NEWS ARTICLE

[Cashew]

BRIAN:

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN THE COSTA RICA NEWSPAPER THE OTHER DAY ABOUT GAMING SITE WATCHDOGS AND THEY MENTIONED ** AND BW BUT NOT RX AS PRIME EXAMPLES OF THE GENRE

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS, DO THE RICANS KNOW SOMETHING WE DON"T???[*]DDD

[bgeorgia]

cashew


i would like to see the article. i am not surprised at the missing of RX in any article that would have to do with legitimate watchdog sites.

bg

[ 10-20-2001: Message edited by: bgeorgia ]

[Cashew]

Vol. VII, No. 40- San José, Costa Rica, October 12, 2001
http://www.ticotimes.net/newsbriefs.htm

Sportsbook Scams Spark Concern
New U.S. Envoy Takes the Reins
Unregulated Development Causes Headaches
Sportsbook Scams Spark Concern
By Christine Pratt
Tico Times Staff
Dan says he and a friend lost $50,000 through a Costa Rica-based sportsbook or Internet betting firm. Mark claims a sportsbook here owes him $14,000. Bob is waiting for more than $11,000.
Others, all foreigners living outside the country, wonder what happened to the locally based sportsbooks that took their money and then disconnected their phones and disappeared from cyberspace.
Reports of fraud worry many of the country's higher-profile sportsbooks.
"Companies who aren't serious about this business give a bad name to those companies that are serious, and there are many excellent companies here," said Carlos Mecutchen, regional director for SportingbetUSA, which operates out of Edificio Equus in the east San José district of San Pedro.
According to some of the industry's self-professed "watchdog" Web sites, such as Sportsbook Review, Bettors World, ********** , Covers and the Offshore Gaming Association (osga.com), fraud isn't exclusive to Costa Rica.
But the local industry's lack of regulation makes it ripe for cash-poor, small-time bookies to set up an impressive Internet presence, offer attractive bonus play to lure "cyber stooges," and then get out of town or legally "vanish," leaving disconnected 1-800 phone numbers and undisplayable Internet pages in their wake.
Foremost on the watchdogs' blacklists are Tico-based Fortress International, Pyramid Sports, TNT Sports and Lucky's Casino & Sports. The Tico Times tried to contact each of these sites, but was unsuccessful by press time. Many of their phone numbers are either disconnected or now belong to other businesses. All, apparently except Fortress, have active Web sites.
In fact, Sportsbook Review, the only site The Tico Times could find that doesn't accept sportsbook advertising, won't recommend any Costa Rica-based book, because the lack of regulation here makes it easy to disappear, unpunished.
On its page dedicated to Costa Rica, Sportsbook Review points to the country's lack of a gaming commission, its "second-rate technology that spawns fraud and inconveniences," and a "wild west" mentality fostered by lack of regulation.
"It is more than a mere coincidence that the vast majority of sportsbook failures come from this Central American country," it reports. The watchdog admits, however, that the country's technology is improving.
Sportsbook Review's "preferred" sites are all based in countries that have "stringent" licensing requirements, and specialized gaming boards, such as the Dutch Antilles (Curacao), Antigua/ Barbuda, the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, Australia, Belize, Jamaica, Gibraltar and Austria.
The sportsbook system makes bettors easy prey. Before betting, they must first open a bank account by depositing a minimum balance of funds with the sportsbook's offshore bank. Bettors play off their account balance.
Scams occur when the book doesn't pay, or closes up shop without returning its clients' unbetted offshore balances.
Likewise, the sportsbooks say controls must be in place to protect themselves from scam-artist bettors, who try to claim more winnings than they deserve.
Sportsbook Review's blanket condemnation of Costa Rica riles local bookmakers who claim to be doing things right and warn bettors to do their research, via many of the listed watchdogs.
"Are there bad sportsbooks in Costa Rica? Yeah. Are there good ones here too? Some of the world's best are here," insists Eduardo Agami, president of the fledgling Costa Rican Electronic Betting Association and himself a sportsbook owner. 
"You need to do your due diligence before choosing a sportsbook. You need to examine, investigate and draw your own conclusions, but it seems irresponsible to me to just blanketly attack an entire country."
Even doing research, it's hard to know who or what to believe.
For example, Covers.com's "recommended" list includes Costa Rican-based sportsbooks Hollywood and Ibet Casino, while ********** .com's "Major's List" contains 1st Fidelity, Instant Action Sports, Jazz Casino and Sportsbook and MVP Sportsbook. All claim to be licensed or licensed and regulated by Costa Rica or the Costa Rican government, even though no licensing or regulation exists here.
Jazz Casino and Sportsbook's attorney Miguel Arias told The Tico Times this week that the company would remove the reference to its Costa Rican license from the ********** .com page. ********** 's "The Major" explained by e-mail that he thought all Costa Rican sportsbooks were licensed.
Covers and ********** admit they screen, but accept advertising from the books on their lists. The blurbs that accompany the "preferred" sportsbooks at ********** appear to be written by the sportsbooks themselves. The blurb on MVP Sports reads, "We understand the business and the importance of customer service."
Agami readily admits that regulation is urgently needed. He's currently working with some 16 other local sports bookmakers to draft a proposal to set up a gaming commission, establish licensing procedures and create rules that regulate the businesses without repressing it. He says the proposal will be ready in a few months.
