Sportingbet Plc Takes Over Hollywood Sportsbook

SBR_John · 05-08-06, 05:15 AM

I'm a big Marty fan, the now ex-GM as well as the owner Joe. Together they did a fantastic job with this book. Also give Will some credit and the lineman and CS. In fact give them a ton of credit.

I hope they will stay on the forum and lines but they will certainly come down from the Recommended List which that's as prime of spot as there is in the industry. We need to talk to the Sportingbet folks and see if they will maintain Hollywood's standards.

All in all this is bad news for players, to state the obvious.

I would like to wish Joe and Marty the very best and thank them for their support over many years. They have always been big SBR fans and they worked hard to make the A+ group.

tacomax · 05-08-06, 06:52 AM

Good news for Marty and Joe, probably good news for Sportingbet but yet again bad news for players. Thumbs up top Hollywood for their contribution to the industry, though.

aggie · 05-08-06, 07:23 AM

shocking and disappointing

Mudcat · 05-08-06, 08:31 AM

This is unbelievable. I had to check my calendar to see if maybe this was an April Fools joke.

Bad news.

JoshW · 05-08-06, 08:33 AM

Sucks. Hollywood was an important book with the reduced juice and decent limits.

aggie · 05-08-06, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by Mudcat

I had to check my calendar to see if maybe this was an April Fools joke.

I did the same exact thing.

why did they sell it? was hollywood profitable? was it just a sale of a brand (SBT likes those kinda names like sportsbook.com or wallstreet.com)? are they gonna open up a new shop?

Santo · 05-08-06, 10:47 AM

Why have SBR retracted this from the main page?

tacomax · 05-08-06, 10:48 AM

Originally posted by Mudcat

This is unbelievable. I had to check my calendar to see if maybe this was an April Fools joke.

Me too.

BSTPNM68 · 05-08-06, 10:58 AM

What are some of the issues related to Sportingbet? Is it uncompetitive lines--or worse? I am relatively new to the industry so I cannot refer to the history.

In the meantime, I will be looking to withdraw my funds as the result of this takeover, which are substantial.

Thanks guys,

BST

drunkguy · 05-08-06, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by Santo

Why have SBR retracted this from the main page?

because they ****** up big time

kosar · 05-08-06, 11:22 AM

Was this one of Bill Dozers patented 'reports?'

SquareShooter · 05-08-06, 01:19 PM

Some history... Doesn't sound good at all...

Bill Dozer
Administrator
The BAW Group of books give the Euro players the same type of hassles the Sportingbet family gives Americans. They both will freeze an account for weeks and even months due to account "audits". They will cancel wagers after the events have finished and they will fail to answer emails. Both are profitable and financially sound companies but in some instances, players leave feeling cheated.

http://forum.sportsbookreview.com/showthread.php?t=517&highlight=Sportingbet

bigboydan
Moderator
Sportingbet Plc returns $24,000 confiscated from client in October 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBR Bill Dozer reports: Sportingbet Plc returns $24,000 confiscated from client in October 2005. Over the course of a year the player had used multiple Sportingbet Plc sites including PlayersOnly(SBR rating D+), LinesMaker(SBR rating D+), SportFanatik(SBR rating D+), SportingBetUSA(SBR rating D+), Aces(SBR rating D+) and Sportsbook.com(SBR rating D+). The amount confiscated was the sum of what the player had earned in bonuses and won overall from the family of sportsbooks. SBT management originally stated that the player was violating the spirit of the bonus although the company’s client support has maintained that utlizing multiple sportsbooks and incentive offers was acceptable. Other Sportingbet players hope to experience the same success in resolving their issue and recovering their funds. SBR is currently speaking with Sportingbet’s corporate office about these matters.

