[vsdspread]

TOW Industry Newswire
9/14/2007
Betonline downgraded to high risk, caution advised


Albeit unusual at the beginning of Football season the downgrade of Betonline to high risk is deemed necessary due to adverse feedbacks on some individuals directly involved with the operation.

Betonline was born under the wrong star, its first marketing steps assisted by the infamous Robbie McPhail. McPhail is a con artist well known in Costa Rica and abroad due to his involvement in several scam operations that stiffed dozens of unsuspecting bettors.

In the first months of 2007 Betonline announced the sale, or merger, with BestLineSports. BLS officially merged into Betonline to improve its internet marketing performance.

In reality the move was dictated by much more serious concerns. BestLineSports was originally operated by some individuals directly tied to the shadiest businesses of Gary Kaplan (Betonsports). Allegations according to which BestLineSports was catering part of the credit business tied to the Gambino mob family lead U.S. prosecutors to name BestLineSports.com in the Betonsports Indictment of July 2006.

Making BestLineSports.com disappear as fast as lightning became imperative for the new owners of BLS, namely the group once behind Infinity, one of the many brands taken over by Betonsports over the years.

Despite Betonline management repeated denials our sources in Costa Rica and Panama recently confirmed the direct involvement of Dalton Wagner, formerly MVPSportsbook/Betonsports, with Betonline. Wagner vanished from Betonsports few days after David Carruthers' arrest, allegedly taking with him hundreds of thousands of dollars of BoS technical equipment which he formally bought for pennies.

Sources also confirmed the direct involvement with Betonline of one, or more, of the former managers of failed BetPanam. Two individuals currently involved with Betonline's marketing were the primary cause of BetPanam's demise. The book shut down few months after its grand opening in March 2004. Several dozens of players got stiffed out of over $300,000.

The downgrade to high risk becomes mandatory given the potential risk of being brought under the DoJ's microscope and the involvement of the above mentioned shady individuals in the day to day operation of Betonline.

Players are strongly advised to proceed with caution with this operation and maintain their account balances at the "acceptable loss" figure.

Bettors are also reminded to carefully review their sportsbook's rating in our Rating Guide before depositing or re-upping. In doubt we recommend players to stick to the short list of winners of TOW Award of Excellence 2007, the industry's most respected and trusted list of elite sportsbook.

TOW Industry Newswire - Published September 14 2007 - 12.50 pm EST - TheOnlinewire.com

[RickySteve]

Don't worry. Once John's affiliate check clears this month he will post that this is all false.

[Mudcat]

As much as I would point out that TOW should never be taken seriously - they have just lied too much and been too agenda-driven and deserve no credibility - I would also say that SBR has BOL rated too highly here. It is the most glaring example I can ever recall of SBR giving an A rating for reasons other than merit.

I know John's response here. I could write it for him. But I'll let him go ahead.

And I also feel I should point out that, regardless of that, SBR is still head-and-shoulders above other forums in terms of standards for advertisers.

But don't think of BOL as an A- book.

[SBR_John]

The Bestlines, now BetOnline, guys sold to BoS several years ago and set up there own shop in Panama. It proved to be a very smart move. The only ones that are nervous are their competitors.

So lets recap; TOW rated BetOnSports a perfect rock solid 10 but BetOnline as high risk?? Translation; BetOnSports was a great advertiser of TOW.

[vsdspread]

I have been a forum reader for years, but haven't posted much.

Personally I believe SBR, TOW, TheRx, EOG, MajorWager, etc are interested in their personal gain first, and then POSSIBLY they have some concern about the players interest.

The entire gambling community is too greedy, and this results into poor decisions on all sides.

[vsdspread]

John,

So let's recap:

Two people I admire in this industry, namely JC and SBR John have completely polar opposite opinions about one of our sponsors, namely BetOnline (previously Bestline Sports)...

JC has listed them in several recent posts including, but not limited to under "BOOKS THAT SUCK."

JC also posted the following which included BetOnline:

"As long as forums are going to take on less than honorable advertisers like...BetOnline, there are going to be problems if they expect to be protected."

Meanwhile, SBR has UPGRADED BETONLINE to an A- ranking faster than a speeding bullet and certainly swifter than any other operation I can recall in recent history..

At the moment, BetOnline is an advertiser here. I don't play there because my action isn't the type they are looking for. Therefore, since I haven't visited with them in person either, I cannot honestly give everyone here a firshand account of this place...

