[Footballtime]

bet24, betislands both fold up........5dimes cheating during live bj, betonline not paying on time, the list goes on and on........ As they say play at A or A+ rated sportsbooks, LOL they can fold up just as easy boys. There is no way around this whole shit capade. Couple decent books left, heritage and bookmaker i guess, but then I know Bookmaker has wicked juiced lines and charges and arm and leg for a withdrawal, Heritage and some decent perks, but seems like they are also going to feel the sharps and players that have been winning consistantly soon. SBR will be folded up within a year, gauranteed, Well maybe not the whole SBR thing, but this SBR forum will die down to almost nothing within a year, between the BI fiasco, and the way books and closing and not paying right now, noone will be coming to a forum as they will either find the local, make some trips to Vegas, or just find another hobby and probably a better life since they wont be degenerates anymore and actually will have some money on Friday left over from Thursdays paycheck.

[James D]

Football,

You make many valid points about the current state of affairs but your premise may be entirely wrong. What does this industry need most to survive? A customer base, thats it. They certainly have one, a seemingly very motivated one. You accurately state books

Cheat at casino play
Slow pay for months
angle shoot to avoid paying
Crap customer service
Void winning bets to try and steal money
some just fold up and straight rob you entirely

You could probably make a list of 20 things and yet the books still have a large customer base. There is no doubt all these factors cost them customers yet they are all still out there. Hundred of books of varying degrees of crookedness. The fact is the industry survives with all the scummy stuff, not to even mention US legal problems.

I think the industry is a true gold mine WAITING for someone to get it right.

[Legions36]

For who?

[relaaxx]

if gambling was legal in the US. it would all get much better, fast. other than that, we are all screwed, whenever, at any time, and it can come from any sportsbook. as always, the louder the bragging, the more likely it is untrue. if it's your friend,enemy or goverment it holds true. the USA has shouted, that it's about freedom since it's start. seems to me it has never been about freedom. it has always been about money and power. like every other country. the problems we all have are not because of our neighbors, it is because of our goverments, your goverment and mine, mostly mine because of the wealth and power the US has accumilated by force,with weapons and or money, at the expense of the rest of the world.

[touchback]

Not in a million years... it is like trying to clear the corners of drug dealers west of MLKB in Baltimomre, just not possible. Every time they run them through central booking another twenty pop up like weeds to replace them. I am quoting a beat cop directly that I spoke with a long time ago. So, just like corners... pick your service for what you prefer and the quality you require... there will always be a corner. If you get burned you picked the wrong corner... Dah, and going back will probably be the same... if you do not know what I am talking about watch a little bit of HBOs the WIRE. It is stone cold pretty accurate but the shootings were actually worse when I was around, 13 one night... and only a population of about 600k... first shock trauma in US was out of Bodymore...

[5mike5]

far from dead, and definatley not going anywhere

[the_situation]

Maybe if you live in the US.

[touchback]

Gringos will have their way... they always do, even when it comes to gambling. Look at the Narco trafficing situation, that should be a good indication of how the war on offshore gambling will also go... except there no are and will be no giant budgets for this and also about zero cooperation from any countries were these services are located. There never is... and do not be confused when someone in gaming is picked up... that person has other issues that are used against him to get said cooperation out of another jurisdiction which is not gaming related.

[Alltheway]

Gringos will have their way... they always do, even when it comes to gambling. Look at the Narco trafficing situation, that should be a good indication of how the war on offshore gambling will also go... except there no are and will be no giant budgets for this and also about zero cooperation from any countries were these services are located. There never is... and do not be confused when someone in gaming is picked up... that person has other issues that are used against him to get said cooperation out of another jurisdiction which is not gaming related.

Countries like CR wont help because offshore sportsbooks employ almost 40% of all 20 to 30 year olds around. If they fully cooperate that means unemployment will reach an all time high in CR for the last 12 years.

[king_danilo92]

fuuuuck USA, im moving to Europe.

[sportsbetwin]

There is a world outside of the U.S mate.
Typical insular view.

