Tell me what you think about books in Malta
It seems like I'm always reading about horror stories with books based in Malta. I mean if it's not one thing it's another. I'm kind of curious what some of you SBR posters feel about them. 
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Out of the books I have opened accounts with, I believe the following all have Maltese regulation:
Bet-at-home - no issues but not played there for several months
Bettingstar24 - no issues while they existed
Expekt - no issues, good book and still play there
Goldvictory - no issues but not played there for several months
Interwetten - no issues but not played there for several months
Nordic Betting (believe this is behind bet24) - no issues, very fast payouts at bet24 and good CS, happy to play there
Sunderlands - not the most trustworthy, incorrectly settled bets but corrected when told and paid out ok, no longer playing there because of this
Unibet - no issues but not played there for several months
Wauwgaming - no issues while they existed
Obviously when I say no issues, it's my personal experience.Comment -
Thanks for sharing your feedback with us all sir.
Nordicbet just recently moved it's operations to Malta roughly 28 days ago, but rumors were floating out there for months. So It's tough to get a good read if they will maintain their normal standards.Comment -
Because of all the horror stories I read here (and the regulator not being very helpful) I try not to leave too big a balance in bookies regulated over there.
But apart from the issue with bettingstar24 -which was solved eventually- I haven't had any problems with Maltese bookies.
I am trying to be careful though, If the odds are always out of line it's waiting for trouble. (Betchance springs to mind).Comment -
Betchance and WauwBet are the latest that defaulted on the players. Now were seeing Betchance trying to reopen to service Italian players. You can't help but to wonder which book might be next to fall under that category.
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From my experience i have 2 solved complaints from LGA-Malta-against 24HPoker group-in general they are correct,but after WauwBet crash and still 50% of my funds are holded 5 month...and strange exhcange rate of BetKlass(cost me 457$ ) i m not very satisfied to play in new Malta located bookies...and dont forget BetChance....
The main problem is that everyone may get licence...
I will start with the best for me:
No complaints,profesional,helpfull and correct support,nice limits-Bet-At-Home,DoxxBet(The Best One),BetClick,BalkanBet,
In 2nd category i put medium bookies like Expekt,UNibet,24HPoker,Betsson,Betaland, NordicBet,SUnderlands
This bookies are safe and usefull.
IN 3rd category are new and some risky ,but still not very popular and and with average to low customer traffic,still correct,but is dangerous to have big balance and nothing special in odds level-APuestas,Totosi,GoldVictory,Bet24,PArtou che,Scandic,,Begawin,WInUNited....BetSaf e.
ANd 4 level are this that are cheaters,in bad finance situation ,unprofessional and in future may die-for this rreasons i avoid them.-Astrabet,BetChance,BetKlass,BettingStar, BonBet,CashPoint,InterWetten,Meridian,St ryyke,WauwGaming,Last edited by Champi; 01-30-09, 07:48 AM.Comment -
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Pretendents for the last category are increased every month
After clicking on www.BetSI.com ..i see message Coming Soon.
I use Totosi.it.
Sunderlands are ok-just everyday send spam mails with horse racing offers .
ALso i find few new bookies got license from the association-Ambassador Betting,BetAFterBet and SportSpBets...Comment -
I can only go by what I read out there since I resides in the U.S.A, so with that being said. Out of all those books mentioned above which ones will cut players limits the fastest gentlemen?Comment -
Interwetten is notorious for its limits. I only really bet on soccer but they limit to around $100 on the largest UK games and as you progress down the European leagues, it can be as low as $15 or so.
I think this is standard for all players who play there as their odds are often quite good on soccer and sometimes above exchanges so it appears more a business model to stay alive rather than tackling any particular style of bettor.
They recently removed Moneybookers as an option for UK players too which made them less attractive.Comment -
Expekt: No issue at all, good bookie with good CS, still play there....the payouts are sometimes a little slow compared to Unibet, Betsson, and especially Betsafe. The best from the above bookmakers IMHO.
Betsson: Was playing there before they voided a bet without any real reason for me, I heard that they are doing this often, so now avoiding them. Fast, but often unprofessional email support + live chat.
