FiveDimes (5Dimes) - Misleading bonus promotions

[ourbet]

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Q: When is a “Match Play” not a “Match Play”?

A: Ask FiveDimes; for although they may be an “A” listed book here, their promotions policy must surely rank as one of the worst in this industry.

For example, trying to take advantage of their “Cash in at Augusta” promotion:

http://ad.5dimes.com/newsletters/5DEmail04_04_06n.htm

...once I deposited money into my account I called to use the Match Play bonus and was told that I actually needed to rollover my deposit money (5x) BEFORE I was eligible for the bonus reward, despite the fact that in their promotion it clearly says “score up to a 50% Match-Play Reward WITH your deposit…”

When I brought this to their attention, also mentioning that I would have received an immediate cash bonus at any number of other sportsbooks, my comments were simply brushed aside by a bristling customer service rep, as though it was my fault I did not understand their misleading wording.

It’s left me wondering, does anyone else do bonus promotions as badly as FiveDimes?

[natrass]

Yes. BetJam .... at least you have something to bet on in your WR. I have nothing .... and even nothing comes with a 15% vig.

[hanco21]

yes....I felt it was a misleading too. If you lose all your before rolling over 5x you get nothing. You have to deposit more money in order to get the 5x rollover. Thats what the agent told me. This is the first sportsbook that I know of that has an initial deposit bonus program like this.

[TLD]

I suppose it’s a little misleading if you just assume it’ll probably be like whatever style of bonus is most typical in the industry instead of checking the details. But in general I’ve never found them to be particularly evasive or dishonest about it.

It’s more of a “loyalty points” style bonus where you earn money based on how much you play. It’s bad for bonus whores who are hoping to scalp out their whole balance before meeting the rollover, but otherwise it’s not particularly disadvantageous to most players. Actually if this (rewarding players for their action, rather than giving the reward first and then trying to make sure they provide the action) became the norm in the industry there’d probably be a lot fewer bonus disputes.

5 Dimes is not obligated to give a bonus at all, so they’re certainly not obligated to structure their bonuses in whatever way is most common at other books. (Of course as a customer you’re also not obligated to play at 5 Dimes if you disapprove of their bonus policy.)

[RickySteve]

I suppose it’s a little misleading if you just assume it’ll probably be like whatever style of bonus is most typical in the industry instead of checking the details. But in general I’ve never found them to be particularly evasive or dishonest about it.

It’s more of a “loyalty points” style bonus where you earn money based on how much you play. It’s bad for bonus whores who are hoping to scalp out their whole balance before meeting the rollover, but otherwise it’s not particularly disadvantageous to most players. Actually if this (rewarding players for their action, rather than giving the reward first and then trying to make sure they provide the action) became the norm in the industry there’d probably be a lot fewer bonus disputes.

5 Dimes is not obligated to give a bonus at all, so they’re certainly not obligated to structure their bonuses in whatever way is most common at other books. (Of course as a customer you’re also not obligated to play at 5 Dimes if you disapprove of their bonus policy.)

False.

[RickySteve]

5Dimes bonus program is excellent. Done correctly, it gives you a 3-3.5% edge on all of your wagers. Few signup bonuses provide that, let alone reloads.

The one quarrel I have with it is that they do not consider net losses in determining eligibility. A $100K lifetime loser who withdraws $200 becomes bonus banned. That is truly idiotic and contrary to the best interest of the book.

[ourbet]

I suppose it’s a little misleading if you just assume it’ll probably be like whatever style of bonus is most typical in the industry instead of checking the details. But in general I’ve never found them to be particularly evasive or dishonest about it.

It’s more of a “loyalty points” style bonus where you earn money based on how much you play. It’s bad for bonus whores who are hoping to scalp out their whole balance before meeting the rollover, but otherwise it’s not particularly disadvantageous to most players. Actually if this (rewarding players for their action, rather than giving the reward first and then trying to make sure they provide the action) became the norm in the industry there’d probably be a lot fewer bonus disputes.

5 Dimes is not obligated to give a bonus at all, so they’re certainly not obligated to structure their bonuses in whatever way is most common at other books. (Of course as a customer you’re also not obligated to play at 5 Dimes if you disapprove of their bonus policy.)

This is a very even handed assessment TLD and whilst I agree there may not have been any deliberate effort to mislead, 5Dimes do (IMHO) need to make more effort clarifying their terms and conditions for future promotions.

Btw...When I text chatted to one of their customer service reps just before depositing my money, after an initial delay because the rep didn't know anything about this promo, I was told clearly and succinctly (I have it in writing) that the match play would apply to the deposit I was about to make. Of course, that all changed when 5dimes had my money in their coffers.

In conclusion I for one will probably never play 5dimes again especially as there are so many other "A" and "B" (SBR) rated sportsbooks that actually respect their customers.

[TLD]

“5Dimes do (IMHO) need to make more effort clarifying their terms and conditions for future promotions.”

