SPORTSBOOK REVIEW NEWSWIRES

Portlandbet (not rated) wagering down as of July 1st
Multiple players have complained that the sportsbook has removed its phone number from its website, is not returning emails, and is no longer taking wagers. A forum poster at moneysavingexpert.com reports receiving the following message from the Australian Gambling Commission:
"As of the 1st July 2008, Portland bet is no longer trading. Their financial position is currently being assessed. The Commission is working with Portlandbet on obtaining a list of outstanding debts owed to punters. As required by all sports bookmakers when first licensed, a security guarantee has been lodged with the Commission which is designed to cover unpaid punters funds up to the limit of the guarantee. Portland bet or the Commission are currently not in a position to give any definitive advice on when any outstanding debts may be settled. When the Commission receives the full list of all account holders and any outstanding amounts these will be considered in due course in the context of the security guarantee and any other funds that may be available.
I have taken note of your contact details and will notify you of any further developments.
Yours sincerely
Bruce Waugh
Compliance and Investigations
Gambling and Racing Commission"
Many of the players are rightfully upset that the sportsbook took their deposit days before taking the wagering platform off-line. The Australian-based sportsbook was last off-line on 12/23/07, warning players of payout delays. The bookmaker reopened in February.

BetChance (SBR rating F) deactivates accounts; continues emailing to players with take-it-or-leave-it settlement offer

BetChance is no longer pretending to take bets or allowing players to look at their balance. The book's homepage gives players' the message that the "operation is suspended for technical problems" and it "apologizes for any inconvenient.." The Malta-licensed sportsbook baited players with large deposit bonuses and advantageous lines and pricing. Some players have been pursuing their funds from BetChance for nearly one year. History suggests, despite what BetChance offers or arranges with players, the book will continue to stall and will not pay. Multiple players have stated that their opinion is the book will only pay if somehow leveraged to do so by The Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta and will hold out hope for their full balance. The LGA issued small payments to players on behalf of no-pay sportsbook Playbanks in March, months after the book had closed.

Regards, Betchance Limited

WagerStreet (SBR rating B+) down due to server problems. WagerStreet tells SBR the issue is being addressed and the website is expected to be online by tomorrow. Players can reach customer service at 888-628-2873.

New Bet911 (SBR rating D-) player complains of stalled payouts
The sportsbook was downgraded to D- earlier this month after two players filed new payout complaints. Bet911 shows signs of trying to survive until it can obtain funds from new players at the start of football season. Like USDbet (SBR rating F), the small sportsbook's marketing efforts were directed to players on posting forums. Bet911 advertisement banners currently promote a 100% bonus.

BookTheBet (SBR rating F) player reports new no-pay case
Player: I have an account with bookthebet.com. The person I have been dealing with the last year is named George. The 1-800 number goes directly to his Cell Phone in Costa Rica. I have always been able to get a hold of him. I have over $6000 In my account and now for the last 14 days when I call it goes directly to his voicemail and I receive no response to my emails. The site is still operational though accepting bets.

The last BookTheBet victim reported being stiffed $7,000 in May of 2007. BookTheBet ownership operated PornSportsbook (SBR rating F) until earlier this year. The book is now off-line.

Nine new withdrawal complaints filed in 2008 by Europlay players
The sportsbook was downgraded to F today after the ninth Europlay victim of 2008 reported his account in delinquent status. These recent no-pay complaints total an amount owed of over $11,000. Requests date back to 2007. One player has contacted the Trade Commissioner at the Austrian Embassy. He was told the bookmaker is not listed as a registered business. It is unknown if the book has an office in Austria. SBR has confirmed the book's server is in the country. SBR is currently requesting banking information from players in an effort to gain more information about the operation's status.

