[majdalk]

I have previously not had any problems or heard of any problems with 888 Sport, but this has gone on for way too long.

Story: My account has been suspended for a long time at 888 Sport due to 'irregular betting patterns, looks like I bet on a fixed match and got caught in the crossfire. Anyhow, I let the investigation conclude and after I was cleared of any wrongdoing, I was credited with my winnings of 12,332.80 GBP a few weeks ago, 2 YEARS AFTER MY INITIAL BET.


However, I let it go, and proceeded to request for a withdrawal. They asked for ID and I sent them my ID along with a utility bill along with my bank details for a withdrawal and I received the following message:

Dear xxx,

This is the Operations Team at 888sport and we are contacting you with regards to your account with username "xxxx".

xxxxx, I can confirm that once the documentation has been received and accepted then your remaining balance of £12,332.80 will be paid to yourself.

Regards
Operations Team



Here's when it started getting messy.

For some reason, a few days later, they requested that I send my ID and utility bill NOTARIZED and then they will proceed with the withdrawal. After some initial frustration, I went and paid for a notary to notarize my 3 documents and duly sent it to 888 Sport. All the while, verification according to them takes 'up to 72 hours', but in my case they kept delaying and delaying and delaying . Finally, a few days ago I received the following message from the Operations team that deals with identification:



Dear xxxx,

This is the Operations Team at 888sport and we are contacting you with regards to your account with username "xxxx".

Please be advised that following further checks of the provided documentation your account has failed our security checks.

This is a discretionary decision, and as indicated in our Terms and Conditions, we reserve the right to terminate your membership, and so in accordance with these conditions, your account with ourselves has been permanently blocked.

No further transactions will occur upon this account, and any future accounts that you open will be closed, and their deposits may not be refunded.



Regards
Operations Team
888sport



First of all, I do not understand how notarized documents can fail a security check.

Secondly, they have been trying to prevent me from obtaining my money from the beginning and tried to throw every obstacle my way.

Anyones input on this matter would be greatly appreciated as I am now 12,000 GBP short and I am debating whether I should open a legal case to recoup my money.


Thanks

[Optional]

That's a really disappointing sounding experience Majdalk.

It actually sounds like they don't believe you were not in the know and are unwilling to accept an ESSA ruling to pay everyone.

And like you, I have a high opinion of 888sport usually.


There probably will not be much SBR can do, but you are welcome to submit a complaint form and we can try https://www.sportsbookreview.com/sportsbook-complaint/

Realistically 888 are going to say it's a security based decision and they wont discuss it I'd say but send the form, we may have a management contact who can at least find out more.



You're probably either going to need to engage a solicitor or appeal to IBAS (if inside the UK), or both, to get any further though.

If inside the UK you should be able to find a local firm who will take that sort of case on a contingency basis (no win no pay)

[majdalk]

That's a really disappointing sounding experience Majdalk.

It actually sounds like they don't believe you were not in the know and are unwilling to accept an ESSA ruling to pay everyone.

And like you, I have a high opinion of 888sport usually.


There probably will not be much SBR can do, but you are welcome to submit a complaint form and we can try https://www.sportsbookreview.com/sportsbook-complaint/

Realistically 888 are going to say it's a security based decision and they wont discuss it I'd say but send the form, we may have a management contact who can at least find out more.



You're probably either going to need to engage a solicitor or appeal to IBAS (if inside the UK), or both, to get any further though.

If inside the UK you should be able to find a local firm who will take that sort of case on a contingency basis (no win no pay)

Thanks for your advice Optional.

I have filled out the form and I have already started contacting solicitors who have told me that this is an easy case to win in a small-claims court and one can even seek further damages due to how long this ordeal has taken.

I will wait for the processing of my complaint with SBR before moving forward with the solicitor

[Optional]

Thanks for your advice Optional.

I have filled out the form and I have already started contacting solicitors who have told me that this is an easy case to win in a small-claims court and one can even seek further damages due to how long this ordeal has taken.

I will wait for the processing of my complaint with SBR before moving forward with the solicitor

I agree. It does sound like one that you could win in civil court based on the info you have given. Thats why I am confident of finding a solictor to do it on contingency.

[majdalk]

I agree. It does sound like one that you could win in civil court based on the info you have given. Thats why I am confident of finding a solictor to do it on contingency.

Hopefully both you and the solicitor are right. I posted on this forum to receive further advice like yours or to see if anyone else had experienced a similar situation to mine.

Ill wait till we receive a reply from the SBR complaint to see if anything can be done before taking the legal route.

[lonnie55]

Like Optional I also do consider 888sports a rock-solid sportsbook.

Maybe a letter from your lawyer is the last step of verification for them

I'm pretty sure they would offer you an out-of-court settlement and pay you before a trial even takes place.

[semibluff]

The maximum that can be claimed in a UK small claims court is £10K.
In my experience UK based books will fight such a case but won't appeal when they lose. They fight as a general point of principle if they feel someone is trying to cheat them. It's done as an expensive way of saying "yes, we know we'll lose but we'll make it as hard and drawn out as we can to dissuade others from trying".

I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just explaining their rationale. It's a shame about 888. Their reputation is generally very good.

[majdalk]

Like Optional I also do consider 888sports a rock-solid sportsbook.