http://forum.sportsbookreview.com/showthread.php?t=10061&highlight=Sportingbet

Reviewed by: Nash
Date Reviewed: 12/08/2005 08:18:53
Sportsbook: SportingBetUSA (same family as SportingBet.com... and now... Hollywood107.com too )...
Player Comments: I recently won a confirmed wager by sportingbetusa for 500 to win 550. Tiger Woods final round of the British Open. After I won, I noticed the money wasn't in my account. Called their customer service, and they stated the "line" was wrong and they have the right to change it per their rules, and so they "no actioned" the wager. Well, 3 days later, my winnings were actually placed into my account, I immediately took it out. I stayed with sbusa, assuming they just had made a mistake. Well, 12 days later, when I only had about $106 in my account, they decided to take that away, I called them and they stated I owed them 550 dollars, the money from the woods wager, because they again decided to change their mind. SBUSA has the most worthless customer service you can come across. It is clear that their management structure is very unprofessional. Their rules did not give them the ability to simply no action the wager, and should have at the very least, given me the winnings at the correct "line", per their rules. They so far have not done. If this is the case, then their rules mean nothing to them, and they are very dangerous to gamble any serious money with, because it seems the people handling the pay out structure are not qualified or intelligent enough. I will definitely not place any more money into this site, nor should anyone else.

Maybe its just me but I would avoid any sportsbook that has ever "confiscated" something from someone, EVER. (victim of the confiscation was ofcourse one of the squarest bonus whores I have heard of)
And cancellations are maybe even more pain than confiscations, because confiscation is plain fraud and can be treated as such (by involving watchdogs for example of whom Bill Dozer & SBR are the greatest), but you literally can not fight cancellations by any means, especially if they're stated in rules.

Overall this takeover is terrible news... How long until BetAndWin takes over Pinnacle... Ouch... I hope its Bet365 that takes over, they limit but at least they don't confiscate.

jumper · 05-08-06, 04:40 PM

terrible news.hollywood was as secure as pinnacle imo.over the past 2 weeks i have lost over $15000 deposited at hollywood and considered myself one of their better customers.when i read this news i called gary,my guy there,and told him about my past problem with sportingbet plc and how bill dozier had to save me from unjustly being stiffed.gary told me i better not send new money to hollywood because i would probably be stiffed since i EARNED bonuses from other books they process for.sportingbet should address their policies,they have never spoken directly with me but i hate to say goodbye to hollywood.how strange to overlook the relationship a player has had with a book for 4 years and as a matter of corporate policy simply stiff a hollywood player due to an old argument with a known scambook(allsportscasino)that sportingbet has now acquired .how can hollywood allow themselves to be put in same category as all these other shit books?

aggie · 05-08-06, 05:04 PM

exactly, if hollywood was a fully honest book they would not allow this to happen, or at least guarantee players funds.

trytrytry · 05-08-06, 05:07 PM

my account still has -107 wagering. I think they are staying a reduced juice shop.

jumper · 05-08-06, 05:14 PM

the changes havent gone into effect yet.gary told me that soon hollywood will not be answering the phones.that means you get the customer service clerks that shield management from addressing problems,sportingbets claim to infamy

BSTPNM68 · 05-08-06, 05:15 PM

Just off the phone with CS. -107 is going away.

marc · 05-08-06, 05:52 PM

I think the fact that players are hearing about the changes at SBR instead of from the sportsbook itself says a lot about Marty and crew.

I feel bad for the players who felt any degree of loyalty to hollywood and who were misled into believeing that they had real personal relationships with the managers there.

If hollywood cared at all about their clients they would give everyone a few days notice. Let them know of the changes and give them a chance to cash out if the wnat beofre the changes take place.

jumper · 05-08-06, 06:37 PM

yesterday i laid 3967 on oakland @ hollywood-143 which wiped out my acct .if i had won sportingbet plc would have had control of 6741 with another 9596 in rollover due.given sportingbets past actions and reasoning,they would have laid claim to my balance come payout time.bottom line,sportingbets reasoning in these matters suck.i feel lucky that my only loss is no more hollywood as a solid out

tacomax · 05-08-06, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by jumper

yesterday i laid 3967 on oakland @ hollywood-143 which wiped out my acct .

Wow - you bonus scalpers sure do know how to mask your methods don't you?

Santo · 05-08-06, 07:16 PM

It sounds like an "All In" bet Taco.. surely that's not all that unusual?

