*** Mid Term Report- The books are LOSING! ***

[Jeff]

Early tabulations are in.......and it would seem that this year, to this point, has not been a good one for the books.

Any books with a different take?

I bring this up for one very important reason. It was mentioned before the season, that the books have not had to deal with a bad football season the last few years. If things keep going in this direction, we may see some trouble come February.......

History repeats itself.......make sure you are in good hands!!

[Underdog7]

And who are the good ones "so far"?

In business, a company who has been around for at least 3 years is considered pretty establish.

1.) WWTS
2.) CRIS
3.) PREMIERE LEAGUE
4.) OLYMPIC
5.) ACES GOLD
6.) SOS

Rookies or newcomers:

1.) DUNES
2.) GRAND CENTRAL
3.) BETEUROSPORTS
4.) TOP OF THE WORLD SPORTS
5.) JAZZ SPORTS

These shops I mentioned just came on top of my head and I'm absolutely sure there are still some that should be added in my list. The big question is, who will be the first one to go out first?

[Jeff]

Udog,

I think it's important to note that many of the "newcomers" you mention have been around quite a while, it's just that they didn't go public, so to speak, until recently.

Jazz for example, has been around many years. As a matter of fact, Jazz, also known as Pelican, operated offshore for a couple of years before most people ever heard of them.

There are actually a few books located offshore, mostly Costa Rica, that no one has heard of, yet they are higly respected and don't cater to the commercial market.

[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited 10-17-2000).]

[Fred]

Jeff

When you say 'this year' -- is this the NFL football season so far we're talking about or all sports for the year 2000?

Cheers

[Jeff]

This football season.....

[bbuster]

Jeff- How bout Sonny Roberts report that they were holding 8.2%(in all sports) last month? Seems weird to me to hear one book holding that incredible number and other books are losing.

[Jeff]

Remember a couple of things here.....we're talking just football, which is significant, because so many books look to football as their cash cow. Football is king for the books. It's a fact that in the past, football has SAVED some books.

Also keep in mind, that the headline to the post is meant to be an attention grabber. Are ALL books losing? No. But the feedback I have comes from more than one shop, so the headline makes the assumption that things aren't "great" across the board.

There certainly could be books having a good year.

[auspice]

I know I'm going to sound like a smart#ss here but I gotta ask it....how can the books be losing money with the already "vertified fact" that 99.87% of all players are losers?

[Jeff]

Those guys will still lose, eventually, but in a short stretch, when all the tv games are popping, and the parlays and teasers are coming in, etc.etc.....the book can get hurt. The book will eventually make money, if it has the capital to withstain. Which is obviously the key. Some don't. If they were stringing along waiting for football to cash in, and they don't, now what??

Hey, there's still a half a season to go..........

[Ronbets]

Auspice,

You're not a smart arse but your math is "fuzzy". The official % is 99.82 verified by the firm of Price, Waterhouse and DeMarco.

As for the current problem at hand, a solution is in the works. G.A., which doesn't accept donations will be the savior here. It will issue financial grants to weak offices. This will enable those sick souls to stay in action longer.

[Jeff]

From Sonny Roberts
Jaguar Sports

Wall Street had Black Tuesday.
The USA had December 7, 1941.
And the International Sports wagering industry had the week ending
10.15.00.

Some of you may recall that I wrote in a recent CEO Corner column that
Jaguar Sports was holding an amazing 8 % + for the football season to
date. I further suggested that some of you start hammering because
Jaguar was statistically due to come back to earth with a major
correction. Only I didn't think it would come this soon and this hard.

This was the kind of week that separates the men from the boys. Our
losses were in the serious six figures. Jaguars' money out department is
earning their keep today as the phones have not stopped ringing since
early this morning. And I can only imagine what the damage has been at
those books that compete for the title of the World's Largest Sports
Book. Rumor has it that there has been substantial greenback
hemorrhaging from Central America to all parts east. If I was a
superstitious type of guy, I would conclude that the Gambling Gods
decided that Jaguar need a humbling experience, a reality check after my
last column.

I suggest that every winning bettor ( all of you?) asking for money
today, pay special note to the service attitude you get and the speed in
which you get paid. Also, give the books a small degree of latitude
because when money out requests gets very high ( as in the day after
Super Bowl Sunday). The local banking and Western Union infrastructures
are pushed to their limits in their ability to cut certified checks and
transmit funds. Some of you may have an extra 24 hour wait as result.

I hope that you find Jaguar to be as responsive and conscientious when
sending money as when receiving it. that's what builds customer loyalty.
And if any of you non Jaguar customers need a place to park your new
found riches, we have a 20% signup bonus waiting for you.

[Socceroo]

Jeff - Any chance of actually finding out of which books it is that you speak and which tabulations you are referring to. Otherwise I really fail to see the point of the post in the first place as it is just going to make us less informed punters decidedly nervous.

After all you are warning us to make sure that we are in safe hands without actually enlightening as to which hands may be slightly shaky. I may think that I am in great hands but may be one TV game or big parlay away from slipping straight through them.

[Jeff]

Something else that should be brought up, is the new payment methods and the fact that most books now take credit cards.

A few years back, when there were only a handful of shops, not only did most books NOT accept credit cards, but they also had minimum post ups of a dime, sometimes more. So, the little guys, almost always had to park their entire bankrolls at one shop, giving the book plenty of chances to win that money, which they did more times than not.

These days, it's a different ballgame. Lower opening deposits. Credit Cards. Net Teller, firecash, etc.etc......a guy can hit and run much easier today than before, and nothing bothers a bookmaker more than not getting another shot at winning a players money.

Everything that is happening in the industry today, the advances being made, are all favorable for the players, but not for the books. The competition forces everyone to accept all these new payment methods, give bonuses, etc.etc.

Alot of the winners that beat xyz book last week, won't necessarily be giving xyz a chance to win it back this week.

Again, the point being, after giving bonuses, advertising, phone expenses, bandwidth, help, etc.etc......then a dud of a football season rolls along, it just isn't a favorable scenario for the overall health of an offshore sportsbook.

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Books are having a rough year for several reasons.
1. Bonuses are out of hand.
2. Players jump ship real fast.
3. Books that take charge cards are getting torched and some are not even getting paid.
4. Costs to run an offshore store are out of sight. Way to many people have their fingers in the pie.

-JD
PS> I saw that RonBets.

[Jeff]

Socceroo,

The books I am referring to as having had a lousy season to date, are among the largest and most solid this industry has to offer. They can withstand a lousy season. They have done so in seasons past, and will do so again in the future.

If you're a little nervous, then my mission is accomplished.

One of the reasons for passing this along, it to keep players on their toes.

Do you're homework. Ask a million questions of a million different people.

Don't take any one persons or websites word as the gospel.

The most important people to get your information from, are your fellow players. How long have they been playing at xyz? How long has xyz been around? How fast are the payouts? Have their ever been any problems?

There are a slew of choices for the players out there, and choosing a sportsbook is no different than investing in a mutual fund.

There is a degree of risk involved posting up with ANY sportsbook. Some more than others. Anyone that tells you otherwise is a liar, plain and simple.

We do our best here on this site to promote the best this industry has to offer.

However we're not going to get up on a soap box and preach.

I am still yet to be stiffed, and I've played offshore roughly 10 years.......but then, I'm not willing to post up with Billy Bobs Sportsbook, just because Billy Bob has weak numbers and never moves his lines.



[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited 10-16-2000).]