Trade Commissioner : We refer to your e-mail of 17 April 2008 and fear that you have fallen victim to a website (http://www.europlay.at) which has been set up with fraudulent intention. We have made our own investigations and ascertained the following facts:
A similar website http://www.europlay2000.net already exists and is run by the Austrian company Unternehmensgruppe Lindenau using the trade name Europlay Sportwettcafes. They are located at Andritzer Reichsstrasse 56, A-8045 Graz, Tel. 0043 316 697869, Fax: 0043 316 697869-12, email: office@europlay2000.net, and are not connected in any way with Europlay International.
With regard to Europlay International in Austria we could not trace a company by this name. The telephone number 0043 3182 62230 is not a Graz telephone number. At the address Münzgrabenstrasse 86, A-8010 Graz, used to be a company by the name of BT-Montage Schlosserei, Maschinen- u. Rohrleitungsbau GmbH which has moved to Salzburg and is now insolvent. What business is currently located at this address, we do not know. We have passed your e-mail to the regional Chamber of Commerce in Graz. We are sorry that we are unable to give you a more favourable reply.

BetChance (SBR rating F) player reports that the sportsbook informed him it will finally close
The player states the no-pay sportsbook called to offer him a settlement of 25% of his balance or the possibility of being paid in 20 months. BetChance has been unable to clear delinquent withdrawal requests for almost a year while teasing owed users with email updates about new ownership and small sporadic payments to a fortunate few. Most players do not expect to see any of their funds and now believe the empty promises and positive updates were part of the scam to remain operational in Malta while collecting from new depositors.

1SportWagering enters the SBR Rating Guide with an F rating. 1SportWagering is part of the EZ Sports Group. The most recent EZ Sports complaint came from a player with sister book Vegas-Sportsbetting (SBR rating F) in February. The player won almost $5,000 on a Giants Super Bowl futures wager. Shortly after requesting his winnings he was locked out of his account. The group has stiffed big futures winners in the past. The scam allows the book to take continous action on multiple teams through out the season, eventually stiffing only those who bet on the championship team. The majority of the EZ future bet bettors never realize they risked funds with nothing to gain.

USAsportsbook enters the SBR rating guide at F. USAsportsbook is the second Futurebet (now called iGaming Software) sportsbook to enter the SBR Rating Guide this week. SBR will continue to look for sports betting sites affiliated with the scam group. Futurebet is known to recycle sportsbook brands prior to football season.

888Sport enters the SBR Rating Guide at B
888's sports wagering center is serviced by BlueSquare (SBR rating A-). 888Sport.com is hosted on BlueSquare's servers, and utilizes the same Orbis software. The gaming giant partnered with BlueSquare in March to add sports betting to its poker and casino brand. 888's financial transactions and customer service will be handled in-house.

SBRforum is pleased to announce comedian Doug Stanhope will be performing at the SBR Bash in Las Vegas Saturday, August 23rd. SBRforum posters are invited to The SBR bash to be held August 22 - 23 at the Golden Nugget. The two day event will offer a golf and poker tournament, contest, raffles and banquet. Hotel rooms will be free to SBRforum posters with at least 100 posts. The SBR Bash will benefit the St. Judes Children's Hospital. | View details and register here!

New sportsbook, PokersDNA, enters rating guide at F
PokersDNA is the newest Futurebet Scam sportsbook to enter the SBR Rating Guide. Futurebet now calls itself iGamingSoftware or IGS and will deny it has any relation to Futurebet when questioned by prospective clients. Players can identify these fly-by-night websites by the platform's IGS ClickCashier banking system. Examples include https://account.clickcashier.com/oddsmaker/ and the unbranded version used by PokersDNA, https://account.clickcashier.com/IGS/. Players aware of an unrated clickcashier casino or sportsbook are urged to contact SBR.

Scam sportsbook USDbet (SBR rating F) soliciting new players it cannot pay

AscotSports (not rated) officially closed. Ascot has sold its casino business to 9 Technologies Sdn. and El Moro Finance Ltd. which will continue to operate the casino under AscotEcasino.com. Ascot sports bettors continue to withdraw funds from AscotSports.com.

Oddsmaker (SBR rating D-) cancels winning bets; cites bonus terms
A new player accepted a free $200 account offer from Oddsmaker. He also deposited $500 in order to increase the amount of money he could risk at once. The sportsbook confiscated all winnings including money won from the player's deposit. Oddsmaker states that the player made a parlay which is against the bonus terms and the reason for management's decision.

New player victim to sportsbook impersonator
Player: After hearing about how good Legendz was and that you gave it an A+ rating I decided to join. I went to LegendsSportsbook.com and sent 250 bucks! It wasnt until 2 week later when i tried to get there from SBRlines did i realize they were two different websites! I checked the rating guide and realised a scammer has my money.

