm - Panama
10/5/2003 05:56 PM
SBR tours Pinnacle,
VIP Sports, GameDay and BetOnGames
9/18/2003 03:38 PM
SBR to visit BetRoyal,
VIP, BetOnGames, GameDay, SirBet and Pinnacle later in September
8/4/2003 12:38 PM
New multi-million dollar
VIP high-tech data center powering up today could cause temporary problems for
VIP properties -
VIP Sports,
VIP Sportsbook, GameDay, Bet19, BetOnGames
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
5/2/2003 09:30 AM
Best horse racing book - SBR recommends
VIP Horses
3/16/2003 04:38 PM
Recently downgraded Homebets invites Sportsbook Review to Curacao office - SBR will visit & review 1st week of April - WWTS to receive visit & review March 27th -
VIP, Pinnacle, BetRoyal, Gameday and Sirbet among books to be visited in April
10/9/2002 10:59 AM
VIP Sports completes major server upgrade - edges up on the Recommended List
9/14/2002 09:47 AM
VIP struggles with web related issues - Phone wagering at 800-606-3576
9/4/2002 09:47 AM
Recommended List changes - Olympic, WSEX, CARIB gain ground at the expense of Intertops and CRIS WWTS,
VIP and Pinnacle continue to battle for top 3 spots
4/22/2002 03:34 PM
VIP Sports acquires Wall Street Super Book - An excellent addition- WSSB is well established, same software
1/28/2002 10:23 AM
VIP Sports, Pinnacle - Rank #1, #2 in the Sportbook Review client survey with WWTS a close 3rd