Matchbook sold to betting syndicate???

[heyman]

So, who wants to go on record with their sources? Who are they, where do they work, and how do they know it?

Since that won't happen I'll get (real) concerned if the commissions are increased.

I think MB's big problem was giving credit. When you take a million dollar loss you start looking for buyers. I think they have got the wrong model anyway and I am sure in the coming weeks I will be able to make a very strong case for that.

I thought that old unsubstantiated internet rumor was $500,000 - or are you referencing something else?

[lukahh]

why buy matchbook and license it in europe, thus losing majority of clientele and liquidity?!
i doubt they'd license it in europe.

[Max009]

Nothing like a little healthy competition.

Yeah, probably closer to the gunfight at the OK corral with myself cast in the role of the Earp Brothers and Doc Holiday....I am your huckleberry......lol.

[Max009]

So, who wants to go on record with their sources? Who are they, where do they work, and how do they know it?

Since that won't happen I'll get (real) concerned if the commissions are increased.



I thought that old unsubstantiated internet rumor was $500,000 - or are you referencing something else?

Certainly, this is where I draw my info....SBR John stated in a thread that Matchbook had lost $500,000 giving credit to Lenny from Cascade. Later someone said that the money was lost by giving credit to an agent who was working with Lenny. Either way that seems a decent source.

It was widely reported that Ken from EOG lost a huge credit wager, $500,000 or so, with MB shortly before he committed suicide.

Both claims not substantiated by MB of course but also not denied by MB or any of the MB shills either.

When MB was an advertiser here there were threads about them being bailed out due to credit losses and they never commented on that either. Also, MB never mentions anywhere on their site that they give credit to certain customers.

Fact, if you extend credit there will be credit losses, so it is not surprising that MB would have some credit losses.

[katstale]

I am just hoping they can keep their api up and working and that the folks who bought them have deeper pockets than the ones who sold them.

[Max009]

I am just hoping they can keep their api up and working and that the folks who bought them have deeper pockets than the ones who sold them.

What are the features their API allows you to do? If you don't mind answering.

[chance]

Very interesting!!!

[heyman]

Certainly, this is where I draw my info....SBR John stated in a thread that Matchbook had lost $500,000 giving credit to Lenny from Cascade. Later someone said that the money was lost by giving credit to an agent who was working with Lenny. Either way that seems a decent source. It was widely reported that Ken from EOG lost a huge credit wager, $500,000 or so, with MB shortly before he committed suicide.

I don’t remember what I read when these were being discussed awhile ago, and I thought those two $500,000 rumors were one. I just remember my reaction to what I read; I tossed it aside as internet rumors and it didn’t worry me.

SBR admitted that they have had no contact with matchbook, so what are his sources? How does he know this? In the other thread he stated that other Costa Rican sportsbooks signed non-disclosure agreements to discuss buying matchbook. So his sources are his own business partners, people who broke their word and the law by leaking negative information about their competitor. Color me skeptical.

Both claims not substantiated by MB of course but also not denied by MB or any of the MB shills either.

When MB was an advertiser here there were threads about them being bailed out due to credit losses and they never commented on that either.

Max009 never denied my comments that he hasn’t stopped molesting neighborhood children.

Fact, if you extend credit there will be credit losses, so it is not surprising that MB would have some credit losses.

There will also be earnings from this credit department.

Also, MB never mentions anywhere on their site that they give credit to certain customers.

How is this different than other big books. Most (all?) big books offer credit, why is this only an issue for matchbook?

[Dark Horse]

Grinch, heyman, your favorite MB tune tape again?

Don't look now but, err, .... it's not even the topic of this thread. lol

But don't let that little detail spoil your appetite.

Looks like they sold the joint. There's a clue.

[Max009]

I don’t remember what I read when these were being discussed awhile ago, and I thought those two $500,000 rumors were one. I just remember my reaction to what I read; I tossed it aside as internet rumors and it didn’t worry me.

SBR admitted that they have had no contact with matchbook, so what are his sources? How does he know this? In the other thread he stated that other Costa Rican sportsbooks signed non-disclosure agreements to discuss buying matchbook. So his sources are his own business partners, people who broke their word and the law by leaking negative information about their competitor. Color me skeptical.






Max009 never denied my comments that he hasn’t stopped molesting neighborhood children.




There will also be earnings from this credit department.




How is this different than other big books. Most (all?) big books offer credit, why is this only an issue for matchbook?

Generally speaking I think after like 10 years in Costa Rica the SBR guys are pretty well connected. That doesnt mean they are perfect but I would classify them as knowledgeable about what goes on in the industry especially the US facing books.

