[cincy]

I just got screwed out of my $9,474 balance at BetIslands and am angry about the lack of information from SBR and lack of replies regarding my complaints about BetIslands. I use SBR ratings as a factor that I consider regarding how much money I keep at a sportsbook. I don't just consider the actual SBR sportsbook rating but I also look at the rating changes. BetIslands had a B rating until yesterday and had their rating upgraded 4 times in the last 2 years.

Two weeks ago I was angry with BetIslands about my $4500 check payout delay. BetIslands was still processing p2p payouts then and I was just going to switch it to a few p2p payouts but then decided to contact SBR first since I figured SBR could give me a quick reply about one of their sponsored books. I sent multiple messages to SBR and complained about BetIslands and asked for a reply but did not get any reply. If SBR had just replied back to me in a timely manner I would have at least gotten some p2p payouts before they shut the p2p payouts down last week.

I don't expect SBR to take responsibility to pay player balances but I do think they should at least reply back to people and get some information out there. I suspect that SBR had been receiving an increasing number of complaints about BetIslands over the last month yet they did not change the rating until it was too late to help players. I don't know how a sportsbook can be B rated one day and then be completely insolvent the next day. Doesn't SBR have offices in the same general area of the BetIslands offices? If SBR had just downgraded BetIslands to B- a few weeks ago when complaints started to increase I likely would have gotten most of my balance.

It's really bad when a sportsbook disappears with player funds but when a website that is supposed to help the players doesn't reply back to the players and doesn't get any information out there until it is too late that also sucks. SBR, C'mon Man.

[SamDiamond]

Can you guys log into your accounts at BI?

Can we get some screen shots of your balances?

I'm curious how much is actually gone.

[Bill Dozer]

cincy,
Looks like you emailed 5 days ago and we communicated via PM on the same topic. Unfortunately, it turns out that it wouldn't have mattered by that time.

[uncynd]

Jesus what a disgusting lack of responsibility on so many fronts.

cincy: I hope you get your money.

[cincy]

I can still login and do have a screen shot of my BetIslands balance but don't know what good that will do.

[dmtrader]

Hang in there, Cincy. Hopefully there will be a bailout and you will get some or even all of your money back.

[cincy]

Bill,
I sent my first complaint to SBR on 12/7 (11 days ago) and sent followup messages, e-mails and a formal complaint but SBR did not reply back to me. BetIslands continued to process some p2p payouts through 12/11 so if I got a quick reply from SBR I think it would have helped me and I would have gotten some money out.
I certainly take responsibility for me getting screwed here but think SBR did a terrible job of replying back to people and getting information out that could have helped. Everyone makes mistakes and I just think SBR should admit they did a poor job here and try to come up with some resolutions to help people out. Maybe work hard to find a sportsbook to bailout at least some portion of player balances requiring player rollover before payout. Or maybe consider making a table available to players with the count of complaints against sportsbooks. If this was available I bet we would have seen an increase in the complaints against betislands over the last month and forum members might have gotten their money out.

[playersonly69]

I think that we may have a decimal issue here as a problem as well

[SBR Lou]

Bill,
I sent my first complaint to SBR on 12/7 (11 days ago) and sent followup messages, e-mails and a formal complaint but SBR did not reply back to me. BetIslands continued to process some p2p payouts through 12/11 so if I got a quick reply from SBR I think it would have helped me and I would have gotten some money out.
I certainly take responsibility for me getting screwed here but think SBR did a terrible job of replying back to people and getting information out that could have helped. Everyone makes mistakes and I just think SBR should admit they did a poor job here and try to come up with some resolutions to help people out. Maybe work hard to find a sportsbook to bailout at least some portion of player balances requiring player rollover before payout. Or maybe consider making a table available to players with the count of complaints against sportsbooks. If this was available I bet we would have seen an increase in the complaints against betislands over the last month and forum members might have gotten their money out.

Cincy,

It is my error that your email wasn't replied to. You PMed me on 12/7 and then gave me your account number when I answered that PM. You were on the list we sent to BetIslands Ryan asking for updates before it became clear he/they had no ability to pay. I know it offers no consolation but your pending request was logged along with the others that either wrote in or PMed. I apologize for not communicating with you more during that time.

[SamDiamond]

Interesting.

The same time Cincy was emailing SBR, BI Jon was on here talking about his plans to initiate live betting, and suggesting all the rumblings were from disgruntled Costa Ricans.

[convick]

People in other forums were trying to get payouts since late November (p2p, check, mo) without success. I think only one guy got a p2p around the 30th, but nobody else got paid. Not sure anything SBR would have done 10 days ago for you would have mattered.

Sorry about your loss though.

[TheCentaur]

Bill,
Or maybe consider making a table available to players with the count of complaints against sportsbooks. If this was available I bet we would have seen an increase in the complaints against betislands over the last month and forum members might have gotten their money out.

This is a great idea! I think you would still be at the mercy of how accurate sbr wants to let it be, and bigger sites like 5Dimes would always have a lot of complaints because they have so many more players than other books so it could be misleading.

[cincy]

Thanks for the reply Lou. You mentioned my complaint on 12/7 was logged in with the other BetIslands complaints so it seems SBR was getting a bunch of complaints but there was no downgrade or any official mention of this by SBR as far as I know until 12/17. I'm just saying it probably would have helped me if I was told you had quite a few other complaints and then I would have immediately requested a p2p payout instead of waiting for my mailed payout. I heard BetIslands did process quite a few p2p payouts between 12/7 and 12/11 so I think I could have gotten some money out.

