[Illusion]

SBR Bill Dozer reports: Costa Rica sources report Royal Sports (SBR rating D) in early negotiation stages to sell to larger competitor, BetonSports (SBR rating C+).

[tacomax]

I bet Chuck Sims is pleased about this. He'll have one less group to bitch about.

[pags11]

what a merger...

[Mudcat]

I bet Chuck Sims is pleased about this. He'll have one less group to bitch about.

True enough. That should consolidate things a bit.

I'm honestly not sure how to feel about this one. I have to let it sink in for awhile. Say what you want about BOS's spotty reputation, the former VO books (MVP, V-Wager, VSI etc.) have improved since being bought out by BOS.

[Doug]

Sounds like a good move, BOS has got to be better than Royal, should speed pay-outs.

[JoshW]

Consolidation sucks for line shoppers. Soon the US focused market will all be run by a half dozen books.

[Mudcat]

Consolidation sucks for line shoppers. Soon the US focused market will all be run by a half dozen books.

Yeah if they just turn it into another Millenium clone, then strictly from a line shopping point of view, it is definitely not good. From a bonus shopper's perspective, it might be alright depending on the policies they decide to apply.

[Bill Dozer]

I was talking to another GM of a large book who mentioned he is looking at acquiring four different properties. He said that talks have stalled because all parties are waiting to see what happens with the gambling bills and what affect it may have on banking transfers.

I agree with Laker. From a market perspective it's not good. If you are a handicapper and this trend continues, you are probably better off.

[JC]

I find Bet On Sports the dirtier of the two. BOS has stiffed players in the name of Bet On Sports unlike the owner of Royal who has stiffed players under past names,

[BK]

I don't know about BoS or Millennium lately. Since they sold out and became a publicly traded company in England, things are changing too much. I know that in Millennium, the CS GM and the wagering GM were let go or asked to quit recently. Whole departments were eliminated. VO group personel are now taking all those positions. And this is all within the pas couple of months.

From what I understand, things are still moving around a bit.

We'll have to see what happens with them.

[BK]

Oh... and BoS and Millennium are now officially being run as one. Not like in the past where they were "Separate Companies." Although I don't know if they made that fact public.