If you advertise at a place and there are threads stating your company is having financial trouble with credit losses you would hope you would have enough sense to either contact the mods and delete the threads or come on and refute the issue yourself if it wasn't true. Just because they don't refute it or ignore doesn't mean it is true but it sure is strange.

Some books do have credit operations but they are not exchanges. So on an exchange who is giving the credit, MB or the other player who is matching the offer? Not saying it is bad necessarily but a credit operation on an exchange sort of defeats the purpose in some respects.

Any business that operates with credit always has an allowance for bad debt......do all those big banks in the US who are broke ring a bell.....credit can create profits and often does and it can create losses so stories about gamblers not paying their credit debts (shocking I know) are a reality for the credit side of the business.

Finally, they did sell the business. Another odd move given what should be a huge upside for that business. There are only two exchanges facing the US right now, Matchbook and the Parlaymakers Exchange and Parlaymakers is just getting started so its not even a player in the exchange world (soon to change by the way) so they basically have the entire North American market to themselves and they just sold out, confirmed by one of their biggest forum guys (fishhead). You also mentioned some other thread about people interested in buying them.

Businesses with huge upside usually attract investors but aren't shopped around and then sold off unless there is a good reason.

I wish them all the best, I really do, we worked with them previously and I hope the new sale works great for them. We learned a lot working with them and we learned about what the potential of an exchange could be by observing them in the marketplace.

[durito]

If they had huge upside every offshore book wouldn't have passed. They were asking something absurdly low for over a year and got nothing.

[bookie]

Max have you figured out a way for your exchange users not to have to pay two percent of "to win" amount to GP?

[OldSchool75]

Let me know when and if they start making changes like taking ** or ** and canning alot of their indifferent customer service people.

[RickySteve]

There are only two exchanges facing the US right now, Matchbook and the Parlaymakers Exchange

Betmaker?

[heyman]

That was a well reasoned response.

Generally speaking I think after like 10 years in Costa Rica the SBR guys are pretty well connected. That doesnt mean they are perfect but I would classify them as knowledgeable about what goes on in the industry especially the US facing books.

Those connections don’t seem to be with matchbook.

If you advertise at a place and there are threads stating your company is having financial trouble with credit losses you would hope you would have enough sense to either contact the mods and delete the threads or come on and refute the issue yourself if it wasn't true. Just because they don't refute it or ignore doesn't mean it is true but it sure is strange.

I know people feel that way, but I don’t know why having a PR spokesman for the book posting empty assurances that things are fine would do much good. Matchbook just keeps paying everyone and delivering the best odds, that’s the best PR.

Any business that operates with credit always has an allowance for bad debt......do all those big banks in the US who are broke ring a bell.....credit can create profits and often does and it can create losses so stories about gamblers not paying their credit debts (shocking I know) are a reality for the credit side of the business.

I haven’t been at all convinced that they are broke from their credit department and there haven’t been even any new rumors (for those that like rumors), just the old oft-repeated ones. The bad banks analogy doesn’t work.

Finally, they did sell the business. Another odd move given what should be a huge upside for that business…and they just sold out, confirmed by one of their biggest forum guys (fishhead). You also mentioned some other thread about people interested in buying them.

The previous thread SBR stated that WSEX was selling off their share of matchbook, that it was a large share and that matchbook has a lot of debt but it is not threatening. I’ve already stated why I’d be skeptical of this report.

Fishhead works for matchbook?

Businesses with huge upside usually attract investors but aren't shopped around and then sold off unless there is a good reason.

Quite a few guys during the dot com highs sold to larger companies. They worked hard and bought themselves complete financial independence and a high standard of living at a young age. There could be any number of reasons to sell. I dislike the terms sellout and soldout.

I wish them all the best, I really do, we worked with them previously and I hope the new sale works great for them. We learned a lot working with them and we learned about what the potential of an exchange could be by observing them in the marketplace.

When was the last time you were in contact with them? Any firsthand information you’d like to share about the newest potential developments?

[Max009]

Betmaker?

I actually looked at betmaker before I made that post and didnt see a single offer on any NCAA or NFL. After I saw your post I contacted their live chat which worked well and they said they would be putting up some offers soon. I now see that they do have some offers for NCAA tomorrow but nothing yet for the NFL.

So you are correct, there are 3.

[Max009]

Max have you figured out a way for your exchange users not to have to pay two percent of "to win" amount to GP?

We will be introducing some stuff next week with our rewards program which will be a great cashback program to offset some of those expenses. Also, an incentive program to make offers on the exchange, all coming out late next week. There will be quite a lot going on next week, we are really looking forward to it.

[Max009]

That was a well reasoned response.



Those connections don’t seem to be with matchbook.