[MandaBraza]

not many left on the corners of Detroit

[James D]

There is a world outside of the U.S mate.
Typical insular view.

Very true. There are dozens of huge outfits like william hill, bet 365, and ladbrokes. Just because us unlucky americans can not call them up and make a bet doesnt mean they do not exist.

[HeeeHAWWWW]

Industry is fine. All that's wrong is the US government (of whatever flavour) thinks it owns your money. There's a free world out there though, move to it.

[tto827]

Bet24, betislands, that's like saying that the fast food industry is dying because togos sandwiches couldn't survive. Once we see a McDonalds or BK go down, then you can start worrying. Until then, stick with books that have been open for more than 2 YEARS, and you should be okay. The industry has a client base, and there are a few who do it right. You criticize books for vanilla lines, well guess what, if BI had offered vanilla lines instead of the crap they did, they would still be in business.

[Alltheway]

I agree when one of the larger shops like Bookmaker/DSI/HERITAGE/LEGENDZ/5DIMES has any real issues then maybe alarams should go off for now , smaller shops that tried to tackle on the US market giving away the house combined with a shit season smells like disaster for the smaller books. The larger ones can sustain it they have for years.

[touchback]

Bet24, betislands, that's like saying that the fast food industry is dying because togos sandwiches couldn't survive. Once we see a McDonalds or BK go down, then you can start worrying. Until then, stick with books that have been open for more than 2 YEARS, and you should be okay. The industry has a client base, and there are a few who do it right. You criticize books for vanilla lines, well guess what, if BI had offered vanilla lines instead of the crap they did, they would still be in business.

Right... totally agree. B1tching and whining about how a book does not give away the house... just indicates that many are just bad at sports betting and need all these freebies just to think they are good. Ridiculous, the huge scam marketing machines screwed the whole loyalty bonus deal... used to be you might get a free bet thrown into your account or maybe 5% or 10% on a deposit for being a long time good customer. Somewhere along the line a few guys figured they could gain market share by tidal wave like marketing programs and bigger bonuses which led to better run outfits jumping on board just to keep the guys they got and stay in business. 2005 is a critical year in this scenario and a few have alot of karma after their crap... O##smaker, B##us... and a few others I can think of. I am not here to bash any specific service ever nor am I here to push one in particular. But I do believe that a group of books are fairly safe and as a group will mention them on occasion that are not A listed... A listed books do not need to be pointed out... they just do not give bigger perks because they do not have to out of huge loyal player foundations...so guys are looking for the non A rated books... if my help is not appreciated then fair enough.. there are plenty of pleasant things I can do with any free time I have other then helping guys get less likely burned. Nothing is a lock though... my advice is just that, advice or opinion.

[djefferis]

Industry dead...far from it, as long as there are humans, we'll have human nature and human nature is to want more than you have. Gambling is sure way for a group to risk a little as an individual, and a select few from the group win more at the expense of others.

Offshore for Americans...its drying up. More outs locally with non sports gaming means less demand. More scam operators stealing means less trust...the combination of both combined with processor issues and a big run by squares is crimping the flow of easy money, but vets in the industry have their base and know how to make money.

For the US, its a cyclical downturn but it wont die completely. The strong survive and the weak fade away...its the capitalist way.

For everyone else, they benefit as less US promos means better pricing for everyone.

[touchback]

Industry dead...far from it, as long as there are humans, we'll have human nature and human nature is to want more than you have. Gambling is sure way for a group to risk a little as an individual, and a select few from the group win more at the expense of others.

Offshore for Americans...its drying up. More outs locally with non sports gaming means less demand. More scam operators stealing means less trust...the combination of both combined with processor issues and a big run by squares is crimping the flow of easy money, but vets in the industry have their base and know how to make money.

For the US, its a cyclical downturn but it wont die completely. The strong survive and the weak fade away...its the capitalist way.

For everyone else, they benefit as less US promos means better pricing for everyone.

Starting to really some good strong posts... keep them coming. Throw you a few points but that toy was also penalized. Probably be left with picking my nose soon...