[JBC77]

I'm a curious guy. I realize the owners of this site may not be able to respond in this thread. I've been gambling offshore for a few years, not that I give a crap because I have never gotten stiffed, but what the hell is going on in CR. It's had to have crossed the minds of a few long standing off shore gamblers.

Is Costa Rica and other safe haven areas a kin to the wild wild west?

I imagine a fair amount of honest businessmen or as honest as they come, set up books to run legitimate business. The flip side.....how many are connected to organized crime? Is it majority crime rings? Could this be why the U.S Gov is reluctant to allow internet gambling to legitimize? Therefore legitimizing would be criminals.....in the minds of lawmakers.

Anyone care to speculate?

[pokernut9999]

In my opinion organized crime runs most if not all of the offshore books. Why would a legitimate businessman go there to open a book when he knows nothing about it ?

[JBC77]

Good point poker. I just think, guys with some money and college degrees from the U.S have moved offshore and opened books. Guys that would just as well pay taxes to run a legitimate offshore book if it were legal. Like a store owner, bar owner, just another business in the U.S. It may be, that the U.S Gov.....by banning internet betting.......has created the perfect organized crime book offshore......pushing out the honest guys or those who aren't "connected". I haven't heard anyone ever ask how much "muscle" controls the safe havens.

Then again, I'm just speculating. Never been to CR. Don't know the offshore scene there. Makes you think though. How easy are the cops bought down there?

[JBC77]

The only tid-bits........an old post where one person, maybe SBR John was stuck up by a pissed F rated book owner. Mods wear bullet proof down there? Or am I off base?

[badhunter]

Has anyone ever heard of Atlantisbets.com? It's in CR and I was recommended. Can't find much about them.

[Shark79]

Originally Posted by JBC77

Good point poker. I just think, guys with some money and college degrees from the U.S have moved offshore and opened books. Guys that would just as well pay taxes to run a legitimate offshore book if it were legal. Like a store owner, bar owner, just another business in the U.S. It may be, that the U.S Gov.....by banning internet betting.......has created the perfect organized crime book offshore......pushing out the honest guys or those who aren't "connected". I haven't heard anyone ever ask how much "muscle" controls the safe havens.

Then again, I'm just speculating. Never been to CR. Don't know the offshore scene there. Makes you think though. How easy are the cops bought down there?

You sure are .... lived in this country for over 13 yrs ... I have to say I would never go back to the US. This country still has a word that I fight for ... FREEDOM ... must I say more

[JBC77]

So what are the barriers to entry in the CR bookmaking industry:

1. Money. A small circle of qualified, knowledgeable people.

2. Space to rent or lease

3. Some sort of bullsh1t government permit. (money grab)

4. Computer equipment, servers...etc.

5. Ad money. Get the word out.

6. Permission from the mob? (future shakedowns?)

[JBC77]

Just speculating boys. Maybe I have watched too many episodes of the Sopranos. That.....or an 11 hour workday has me beat down. I did have half a bottle of red wine.....

[Shark79]

Originally Posted by JBC77

So what are the barriers to entry in the CR bookmaking industry:

1. Money. A small circle of qualified, knowledgeable people.

2. Space to rent or lease

3. Some sort of bullsh1t government permit. (money grab)

4. Computer equipment, servers...etc.

5. Ad money. Get the word out.

6. Permission from the mob? (future shakedowns?)

You have the idea .... life in CR is sooo calm dude ... seriously ... If you ever get the chance to fly down ... you will see what Im typing about ...

[20Four7]

Can you use the local books shark? I think I read somewhere that a lot of them ban costa rican residents. I don't know I"ve never been there.

[Shark79]

You cant man ... money cannot touch CR ... which means that you must have all your existing accounts outside of CR in order to play. I luckily kept an account where I use to live ... Boston ... so I fund it and use it as an option to play .. but I also have friends that opened small books within the Big Books and take the plays ... use same lines as the Big ones do ... so I guess its ok ... and I get to see them everyday to cash!

[CAPN CRUNCH]

Originally Posted by Shark79

You sure are .... lived in this country for over 13 yrs ... I have to say I would never go back to the US. This country still has a word that I fight for ... FREEDOM ... must I say more

13 YEARS???????????? Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's back when most of Escazu was still farmlands!!!!!!! Before MultiPlaza even? Where the Hell did Ticos go on Sundays back then? Seriously, did you ever go to la Floresta or El Che?

