[DeeDeeKing]

Edit by SBR: We have spoken at length with Bovada. It is their position that there was account activity which violated the cited sections of their ToS. It is an unusual case in that normally there is more information exchange, but we understand their hesitance to go on the record to be an effort not to undermine security. It leaves a desire for more information in the court of public opinion, to be sure, and we wish we could elaborate.

_____

I already filled out a complaint form from SBR on Monday at 2:50PM EST. I sent them a follow up email yesterday at 11:40AM and haven't heard anything. I saw a couple of posters on this forum with a very similar story to mine so I'm very worried now. This is the first time I've played at a sportsbook where you send money upfront.
Here's a basic summary of events (this is what I sent to SBR as my follow up after filling out complaint).

• Deposited on bovada. Lost 6.5K
• Deposited 9K turned it into 40K
• Asked for 10K by bitcoin, they lock account ask for id, selfie, and bill
• Sent everything to them, they sent the money and unlocked account
• Next day account is locked again.
• Spent next couple days on live chat, no answers. Tell me they will call in within 48 hours.
• 48 hours comes and goes. Then they say "we meant business days". They never said that before. I ask for number to call in. They won't give one (say no phones even though they said they will call, wtf)?
• Tell them I'm going to find places to report them.
• Get an email saying I violated terms (don't say which one) and they are "voiding" my balance of 30 thousand. WTF!!!!
• They send what they consider my "deposit" around 5,000. But are keeping the 25,000 I won.

I'm totally confused how a sportsbook that is so highly rated here is basically stealing my money and trying to cover it up with word games like "voiding my balance" as if they're canceling an order I placed because the item is out of stock. They had no problems with my account when I dropped 6,500 there. But as soon as I win they have all sorts of issues. How is this allowed?

Besides SBR is there anything else I can do? Or do they get to just take my money with zero repercussions?
Any help appreciated. If you have a question please ask.

[SBR Forum]

We are discussing with Bovada and will get back to you when we know more.

[Tarnski]

Wow! I just noticed your thread. I'm going through something very similar. I wish you good luck and hope you get paid.

[DeeDeeKing]

Like I wrote in the email, thank you SBR. I have no issues deleting the thread until a resolution. Just ask. And thank you Tarnski. I hope we both get paid.

[gym rat]

Wow, Lots of Bovada threads regarding disabling accounts and NOT Paying. Hard to believe these are all people violating Bovada Rules.

[Ant23]

Wow, Lots of Bovada threads regarding disabling accounts and NOT Paying. Hard to believe these are all people violating Bovada Rules.

Rat.....are these claims legit or is Bovada in some type of trouble? Enquiring minds wanna know............

[gym rat]

Rat.....are these claims legit or is Bovada in some type of trouble? Enquiring minds wanna know............

I don't know if they are true however I do have a balance there so I do have to say that I'm concerned. I was thinking of making a withdrawal after the election and sure hope this is not what will await me. Since I do have a balance there, I have noticed the threads over the last few weeks of numerous complaints that seem to all be similar in nature.

[DontTailMe]

I've made two successful withdrawals in the past week and one was completed today. No issues, and they haven't asked for any identifying information so I obviously haven't tripped any red flags with them.

Yes, there are a handful of similar complaints recently. But they are a microscopic drop in the bucket compared with how many people are successfully withdrawing on a daily basis, and this is where people with issues come to complain. I'm not very concerned because what we see time and time again from Bovada is that they pay out on legit accounts.

[RedApples]

Almost seems like its the exfes,doubledragon,Cloudbet guy trying to prove a point.

[vampire assassin]

Rat.....are these claims legit or is Bovada in some type of trouble? Enquiring minds wanna know............

Bovada has paid out 100k to me in the last several weeks. I don't think they are having any issues.

[Woyha]

Just cashed out 2 k in bitcoin done in 1 hour .. costed myself the bonus after this post scared me I ,was stupid and hedged bet and declined 50 pct cash bonus goofy me ..

[DontTailMe]

Bovada has paid out 100k to me in the last several weeks. I don't think they are having any issues.

Oh, so it’s all YOUR fault! ;-)

[DISTROYA]

[PD77]

How did you turn 9k into 40k? Casino?

[DeeDeeKing]

"How did you turn 9k into 40k? Casino?"

