SBR review: Spreads

Market for week 1 NFL odds set by BetOnline

BetOnline Sportsbook (SBR rating B+) is already offering Week 1 NFL Odds for the 2013-14 season. BetOnline is the first online sportsbook to spread the Week 1 NFL betting market. Players may use the free SBR Odds line comparison tool to view BetOnline's opening week NFL pointspreads, totals, and moneylines.  | Read more

ESPN tells story of Pro NBA bettor

Every sports gambler believes he has an edge. From thinking their ability to assess stats in the local newspaper is superior to the next man, or that their spreadsheets with game scores and spread history will be a key to predicting future matches: There are a million systems and even more dreams dashed from gamblers who almost struck it big. Well, a guy named Bob Voulgaris did.  | Read more

Oddsmaker Sportsbook stiffs player for $45,000

Oddsmaker Sportsbook (SBR rating F) has confiscated $45,000 from a winning bettor. The player wagered with Oddsmaker on and off for three years, losing in the neighborhood of $5,000 prior to the start of 2012. The player, who will be referred to as "Paul" throughout this article, was tempted to reload his betting account after being enticed by a 50% cash bonus.

Oddsmaker's high bonuses sucked Paul in
Paul deposited $1,000 via credit card on December 29th. He received a 50% cash bonus with a 10X rollover, and wagered $1,500 (deposit+bonus) on a football game. Paul lost his bet but managed to profit $300 from betting the opposite side at another sportsbook.

Paul had the itch to send Oddsmaker another deposit, noting that the sportsbook is frequently late to move lines, even offering middling opportunities. Middling is the act of placing wagers on opposite teams with differing pointspreads. Paul gave Oddsmaker a call to ask if he could again redeem the 50% cash bonus he had lost a day before. Oddsmaker said he wasn't eligible for the bonus, but offered a different promotion before he hung up - a 100% cash bonus, this time with a 20X rollover. Paul eagerly accepted the offer. Paul told SBR that meeting 10X, 20X or greater in rollover is no problem for him with his betting style. Paul re-deposited $1,000 on December 30th.

Paul turns his 100% reload bonus into thousands of dollars
After re-depositing $1,000, Paul targeted a game to unload his balance and bonus on. He played every day, eventually increasing his balance to more than $10,000. Paul attempted to exploit small edges by monitoring programs like SBR Odds, Donbest or similar and comparing the numbers offered by other sportsbooks to Oddsmaker - including sportsbooks based in Las Vegas, where Paul resides.

Paul discovers Oddsmaker's MO, decides to middle way out
After his balance hit the $12,000 mark, Paul caught wind of Oddsmaker's reputation while perusing a gaming reviews site. After realizing Oddsmaker was considered a shady sportsbook and one to be avoided, Paul decided the prudent move was to middle his way out of the sportsbook. Paul recounts placing six different $2,000 wagers one weekend. He placed picks he thought would lose, and bet the opposite side at Las Vegas sportsbooks. It wasn't Paul's weekend, as each of the six wagers won in his Oddsmaker account. Paul's balance ballooned up to more than $20,000. Paul decided to pick his spots more carefully, and continued his strategy of placing wagers he expected to lose. He began to ignore the previous +EV (expected value) opportunities that once attracted him. After his balance reached $28,000, he decided it was time to test the waters so he requested an $8,000 payment on January 10th, 2012. Oddsmaker told him that his payment was too large to be sent at once, so he would receive two withdrawals in consecutive weeks.

Oddsmaker stalls Paul's $8,000 payout request
When two weeks passed with no tracking number from Oddsmaker, Paul called to ask for an update. He was told that payout inquiries needed to be made via email. After sending email as requested, Oddsmaker replied with the exact same message six times in as many days:

[quote]Oddsmaker Sportsbook: This email concerns your recent ticket: RE: Withdrawal Confirmation (***-***-*****)
As part of our commitment to improving your customer support experience, we would like to know how you think we are doing. You are invited to complete a short satisfaction survey consisting of just a few multiple-choice questions.
It should take you no more than a minute to complete (we promise!). To take the survey, please click on the following link: {omitted}. Your feedback is very important to us and we really appreciate your time.[/quote]
On February 6th, Paul was delighted when a $4,000 check arrived at his doorstep. He proceeded to place what he claims was more than one hundred additional wagers, still attempting to lose his funds in Oddsmaker.

