SBR News and Business Wire

Portlandbet (not rated) wagering down as of July 1st

07/05/2008 11:45 PM

7/5/2008 11:45:03 PM -

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.

BetWay continues to confiscate winnings; lowered to D

07/04/2008 02:36 PM

7/4/2008 2:36:14 PM - BetWay continues to confiscate winnings; SBR lowers rating to D
Betway offers free-plays as an incentive for bettors to deposit. After the players have met the wagering requirements and request a payout the sportsbook confiscates winnings and sends back the deposit. A losing player never realizes he never had the chance to win the house's money. The sportsbook cites bonus hunting and taking advantage of the sportsbook's offers without intending to gamble further. Betway attempts to brand this type of play as the "money method."

BetWay: You have been positively identified as a participant of the "Money Method" scheme and therefore we have locked your account, cancelled all your bets and returned your initial deposit to your eWallet account. We will keep your account locked and will lock any future accounts you register."

BetChance (SBR rating F) wagering offline

07/02/2008 08:39 PM

7/2/2008 8:39:57 PM -

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.

BetChance email to players:
We have tried to contact you during the week to inform you about the money in your Betchance Betting Account. Betchance Limited (betchance.com ) is closing and we are giving the following options to clients;
Option 1: To pay 30% of the total amount (betting account plus pending withdrawals) in the next two-three weeks.
Option 2: To pay the total amount you have in your betting account but divided in 15 months payments.
Please give us your reply as soon as possible, by email, or send us the phone number where we can contact you, in order to notify us of your decision.
When we’ll receive the option you choose, we will send an agreement by email, which has to be signed by both Betchance and the client, and afterwards the payment will be processed. For any further information you require, do not hesitate to send us an email on info@betchance.comor contact us by telephone on 00356 21489941.

Regards, Betchance Limited

ThePig (SBR rating A) website down due to DNS issue

07/01/2008 11:35 AM

7/1/2008 11:35:07 AM - ThePig (SBR rating A) down due to DNS updates. The website is expected to be back online by tonight. Pig users can log in to sister site LegendzSports.com. Legendz (SBR rating A+) will allow users to see account history and place wagers as normal.

WagerStreet (SBR rating B+) down due to server problems

06/30/2008 05:45 PM

6/30/2008 5:45:58 PM -

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 payout

06/28/2008 11:57 PM

6/28/2008 11:57:28 PM -

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.

Player: I currently have over $10000 in my account with them (account xxxxxx same e mail). I have been a customer for several years but this seems to count for nothing. I send e mail requests asking for a breakdown of how and when I will get paid which either remain unanswered or get misdirected within Bet911 (apparently). If they do reply it is never to my question but offering me the 'opportunity' to request a payout. Woi I'm so honoured. Their 'opportunities' have resulted in me receiving only $2000 in the last four months.

OrlandoSportsbook added to the SBR Rating Guide at D

06/27/2008 11:34 PM

6/27/2008 11:34:49 PM - OrlandoSportsbook added to the SBR Rating Guide at D. Orlando is a new site from the GoTo Entertainment Group. Goto Sportsbooks are currently slow-paying three winning players.

BookTheBet (SBR rating F) player reports new no-pay case

06/26/2008 11:47 PM

6/26/2008 11:47:53 PM -

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.

http://www.sportsbookreview.com/SR.aspx?S=4SportsPicks

06/25/2008 06:53 PM

6/25/2008 6:53:21 PM - New Live Betting Odds Service, LinesMover, operated by 4SportsPicks (SBR rating F) management. MajorWager moderator Clevfan spotted Linesmover's phone number on SBR's overview of 4SportsPicks.com which now uses the website, ForSportsPicks.com. The most recent scam from the 4Sports Group was through deposit-only F-rated betting sites PlayersBigWorld, Playing24Hours and SportsPlayingWorld. 4Sports moved these books with it from SportsCallCenter F.A. turnkey service before starting their own operation. Within months players were contacting SBR for help with over five-figures in total payout requests. 4Sports management, also management for Linesmover, told players they are only a service provider. 4Sports also serviced eWinner when it closed with player funds in 2004.

Nine new withdrawal complaints filed in 2008 from Europlay players

06/24/2008 09:42 PM

6/24/2008 9:42:04 PM -

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.