Costa Rican Gaming Convention is a wrap - some quick notes:

[SBR_John]

A lot of very good speakers who spoke on a wide range of topics including where we are going with the WTO ruling and other legal aspects. What I got was the US is not going to bend on this. They will string it out forever and a day.

The Shrink made an excellent speach. That chap is smarter than I gave him credit for and I'd had given him a lot of credit.

Ron and Micky of BetCRIS are the best. end of report.

You will see more content in the way of stats, gaming articles, odds and way more coming to portals and sportsbooks. Content that was once only affordable to the Yahoo's and MSN's of the world have come way down in price.

I met with Roberto of TOW and Ken of the EOG and we plan to collectively approach two troubled books and try to lobby them to change their policies on payouts and heavy handed policies that are responsible for many of todays complaints.

I also worked with Roberto to improve our relationship.

SBR has joined the WSEX backed poker room. In a matter of weeks SBR will offer completely no-rake poker game to its forum members.

SBR co-sponsored the Kick-boxing event. CRIS is the main backer of the event and I can't say enough about how much they do for the industry and for our local community here.

[Willie Bee]

John, just wanted to post something so you knew how dedicated I was at work, getting in at an obscene hour like this Next year, I really think you should bring me along to the convention so I can caddy for you.

[bigboydan]

thanks for the report john.

[JoshW]

Interesting. News on rake free poker room is great.

[Mudcat]

I met with Roberto of TOW and Ken of the EOG and we plan to collectively approach two troubled books and try to lobby them to change their policies on payouts and heavy handed policies that are responsible for many of todays complaints.

Would love to read some details.

[SBR_John]

How a D rated book can become an A rated book.

My challenge to any low rated book is this:

Materially adopt the payout timeliness and bonus earn out policies of any A+ rated sports book.

In brief; if you are lets say a BetRoyal. Change your bonus and payout policies to match ANY A+ sportsbook and we will start immediately giving your sportsbook credit for making the change. SBR, EOG and TOW have all agreed that we can begin to look past questionable ownership groups of the past if we can accomplish the goal of effecting real change in bonus and payout policies.

We are all in Costa Rica and we are ready to meet with you. Just say the word. Can you imagine how much more business BetRoyal would do if they adopted let’s say WWTS’s standards for bonuses and payouts, which are not difficult standards.

[Mudcat]

Can you imagine how much more business BetRoyal would do if they adopted let’s say WWTS’s standards for bonuses and payouts, which are not difficult standards.

I've been hearing variations of this for ages. It makes almost too much sense. There must be a reason books like Royal continue to operate the way they do.

The only reason I can think of is that the profit from scamming people is greater than the profit of an honest operation. Books like Royal usually end up paying people who find their way to posting forums, but maybe there are just that many people who don't - and they end up scammed and these books profit.

It must be the case. Otherwise why wouldn't they just adopt this obvious idea and stop throwing away money? I assume they like money.

I suppose another possibility is short-sightedness and incompetence.

[Mason]

Agree 100% on your recap.

Great to see the forum owners sit down and work on what's bets for the industry instead of squabling.

The ultimate fighting was great (Mandarina was easy money in the second to last bout) although the chalk went 10-0. Things got a little squirly for minute when another fighter jumped in the ring at the end of a round in one fight..

Mickey and Ron are the nuts.

Amazing how many people were selling quality content feeds and at afforable prices.

Great expo, people and events.