I know people feel that way, but I don’t know why having a PR spokesman for the book posting empty assurances that things are fine would do much good. Matchbook just keeps paying everyone and delivering the best odds, that’s the best PR.




I haven’t been at all convinced that they are broke from their credit department and there haven’t been even any new rumors (for those that like rumors), just the old oft-repeated ones. The bad banks analogy doesn’t work.




The previous thread SBR stated that WSEX was selling off their share of matchbook, that it was a large share and that matchbook has a lot of debt but it is not threatening. I’ve already stated why I’d be skeptical of this report.

Fishhead works for matchbook?




Quite a few guys during the dot com highs sold to larger companies. They worked hard and bought themselves complete financial independence and a high standard of living at a young age. There could be any number of reasons to sell. I dislike the terms sellout and soldout.




When was the last time you were in contact with them? Any firsthand information you’d like to share about the newest potential developments?

You are giving the impression that you have intimate knowledge of what happens at Matchbook, why don't you share what you know? At the beginning of the year I put in our blog at Parlaymakers what our experience was with them. I am just making observations on what gets reported and by who, some of it I find credible and other stuff I don't.

The general story seems to fit, Matchbook offers credit, Matchbook has some credit losses, Matchbook looks for some buyers/investors, Matchbook is sold. The stories come from a variety of places and appear to fit that general pattern. I wish those guys all the best and hope the new arrangement works great for them.

[minet123]

We will be introducing some stuff next week with our rewards program which will be a great cashback program to offset some of those expenses. Also, an incentive program to make offers on the exchange, all coming out late next week. There will be quite a lot going on next week, we are really looking forward to it.

Max answer your emails

[offshoregenius77]

Max,
Can you give some details as to how it will work? I like your set-up, but I guess i question how logical it is for you to allow offers to supercede your lines.....

Thx
OG

[marriedtothegame]

One would figure they sold because they thought it was the best move for them period and now there are new owners. The rest seems speculative and at this point not real important.

[TomG]

If this rumor is true, it would be a major conflict of interest. Ownership has access to every player's betting history and could use that information to identify their sharpest players. Then whenever one of those players makes a significant offer, they could use the information to steal their plays.

[kmarinouofm]

MATCHBOOK is the nuts for U.S. punters.

fishhead school me please and i will give u some points.. i have always wondered where the hell this term came from..

i know it's an english thing..

"punters"

[Max009]

fishhead school me please and i will give u some points.. i have always wondered where the hell this term came from..

i know it's an english thing..

"punters"

Just an English slang term for paying customer, usually referring to gamblers or customers in brothels.

[sportsfanatic]

Matchbook just keeps paying everyone and delivering the best odds, that’s the best PR.

THIS. I rate Matchbook A+.

[sdtrader]

I can tell they specialize in soccer betting, its Sunday and all they advertise for live betting is soccer. I know they also have live betting for all the NFL games but live soccer is all over the front page.

[kmarinouofm]

I can tell they specialize in soccer betting, its Sunday and all they advertise for live betting is soccer. I know they also have live betting for all the NFL games but live soccer is all over the front page.

what book is that .

[sdtrader]

According to whoever started this thread Matchbook, the popular betting exchange based in Antigua, has been sold to a group of investors led by an English betting syndicate specializing in soccer wagering.

[Hareeba!]

Just an English slang term for paying customer, usually referring to gamblers or customers in brothels.

Yes, I see that's what Wikipedia has to say about the term but in Australia it has become far more than just slang and I've never heard it used in connection with brothel patrons.

It is pretty well exclusively used to describe those betting on horses and sports and there are any number of publications, media programs and even associations which use the terms punter and punting in that context.

The Macqauarie dictionary defines it:
1. one who lays bets on contestants, esp. horses or dogs in races
2. one who pays for services, entertainment etc
no reference to it being a slang term

[LegitBet]

they are a pain in the ass for US players to deposit....or have gone back to taking CC's?
thanks

[laconic]

According to whoever started this thread Matchbook, the popular betting exchange based in Antigua, has been sold to a group of investors led by an English betting syndicate specializing in soccer wagering.

Really, English? Well I'd guess Tony Bloom in that case.

[Peregrine Stoop]

MATCHBOOK is the nuts for U.S. punters.

if you're handicapping for cheeseburgers

[sdtrader]

they are a pain in the ass for US players to deposit....or have gone back to taking CC's?
thanks

They still don't take credit cards to my knowledge but they have this instant deposit method that I haven't tried yet.

[sdtrader]

instant deposit deposit I mean

[RonPaul2008]

So Matchbook and WSEX both went down at the same time during MNF. Does this show that they are still connected financially?