Until then, the only current regulatory proposal is one added on to the casino bill that is ready for debate but currently a low priority on the congressional docket.
The proposed law creates a gaming commission that would oversee both physical and virtual casinos. According to the law's Article 21, licenses to operate either would cost "30 base salaries," equivalent to about $10,800, payable to the commission (a "base salary" is currently equal to about ¢120,600, or $360).
To qualify for a license, the law's Article 30 requires companies to be up to date on their income-tax obligations and payments to the Social Security System (Caja). The company's managers, directors and legal representatives must have a clean criminal record both here and abroad. Only foreigners with legal Costa Rican residency may hold these positions. Companies must also provide a sworn declaration of the legitimate origin of start-up funds.
The law's Article 74 requires sportsbook companies to pay an additional "specific tax" of "seven base salaries or about $2,500 per year for each telephone, computer or other station that accepts bets. The maximum a company may be taxed is about $120,000 (333 base salaries).
Of the money collected from this "specific tax," 20 percent would go to the gaming commission, 10 percent for government youth-development projects and 70 percent to government coffers.
Agami, Mecutchen and Ron ***** of Costa Rican International Sports (CRIS), one of Costa Rica's electronic-betting pioneers, agree that regulation is a good thing, but say the Casino Law, with its proposed "special tax," would be more than the country's estimated 140-145 bookmakers could pay, especially this year, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Mecutchen said his company didn't receive a single bet in more than a week following the attacks. Business remains way below average. ***** said slow business may oblige him to lay off some of his 140 workers.
The three bookmakers estimate that the industry here employs some 5,000-6,000 bilingual people who earn above-average salaries that begin at $650-$800 per month, depending on the sportsbook and the job applicant's experience.
***** estimates that possibly four times that many people benefit indirectly from the industry, selling it telecommunications, software, computer equipment and other services.
"Regulation and licensing would make it better for everyone here," ***** told The Tico Times. "It would make it harder for guys who are looking to scam, but there will always be bad apples in every barrel – you'll always have the restaurants that do everything by the book, and then there are those who spit in the soup."
***** says a one-time licensing fee and yearly taxes of about $25,000 would be a more realistic proposal in an industry that, he says, operates on a very slim 5-percent margin and doesn't make the money that many outsiders believe.
Agami says the 16-member association should have a draft of proposed regulation ready by year end. But all three bookmakers agree that no regulation will come until after the upcoming Feb. 3 elections that will result in a brand-new President, Cabinet and Congress.
Until then, bettors must be especially careful.
"With no regulation here, you're taking a pot shot," Agami said. "You have to ask around and go with established businesses. Like in any unregulated industry, you're taking a risk, but do your research before going in."
How to Choose a Sportsbook
Experts this week questioned by The Tico Times admit that no foolproof method exists for bettors to completely protect themselves from fraud, but knowing who they're betting with helps.
Local sports book makers Eduardo Agami, Ron ***** and Carlos Mecutchen say bettors should check the preferred and blacklists of Web sites like Sportsbook Review (sportbookreview.com), Covers (www.covers.com), ********** (www. ********** .com), Bettors World (www. bettorsworld.com) and the Offshore Gaming Association (www.osga.com). Books that appear on blacklists should be avoided.
These sites' "preferred" lists may help narrow the pack, but bookmakers like ***** recommend bettors call around to other books based in the same country to inquire about solvency problems or bad reputations.
"I get calls every day asking what do I know about so and so," ***** said. "And I always tell them. You have to ask around."
In addition, Sportsbook Review offers the following tips:
–Don't be lured by outrageous promises of payoffs – they could be a trap to coax you into handing over your money. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
–Make sure the book you select has limits suitable to your style of play.
–The book you choose should offer ample betting opportunities in the sport you like to play.
The Tico Times discovered via this investigation that sportsbooks' claims of insured bets, bonding or reputability through affiliation to the Offshore Betting Association or other group are not necessarily signs of honesty. Several of the bettors who claim to have been swindled by books mentioned in the main story also thought their bets were insured.
A Web site may look impressive, whether it's backed by a reputable company or a "pup tenter," as Agami refers to those who set up shop for one season and then pack it in.
Also, small companies or betmakers who set up shop with the intention to swindle often do so quietly. Not all of the sportsbooks contacted by The Tico Times had heard of Fortress International or Pyramid, for example, even though these Costa Rica-based books are on several blacklists. Research helps reduce the risk of falling prey.
For more information, visit the above sites or contact Agami at 440-3357.
 
