What should we expect in 2008 from the Offshore Gambling Industry?

[Actionbrett]

Other then Pinnacle and Neteller in 2007 I had no other problems...can we expect anything major to occur in 2008?

[jjgold]

1. harder to get money into books
2. less A books

[Actionbrett]

Thanks for the positive news

[tblues2005]

I think there will be less A books that is true, but they will find a way for you to deposit, these books are smart and the ones that will survive is the ones that play it smart.

[HedgeHog]

Increase in deposit only books (F's). More D Books resorting to stealing winners' funds, following SBG and SB examples. It's depositor beware in '08.

[idontlikerocks]

i think we will see a lot of books selling out to the few books who can survive. the survivors will have sharper lines and quick line changes. they will be quicker to collar the players that win. they will reduce prop plays and how much can be played on them. the number of players will continue to shrink as losers will find it harder to deposit and will instead turn to indian casinos or a yearly trip to vegas. the ad revenue for places like sbr will also fall and we will see fewer forums with less quality of oversight. we will see a push for legalized online poker play but not sportsbook play. one thing that i hope will happen is pinnacle will find it worthwhile to license their software to a company friendly to usa players.

[bookie]

Matchbook will continue to grow and flourish as money transfer issues make comparative shopping trickier.

The poker players will win some kind of exemption from the UIGEA, and that will bring new firms into the e-transfer business who will eventually be useful to dedicated sports bettors.

[the2ofspades]

i see post up slowly fading out over the next few years. and and more people going back to their local bookies and credit acounts. but it won't be like 20 years ago, your local bookie will just act as a middle man for an offshore book and website. so you will still have all betting options or more than you do now as the competion to keep players gets tougher with alot of little guys being bought out or folding to a handfull of big books. but what do i know

[SBR_John]

Next year will likely be more of the same with little changed from 2007. I think all the books rated A- and higher are going to be just fine. When it comes to transferring money we already see fees going up and turn around times of a week to 10 days at the good books. We saw less bonuses offered in 07 and that trend will continue in 08.

[tblues2005]

SBRJohn,

I think you are probably right but I do see the poker players maybe getting exempted from this law possibly also. I think we may see the A-, B+ ones and higher you will be ok with.

[Doc JS]

Increase in deposit only books (F's). More D Books resorting to stealing winners' funds, following SBG and SB examples. It's depositor beware in '08.

HH,
I certainly don't disagree with your assessment...Stay with the good books (Bookmaker, BJ, Greek, etc.)and we should be OK!

[tblues2005]

If more would check out this site Doc JS, I don't think there would be more deposit only books because they would know about it.

[SBR_John]

If more would check out this site Doc JS, I don't think there would be more deposit only books because they would know about it.

Players are certainly smarter these days. They hear the news about new laws and end up at SBR and other places to get info on books.

What adds to the danger level for the players is the lack of buyers for the good books, the B- to A-group. If a book in this group falls hard, in the past there was a CRIS or Bodog or someone waiting to grab them. Not so any more.

I agree with the poster on poker. It will have its day before sports.

[Shark79]

Its human nature to always find a solution to a problem ... we will find a way to continue loosing our money

[wildemu]

you guys are too pessimistic. In terms of depositing, if there is a will, there is a way.