I am throwing this topic out for discussion since JC believes they SUCK, and are clearly not worthy of anything near an A- rating, whereas SBR John has been worshipping them as if they are the second coming of Christ...

Why the disparity?

Thanks,

THE SHRINK

[Dark Horse]

I am throwing this topic out for discussion since JC believes they SUCK, and are clearly not worthy of anything near an A- rating, whereas SBR John has been worshipping them as if they are the second coming of Christ...

Why the disparity?

Thanks,

THE SHRINK

Maybe JC is a muslim?

On another note, are you the same Shrink who backs Oddsmaker to the point of personally guaranteeing 5K for each player stiffed by this D- book?

[vsdspread]

I have been a forum reader for years, but haven't posted much.

Personally I believe SBR, TOW, TheRx, EOG, MajorWager, etc are interested in their personal gain first, and then POSSIBLY they have some concern about the players interest.

The entire gambling community is too greedy, and this results into poor decisions on all sides.

Exactly why I say the above.

[SBR_John]

Well JC is of course a great fan of the book he founded, WSEX. BetOnline is gaining market share at a high rate.

Shrink must have been confused about BestLines buying BetOnline. Because Bestlines, now BetOnline, spent 3 years going from C to A-. Hardly faster than a speeding bullet. Consistant with 5Dimes and Legendz which took about the same time.

Rememeber, because someone in this industry says something, doesn't make it so.

[Dark Horse]

JC founded WSEX?!

Learn something new every day.

Something he said a few months ago stuck with me; something about the offshore industry being far more seriously damaged by last year's law than generally assumed.

[Mudcat]

I'm not sure what's going on here. The Shrink (Ken W.) has posted here since day 1 using the handle, The Shrink.

I guess vsdspread is copying something of the Shrink's from another forum without acknowledging that's what he was doing ??

In any case, the Shrink's current forum is, without a doubt, in no position to criticize anyone with regard to advertisers being accepted.

Which doesn't change the fact that BOL is not worthy of an A- rating.

[vsdspread]

I'm not sure what's going on here. The Shrink (Ken W.) has posted here since day 1 using the handle, The Shrink.

I guess vsdspread is copying something of the Shrink's from another forum without acknowledging that's what he was doing ??

In any case, the Shrink's current forum is, without a doubt, in no position to criticize anyone with regard to advertisers being accepted.

Which doesn't change the fact that BOL is not worthy of an A- rating.

Of course I am copying from his site...Pretty obvious to me!

Again, all of these forums are in it for their own gain!

[Dark Horse]

Of course I am copying from his site...Pretty obvious to me!

Undoubtedly so. Nevertheless, very confusing to others.

[SBR_John]

Thats what makes the forums fun. I fondly remember being the first site to raise Pinnacle to an A and people thought we were crazy. There have been failures too. We believed in Cascade. SBR has a great track record over many years but we are not going to be right 100% of the time.

Everyone gets to have their own opinion. BetOnline gets a lot of free press. Hopefully, they will live up to their expectations.

[vsdspread]

Thats what makes the forums fun. I fondly remember being the first site to raise Pinnacle to an A and people thought we were crazy. There have been failures too. We believed in Cascade. SBR has a great track record over many years but we are not going to be right 100% of the time.

Everyone gets to have their own opinion. BetOnline gets a lot of free press. Hopefully, they will live up to their expectations.

Fun for you because you profit from it all. Not fun for others as players loose money on your information.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in the watchdog sites but I don't think they should rate them.

These sites should share the FACTS and then let the player decide what to do with those facts!

An A-Rating, or a Platinum Rating, or a Gold Rating mainly means that a company has paid for advertising.

[Brooks]

i did receive 2 same day neteller payouts this week from betonline. take it for what its worth

[ritehook]

Interesting that Roberto writes (in TOW) that Dalton Wagner is in Panama and associated with BetOnLine. It's what I'd guessed on this forum a while ago.

Another thing that tipped me to the BoL connection to BoS (aside from the flyer I got from them right after giving the BoS rep in the last days a new address) is that BoL offers the same kind of promotion as did a BoS book (Infinity,I think) - namely the no hold 7-1 true odds on a 3 team parlay.

That said, I actually did post up with BoL this season. Alright, call me stupid - but it was for a small amount, less than a nickel. I'm curious to see how it goes, and I do use it for smaller cut juice bets.

Even if D Wagner lurks in the bushes, even if there is some BoS involvement, I doubt very much that they will cut and run this season. If they do at all they'll wait till they are almost as big as was BoS.