Maybe a letter from your lawyer is the last step of verification for them

I'm pretty sure they would offer you an out-of-court settlement and pay you before a trial even takes place.

This is why I am very shocked as to why this is happening....

If it takes a letter from a lawyer then I could do that easily as well

[majdalk]

The maximum that can be claimed in a UK small claims court is £10K.
In my experience UK based books will fight such a case but won't appeal when they lose. They fight as a general point of principle if they feel someone is trying to cheat them. It's done as an expensive way of saying "yes, we know we'll lose but we'll make it as hard and drawn out as we can to dissuade others from trying".

I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just explaining their rationale. It's a shame about 888. Their reputation is generally very good.

It's a real shame to be honest. Small claims was the 'easy way out' as said by the lawyer, but he also suggested that I file for damages as well ( which is another option). Would they fight a case including damages? Cause that can end up amounting to a lot..

[semibluff]

It's a real shame to be honest. Small claims was the 'easy way out' as said by the lawyer, but he also suggested that I file for damages as well ( which is another option). Would they fight a case including damages? Cause that can end up amounting to a lot..

My advice is to keep dialogue open between you 888sport if possible. Trying to resolve this through SBR or whatever other arbitration you deem fit should be your next move. Even if you only get some information as to why they're behaving as they are it should help you if you have to seek legal redress. If they won't talk to you or SBR you should take it as read that they'll fight you in court, regardless of which court or how weak their case. Your case sounds strong but only you know how strong it really is. I doubt the threat of damages will faze them. They'll fight to show others on forums like this that they won't just roll over if someone tries to cheat them. You didn't say if the £12K was your entire balance or only the winnings. Either way if you received a court judgement of £10K and £2K in damages they'd see it as a victory, even with costs against them. Good luck. You'll probably need patience more than good luck. For now go with SBR. They seem like good people and they have experience in such cases.

[majdalk]

My advice is to keep dialogue open between you 888sport if possible. Trying to resolve this through SBR or whatever other arbitration you deem fit should be your next move. Even if you only get some information as to why they're behaving as they are it should help you if you have to seek legal redress. If they won't talk to you or SBR you should take it as read that they'll fight you in court, regardless of which court or how weak their case. Your case sounds strong but only you know how strong it really is. I doubt the threat of damages will faze them. They'll fight to show others on forums like this that they won't just roll over if someone tries to cheat them. You didn't say if the £12K was your entire balance or only the winnings. Either way if you received a court judgement of £10K and £2K in damages they'd see it as a victory, even with costs against them. Good luck. You'll probably need patience more than good luck. For now go with SBR. They seem like good people and they have experience in such cases.

Thanks for your input semibluff.

12.3K was my total balance, in that was a 4k deposit of my own money, which is what is annoying me even more because I thought when there are proceedings/investigations such as this, the deposit money gets refunded first and then you fight for the winnings?

Nevertheless, that is the current situation and I am waiting for SBRs take on this.

[HeeeHAWWWW]

I'd keep it under negotiation/arbitration for as long as possible. Once you go legal there's no way back, and as others have said they'll fight solely as a deterrent for others.

[Optional]

Thanks for your input semibluff.

12.3K was my total balance, in that was a 4k deposit of my own money, which is what is annoying me even more because I thought when there are proceedings/investigations such as this, the deposit money gets refunded first and then you fight for the winnings?

Nevertheless, that is the current situation and I am waiting for SBRs take on this.

AFAIK, under their license, they can only retain a deposit in cases like legal fraud, money laundering, clearly faked ID and stuff like that.

[majdalk]

AFAIK, under their license, they can only retain a deposit in cases like legal fraud, money laundering, clearly faked ID and stuff like that.

This is why it is confusing since they asked for NOTARIZED documents, but maybe still suspect any of the three things you mentioned? It doesn't add up.

[majdalk]

Hi,

Been a few weeks, have yet to receive a reply from my SBR complaint.

Was wondering if there were any updates? @Optional

[AlgoLady]

Wow scary to think they can just keep your money because you got it up pretty high and they have tiny print that states they can terminate any account they feel are in the wrong wonder if they would do this if your balance was $300 and not 12k...Hope you get it resolved and you get your money....Just out of curiosity what was the fixed match you had bet on that they deemed was fixed?

[JoeCool20]

Wow scary to think they can just keep your money because you got it up pretty high and they have tiny print that states they can terminate any account they feel are in the wrong wonder if they would do this if your balance was $300 and not 12k...Hope you get it resolved and you get your money....Just out of curiosity what was the fixed match you had bet on that they deemed was fixed?

Any of the S-books can do it to any of us any time they want. Sometimes I wonder what kind of dumbasses we all are to EVER send a dime to a bunch of freakin strangers in a foreign land and then expect them to be "honest". LOL

And quite often they ARE honest, but when they don't want to be, we are ALWAYS screwed and they ALWAYS win!!

Why would we ever send these people money when those are the "rules" that we have to take!

I hope I never send money overseas again and let myself be at the mercy of a bunch of strangers!

[Nostradam]

So...did this ever get resolved?

Did they ever pay?

Did they ever explain exactly why they were refusing to pay?

[AribaAriba]

Did they pay.. i have 4k in there and i want to cash our. Pls confirm this.