Unibet: Fast payout (which increased a lot from "slow" in the last 2 years), good bookie, but the support is very weak - they 'd really need a live one. Also heard some rumours about a few account closings without reasoning.....still, I only had good experience with them, and sometimes play there....do I know well, that they are not accepting SBR mediation at all?
Betsafe: Would be a very good bookie for me with the very fast payouts, very good support - both the live and the email one - (one of the best I saw at a bookmaker), large variety of bets for european sports - IF they wouldn't limit winners very fast, and offer a little higher oddses.
Bet-at-home: No problem at all with payouts, still, oddses are often low, and not enough odds types...especially weak offer on US sports. Relatively slow support. My brother plays there often, and he didn't have any issue, I only bet there abt. once a year...IMHO honest bookie with weak betting offer.
Interwetten: No issues, good oddses, large variety of oddses, good support, very good live betting, but limiting players sometimes....played there in the past, but not now.Comment -
Why would Sunderlands fall into that category? They're still pretty respected in the UK, spam a bit but never had payout problems..Comment -
WinUnited I currently have a balance at, and their Customer Service is hard to reach (read: They don't reply). Euro forums indicate they are still paying out, and I expect to test that shortly.Comment -
I only bet at Winunited at the time of the last Superbowl, once....they paid out winnings in 3 hours after I sent the verification documents they asked for.Comment -
Ok i update my post,just WinUNited limit me to 50Eur and their secure system didnt allow me to make a bets in more of situatuions.Comment -
Ok, in a correction to mine, they reply to direct email, but apparently not to the web form on their contact page.Comment -
Though I don't have an account with Interwetten, they charge commission (10% if I remember correctly) on a push on soccer asian handicap/spread!!
No problem with betsson as yet. Haven't used sunderlands for a year or so (get spam everyday) - never had a payout problem though they have a habit of putting wrong lines and they may cancel after the game is over.Last edited by rookie; 01-30-09, 12:30 PM.Comment -
Its like anything , some books are good some are bad, the real problem is the LGA, they are not like Gibraltar, Alderney or IOM in so much as those agencies look to solve player disputes when called upon. The LGA, it seems, is there simply to rubber stamp licenses and they have no interest whatsoever in player disputes, and in fact when books like BetChance act in ways that are obviously fraudulent , the LGA seems to play the same game as Betchance customer services, ie they simply ignore emails.Comment -
That's exactly it Mr.Jamie. Betchance & WauwGaming clients should be getting some help instead of getting kicked to the curb like they did. LGA is a complete joke IMO and I'm sure that a lot of others feel the same way.Comment -
I would very much appreciate some updated feedback on books in Malta if I could please gentlemen.
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I never touch anything not rated a+. Even a+ can get wrong sometimesComment -
bah, nordic the best ,Comment -
Thank you for your feedback sir.
It's funny you mentioned Nordicbet (SBR Rated C+) because, during my last tenure here at SBR they were very courteous in regards to many things regarding resolving players complaint type issues. I will ask SBR management and inquire to them to contact this fine establishment once again and re-evaluate their current ratings status.
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Interesting as we re-visit this that I'm sure I read recently (or maybe a Justin video), the LGA had taken a more active role in a dispute for a change?Comment -
I've heard the same too. They've lately responded and solved disputes in players favor(!) rather quickly.
As for Malta books in general, sure there are still some shady books left (Betway, Betngo etc.) but in general, I don't feel uncomfortable playing at most Malta based books.Comment -
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Looks like Sportsbook.com moves non-US players to a Malta-based platform
Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D-) is now redirecting non-US players to Global.Sportsbook.com. Sportsbook.com (ag) fired off an email this morning advising players that their accounts would be moved to the new, Malta-based platform. Global.Sportsbook.com is officially part of WinUnited Ltd., a gaming company licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) of Malta. WinUnited Ltd. is most known for powering YouWin sportsbook (SBR rating D-). A Sportsbook.com (ag) manager confirmed to SBR that US-based players are not impacted by the move.
In its 1,000+ word email to international players, the sportsbook declared that rollovers would be waived on outstanding bonus cash with the condition that players not request payment for sixty days. If a player requests payment prior to then, he would be forfeiting the bonus amount entirely. The sportsbook is essentially holding players funds hostage and forcing them to sit on their balances without losing their earned bonus cash. The email went on to state that pending wagers would not be honored. The unethical decision to void player wagers is one of many the Sportsbook.com Group has made over years, along with debiting $150,000+ in correlated parlay winnings from players five years ago.
