View photos of 5Dimes(SBR rating A) here. 5Dimes is located in the Equus building in San Jose, Costa Rica.

TheCasinoFiles(SBR rating F) goes offline; blames turnkey provider, Futurebet. This situation illustrates the problems that can occur with turnkey partnerships where neither party claims responsibility for player funds. The webmaster refers to owed players and advises them to pursue their funds with Futurebet directly. TheCasinoFiles.com message goes on to suggest players come back to the site when they make another attempt to operate with a different provider. Players with Futurebet are reporting no-pays on a daily basis.

We regret to inform you that the casino and or sportsbook that you had created an account for with thecasinofiles.com is no longer available for your wagers. The website links to the casino games and sportsbook that you have been using are now offline.
This website has been using the licensee ’Future Bet’ for the casino and sportbook wagering. We have heard too many complaints from players of not getting paid for their withdrawls by Future Bet or slow paying that can take months. We feel that a company that operates like this seems to be having major financial problems. This website has elected to change to a gaming provider that has been operating properly for years and paying the players. The new casino and sportsbook will appear here soon.
We recommend that you withdraw any funds that you have in your account with Future Bet immediately.

BetPlatinum(SBR rating C-) players complain of payout delays. One user reports waiting three weeks. Management tells SBR they incurred large losses due to an unadvised 30% cash bonus offer promoted by the book’s marketing department; and admits their Neteller merchant account has been under-funded for over one week. SBR has confirmed that at least one player has been paid in full today. Platinum states that they can process payouts through methods other than Neteller. Those waiting for a withdrawals should contact SBR.

BetAttack(SBR rating F+) owner tells SBR they will be off-line for up to four months. The Austrian-based exchange-style sportsbook blames their problems on credit card processors and frozen funds, but states that all clients have been paid in full. Players who believe they are owed by BetAttack should contact SBR with their account number.
2/21/2006 (11:37:57 PM) Update: Player comes forward with 3000 Euro no-pay claim. BetAttack tells client they "can not pay at this time".

Read his current previews, projections and commentary on the White Sox, Astros, Angels and Cardinals here, and check back each day for a new team writeup leading up to Opening Day.

office tour: SBR’s latest photo shoot covers one of the nicest offices in the business. The Nine building has been remodeled to promote the brand, which is now owned by A+ rated VIP Sports. View photos here.

February’s results were the best to date with an average rating of B- and only one sportsbook failing to respond to the player’s inquiries. SBR will be performing email tests on a monthly basis targeting all departments of the bookmaking operation.

Hubie Bickerstaff was in need of a new sportsbook and contacted 12 books via email hoping to make an informed decision. View email test results here.

Owner, Ali Eltaib, tells SBR about the early lessons learned as a credit-player’s sportsbook trying to establish a presence in the post-up business. Ali recalls initially sustaining losses due to poor marketing decisions and over-generous deposit bonuses. Although this bookmaker is attempting to succeed offering reduced juice, Platinum is taking steps toward a more sustainable business model. Online wagering limits and bonus maximums have been reduced and professional action has been limited. PSB, having just completed its sophomore football season, has been upgraded to C- and will be further evaluated after latest website upgrades are complete. The book is still attempting to find its niche and players should use caution while PSB is tested further. View PlatinumSportsBets office photos here.

SBR has been made aware of large players being slow paid. However, slow paying large players is hardly new to BetRoyal and more like standard operating procedure at least for the past two years. SBR does not have first hand knowledge or supporting information to warrant a downgrade from the current SBR D rating at this time although players should take EOG  warnings seriously.

A look into Costa Rican start-upNew sportsbook NoJuiceSports (SBR rating D+) allows SBR to photograph its extremely small facility. The offices are located in Building #3 of Oficentro La Sabana in San Jose, Costa Rica. SBR appreciates NoJuice’s open-door policy. View NoJuiceSports pictures here.

VIP Sports is the most active buyer. YouWager, BetRoyal and many smaller books are all said to be Sellers actively seeking buyouts. BetCRIS could also be a Buyer under the right circumstances which recently has focused on bailing out small operators. BetWWTS has made several trips and has signed at least one confidentiality agreement although we are unaware of any serious interest. Betting sites who have had made M&A headlines in the recent past that appear to be holding pat; Hollywood, BoDog, SportsInteraction are said to be no longer active Sellers. Smaller operations such as BetMaker, YouWager and Sportbet along with operations that have difficult reputations such as Royal Sports have mostly signed confidentiality agreements giving buyers a chance to possibly make an offer. SBR expects a pick-up in M&A activity despite rising valuations.  

The following sportsbooks have been identified as part of SCAM company EZ Sports: SurvivorSportsbook, Sportsbettings and BasketballSportsbetting. SBR consistently receives no-pay complaints from sister sportsbooks, like BetonSportsOnline (SBR rating F).