Brick Tamland · 05-08-06, 09:35 PM

anyone who plans on winnin will say this sucks ass. when a square book takes over a book that would take a bet ...a experence player is left with shit.

bigboydan · 05-09-06, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by Brick Tamland

anyone who plans on winnin will say this sucks ass. when a square book takes over a book that would take a bet ...a experence player is left with shit.

oh so true brick

CA_Bettor06 · 05-09-06, 02:33 PM

I heard the news today when I called the HSB sales office to get a reload bonus, the sales guy told me they had just been bought and they can't authorize bonuses until tomorrow. When I asked them who purchased them and was told "sportsbook.com" (Sportingbet PLC ) I got a sick feeling in my stomach. This is bad news indeed. I don't like the way I was treated by one of Sportingbet's books. They had very unfair practices, unclear policies, poor communication and bad customer service. I will miss Hollywood. Seems like Sportingbet PLC keeps getting bigger and bigger and will continue mistreating players because they can get away with it. I am not reloading with the "new" HSB.

magnavox · 05-09-06, 02:44 PM

So much for those "A" ratings. Now any book can claim they've been bought overnight by an unnamed investor and begin to slow pay.

I truly feel sorry for anyone with a large balance there who dislikes Sportingbet books.

Also, so many times the owners of Hollywood were called stand-up guys. They're just CROOKS to me.

No Better · 05-09-06, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by marc

I think the fact that players are hearing about the changes at SBR instead of from the sportsbook itself says a lot about Marty and crew.

I feel bad for the players who felt any degree of loyalty to hollywood and who were misled into believeing that they had real personal relationships with the managers there.

If hollywood cared at all about their clients they would give everyone a few days notice. Let them know of the changes and give them a chance to cash out if the wnat beofre the changes take place.

I think you can safely descend from your high horse Marc when pointing your crooked little finger at Marty and crew.

With the press release scheduled to be released on Wednesday, it's clear to me that they didn't intend to announce the news until then.

It was only the 'fast on the trigger'/'gotta be first' SBR news team that was in such a rush to prove their 'inside knowledge' and not allow the fine folks at HSB to announce the news to their clients.

Cheap shot, but that's to be expected from the Bala Bonus Boy.

Zther · 05-10-06, 06:03 PM

lets get this straight. hollywood courted sportingbet in this deal as their best out. hollywood has always put the customer first and they're doing so again with this move. they didn't go to any of the other books highly rated here at sbr because most of these operations have the same underlying problems that privately plagued hollywood for years; that is operating on a poor business model.

yes, hollywood has been a terrific book for a long time, but they've been operating on a model which in the end endangers solvency. poor affiliate deals and ad buys, high player turnover, over aggressive bonuses, failed promotions, along with big hits by bonus hunters and scammers have been hurting them more than they have let people realize.

something that the ratings sites (sbr, mw, therx, etc.) fail to understand is how important the underlying business model is and how precariously balanced some of these books are financially. yes. some of those a+ books we've grown to love are not as safe as we're led to believe. in hollywoods case, they simply are not making enough in profits to justify the operation. there are some other underlying reasons (legal, nothing criminal) to this move as well, but in the end they're not important. rest assure that the management and ownership at hollywood feel this is in the best interests of its customer base and that sbt is the best choice.

but anyway, more on hollywood.

- laying minus 107 is going away, replaced with selective minus 105 and zero banking fees. unless you're a dime plus punter who makes a handful of withdrawals a year, you'll actually realize a better deal long run with sbt.

- you won't get the same customer service at sbt as you did because sbt's call center is just a giant mess, but you can rest assure they won't go belly up. your money on deposit is much more safe now.

- you won't pay fees to deposit or withdraw anymore but your money might get held up for a few days because they're going to clamp down on the fraud that hollywood couldn't control. in the end it might suck a bit, but again it adds to safety.

- the website experience will improve over time because sbt simply spends more and understands the players dynamics better than hollywood. hollywood has a mess of a website; expect that to change.

~Z