Parlay on major tournament.

[PD77]

"How did you turn 9k into 40k? Casino?"

Parlay on major tournament.

interesting, are you a crypto trader?

[nyplayer33]

Whats the entire story

[RedApples]

Let's see some actual proof of this. I still have the hunch this is the Cloudbet guy trying to prove some double standard point.

[DeeDeeKing]

1. No I'm not a crypto trader
2. There's not much more to the story than I already posted. Feel free to ask specifics. It's as simple as it sounds. They asked for my id, a selfie, and a bill after I won and requested some of my money. I provided them everything they asked for. They paid, unlocked the account, then the next day they locked it again. I reached out to them and after an hour on live chat they asked for a number to call me, I told them the same number in my account, I told them to call anytime that day or after 12PM the next day. They said they would call. When they didn't I contacted them again and after a back and forth on live chat they sent an email saying that they were "voiding" my account balance. I wish I could tell you more. But I don't know, they wouldn't speak to me on the phone, refused to give me a number to call, and never told me what I supposedly did other than broke terms and conditions.
3. I have no idea what cloudbet is. Like I said in my first comment this is the first time I ever played at a sportsbook where you need to send money up front. What kind of proof would you like? I have no issues providing details but I don't want Bovada to use that against me as an excuse to not pay.

[RedApples]

1. No I'm not a crypto trader
2. There's not much more to the story than I already posted. Feel free to ask specifics. It's as simple as it sounds. They asked for my id, a selfie, and a bill after I won and requested some of my money. I provided them everything they asked for. They paid, unlocked the account, then the next day they locked it again. I reached out to them and after an hour on live chat they asked for a number to call me, I told them the same number in my account, I told them to call anytime that day or after 12PM the next day. They said they would call. When they didn't I contacted them again and after a back and forth on live chat they sent an email saying that they were "voiding" my account balance. I wish I could tell you more. But I don't know, they wouldn't speak to me on the phone, refused to give me a number to call, and never told me what I supposedly did other than broke terms and conditions.
3. I have no idea what cloudbet is. Like I said in my first comment this is the first time I ever played at a sportsbook where you need to send money up front. What kind of proof would you like? I have no issues providing details but I don't want Bovada to use that against me as an excuse to not pay.

• Get an email saying I violated terms (don't say which one) and they are "voiding" my balance of 30 thousand. WTF!!!!

Show email. Let's see what they are saying. Next time save chat transcripts too. There is usually more to the story when the other side is heard and/or seen.

[themike78]

I'm guessing it involves a "friends" account. It always involves a "friends" account.

[DeeDeeKing]

Here's a screen shot of the email. The date and time are at the top. I don't think there's anything there beyond what I posted.

[themike78]

Let's see some actual proof of this. I still have the hunch this is the Cloudbet guy trying to prove some double standard point.

No. The cloudebet guy was 10 times more annoying and also the cloudbet guy posted emails dating back 10 years ago from sportsbooks. And also I think he posted his entire life story including where he was born and what his first job was.

[DeeDeeKing]

Nope, no friends account. My account. But I am really shocked that people think that it's somehow OK for a company to take 25,000 from a customer when the money was won off a bet that they took.

[themike78]

Nope, no friends account. My account. But I am really shocked that people think that it's somehow OK for a company to take 25,000 from a customer when the money was won off a bet that they took.

I'm not saying you are lying but I've seen hundreds of times with others that they had multiple accounts and got caught. It's just hard to believe that Bovada which is a top 5 book and been around forever would just steal your money. I don't think they would risk their reputation by stealing $25000 which is pennies to them. Good luck. If you are telling the truth I hope you get your money.

[DeeDeeKing]

Thank you and sorry if I came across rude. I agree it makes no sense that they would do that. But you can look at the email, there's no mention of anything I supposedly, why they're doing what they're doing, just some vague reference to a player agreement and terms. If I was going to take someone's money, and for a lot less than 25 grand, I'd lay out why I was doing it, or offer some sort of proof. All I got was that email.

[ace7550]

Let SBR go to work for you. If everything you say is legit you'll get your money. People are skeptical here because whenever a brand new poster comes on SBR and says that an A+ book ripped them off it's always a load of shit. Somehow or Some way you have triggered something in their system that makes them think you are scamming them.
By any chance, did you login from an IP address at the same time that someone else was also logged into Bovada from that same IP address?