Paul's balance hits $45,000, still no second $4,000 payment
On February 17th, his balance was at its highest - a whopping $45,000. Paul stopped wagering with Oddsmaker and picked up the emails, sometimes sending ten a day. Finally, feeling desperate, Paul fired off a more aggressively worded message, indicating that he was considering contacting an attorney.

[quote]Paul to Oddsmaker: I asked for this payout almost 2 months ago and still no tracking number. At this point I am deciding whether or not to contact an attorney. For the first time in my life I stopped gambling because I am afraid of winning. Last week on Friday and Saturday I bet over $35k and lost about 18k with your company. This should not be hard for someone to verify. This week I will bet nothing and lose nothing. Your company will lose thousands of dollars with the juice alone without my action. Since this does not seem to concern anyone it leaves me to believe that I'm getting stiffed and need to hire a lawyer. Does this answer your question on how I think you guys are doing?[/quote]
Oddsmaker closes account and confiscates all winnings
On February 20th, he received a telephone call from Oddsmaker's head of fraud Tony Massina. Tony told Paul that he was in big trouble. Paul's statement of considering legal action landed him in hot water with Oddsmaker brass, who observed that comment from Paul but not the dozens of previous messages begging for an update on his payment. Paul was told that his account was disabled and that he was done at Oddsmaker. Paul broke down, explaining that he's not a professional gambler, that this is life-changing money for a hard working Las Vegas employee whose had a gambling habit for the last 25 years. At one point during this conversation, Tony allegedly barked at Paul to shut his mouth and listen or he would be hung up on and never spoken to again. Tony said that the decision came from above and nothing could be done; Paul's message constituted a threat, and the decision was final. Paul was told he would receive his $2,000 in deposits back and nothing more.

Paul contacts SBR
On February 21st, Paul contacted Sportsbook Review. An SBR dispute analyst spoke with Paul for more than an hour, gathering the facts and listening to him. Paul started to repeat himself, saying he hasn't slept or ate normally since being delivered the crushing blow by Oddsmaker. SBR followed up with Tony Massina, receiving the following statement:

[quote]Oddsmaker Tony Massina: I was going to ignore this but I will respond one time and one time only because I am a straight shooter. Customer lied. Customer responded to an email survey from us saying he was considering contacting lawyers to get his withdrawals faster. Nobody in the industry needs that. On top of the customer admitting to owning his own website and to being a professional bettor (he admitted to both), camels back was broken when he threatened to contact lawyers. Decision was not mine but I am aware of the case. Customer had $2000 refunded to him and got a check for $4000 as well. Have a good day.[/quote]
Paul has denied Tony's (irrelevant) assertion of  being a professional gambler. Paul claims to have told Tony just the opposite when begging to be paid his balance. Paul told SBR he has lost thousands of his savings by betting the opposite side of his Oddsmaker picks at various sportsbooks. He told SBR that he couldn't lose at Oddsmaker, no matter what he bet.

Paul's experience is just one of many terrifying ordeals players have had with Oddsmaker. Oddsmaker is an F-rated company in the scam sportsbook blacklist, having confiscated $248,432 to date in player winnings. Players are advised to avoid the sportsbook at all costs. Its signup bonuses are used as a device to solicit deposits from players; all players with a clue are shown the door, without their balances. The scam sportsbook has cited "professional play" in many of the confiscations, and has now branched out to blaming a player's desperate tone in one of his dozens of emails for justifying robbing him. | Read Paul's plea to Oddsmaker

SBR will update this report. Discuss this case at SBR Forum.
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WSEX Sportsbook update

WSEX Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) players report being slow-paid $643,052. 106 players have filed sportsbook complaint forms through SBR indicating that they have not received their funds. The outstanding requests date as far back as October of 2009. A WSEX manager communicated with SBR on November 16th, stating that the company would attempt to work through the spreadsheet to provide updates on when players can expect to receive partial and full payments. SBR has thus far not received an updated list from WSEX.

WSEX continues to attempt to solicit new clients whilst the majority of their players wait for payment. New account signups are not apprised of the ongoing slow payments. WSEX provides generic updates to customers with outstanding requests by conceding that there is a back log of requests to fill.

The last surge of WSEX payouts came in October of 2010 when players reported receiving $124,617. 

[quote]WSEX to player: Firstly, we will like to express our sincerest apologies regarding your delayed payment. We have been working through a back log of request since the beginning of this year, and really do appreciate you as a customer.[/quote]
Players in need of WSEX sportsbook assistance are asked to fill out a sportsbook complaint form. Alternatively, players may reach Sportsbook Review by writing to help@sportsbookreview.com or dialing 1-830-255-4677 seven days a week during normal business hours.