Feedback from Sportsbook.com's non-US players
A Sportsbook.com (ag) player based in Canada wrote SBR today with concerns over his $2,070 balance. The player attempted to log into his account this morning and found that it was disabled. The player was told that as a non-US resident, he would have to log into the new Global.Sportsbook.com site to register an account, and then be transferred his funds. The player points out that in addition to his balance, he has two pending wagers for a total of $500. The player wagered $300 last December on the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series at 6/1, and another on the Texas Rangers to win the ALCS at 4.5/1.
SBR received an additional complaint from a player that stated that he was told his account would be enabled with his funds available eight hours ago. After the time-frame passed, the player reached out to SBR. SBR is asking this player for more information regarding his balance information. | Sportsbook.com's letter to account-holdersComment -
I played at Comeon.com deposit 120 € and get 120 € in Bonus and did the rollover and withdraw 245 € with no problem at allComment -
They're a swedish sportsbook licensed in Malta. Now most people here need to remember the reason that book choose Malta over the UK is the mere fact that they can't obtain a license there. Comeon (SBR Rated C-) has same odds as 10bet (SBR Rated C) however, their signup bonus is much better but, yet again. Players have had a lot of funds confiscated by them and the evidence has not proven to be fraudulent as they claimed it to be.Comment -
Maltese regulatory is a joke. You just have to pick a trusted bookie. Local government will not move a finger if bookie runs away, they also have very soft financial requirements. Basically everyone can register a bookie at Malta.Comment -
This is not true - what you're actually seeing is sites operating off other's licenses. Depending on the class license it can sometimes take almost a full year, or any average joe can jump on board with a shady provider and display the LGA logo and Malta is never dealing directly with this site (and it's an information badge and not supposed to be a selling feature).
In any case - calling them a joke? Compared to where? each licensing body has some benefit or another to it, but licensing is not actually for the benefit of the player. It is for the sites to operate legally, not as a badge to show off to players. Unfortunately it has been used this way for a long time, but if you believe this matters you might as well start looking for OSGA certification (a scam) as well.
I'd like to hear how and why other regulatory bodies are any better. I can think if major issues with most all. Of course now Malta is the most ideal spot to operate from because of cost and tax benefits and ability to legally advertise in many markets including the UK. Without that any advertising targeting UK players is illegal. There are plenty of legitimate reasons everyone has flocked to Malta. When the laws change they'll all end up moving somewhere else but Malta is now the hot location but the biggest operators avoid it because either 1) they are large enough the small tax is worth avoiding elsewhere or 2) cost to move (hot spots don't last forever) and these guys can afford and it makes sense to pay the higher costs to not need to relocate hundreds of staff in the future (in short stability). In any case again plenty of legitimate reasons the industry headed Malta and this has nothing to do will the bullshit suggestion that lax regulation is at all a factor. These operators need to jump through hoops and most fear the regulators.
The idea they're not legitimate is silly as well. LGA is constantly passing new regulations and keeping operators informed. They pass far more ordinances than any gambling commission (even the UK who notes: this will not be enforced *ugh then why the hell bother* on the bottom of notices). When account inactive fees were an issue LGA ruled on this creating new policies operators must adhere to. When an issue came up about what do with accounts when someone dies they drafted new policies on this. They also added rules about if accounts go inactive for a period of time, the player must be sought out and cashed out, and if can't be found they need to turn his balance over to LGA who will post notice of it's location and keep it in domain for future claim. Compared to Alderney who just past edits press releases to try to trick people into believing they actually have a clue, or Panama where only a few are licensed and most have been stiff or super slow pays (Legends and BetOnline perhaps the only two exceptions ever) or Kahnawake who has licensed plenty of future bet sites, or Antigua who failed to act on WSEX slow pays and insolvency warnings over their past alliance, until it was too late.. ummm? honestly.. what's so bad about LGA again? Obvious they're just fine imoLast edited by prop; 01-01-12, 11:43 AM.Comment
