[onlooker]

You can find this on the SBR main site, and I thought I would post it here. Pags asked if he should pay attention to where the books were operating from. So I thought this would help him, and others out.

Link to this on the Main site:
http://sbrforum.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=2

The Preferred Countries List for gaming
The countries listed below are the preferred gaming countries. They generally have strong gaming commissions, expensive and stringent gaming license procedures and modern infrastructure with regards to technology and bandwidth:

Dutch Antilles - Curacao
Antigua/Barbuda
Isle of Man
United Kingdom
Australia
Mauritius
Gibraltar
Austria
Soon to join the Preferred list (maybe)
Canada (Mohawk Territory of Montreal only) -This area still bothers me somewhat despite its stellar record to date

The following countries have lax standards, lack gaming commissions and are otherwise inferior to the countries in the preferred list:

Dominica
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Margarita Island (Venezuela)
Nicaragua
Bahamas
Panama
Honduras
Belize
Costa Rica (SBR can only recommend those books that have been researched extensively)

AVOID the following countries at all costs:

St. Kitts
Grenada
Madagascar
Haiti
Aruba
St. Marten
St. Vincent

[jay88]

BETUS (D) is licensed in Canada... CRIS (A) is in Costa Rica... TheGreek/BetJamaica (A) are in Jamaica... Sportingbet (D) is in UK...
The list is almost 100% correct but there are always huge exceptions...

[pier0]

Mauritius next to Australia?

I understand Bowmans resides there, but is that enough to make the country a preferred jurisdiction?

[pags11]

thanks for this info. onlooker...

[magnavox]

This list is a joke. Frankly speaking location doesn't really matter, the first and foremost is reputation of a specific book, not even then location should be a concern. The one exception I know of is Australia, where government guarantees your money 100%. In the UK it works just as a regular business, with the only difference in a bookmaking license. They have notorious no-payers SSP still operating there, pathetic. And, if the book goes bust, you're not liklely to see your money, as 'punters' are last on the pay list, after all the other creditors.

[Quarm]

lots of books are in Costa Rica, take that as you want now

[pier0]

This list is a joke. Frankly speaking location doesn't really matter, the first and foremost is reputation of a specific book, not even then location should be a concern. The one exception I know of is Australia, where government guarantees your money 100%. In the UK it works just as a regular business, with the only difference in a bookmaking license. They have notorious no-payers SSP still operating there, pathetic. And, if the book goes bust, you're not liklely to see your money, as 'punters' are last on the pay list, after all the other creditors.

The Australian Government is not guaranteeing a cent...Australian books are forced to keep customers funds in ringfenced accounts though.

And while is true that some UK bookmakers have gone belly up, or slow/no pay their customers, I doubt that a UK magistrate would license a convicted felon.

Can we say the same thing about Costa Rica or other Caribbean/Central America jurisdictions?

[tacomax]

This list is a joke. Frankly speaking location doesn't really matter, the first and foremost is reputation of a specific book, not even then location should be a concern. The one exception I know of is Australia, where government guarantees your money 100%. In the UK it works just as a regular business, with the only difference in a bookmaking license. They have notorious no-payers SSP still operating there, pathetic. And, if the book goes bust, you're not liklely to see your money, as 'punters' are last on the pay list, after all the other creditors.

Of course the location matters. It may not be a 100% defining variable but it's still important.

Suppose you had to deposit at a sportsbook and were given a choice of a random book from Antigua and a random book from Haiti. Which book would you choose to deposit at?

[JoshW]

Of course the location matters. It may not be a 100% defining variable but it's still important.

Suppose you had to deposit at a sportsbook and were given a choice of a random book from Antigua and a random book from Haiti. Which book would you choose to deposit at?

More interesting question for me is say Nicaragua versus Costa Rica? All else being equal do you go with the known country even though it does have a questionable rep over the unknown where their isn't much of a history of sportsbooks? I am not sure. And is a big reason why country in only one factor. The kind of factor you use when you have very little information, and if you have so very little information that you are actually considering what country they are from, likely best to not even consider the book.

[jay88]

Taco, of course it is relevant... but it is not that important...

[tacomax]

Taco, of course it is relevant... but it is not that important...

Which is the point I was trying to get across. But, as lakerfan was getting at, if you're dertermining a sportsbook on country origin alone then it's a dangerous selection process.

[natrass]

I think fraud happens in every country. Doesn't mean if your a victim you will always get your cash in some countries. However, as said pier0 said, some countries have bothered to put up some safeguards ... others haven't.

As always, take your risks on the sports pitch not on whether your bookie will pay you.

[pier0]

Taco, of course it is relevant... but it is not that important...

It may be "not that important" if you play with a well known and respected book (see Olympic in Jamaica, where BTW they don't even hold a gaming license).

But if I had to consider whether to open an account with a new shop, the jurisdiction of appurtenance would play a major role.

I think not many bettors look at it, though.

[tacomax]

Are the "stringent gaming license procedures" worth anything though? Sportingbet have been swiping balances and are located in Antigua, scam after scam operate out of Costa Rica. Can any value really be placed on a specific country's gaming licence?

[juuso]

I personally think most countries gaming regulating authorities won't do much in case of forfeiting winnings/bonus and even downright stealing. Many casinos that operate in Antigua are just as bad as the bad ones in Costa Rica. There is great outfit in most of the big countries for sportsbooks/casinos. I personally don't mind where the book/casino is located. It's all about the integrity and honesty of the book in question. Had a great experience with Costa Rican, Curacaoan, English, Australian books. Even Pointbet which is located in Indonesia and probably is operating without anykind of license or permit from the government, as gambling is illegal in Indonesia, is one of my top books. Never had a problem there. Trying to keep my balance to as low as i need for the current week but i can't afford not to play there with their soccer prices.

What about Malta. It's not on the list but there's quite a lot of books operating there. Most of them is geared towards the european market. What i've understood they have one of the best gaming board. Very responsive and helpfull in player disputes. Takes the book/casino to court in bigger cases on behalf of the player if it sees there's been wrongdoing.

[juuso]

Here is also pretty good read about gaming jurisdictions. Bookmakers review is an european site but thay have some valid stuff. http://www.bookmakersreview.com/Jurisdictions/