WSEX Sportsbook: $624,040 owed to 97 players

Four new WSEX Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) slow-pay complaints have been reported. Player one requested $9,000 in November of 2010 and has received generic replies off and on describing processor problems. Players two-four requested $3000, $650 and $400 respectively in September of 2011. A WSEX manager told SBR ten days ago that she was in receipt of the latest spreadsheet of player complaints filed through SBR, and that an update would be provided. The sportsbook failed to deliver.

The last major surge of WSEX payouts was reported by SBR in October of 2010. WSEX players were paid $124,617 during the meat of the 2010 football season. Most recently, a player that requested $1,800 on November 29th, 2010 reported receiving payment in full. The player was included in the SportsbookReview.com spreadsheet of WSEX players owed. On November 9th, SBR reported that a player owed $60,000 received a $6,000 payment toward his outstanding balance, and that another player confirmed being paid $2,000.

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

WSEX Sportsbook update

A WSEX Sportsbook (SBR rating D-) player awaiting $60,000 since 2010 has reported receiving $6,000 of his outstanding balance in the last two months. This is the second WSEX Sportsbook payment confirmed this week. On November 2nd, SBR reported that a WSEX player received $2,000.

Since SBR's last report, SBR has discussed the WSEX slow-payments with a member of management. SBR was told that WSEX intends to begin paying portions to larger balances with the intent to settle the remaining balances at a later date. WSEX stated that a spreadsheet was maintained with a list of payment obligations. SBR provided WSEX with a list of updated player complaints this afternoon.

In SBR's latest WSEX report it was stated that the sportsbook told players processing would pickup in the next few weeks - those statements are consistent with what SBR learned from WSEX management. Many WSEX players were hoping that the sportsbook would begin the 2011 football campaign as it did last year when SBR reported that $124,617 in payments were made. WSEX likely turned a slower profit in the previous quarter enabling them to begin releasing portions of funds to players.

Eighty-eight WSEX players are awaiting $604,060 in payments. SBR will update this report as more information becomes available. WSEX players with payout complaints are asked to submit a sportsbook complaint form or write directly to help@sportsbookreview.com.

BetDSI Sportsbook: SBRforum poster wins $150,000 parlay

An SBRforum poster has won a life-changing parlay at BetDSI Sportsbook (SBR rating A+). The lucky sports bettor placed a seven team, NFL and MLB parlay which included moneylines and pointspreads. The win netted the player $150,000!

SBR: Congratulations on your awesome score! Can you tell us a little bit about your state of mind when you made the seven-team parlay? Was this a normal bet for you, did you place straight wagers on any of the teams? Were you "chasing" as they call it when making this wager?

Winning poster: I wasn't chasing. $5,000 is less than 2% of my bankroll. I do place straight bets once in a while.

Read the rest of the interview here

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BetFirstClass pays player for cancelled wager

BetFirstClass (SBR rating D+) has stated that they have credited the player from SBR's October 4th report; the player whose winning parlay was voided due to what was considered excessive correlation. BetFirstClass has stated to SBR that they have now disabled these parlays from being accepted via the software. The parlays in question have pointspreads that make up 30% or more than the total.

Bet365 wager complaint

[quote]Update 8.18.2009: After reviewing additional information about the player's claim, SBR has found that the player has not supplied any credible evidence that Bet365 has altered his wager. This dispute has been closed. SBR is currently speaking with Bet365 management about live betting disputes where wagers were altered by the house after it was final.[/quote]
[quote]Update 8.13.2009: Bet365 has responded to SBR stating that this player's wager was not changed. Bet365 has provided evidence on its behalf suggesting the player has doctored the image to support his claim. Bet365 has also agreed to revisit confirmed cases of altered in-game betting. SBR will report on the result of Bet365 reviewing these bets and will reevaluate Bet365's rating at that time.[/quote]
Bet365 changes winning wager to losing wager; costs player $18,000
A player wrote SBR complaining about an in-game tennis bet placed at Bet365 (SBR rating C). The player states that on July 2nd he risked $18,000 at 1.14 odds on Andreas Beck in the third set. The player provided a screen shot showing the original wager. When Andreas Beck won the match, the player found his wager was changed to a bet on the losing opponent, Dominick Meffert. The players wager was then graded as an $18,000 loser, instead of a $2,052 winner. Bet365 had no comment.
In the last year Bet365 has altered player's wagers in live betting, changing spreads they deemed to have been offered erroneously to "correct" market odds after the event. This essentially gave players wagers they did not place and replaced winning bets with losers. Bet365 does not list a policy that suggests they may alter in-game wagers. Players should avoid in-game wagering at Bet365. Bet365 has stated that this action is taken with professional traders who are aware of the market and the line being incorrect.

