8/19/2010 11:09 AM
BetUS not honoring freeplay winnings?
A BetUS (SBR rating C) player deposited $1,000 via Moneybookers on August 11th. He accepted a $1,000 freeplay which carried a 6X rollover and a 60 day hold. His first wager risked his entire freeplay on Kansas City +1.5 at the price of +135. After winning that wager and increasing his balance by $1,350, BetUS closed the account. The player states that he was told that BetUS caters only to recreational players. To date the player has not confirmed receiving his deposit back. BetUS has not returned communication with SBR regarding the complaint.

In mid-March, a player had $6000 confiscated by BetUS. BetUS originally claimed the player was part of a syndicate, then later said that the winnings were from illegal correlated parlays. BetUS offered no proof of their claim.

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7/24/2010 12:51 PM
BetUS (SBR rating C) Steals $6,000?
BetUS (SBR rating C) has seized $6,000 from a player's balance due to correlated parlay wagers. On July 20th, the player wrote to SBR stating that his account was closed in April with a balance of roughly $16,000. BetUS investigated the player for "syndicate wagering" while his account was frozen, but ultimately concluded the player was not acting in concert with other account holders. BetUS states that it does not allow correlated parlays, and docked the player's balance $6,000.

BetUS:
SBR reviewed the BetUS terms and conditions page and found only the following rule, which does not specifically mention correlated parlays:


In addition to the ambiguity of the printed rule, which could apply to every parlay wager, the BetUS software does not prevent these bets from being accepted. The complaint is similar to the Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D-) confiscations, where players had thousands in winnings voided after placing wagers on correlated parlays. SBR is discussing the situation with BetUS.

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2/19/2010 12:59 PM
WagerWeb confiscation update
On January 6th SBR reported that WagerWeb (SBR rating D) confiscated $9578.60 from a player that wagered exclusively on correlated parlays. WagerWeb has since locked the player out of his betting account, freezing his remaining $1700 balance. SBR is following up with WagerWeb to ascertain the reason for the action and whether or not the player is scheduled to be paid his funds.

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1/27/2010 06:17 PM
Enterbet states that it will intentionally slow pay correlated parlay players
Two EnterBet (SBR rating D-) players have filed slow pay complaints with SBR in the last month. The first player requested his $4000 balance 18 months ago, while the second player requested $1500 in early November. In a discussion with EnterBet management on behalf of the two players, EnterBet stated the following:

EnterBet:

Correlated bets are wagers where the favorite is parlayed with the over, or dog with the under in the same game, or parlaying two bets where winning the first leg makes the second more likely to win. The industry standard in dealing with correlated bets is to block games with too high of a correlation between the pointspread and total from being accepted by the betting software. Enterbet chose to instead accept all correlated parlays. SBR is continuing to speak with EnterBet on the unprecedented decision to intentionally slow pay the winning players.

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1/6/2010 07:47 AM
WagerWeb (SBR rating C-) confiscation of $9578.60 determined to be theft.
On December 21, 2009, SBR provided an update on this dispute. WagerWeb claimed that the player won a net of $9578.60 on correlated parlays, and that it had warned the player not to make this type of wager in the past. WagerWeb seized this money from the player's balance. SBR asked the sportsbook to, at minimum, provide proof that the player was warned, but was unable to.

The player provided a wager log that shows he started betting on August 23rd, 2009. From August 23 to October 24th, 2009, the player put in numerous bets consisting of mostly correlated parlays. The player lost and made redeposits on September 26th, October 4th and October 17th, 2009. With each redeposit, WagerWeb reviewed his play and gave him deposit bonuses. At one point, the player was down $11,000 betting correlated parlays (which WagerWeb was allowing during the losing streak). The player did not move past even until October 24th, at which point he was showing a net win of $3752. correlated parlays accounted for a net win of $4302.

If WagerWeb had only confiscated $4302 (the player's net win from correlated parlays), it still would have been an unjust confiscation. Although WagerWeb's rule states that it does not accept correlated parlays, it had no problem honoring them when this player (and other players) were losing for months. WagerWeb's software permits line managers to designate what games are eligible for same-game parlays - if WagerWeb did not want to accept correlated parlays, it could have set its software to disallow any bet type it did not want. WagerWeb's selective enforcement of this rule allows it to free-roll players as evident by at one-time beating this player out of $11,000. Any practice that allows a book to accept wagers the Sportsbook can win, but the player cannot is unfair and unethical.

In addition to confiscating $4302 from the player's net win in correlated parlays, it stole another $5276.60. When it was pointed out to WagerWeb that the player won only $4302 from correlated parlays, it made no attempt to justify the additional theft.

