OFFSHORE SPORTSBOOKS THAT DON'T RATE PLAYERS?

[sportshobby]

Johnny, there's a lot of truth in what you're saying. But where are you going with your comments? I thought you were in the business of advertising for some books - you won't get them any new postup business by casting doubt.

[Dot Mix]

Well put Scott

You begin to wonder if the concept of going against these guys fair and square is any different than going to the carnival where you are shooting basketballs at rims that are smaller the the balls.

Why even bother to think you can beat them by handicapping? If you're a good handicapper and demonstrate an ability to beat them they label you a "wiseguy" and give you the boot anyhow. Then you have to hold your breath as to whether you'll even get paid the money they owe you.

As JD says this is really as shady business and the stories get more and more incredible by the month.

Dot

[JohnnyDeMarco]

The truth is the truth. When you send money offshore your chances of it coming back are very slim. Even if you do win you have to hope that you get paid. In Nevada, the gaming commission makes sure you get paid. Who in Antigua or Costa Rica is going to make sure you get paid? Any offshore sportsbook that uses mulitple lines or kicks out wiseguys should be boycotted. Everybody should have a fair chance. Let's see, when you play offshore you deal with:
1. Fugitives (not all, but all the big ones)
2. Foreigners by the truckload
3. Foreign banks with no regard for you.
4. Third world nations trying to make a dollar. Now Antigua (the country) wants 2% of the action.
Somebody needs to clean all this crap up. Most offshore owners have no one to answer to except maybe Don Best. I have had it with my customers getting stiffed. Be careful!

[bbuster]

sounds like Johnny has a new last name! Johnny Watchdog!

[reno]

Johnny, your customers must not be playing with the Bettorsworld List of sportsbooks. I've played with over 30 offshore books the past 2.5 years and only been stiffed once--by now defunct Worldwide, which was never on the List.

I also don't agree with your description of offshore sportsbook owners. Many are great, honorable guy who would do whatever they could to pay everyone no matter what happended. The ones who are fugitives are only that because of the sick U.S. government.

How about CRIS? Talk about an honorable book, these guys were busted and had everything confiscated while in the D.R. They re-opened and trusted their customers for the balances, since all of their records were taken. I mean, this book has been in business for probably close to 20 years.

Books like WWTS and WSEX have made millions. They aren't about to stiff anyone. How about giant foreign books like Victor Chandler, William Hill, and Sportingbet.com? These books are as safe as the Vegas sportsbooks.

Many of the books on the BW List have been in the offshore business for a few years now, and sport a perfect record of paying. These books deserve some respect.

Bettorsworld is the most respected offshore watchdog. I've met Jeff and Brian, and these guys have the highest integrity and are dedicated to finding out the truth about offshore books. So, if you want to do your customers a favor, tell them to play it safe by sticking to BW-recommended sportsbooks.

[Fred]

Johnny

"When you send money offshore your chances of it coming back are very slim" -- C'mon!

Regarding your points

Fugitives? -- well maybe some do have genuine criminal records, but we all know there is nothing morally wrong with gambling so I for one would hold nothing against bookies with merely a record for 'illegal' bookkeeping.

Foreigners? -- you're a foreigner to them too! I'm a foreigner to you as well -- BIG DEAL.

Foreign Banks? -- as above

Third world countries trying to make a buck?-- Everybody's gotta make a buck , nothing wrong with that.


There are many good books offshore that have strong records of payment and honest dealings. Let's not forget that.

[Fred]

you just beat me to the post reno

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Reno your right, I am just super p-off that one of my good customers got railed bad in Antigua. BW is a good watchdog. I know WWTS & the gang are good pay with good intentions. I guess nobody is going to be FDIC insured.

[IBTom]

Well said reno. I started to respond but I knew there would be a good one from someone here. For the record I've been offshore I think 6 years or so maybe longer,and have been stiffed once for 500 dollars years ago, by a guy named Frank M. and it was a disputed wager with crappy tapes.

[reno]

Johnny, another thing, you should do a tour and visit some of these offshore books. The operations are huge and impressive. If you see a Sport Market, Gold Medal, or Skybook, like I did, you realize that these place have invested big-time money in their operations. These aren't fly-by-night operations set up to scam people. These are legitmate businesses that are in it for the long-term.

I have been an avid reader of Betttorsworld for 2 + years. It is amazing how the offshore industry has grown, thrived, and stabilized. Many books have made big-time money, and that is great since it ensures their solidity. Since sportsbetting is a zero-sum game, somone has to lose and that someone is the squares, the guys who call you
and who don't have a clue. Sportsbetting never changes. The books and wiseguys make money and everyone else loses. So be it.

[reno]

IB Tom, I know Frankie Mastroianni all too well. He's like Gary Austin: Bad News. These guys were stiffing people in Vegas in the mid 80s, and then they took their rip-off act offshore. Bettorsworld is great because it now allows the entire sportsbetting world to get the lowdown on vermin like these guys.

[skeptic]

Johnny,

Define railed please? Do you mean stiffed or cheated? If so, by who?

What are you referring to?

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Skeptic,
I have a customer who has called my line everyday for eight years. That is hard to believe in itself. Anyway, he plays in Antigua, calls in the Knicks Sunday for 5K,
wins, calls to collect Monday and they have no record of the bet. No tape, nothing. I am looking into this before I say something wrong here. This guy though, is about as honest as they come.

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Out of all the offshore parlors out there I know of one that does not rate players. Oasis Casino. They are probably right now the world's biggest on-line casino. They take phone action, but 98% of their stuff is on the net.

[ShiftySheik]

Johnny, You seem overly paranoid about posting up offshore. It's not as risky as you think. I've been playing offshore since '93 and have also never been stiffed. I even collected $500 from a scam book called Wagersports. That was '96. After that I found the Oddswiz site and have never had any payment problems. The one time I was stiffed was 20 years ago and that was by a local bookie.