Robbie, formerly of defunct Apex Sports (SBR rating F) is operating legendsportsbook.com which has attracted bettors looking for the real Legendz (SBR rating A+). SBR has warned players since 2006 of LasPalmasSportsbook.com after readers reported depositing in what they believed to be LasPalmas (SBR rating B-). Bettors should also beware of OceanSportsbook (SBR rating F) and AmericasBookie (SBR rating F). Both are part of this network of scam sites.

Third Enterbet (SBR rating D) reports slow-pay in two months
The player, who tells SBR this is only his 2nd payout request in seven years as a customer, asked for a $1500 payout in April but only received $500 one month later. Enterbet tells the player that challenges with "processing" are to blame. The sportsbook has at least two other players on payment plans which have not been honored. Enterbet, part of Goto Entertainment, has been known to stall owed players until football season when deposits begin to fund the sportsbook. GoTo Sportsbooks have taken up to two years to settle with players.

Player: I was given this website to check on a sports book that I am having difficulty getting my funds from. I am hardly a large player; I had a balance of $2000 when I made a withdrawal request for $1500. The information posted on the website says that withdrawals are processed on Monday's. I requested my withdrawal the first week in April of this year. After a month I did receive a $500 payout, and now over a month beyond that I still wait for the rest of my request.

I would appreciate any help you can offer me and any clarification of laws and rules that I am not privy too. I would also love to have a list of sports books who you have found reliable and honorable.

Maintenance Notice: The SBR network of websites, including SportsbookReview.com, SBRforum.com and live odds program, SBRlines.com will be off-line tomorrow morning from 12:30 Costa Rica time (GMT -6) for scheduled server maintenance. Downtime is estimated to last two hours.

GamblingSaloon (SBR rating F) closes with player funds. Account holder "Mike" tells SBR the site is now off-line leaving no instructions on collecting his $300 balance. GamblingSaloon was an Interactive Gaming Systems Group sportsbook. IGS took the remainder of its small turnkey hosted sportsbooks off-line earlier this month.

KingsTreasureCasino is a newly rated sportsbook from Futurebet which is now calling itself IGaming Software. Futurebet is servicing multiple no-pay sportsbooks like SportsbookUSA (SBR rating F) USDbet (SBR rating F) and MonkeyBet (SBR rating F). MonkeyBet and USDbet remain online as a deposit-only sportsbook websites and are marketing 100% bonuses.

BetWay claims at least five players followed the directions of a third party website on how to utilize bonuses and cashout in the shortest amount of time possible. Although this is not the type of play the sportsbook hopes to gain from the promotion, Betway does not have rules against betting with the intention of earning bonuses quickly and utilizing the sportsbook only for that reason. In email discussion Betway refers to this action as "the money method." SBR has asked Betway to reconsider honoring all wagers and allow SBR to advise on the promotion's terms and conditions. BetWay has been downgraded from C to D+.

BetWay to SBR: In the case of the 5 accounts in question, we remain firm that the evidence is clear that these players came through a site which openly teaches players how to abuse bonuses.

BetWay to user: After analyzing Metododiheiro.com, we have seen that the "Money Method" promotes a step-by-step guide and workshop for systematic abuse of free bet bonus offers on 50+ Sportsbook sites. Betway were not aware of Metododinheiro.com and the promotion of this scheme until recently.

InstantActionSports tells SBR it will honor all earned bonuses and winnings from players involved in the "Moneybookers Bonus" dispute. A low five-figure sum is expected to be returned to players tomorrow. SBR will meet with IAS and advise on bonus policies for non-recreational players. Management has also stated that winnings and bonuses, where the wagering requirements have been met, will not be taken from valid account holder balances.

Bet911 no-pay and no response; downgraded to D-
The sportsbook has not responded to player an SBR requests for a promised payment of $1,750. A second player reports a 3.5 week $740 slow-pay. Bet911 last responded to SBR and assured payment in March. Bettors are reminded to avoid small unproven sportsbooks that may be attempting to hold on until they can begin collecting deposits from new football bettors. Sportsbooks that focus on U.S. sports are entering the slowest part of the betting year.