Top
New U.S. Envoy Takes the Reins
By Lauren Wolkoff
Tico Times Staff
Just moments after presenting his credentials to President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, John Danilovich took his hurried yet gracious leave from the Casa Presidencial Wednesday evening as the new U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.
Stopping briefly to speak to reporters, Danilovich, who arrived Tuesday night, said he is thrilled to be in the country along with his wife Irene, two teen-aged children, and two dogs. His third son, a student at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, will be joining the family next year.
Danilovich was appointed by President George W. Bush on June 19, and his nomination was approved by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Sept. 26.
While the new envoy has declined interviews with the press until he has settled in, he has cited as his main priorities here "to work diligently to advance U.S. investment and commercial interests, strengthen counter-narcotics cooperation, encourage environmental collaboration and enhance U.S.-Costa Rican relations overall," according to his statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the day his nomination was confirmed.
He reiterated his eagerness to get down to work on these priorities Wednesday during the ceremony with President Rodríguez, which culminated in a live orchestra's rendition of the U.S. National Anthem.
Entering into his first diplomatic post, the 51-year-old political appointee has a background in international business, and most recently lived in London, according to an Embassy spokeswoman. At the time of his appointment he was principal of Danilovich and Company, a consulting group specializing in joint ventures between the U.S. and Europe.
He also sat on the board of directors of Cross Border Publishing and Tabley Ltd, and on the board of trustees of the Bear Stearns Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund.
From 1987 to 1990, Danilovich was a partner and consultant with the Eisenhower Group, and from 1977 to 1988 he served on the executive management board of Interocean Shipping Group.
While much of Danilovich's prior experience is in shipping and investment, he has experience with Central American issues, having served on the Panama Canal Commission's board of directors under former U.S. President George Bush, the current President's father.
The Antioch, California native holds a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California.
Danilovich has said he believes his varied professional experience will enable him to be a strong advocate of U.S. interests in Costa Rica. But it is largely his experience as an active leader in Republicans Abroad and chairman of Americans Abroad for President Bush during the presidential campaign that has given him the chance to get to know U.S. citizens living outside the country.
"Ensuring the protection of Americans in Costa Rica" also figured among Danilovich's top priorities. He noted there are more than half a million U.S. citizens who travel to Costa Rica each year as tourists, and an estimated 35,000 citizens have decided to reside here permanently.
"As one of the most stable nations in Central America, Costa Rica has a strong democratic tradition and is a regional leader in the area of human rights," he said in a statement.
"This position is highly regarded and important, especially as the world experiences some very difficult moments caused by the recent and horrendous acts of terrorism."
"Fortunately, our two nations have always maintained a strong alliance and shared close ties of friendship and brotherhood for more than one hundred and fifty years," he added.
Costa Rica has been without a U.S. envoy since March, when former Ambassador Thomas Dodd, a political appointee of former President Bill Clinton, returned to Washington, D.C., after fulfilling his three-year term here.
Now that his tenure here has been made official, Danilovich will get down to the business of meeting the Cabinet and easing into the community.
The American Colony Committee, which organizes the annual July 4 picnic, is planning a gala reception for the U.S. community to welcome the new ambassador. The event will be held at the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel, in San Antonio de Belén, the evening of Nov. 15.
Stay tuned for the exact time.
Top
Unregulated Development Causes Headaches for Central Pacific Beach Area
By David Boddiger
Tico Times Staff
U.S. retiree Miguel Taggart, 57, sits alone at his kitchen table smoking, staring out the window of his newly remodeled home overlooking the lush mountainous terrain that descends into the central Pacific port town of Quepos. 