Totesport vs. Player: IBAS sides with sportsbook

Totesport vs. Player: IBAS finds in favor of sportsbook
On 1/29/2009  SBR reported on a player's ToteSport complaint. The sportsbook had changed the player's winning wager, making it a losing bet.[quote]Totesport (SBR rating B-) gives player wager he did not place
On January 17, 2009, a player wagered 125 Sterling on Wolverhampton +1 goal at the price of +433. After Wolverhampton covered, he found an email from Totesport telling him there was an "input error," commonly referred to as a "bad line" when talking about American sports. As a result of this "error" Totesport reversed the spread, changing his winning wager into a losing one. Totesport's terms and conditions allow it to adjust prices, but not spreads. When confronted with this fact by the player, it would not cite a rule allowing it to take this action. Totesport would not discuss the issue with SportsbookReview.[/quote]IBAS reviewed the dispute between the player and Totesport, and ruled in favor of Totesport. In its ruling, IBAS did not consider whether Totesport's rules allow it to alter the spread in a pending wager. IBAS states it is an independant third party organization servicing the UK gambling industry. IBAS stands for Independent Betting Adjudication Service. | IBAS Opinion
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ToteSport gives player losing bet he did not place

ToteSport (SBR rating B-) gives player wager he did not place
On January 17, 2009, a player wagered 125 Sterling on Wolverhampton +1 goal at the price of +433. After Wolverhampton covered, he found an email from Totesport telling him there was an "input error," commonly referred to as a "bad line" when talking about American sports. As a result of this "error" Totesport reversed the spread, changing his winning wager into a losing one. Totesport's terms and conditions allow it to adjust prices, but not spreads. When confronted with this fact by the player, it would not cite a rule allowing it to take this action. Totesport would not discuss the issue with SportsbookReview.

MySBRforum adds handicapper chatroom

MySBRforum adds Handicapper ChatRoom
Meet other handicappers in your personal moderated chatroom to discuss the game. Visitors must be a member of the site owner's "handicapper team" in order to join the discussion. | MySBRforum
MySBR chatrooms will soon support live video feeds of available sporting events. Members are also encouraged to submit feedback for the newest edition of the MySBR Betting Spreadsheet. 

Two BetCascade players receive $1,000 check

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

Spreads(SBR rating C), managed by WagerWeb(SBR rating B), changes bonus terms after player wins. The bettor states that he agreed to accept a 20% bonus with a 50X rollover (wagering fifty times the bonus and deposit) because the terms of the offer allowed him to withdraw his winnings at anytime, thereby limiting his exposure and assuring his account balance would not exceed the deposit and bonus. After requesting a payout and receiving the following message via email,  "Unfortunately we are not able to process it at the present time due to our new policy for payouts. In order to take out your funds you must reach the 50X rollover of your bonus given on May 16th ,2006. The total amount you must wager is $150,000 and as per today your wagered amount is $3,320. If you wish to proceed with your payout you will loose the bonus." the player contacted customer service using livechat.

Player: i requested a payout and I got a response that the new policy is you have to complete the rollover prior to withdrawing winnings
Diego: Hello
Diego: Yes
Player: I am confused.  The terms of the bonus was 50x rollover but i could wihtdraw winnings at any time.  how can you change the rules midstream
Diego: Mangements decision
Player: it doesn’t make sense. we already agreed to the terms.  how can the terms be changed
Player: are you sure ther

SBR Bill Dozer reports on Spreads.com (SBR Rating D):

CBS and players reporting Spreads.com payouts processed.

SBR Bill Dozer reports on Spreads.com (SBR Rating D):

CS Manager Dan states that all the payouts requested so far this week are pending transactions, they will hopefully start processing them today. SBR Bill Dozer has been told on the phone that "BetCBS manages them but will not pay their players until they receive money from Spreads. It's speculated that maybe Spreads.com expected CBS to pay but this will not be the case"

SBR Bill Dozer reports:

player files a slow-pay complaint against Spreads.com, an operation based out of the BetCBS premises. Bill Dozer to mediate for the player and report back.