10a1 enters the SBR Rating Guide at B-. 10a1.com targets Spanish speaking soccer bettors that is owned and operated by Gibraltar-based StanJames (SBR rating B).

BetJoint (SBR rating C-) changes software, hosting

Two AscotSports (not rated) players paid; book extends withdrawal deadline to June 14th
The book's management has assured SBR that they are catching up with pending cashouts and has hinted that a deal, possibly with another sportsbook, is in the works behind the scenes. SBR will continue to follow developments and pending payments.

SBR office Tours: View photos of BetBlackDog (SBR rating C-) here. The sportsbook is located in a two-floor complex called Plaza Rubi in Costa Rica. SBR was first contacted by BlackDog users almost one year ago with reports that the book was misrepresenting itself as being affiliated with other known brands 5Dimes (SBR rating A) and BetRoyal (SBR rating D-) in an effort to acquire their players. BlackDog management tells SBR it has dismissed the offending members of its sales staff and "any mention of any other sportsbook would result in immediate termination." SBR has not received any BlackDog withdrawal or wagering complaints. BlackDog has been added to the SBR rating guide at C-.

InstantActionSports (SBR rating C) confiscates winnings, earned bonuses
The sportsbook sent an email to two account holders stating that they will not honor a "50% moneybookers bonus and winnings from the bonus due to sharp play" after the bettors won wagers and already completed their rollover wagering requirements. SBR has contacted sportsbook management stating that retroactively voiding wagers and deducting bonuses after the requirements have been met is considered theft. SBR has asked IAS to reconsider this decision and employ better risk management and more appropriate bonus terms. SBR advises sportsbooks to identify undesireable play as soon as possible and prorate the bonus before parting ways with the customer. The players have pointed out that they would have placed the wagers at a different sportsbook with deposited funds had IAS declined to service them. A final decision from InstantAction is expected tomorrow.

New sportsbook NoJuice99 enters the SBR rating guide at D-. NoJuice99.com is a turnkey sportsbook site hosted by Eagle Data Processing in Costa Rica. The site was opened earlier this month and is promoting vig-free betting and a 20% bonus. SBR expects EagleDP to either close the sportsbook or prohibit it from taking deposit business. Players should steer clear of these too-good-to-be-true offers. Often these incentives come with requests for Western Union deposits or other off-site deposit options that allow anyone with a sportsbook the ability to collect nonrefundable cash deposits. Once the cash is collected the site owner can abandon the scam with a profit.

DimeLineSports (SBR rating D) currently off-line; informs players it is changing platforms
Some licensees of scam operation, Futurebet, have been planning to leave the hosting and service center for over six months. Futurebet had confiscated all sportsbook profits it collected through processing player deposits and refused to pay winners. This left their turnkey sportsbooks holding the debt to players while receiving almost no revenue for recent months. Some books have paid players with other funds, some have closed without paying, and some have relocated to new service providers. The labels were also out the investment money they had spent on marketing to new players. Dimeline Sports is one of the brands that planned to migrate to this new label. SBR expects to speak to the new operation's management tomorrow for updates on when player accounts will be accessible and what other labels may be involved.

AscotSports Closing May 31st?
Isle of Man sportsbook, AscotSports (not rated), appears to be closing its doors. Earlier this month the sportsbook posted a message that the site was closed due to "system maintenance and enhancements" but has since added a message asking players to withdraw their funds by May 31st. The Malaysian Insider has reported that the book's owner, Vincent Tan Chee Yioun, has decided to close Ascot. Some Ascot players found the bookmaker after a bonus offer to Pointbet (SBR rating F) victims was publicized. Players are hopeful that Ascot will close in good standing unlike Pointbet but are nervous because recent withdrawal requests have not been addressed. Some players report delays of two weeks. One casino winner with a balance of 18625 euro says he has been locked out of his account since May 5th. Ascot management had contacted SBR in April about a beginning the rating evaluation process but has not yet responded to player inquiries from earlier this week. Users should request their funds immediately. | Forum discussion

Email Response Test Results Posted

SBR Charity Bash in Las Vegas August 22nd!
SBRforum posters are invited to The SBR Bash to be held August 22 - 24 at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. The two day affair will offer a golf and poker tournament, contest, raffles and banquet. Hotel rooms will be free to SBRforum posters with at least 100 posts. The event will benefit the St. Judes Children's Hospital. | View details and register here!