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12/21/2009 12:42 PM
WagerWeb correlated parlay confiscation update
On 12/14, SBR reported on WagerWeb (SBR rating C-) confiscating $9578.60 from a player that had wagered multiple correlated parlays. The player is a long-time bettor with WagerWeb and placed numerous correlated parlays dating from August 29th to October 24th. On October 29th the player inquired about initiating a withdrawal via bank wire. At this point WagerWeb began a five week auditing process which culminated in deducting $9578.60 in winnings citing correlated parlay play.

WagerWeb has a rule which outlaws correlated bets. The rule states WagerWeb does not accept any bet that is considered a correlated multiple, or parlay. WagerWeb uses ASI software, which has the ability to limit the correlation percentage of same-game pointspread to total parlays. WagerWeb chose not to exercise this software function and instead accepted the players parlay wagers.

The player disputes his net amount won by placing these correlated wagers. WagerWeb has not yet justified how it obtained the $9578.60 figure. SBR will update this report as discussion continues. | View initial WagerWeb complaint

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12/14/2009 12:48 PM
WagerWeb selectively enforcing rule on correlated parlays
On December 7th, WagerWeb (SBR rating C) confiscated $9578.60 from a player, citing their rule against correlated paralys. WagerWeb does not restrict correlated parlays from being accepted via the software, and has admitted to SBR that the rule is selectively enforced. WagerWeb claims the player was warned not to continue placing correlated parlays and that the player ignored the warning. The player denies ever receiving a warning. WagerWeb's selective enforcement allows it to keep winnings from losing players, and confiscate funds from winners. This is a clear case of theft by WagerWeb similar to the unresolved complaints of Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D-). WagerWeb also has a history of confiscating winnings citing rules after a players funds have won for a period of time and funds have been at risk. SBR will update this report pending further discussion with WagerWeb management.

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10/4/2009 11:03 PM
BetFirstClass reserves right to cancel winning parlays and keeping losers?
A player reported that he placed a correlated parlay of a side and total in an NFL game. After BetFirstClass (SBR rating C-) graded the wager as a win, the player states it was cancelled. BFC cited the fact that the parlay picks were on correlated outcomes and not allowed despite the player's funds being at risk and the software allowing the wager. BetFirstClass' own rule acknowledges that the sportsbook is aware it is taking these bets while not honoring them.
Player: Players should use caution when dealing with sportsbooks that expect players to govern themselves using their terms of service instead of making the proper investment in sportsbook software. SBR will inquire with BFC about both the general policy and rule and the player complaint.

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9/30/2009 04:56 PM
Canbet’s Rise and Fall as an Online Sportsbook; Canbet downgraded to C
Seven years ago Canbet broke into the top ten SBR recommended list of online sportsbooks. The Australia based operation had been a long-time member of the Top 20 list, widely regarded among off-shore bettors as a solid out that was worthy of being on any player’s short list. Canbet reached a rating as high as A-, earned on May 14th 2005. They maintained that mark impressively for four years.

Then everything changed. Bonus terms were retroactively changed, payouts were delayed, accounts were confiscated, and even winning wagers were canceled. Following IASbet's sale of Canbet on May 13th 2009 to Yin King Investments Ltd., Canbet has only continued its slide of poor management and player relations.

Here are some of the more disturbing unresolved complaints against Canbet. | View full report (written by Lou Moretti)

May 22nd 2009: Canbet cancels 27 correlated NCAA football parlays
Canbet cancels 27 correlated NCAAF parlays the day after the bets were correctly settled in players account. Canbet maintains their software has never accepted correlated parlays where the pointspread exceeds 33% of the total, stating the string of bets were accepted due to ''operator error''. Canbet management has stated that they believe the player was aware of this as he proceeded to bet more than his average stake size and also deposit in larger amounts to take advantage of these plays. | View more here

Canbet’s posted rules on correlated players actually make an argument on the player’s behalf:

Canbet:

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5/22/2009 05:57 PM
Canbet canceled 27 correlated NCAA football parlays on different games; downgraded to C+
SBR has discussed the case numerous times with management in recent months. Canbet states that their software has never accepted correlated parlays where the point spread exceeds 33% of the total, and that the string of bets were accepted due to "operator error." Management also stated they believe the player was aware of this as he bet more than his average stake size and also deposited larger amounts to take advantage of these plays. Canbet: Canbet cites a rule that it claims supersedes the fact that the software allowed the wagers and graded them after the player's funds had been risked.The most applicable rule Canbet has for these wagers suggests that they were valid bets that are allowed.
Canbet will remain under review as this and other disputes are discussed further and more is learned about Canbet's impending migration to its new platform and management. International All Sports Ltd. sold Canbet last week to Yin Khing Investments Ltd. IASbet's rating will also be reviewed. | IASbet Ltd: Canbet press release

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3/10/2008 05:36 PM

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10/19/2007 01:23 PM

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