BBD's Sportsbook of the week is ABCIslands

[bigboydan]

This week I decided to share my experiences with ABCIslands (SBR rated B)

The last time I played with them was during the baseball season, because they offered a dime line, and higher limits on prop bets than TheGreek and Bookmaker.

ABCIslands based out of Costa Rica has been around since 1996 and is part of the DPT Sports Group. Like their sister book Jazz, they caters to professional players without cutting limits, and is one of few books that are extremely upfront with their "steam chasing/syndicate" rules.

Even though they don't really give out bonuses at all (never got one BTW). They do on occasion give out some to a few of their more squarer type players. Now as far as their customer service goes. Like some other books out there the customer service is Ok and all, but it really could use a little bit of improvement IMO.


The one thing I really disliked about them was their banking options....

For depositing they only offer for U.S. players like myself. They only offer [iSBRFORUM]**[/iSBRFORUM], [iSBRFORUM]**[/iSBRFORUM], Cashier's Checks, and B2B transfers with Cris/Bookmaker. (In case anyone cares they do offer [iSBRFORUM]Neteller[/iSBRFORUM] for non-U.S. players though)

For withdrawing they offer the same options as I posted above, however there charges are a bit ridiculous. For example they charge $80 for a Fedex check from $500- $2000, and usually takes you about a week to receive it. If your going to make a withdraw from their at all use the B2B transfer to Cris for free.

How do you guys like them, because my overall assessment is a B+ rating.

[HedgeHog]

ABC is one of my favorite places. Ties win on teasers. Fair amount of props including adjusted lines. I wish they had more transfer options, other than just Cris/Book. Agree with B+ rating.

[Stumpage]

But do they even offer book to book transfers?

For the longest time, and as recently as August, they offered b2b transfers with Pinnacle and Cris, but good luck trying to accomplish that. Even though the option was right there on their withdrawal options page, they in fact would not allow one to use that method.

http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-talk/37490-jazz-abcislands-downgraded-b-b.html?highlight=abcislands+book+to

Apparently, this was going to be rectified, but what if it hasn't? Wasn't (Isn't) this just a case of complete and open deception on their part?

[Ortho]

(In case anyone cares they do offer [iSBRFORUM]Neteller[/iSBRFORUM] for non-U.S. players though)

Not according to support when I talked to them two weeks ago.

I like this book and would like to play there further but for me, no neteller = no deal.

[Gurni]

I like this book and would like to play there further but for me, no neteller = no deal.

When i played there during the MLB season, i was able to deposit with Neteller, but ABC´s Neteller account was mostly dry..they said cashouts are only available after someone deposited, and they do not fund their Neteller account anymore.

But i got my money out by transfering it to CRIS, this was done in a matter of minutes and without fees.
But if you don´t have a CRIS account, or don´t want to use them, it is bad.

Otherwise they are a good book, i hate the software thou..it is very unstable for me, and i got many page cannot be displayed errors..

[katstale]

I haven't played there. Am considering it. Complaints lodged here while valid and mild will still hold them back from major business. Have heard the software stinks--numerous times. You would think with ASI out there and used by most of the major books--places would just bite the bullet and pay for that proven technology.

BBD is correct--if they just corrected a few minor things--they would be an A rated book in no time.

[bigboydan]

Otherwise they are a good book, i hate the software thou..it is very unstable for me, and i got many page cannot be displayed errors..

Well your right about that Gurni, because S/W could stand to use some improvements. I put up with it though due to the fact that they offered what I was looking for in a book during the baseball season (dime lines and generous prop limits).

[bigboydan]

ABC is one of my favorite places. Ties win on teasers. Fair amount of props including adjusted lines. I wish they had more transfer options, other than just Cris/Book. Agree with B+ rating.

They also have Pinnacle as a B2B option, however since I'm in the states. I couldn't play there for obvious reasons.

I really wish they would add more books to their book-to-book transfers list, because I would probably be playing there more than I do.

[RickySteve]

Since when is transferring money into CRIS free?

[bigboydan]

Since when is transferring money into CRIS free?

Don't know the exact date they implemented this rule Ricky. However, never the less they offer it as you can see below:

List of Approved Sportsbooks:


1. Cris
2. Pinnacle

Customers are given one free transaction per week. Any extra transfers cost $25 each.

http://abcislands.com/banking/approved_sb_list.php

[RickySteve]

I meant the incoming transfer to CRIS. I've always been informed that this was subject to a $50 fee.

[bigboydan]

I meant the incoming transfer to CRIS. I've always been informed that this was subject to a $50 fee.

Thats only if you do more than one transfer per week Ricky, and it's a $25 for each additional B2B transfer.

In fact below is a live chat session I had with them just now stating that is indeed the case.

Harvey : I was thinking about signing up at your book, and I noticed they you accepted book-to-book transfers with Cris/Bookmaker. My question is do you charge any fees if I were to transfer funds from there to here?

You are now speaking with Kelvin of Customer Support.

Kelvin: no sir we don't charge any fee

Kelvin: from them to us or to us to them

Harvey : so you don't charge any fees at all in regards to book to book transfers at anytime?

Kelvin: that's right

Harvey : ok, I just wanted to make sure of that, because thats exactly what I was looking for.

Kelvin: ok no problem the only thing is that we have a limit us transfer per week but some timews we can do more than other weeks

Kelvin: it depends on how many we have done through out that week

Harvey : yes, I did notice the extra transfer fee of $25 if I were to do that more than once a week.

Harvey : i appreciate you answering my questions.

Harvey : cya

Kelvin: no problem

Kelvin: bye

Your party has left this session.

[RickySteve]

BBD, I'm talking about the CRIS side.

[bigboydan]

Ricky, I wish it was only $50 on the Cris side. However it's double that, and escalates after that.

Heres a live chat session I just had with Bookmaker/Cris just now on the subject:

Chat InformationPlease wait for a site operator to respond.

Chat InformationYou are now chatting with 'CS - Jose'

CS - Jose: Welcome to the Live Chat Support. How may I help you today?

ERINE : i was wondering if you do book-to-book transfers? If so who do you do them with

CS - Jose: yes we do

CS - Jose: which book you're looking for

ERINE : abcislands and jazz

CS - Jose: let me check one moment

ERINE : ok

CS - Jose: yes we deal with both

ERINE : ok cool

CS - Jose: the minimum amount to transfer is $ 300

CS - Jose: fess $ 300 to $ 5000 $ 100

CS - Jose: $ 5001 to $ 9999 $ 200

CS - Jose: 10k up $ 300

ERINE : so it's a $100 each time i send $300 or more back to ABC or Jazz?

CS - Jose: yes

ERINE : let me think about it and i'll get back to you.

ERINE : thanks for your time. cya

CS - Jose: sure

CS - Jose: You are welcome!

CS - Jose: Thank you for contacting Customer Service Live Chat. Have a nice day.

.

[RickySteve]

Yes, those are the (exorbitant) outgoing transfer fees at CRIS.

In reference to this thread, I was talking about the fee that CRIS charges to receive a transfer from another book, i.e. ABCIslands. I've always been told that this costs $50, but maybe the policy has changed in the last 9 months.