I can agree with this, Ourbet. Though 5 Dimes is free to have a comp system that’s different from the typical sportsbook bonus, it would be in their best interest to make the extra effort to clarify what they’re offering. It’s understandable many customers will assume a bonus is “typical” if their attention isn’t called to the differences, and it does 5 Dimes no good to disappoint such customers.


“I was told clearly and succinctly (I have it in writing) that the match play would apply to the deposit I was about to make. Of course, that all changed when 5dimes had my money in their coffers.”

Actually I don’t think the representative was trying to convey (falsely) that the bonus would be added as soon as the deposit was received. The bonus is “on” the deposit in the sense that that it’s the size of the deposit that determines the amount of the bonus and the amount of the rollover. (As opposed to, say, the loyalty points programs at places like CRIS or the VIP books. There you accumulate bonuses and free plays based solely on your action, where the calculations have no relation to the size of your deposit.) So I don’t think they made a certain claim to you about the timing of the bonus and then later contradicted themselves.


In general, as with most books, there are good points and bad points to 5 Dimes. For me, they’re probably in the bottom half of the top ten of most essential books, given what and how I bet.

But I totally respect your wanting to just get out of there and move on, due to their bonus policies and the communication related thereto. My only thought would be you might want to avoid burning bridges on the way out. One can make money there, and you never know you might decide you have a use for them somewhere down the road.

[TLD]

“It’s bad for bonus whores who are hoping to scalp out their whole balance before meeting the rollover.

“False.”


I would think one who was trying to scalp out their whole balance and get the benefits of a bonus without having to do the whole rollover would be better off getting that bonus up front. But I admit I’m not as well-versed as many in the bonus whoring arts, so my apologies if this is not the case.

[natrass]

“5Dimes do (IMHO) need to make more effort clarifying their terms and conditions for future promotions.”

I can agree with this, Ourbet. Though 5 Dimes is free to have a comp system that’s different from the typical sportsbook bonus, it would be in their best interest to make the extra effort to clarify what they’re offering. It’s understandable many customers will assume a bonus is “typical” if their attention isn’t called to the differences, and it does 5 Dimes no good to disappoint such customers.


“I was told clearly and succinctly (I have it in writing) that the match play would apply to the deposit I was about to make. Of course, that all changed when 5dimes had my money in their coffers.”

Actually I don’t think the representative was trying to convey (falsely) that the bonus would be added as soon as the deposit was received. The bonus is “on” the deposit in the sense that that it’s the size of the deposit that determines the amount of the bonus and the amount of the rollover. (As opposed to, say, the loyalty points programs at places like CRIS or the VIP books. There you accumulate bonuses and free plays based solely on your action, where the calculations have no relation to the size of your deposit.) So I don’t think they made a certain claim to you about the timing of the bonus and then later contradicted themselves.


In general, as with most books, there are good points and bad points to 5 Dimes. For me, they’re probably in the bottom half of the top ten of most essential books, given what and how I bet.

But I totally respect your wanting to just get out of there and move on, due to their bonus policies and the communication related thereto. My only thought would be you might want to avoid burning bridges on the way out. One can make money there, and you never know you might decide you have a use for them somewhere down the road.

I disagree a little bit here.

Any bonus system which confuses a new customer or has the potential to cause a misunderstanding (and therefore a dispute) is not only wrong in a moral sense but also stupid in a business sense.

Why run a bonus at all if it is going to cause conflict right at the start?

I think the fact that (relatively) well-educated punters like yourselves are even getting close to "do they mean this or that?" from there terms is a pretty strong argument that their terms are misleading. If ourbet had a misunderstanding then God help a complete newbie.

And if it confuses there own CS then that is just inexcusable.

[RickySteve]

“It’s bad for bonus whores who are hoping to scalp out their whole balance before meeting the rollover.

“False.”


I would think one who was trying to scalp out their whole balance and get the benefits of a bonus without having to do the whole rollover would be better off getting that bonus up front. But I admit I’m not as well-versed as many in the bonus whoring arts, so my apologies if this is not the case.

It is better to get the bonus up front, that is definitely true. Nevertheless, The 5Dimes bonus is still good. It is more accurate to think of it as a 3+% comp program.

[TLD]

Oh, OK. No disagreement at all. Thanks for the clarification.

[Mudcat]

I liked the 5 Dimes bonus plan way-back-when when I was eligible for it. I made sure I understood the rules before I went in and I was happy enough with it. I wish like hell they'd relax and give us a break every once in awhile and try some kind of "Welcome Back" deal, like many books do.

Natrass makes a good point. Even though I may understand the rules, just the fact that so many people find it confusing/misleading is reason enough to re-assess.

I have to say this in its favor: for books that offer the match-play type of bonus, 5 Dimes has the easiest set-up for maximizing it. They offer so many lop-sided moneylines on so many different things that it is very easy to turn that 20% match-play bonus into 16+% cash with next to no effort.

A lot of books have restrictions on what kind of bets you can use your match-play on (like some won't allow moneylines or props or lines over +200) - and then some books that do allow those things, don't post moneylines over a certain level. But 5 Dimes is good for that.