[RedApples]

Here's a screen shot of the email. The date and time are at the top. I don't think there's anything there beyond what I posted.

So thats the only information you have? Nothing after that? I'm sure you asked them? What did they say? The OP says you wound up getting $5,000 back, so it sounds like there was more communication after.

If thats the only thing they told you, and offered up no other reasons or explanations for why you got banned, then thats horrible... and you should be finding out reasons why soon I'd imagine. If thats what you're looking for, you came to the right place.

Can you confirm the above?

[RedApples]

Nope, no friends account. My account. But I am really shocked that people think that it's somehow OK for a company to take 25,000 from a customer when the money was won off a bet that they took.

Well, you're acting like you haven't broken any rules, and if you haven't then you have nothing to worry about. If you have, you're going to be found out to be as shady and lacking transparency and forthrightness as your OP tries to illustrate a completely different story.

In the end, don't worry.. You'll get paid if you are being a straight shooter and honest.

[DoubleRedDragon]

this is what all the cool offshore books do these days. Good luck OP.

[PD77]

1. No I'm not a crypto trader
2. There's not much more to the story than I already posted. Feel free to ask specifics. It's as simple as it sounds.

One thing you have to understand is that the SBR community as a whole is very skeptical of first time posters making similar claims, for a very good reason. Most of them are working a scam of some sort but there are plenty that are simply getting worked over by supposedly A rated books. From what you have described you seem to be a straight shooter but I do have a couple of questions. You said this is your first time playing at a post up shop and you are not a crypto trader. Did you deposit at Bovada using Bitcoin? If so, why would you think it was a good idea to purchase 15.5K worth of Bitcoin and send it to a sportbook located in Costa Rica? Perhaps SBR can explain to Bovada that you are a high roller that likes to deposit large amounts and go all in on parlays. That may clear it up. What was the bet or bets that turned 9K in to 40k?

[DontTailMe]

this is what all the cool offshore books do these days. Good luck OP.

Anyone who pays attention around here know that the good books (which Bovada belongs to) don't do this unless the customer has been caught scamming. @RedApples is correct. If OP is innocent then he has nothing to worry about. The Bovada message OP posted implies that they believe he has opened multiple accounts - they asked him to "refrain from opening any another accounts" (plural).

[ShanghaiBeijing1]

The Bovada message OP posted implies that they believe he has opened multiple accounts - they asked him to "refrain from opening any another accounts" (plural).

Then why not just tell him this explicitly? This whole ‘prove your innocence’ posture is absurd. If he broke one of their T&Cs then so be it, but there’s no reason I can think of as to why a book would not be transparent about this if this in fact has been investigated and the matter is considered closed by Bovada.

[DontTailMe]

Then why not just tell him this explicitly? This whole ‘prove your innocence’ posture is absurd. If he broke one of their T&Cs then so be it, but there’s no reason I can think of as to why a book would not be transparent about this if this in fact has been investigated and the matter is considered closed by Bovada.

You'll see this in any industry, not just offshore gambling. Corporate security is often vague as to what type of fraud or transgression they believe you committed, and they are light on details. They don't want to train cheaters on how to get away with cheating better, and that's what providing information does.

[gym rat]

Then why not just tell him this explicitly? This whole ‘prove your innocence’ posture is absurd. If he broke one of their T&Cs then so be it, but there’s no reason I can think of as to why a book would not be transparent about this if this in fact has been investigated and the matter is considered closed by Bovada.

For the multiple accounts, what is the main reasons for this type of abuse. I believe the max deposit bonus is $1000 however I could be wrong. But why would someone who is depositing thousands of dollars and clearly wagering large screw around with multiple accounts for maybe an extra thousand dollars in bonuses. It doesn't make sense to me.

I know BAS is offering a generous 50% Freeplay bonus up to $5K in bonuses however I don't think Bovada is offering that large of a bonus.

I'm a little concerned that there are several Bovada threads lately regarding disabling accounts and not willing to divulge much info to their customers and in addition it appears communication is very poor. Are they using a new security system now that suddenly has detected many of their current cheaters or why the wave all of a sudden with Bovada complaints?

I took a bonus on my first deposit and planning a withdrawal after elections. I will see first hand soon how my first withdrawal goes.