And maybe they'll never cut and run. Eveyone thinks that SBR laid the "A" on them because BoL laid heavy bucks on SBR. But that would be counter productive, because if SBR is wrong on this one and BoL pulls a BoS, that likely effectively destoys SBR's rep as monitor. Especially with all the dire warnings and discusssions of this topic here.

Only if SBR goes with them would it make any sense. And tho I don't know anyone from SBR or BoL, I sort of doubt that will happen. And I had been in sales and marketing (including sports marketing) for long enough not to be naive.

Money does talk, but if it's not guided by a brain it comes out as gibberish. There's long-term interests and short-term ones - would anyone sell me a 6 team parlay ticket with five winners already in and just one to go for say 20% of what they paid for it?

Cynicism is a solid protective mindset, and more people should cultivate it. But it should be mixed thoroly with common sense before being swallowed in one gulp.

[bigloser]

[QUOTE=ritehook;345501Another thing that tipped me to the BoL connection to BoS (aside from the flyer I got from them right after giving the BoS rep in the last days a new address) is that BoL offers the same kind of promotion as did a BoS book (Infinity,I think) - namely the no hold 7-1 true odds on a 3 team parlay.

.[/QUOTE]

Infinity was Betonline

Infinitys url was
XXX.betonline.com

[THE SHRINK]

This was posted over at EOG by a very prominent individual who I respect more than anyone else in the industry....

"They (BetOnline) suck for several reasons. The main one being the people behind them. If people realized who they were playing with, they would run, not walk to the exit. Frankly it's an all star cast of characters from other infamous operations.

There's a reason they pounded the BOS list hard, but it's not the only genetic code you'll find there if you checked their DNA. Their -105 model is a time bomb waiting to go off. Does it remind anyone of another start up? Do the math folks.

I don't why sites including this one have decided to turn a blind eye to the situation. Personally I think SBR has made a big mistake here, but I still find their ratings to be the most accurate overall."

John,

This certainly doesn't sound agenda driven if I am reading the last sentence correctly...

For these reasons above, it would seem logical that BetOnline is clearly not worthy of an A- rating.

But hey, you have every right to rate them as you see fit...

Ironically, you threw a TIZZY when EOG accepted BOS as it's first non stellar sponsor, yet you openly admit they have similar relations...

2/12/2006 11:04 AM

BestLines Sports (SBR rating B-) controlling interest bought by former BoS executive. Look for BestLines Sports to move out of the old PanAm building within 60 days. The new partner told SBR in a meeting in Panama City that he intends to invest millions of dollars in a new facility, marketing and personnel.

Although preferring to remain anonymous, this operator was one of the few well respected operators that came out of the Greg Champion era of BetOnSports. This book is worth keeping an eye on however players should wait until their move and reorganization has taken better shape before trying.

Then, in OCTOBER of 2006, LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO, right after the UIGEA, you stated Bestlines was a SPORTS BOOK TO GET OUT OF (POST #28 by you)!!!!!

Get out of low rated books NOW!

Bottom Line:

1-How can a website recommend to stay away from BetOnline less than 12 months ago, then rate them an A-?

2-On what MERITS was this decision reached?

3-And like it or not, according to lead US prosecutors, there continue to be "allegations to which BestLineSports (now BetOnline) was catering part of the credit business tied to the Gambino mob family to BestLineSports.com in the Betonsports Indictment of July 2006."

How can you be 100% sure that PLAYER accounts at BetOnline won't get frozen or touched at some point during the BOS case?

Thanks, and I sincerely believe that other than this glaring exception, SBR's ratings of sports books are the best the industry has to use as a guideline...

THE SHRINK

[Zeroed]

Luckily they discourage non-U.S. players to sign up from the start, so i will never find out how much this book really sucks.

But adding 1 and 1 together, the only advice can be STAY AWAY.
No clue why they are A-, i didn´t even know the name some months ago..

P.S. Shrink: Nice to see that you like the SBR ratings, they are worth a lot more than your "sponsors" - very true.

[Bill Dozer]

Shrink,

SBR's warnings last year were for every book rated B+ and below. We had some very upset B+ quality books but that was not a time to be playing anywhere but at the very best if at all. That is a silly example of a warning against a book that had a decent rating.

This was a B rated book while the forums were endorsing D rated BOS as they deleted winning bets.

Deciding to utilize JC's opinion now who warns against most EOG books is convenient. When is the banner coming down? Monday, when the techs come in?

[greg66]

Thanks for all the info.