Bet911 (SBR rating D) player waiting for $1,750 since January
In January of 2008 Bet911 agreed to pay a player $1,750 that was confiscated in June of 2007. Both the player and SBR have contacted Bet911 management about the promised payout since. 911 initially blamed the delay on miscommunication regarding which payout method would be used. Recent inquiries have not been returned.

SBR report January 12, 2008: Bet911 management has agreed to pay a player $1,750 originally withheld because the account was one of two that wagered from the same location. The player argued that Bet911 was alerted ahead of time through email that his friend worked with him and was given a referral bonus. The $1,750 is the amount the player won and does not include the bonus which was cancelled. bet911 states they are under new management and is willing to address all complaints previously submitted to SBR.

BetRuss (SBR rating C-) accounts acquired by DPT Sports Group
BetRuss.com now redirects to LooseLines (SBR rating B-). Looselines is a part of the group of sites that include better known B rated books ABCislands and Jazz Sports. BetRuss management tells SBR that the decision to move under Looselines was made because the BetRuss brand and its marketing team was "fighting an uphill battle" due to the stigma of the Absolute Poker controversy. BetRuss was founded by a former Absolute Poker manager. Looselines will be financially backed by DPT Sports but operate independently with its own lines and management. Looselines will move from the -108 lineset that was offered until today to BetRuss standard -110 vig. Bettors who were using Looselines prior to today will be able to use the -108 lineset by accessing their accounts through ABCislands. LooseLines, which will focus on recreational players, has been lowered to B- as it adapts to the BetRuss staff and operating policies. Looselines management tells SBR that the migration was already completed in the middle of the night.

BetJoint (SBR rating C-) applies bonus rule to parlay winnings; costs player $3,051
The player made two winning 3-team parlays wagering $250 and $150 in free-play bonus money to win a total of $5,359. The last leg of both parlays were on the San Diego Padres +1.5 run line. The player also made a regular moneyline bet on the Padres as well as a wager on the opposing team using his deposited funds. The next day the user account was debited $3,051 and his parlays were recalculated as 2-teamers with the third leg removed. BetJoint cited the rule below:

The player argues that his cash bets oppose each other and were not made in an attempt to hedge out of the parlay. He also argues that BetJoint is using a single cash bet to void two separate larger parlay wagers. The rule is considered fine print due to the fact that the software does not prohibit these actions. This is the second case of this rule biting into an account balance this year. In February a player was in a similar situation. His free-play parlay lost and the cash bet won. BetJoint handled it differently, canceling the player’s winning cash wager that was opposing the last leg of a losing parlay. BetJoint assured SBR that had the parlay won it would have been honored and the losing cash bet would have been no-actioned. BetJoint stated it aimed to prohibit the player from making a cash bet on the opposing team and it expects its software to prohibit the free-play buy-back bet in the near future. In this most recent report, the player’s $575 cash bet was honored while the parlay legs were not. Despite inconsistent handling with the two accounts, BetJoint’s management states that the rule gives the book the ability to cancel any and all bets referenced in the rule. Players should be aware of the odd rule and the liberties it gives the sportsbook. Under this catch-all stipulation a sportsbook has the ability to cancel winning cash wagers or void a $7,000 8-team parlay if the bettor was to make a $20 cash bet that was opposite one of the picks in his parlay. | Forum discussion

JustForBettors, ClicknGamble & BetCasinoAndSports downgraded from D- to F. The sportsbooks, along with Ultimate-Odds (SBR rating F), make up the last four Capilleira sportsbooks that remain online. Ultimate-Odds and BetCasinoAndSports are expected to close to the public in the near future. Recent history suggests that if these books do close it is likely large balance holders will not receive their money.

Ebets enters the SBR rating guide at D-. Ebets is a Costa Rica-based sportsbook that uses the Sportsbook.com (SBR rating D-) hosting and service center. Ebets is currently calling players from customer lists to offer 25% bonuses. Bettors are advised to steer clear of the Sportsbook.com group which has scammed many players over the past year.