The peace and tranquility for which Taggart, a former resident of Seattle, was searching when he bought his house three years ago is now gone, replaced by the daily sawing, grinding and pounding of construction workers as they slowly build a modern three-story house on the adjacent property.
Taggart says the building is being constructed illegally with the acquiescence of city officials, and he is embarking on a personal crusade to get it torn down. City officials say the construction is legal, and Taggart is upset that his partial-ocean view has been taken away.
Longtime Italian resident and hotel owner Mauro Andreola, owner of the adjoining property and the house under construction, says he has done everything by the book, and Taggart's campaign to halt the construction is unjustified. Furthermore, says Andreola, Taggart has caused him financial and psychological grief.
Investigations by The Tico Times into alleged municipal wrongdoing revealed no specific evidence of corruption, but rather a chaotic environment of development with little regulation; isolation from the national government's institutions in San José; and few resources to insure that irregularities in construction and development projects are avoided.
Taggart says he first heard of Andreola's plans to build a five-story house in March of this year. In a letter dated March 21, Taggart and 23 neighbors asked the Quepos municipality to ***ck construction and protect the neighborhood from "serious ecological and economic damage." Neighboring residents are concerned that such a large structure would dramatically reduce property value of surrounding condominiums, hotels and homes, including Taggart's.
Despite the letter, construction of perimeter walls began, Taggart says, without the proper building permits from the city. Taggart petitioned city inspectors to verify that illegal construction was occurring at the site.
Andreola said he never planned to build a five-story house, and all construction was initiated only after the proper building permits were acquired from the municipality.
"First I got the permits, then I started the work," he told The Tico Times. "I never had permits to build five stories – just three stories, and I am going to build three stories."
Following Taggart's petition, municipality members asked the city's chief building inspector, Jaime Umaña, to investigate the site and insure that building was not exceeding limits set by the permits. When Umaña issued a favorable report, the city granted a permit for extension of perimeter walls.
Taggart immediately cried foul, saying the report was biased, because the city inspector is also privately contracted as the construction site's building engineer, and his signature appears on the project's blueprints.
Local Chamber of Commerce board member Uva Alvarado agrees with Taggart.
"Of course it's a conflict of interest – it's simply not healthy," he said.
Healthy or not, the law permits public officials to be employed as private contractors. Umaña insists his private business affairs do not conflict with his public duties.
"As a public official, I follow the letter of the law," he told The Tico Times. "I am employed as a private contractor to supplement my income and feed my family." Umaña – denying Taggart's claims that he allowed construction that violated city code – said he is being harassed by Taggart and is considering suing him for defamation of character.
Raul Bolaños, director of inspection and auditing at the Costa Rican Association of Architects and Engineers, said it's impossible to prohibit city inspectors from being privately contracted, because they are underpaid. The private association, charged with insuring professional ethics in all construction projects in Costa Rica, recommends that when the potential for a conflict of interest exists, city architects and engineers should ask neighboring municipal officials to step in. 
Otherwise, said Bolaños, the potential for abuse exists. In addition, he says, when a conflict arises, being a city and private contractor on the same project only aggravates the situation.
Disputes such as Taggart's and Andreola's are becoming increasingly common in the Quepos-Manuel Antonio area. Architect and local resident Monte Marshall says urban planning has failed to keep up with construction and development, resulting in a significant increase in environmental problems, public-health concerns and disputes among neighbors.
"Development is out of control, in that it has no control," Marshall said, adding that the long-range economic well-being of the community is dependent on well-crafted and enforced urban planning legislation.
"Development has to occur according to regulations – if not, the community and individuals are at risk," he warned.
Miguel Wong, planning coordinator at the National Housing and Development Institute, agreed, saying, "Quepos has many problems, both of a physical and environmental nature. The city is growing chaotically." Wong said a municipal development regulatory plan – so far lacking – is urgently needed to guide urban planning and avoid further problems.