[SBR Lou]

Thanks for the reply Lou. You mentioned my complaint on 12/7 was logged in with the other BetIslands complaints so it seems SBR was getting a bunch of complaints but there was no downgrade or any official mention of this by SBR as far as I know until 12/17. I'm just saying it probably would have helped me if I was told you had quite a few other complaints and then I would have immediately requested a p2p payout instead of waiting for my mailed payout. I heard BetIslands did process quite a few p2p payouts between 12/7 and 12/11 so I think I could have gotten some money out.

There were five or six received over the course of a week and a change, half about the P2P's not going out same day. Ryan said over the phone that he'd be following up on a certain time with updates. It never happened and as soon as it was realized action was taken by SBR. This was the worst possible end result obviously and now the stream of claims are coming through - but they weren't more than a small handful before.

[Not-A-Kid]

Dear Members,

You're fukked. Oh well.

Signed,

SBR Management.

[tblues2005]

I know Lou this is shocking how fast this went with them and I hope to hear a good result out of this. I sure would think a very good reasonable explanation would help some of what's going on here.

[mw00]

People in other forums were trying to get payouts since late November (p2p, check, mo) without success. I think only one guy got a p2p around the 30th, but nobody else got paid. Not sure anything SBR would have done 10 days ago for you would have mattered.

Sorry about your loss though.

people couldnt have gotten their money out but it couldve helped prevented people from putting money in. i was one that deposited thinking everything was ok. its sick that i'm glad i lost my money betting rather then let it sit there knowing someone took me for a sucker. stop defending sbr, they had a big hand in this.

[opie1988]

Cincy,

It is my error that your email wasn't replied to. You PMed me on 12/7 and then gave me your account number when I answered that PM. You were on the list we sent to BetIslands Ryan asking for updates before it became clear he/they had no ability to pay. I know it offers no consolation but your pending request was logged along with the others that either wrote in or PMed. I apologize for not communicating with you more during that time.

Cincy.....

I can vouch that Lou is really, really bad about returning messages/emails.

Good luck. Hope you get your money back.

[bane]

I know Lou this is shocking how fast this went with them and I hope to hear a good result out of this. I sure would think a very good reasonable explanation would help some of what's going on here.

Not shocking to other sportsbook review sites. Unclear why it'd be "news" to SBR.

From Bangthebook sportsbook review site Nov. 11 2012

BetIslands was established in San Jose, Costa Rica in 1998, However after a series of DOS attacks, lost processing capabilities we have determined that Bet Islands can no longer payout individuals and we suggest checking out one of the Top Sportsbooks for 2012 that we have reviewed and tested!

http://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbook-review/blacklist-sportsbooks.php

[eastern2]

Dear Members,

You're fukked. Oh well.

Signed,

SBR Management.

Sums it up

[SamDiamond]

So, BangtheBook punked SBR on this story, and SBR was flying a BetIslands ad banner--- 30 days after BTB called BI out.

This story does not end.

It just keeps getting better and better.

[pavyracer]

Your "money" is gone. SBR is the newspaper bringing you the news..not the federal government to guarantee your deposit.

[CollegePro]

so I can assume BTB source is more reliable then SBR source.. right?? BTB knew this was going to be the end result with betislands on 11/11.. but SBR just realized it yesterday??

[bane]

so I can assume BTB source is more reliable then SBR source.. right?? BTB knew this was going to be the end result with betislands on 11/11.. but SBR just realized it yesterday??

SBR chose to acknowledge it yesterday, after posters broke the news first.

I doubt a sportsbook review site is a month behind on pertinent information about the solvency of a sportsbook. Just a matter of disclosure. Gotta get that November advertising check & commission on deposits.

[andywend]

stop defending sbr, they had a big hand in this.

This is another example of people who refuse to take responsibility for their OWN ACTIONS and decide to pin the blame on somebody else.

1. Can't pay your mortgage because you bought a home out of your price range - Its the banks fault for approving your loan.

2. Lose money in the stock market - Seek out a blood sucking lawyer as soon as possible and file a class action lawsuit against the company.

3. Horrible tragedy that happened in Connecticut - Blame placed on gun manufacturers with calls to abolish the 2nd amendment.

4. BetIslands goes broke and runs off with player funds - Its all SBR's fault.

It absolutely sucks when a book runs off with player funds like this (its happened to me 2X over the years) but its certainly NOT SBR's fault.

A case could be made to blame SBR if they charged a monetary fee to gain access to their sportsbook ratings. However, the service has always been complimentary and they certainly do the best they can. As far as I know, SBR is NOT granted access to the inner financial figures of these books.

People no longer take personal responsibility for their own actions and decisions that they make and are constantly pinning blame on others (i.e. how many times has Obama stepped up to the microphone and whined about Bush when things haven't gone according to plan?)

Perhaps one of the bigger books will step in and save the day but blaming SBR for what happened is ridiculous.

[tto827]

So, BangtheBook punked SBR on this story, and SBR was flying a BetIslands ad banner--- 30 days after BTB called BI out.

This story does not end.

It just keeps getting better and better.

I think you meant worse and worse.