[jjgold]

Most of Phila, NY and NJ guys run offshore books

[Shark79]

Originally Posted by CAPN CRUNCH

13 YEARS???????????? Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's back when most of Escazu was still farmlands!!!!!!! Before MultiPlaza even? Where the Hell did Ticos go on Sundays back then? Seriously, did you ever go to la Floresta or El Che?

Those were my joints after I was drunk as hell !!!

Yes ... I have a nice property in Escazu ... shit Multiplaza ... that was built only like 10 - 11 yrs ago ... before that Escazu or Santa Ana were worth crap!

Sundays were more fam time ... more quality time.

[CAPN CRUNCH]

Originally Posted by Shark79

Those were my joints after I was drunk as hell !!!

Yes ... I have a nice property in Escazu ... shit Multiplaza ... that was built only like 10 - 11 yrs ago ... before that Escazu or Santa Ana were worth crap!

Sundays were more fam time ... more quality time.

There will never be another la floresta. I miss everybody in that joint. And everybody over at el che too. Lofty, Allison, Mark, Janey, hell, too many to name at both joints. We must know each other! I even used to hang out at la cebolla verde! My name is johnny!

[Shark79]

If u remember Rolo then yes .. we have met

[CAPN CRUNCH]

I burnt alot of brain cells down there, do you remember me? Your name is very familiar! I also hung out at The Pub after the other two closed. I worked at building seven in Oficentro la Sabana. Do you know Sassoon?

[Shark79]

Well .. I have ran into many Johnnys in my life ... I think I might have a clue there Cap N Crunch ... I also worked at buidling Seven when Diamond was renting part of the 3rd floor and had a bingo and casino ... u recall?

[CAPN CRUNCH]

Originally Posted by Shark79

Well .. I have ran into many Johnnys in my life ... I think I might have a clue there Cap N Crunch ... I also worked at buidling Seven when Diamond was renting part of the 3rd floor and had a bingo and casino ... u recall?

LOL! Many Johnnys but how many of them drink bourbon by the case? Okay, that might not narrow the list sufficiently. You sound like Good People, if we don't know each other...........we should! Good Luck To You and God Bless You!

[JBC77]

Mob Linked To Online Gambling Sites

February 9, 2008

Offshore internet gambling played a vital role in supporting the criminal enterprises of the Gambino family, US officials said, in the latest evidence of the connections between the industry and organised crime.

An illegal sports gambling operation was based on at least four websites run in Costa Rica, as well as toll-free telephone numbers and a network of wire rooms, traditional bookies and debt collectors, according to the Queens district attorney.

Websites such as betallsports.com and betoffshore.net allegedly helped net “Gambino organised crime family gambling” operation almost $10m in wagers over two years.

The case is just one of a number of recent prosecutions that have connected the world of organised crime with online gambling.

“It’s a moneymaker for organised crime,” said Richard Brown, the Queens district attorney.

“Illegal gambling has always been the bread-and-butter moneymaker for organised crime because of the huge profits that it generates, which can be used to fund other more insidious forms of criminal activity, such as labour racketeering, drug trafficking, prostitution and...loan sharking.”

Twenty people were arrested over the alleged illegal gambling operation, as well as in relation to alleged prostitution and loan sharking crimes, on Thursday.

Nicholas Corrozzo, a 67-year-old Mafia “captain”, whose brother Joseph “Miserable” Corrozzo was the alleged consigliere to the Gambino family, ran the gambling business, according to Mr Brown.

Nicholas Corrozzo, also known as “The Little Guy” and “The Doctor”, is separately charged with ordering the double murder of Robert Arena “to settle a beef” and Thomas Maranga in 1996, by the US attorney for the eastern district of New York and is still on the run.

In 1976 he attended the wake of Carlo Gambino, the founder of the New York Mafia family, according to court documents.

Last year the Financial Times revealed that Betonsports, the publicly listed British online gambling company that went bust after being charged with illegal gambling and racketeering, had been linked by US prosecutors to a website that employed members of the Gambino family to collect debts.

The Bestlinesports.com website was one of a number of websites “belonging to or controlled by” Betonsports, according to an indictment from the US attorney in Missouri.

“There’s a connection between what’s happening online and organised crime,” said John Pistole, of the FBI. “La Cosa Nostra has business acumen: if there’s a way to make money without resorting to violence they will.”

[JBC77]

Bestlinesports.com has become BetOnline.com, I believe they advertise here at SBR. Wow, who would have thought the Gambino crime family would be here and present on SBR.

[Poker_Beast]

I bet they are still involved.