The local Chamber of Commerce is discussing various proposals, and members expect heated discussion between city officials, residents and business owners over who decides who gets the pieces of the pie.
Furthermore, when grievances occur, conflict resolution can be a lengthy, stressful and disheartening process. Taggart took his dispute to court, where a local judge temporarily suspended, then allowed, construction to continue while the case is reviewed.
Both Taggart and Andreola say they have spent thousands of dollars on attorney fees, and in a recent letter to The Tico Times, Taggart wrote: "I think I could have lived in the Beverly Hilton cheaper."
Andreola says he will sue Taggart for damages and court costs once the case is resolved. Attorneys familiar with the case say Andreola is within his rights to build, but Taggart says he will take the case to the highest court if necessary.
As the drama continues, Taggart's complaints to the Association of Architects and Engineers have sparked an investigation by that office into alleged irregularities into the way the municipality issues permits for new construction.
"Everyone builds without a permit, and the municipality does nothing to stop the anarchy," said Marshall.
Although the law states that all construction blueprints must first be approved by the Association of Architects and Engineers, then the Health Ministry, and finally the municipality, a letter in possession of The Tico Times from the association, dated June 12, 2001 and addressed to Umaña and the Municipality of Aguirre (Quepos), states that three initial building permits (issued by the municipality for construction on Andreola's property) were not registered with the association.
Although the Architects' and Engineers' Association's Bolaños refused to comment on the ongoing investigation, association sources say the municipality has been uncooperative in providing the association with information regarding building permits in the area.
Speaking in general terms, Bolaños told The Tico Times, "The law states that no municipal government has the power to issue building permits without prior approval from the Association of Architects and Engineers."
However, in the case of official misconduct, the association prefers to limit its role to inspection, said Bolaños, and a criminal investigation would be the responsibility of the Attorney General. So far, inquiries into how building permits are issued in Quepos-Manuel Antonio have not moved beyond inspections by the association.
City officials deny any misconduct.
"All the construction projects in the area have permits. Everything is in order. Inspectors and engineers inspect every site," said Gerardo Agüero, former Quepos mayor and current city official. Current mayor Miguel Solano was unavailable for comment.
In an attempt to address some of the area's concerns, the Architects and Engineers' Association opened a branch office two months ago in Quepos. The new office was opened to facilitate paperwork and cut down on the hassle of going by the book for local residents interested in building.
Meanwhile, with each cement ***ck placed, Taggart's chances of tearing his neighbor's new house down diminish. Nevertheless, he says he will keep trying, albeit pessimistically.
"I fear it's too late for me," a resigned Taggart said. "I just don't want others to go through what I have gone through."
Andreola said he just wants things to return to normal.
"I don't want people thinking I've done something wrong, because everything I've done has been legal,'' he said. "Everyone knew I was going to build a house. He (Taggart) shouldn't have bought his house there."
Top
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[Cashew]

the bleeped-by-bw site is minorwager aka majorasshole

rx is NOWHERE to be seen

guess those ricans know a fraud when they see 1

[Jeff]

It's common knowledge that Costa Rica doesn't license sportsbooks.

They operate off a data license. Not a gambling one.

For that matter, there shouldn't be much merit put into ANY licensing jurisdiction with the exception of maybe Austrailia.

No licensing body has ever bailed out a player, and it's unlikely they ever would.

[bgeorgia]

with RX claiming to be a watchdog you would certainly have a case of the fox guarding the henhouse. i would think that was the reason OR they simply never heard of them.
let me add that it was not us that claimed to be a watchdog as the article incorrectly states BUT the people who did. the masses who voted us NUMBER 1 in 2 different poles that realized bworld was the place they could rely on. so the article is in err.

thanks cashew

brian

[ 10-21-2001: Message edited by: bgeorgia ]