A Visit with Costa Rican Sportsbooks - Betmaker, NASA, ABC, and others

[STING]

www.bettorsworld.com/stingcc/

check out Sting's Buzz Bin here

[Check One]

Sting - the Del Ray !! You need to get out more next time in CR. Much better women else where..

Gringos livin la vida loca only in CR

lol
dman

[OLD MAN]

EXCELLANT ARTICLE, STING, WELL WRITTEN.
THE OLD MAN

[STING]

Thanks Old Man...Glad you enjoyed it.

[BigMoney]

Sting - great article - very interesting reading. I hope I can visit CR soon.

Is this the article that you thought might clear up the NASA dispute in our minds? If so, this really didn't answer anything. The article just states that NASA (Int'l) claims that the wagers were actually made by someone else, and that the purported wagerer didn't have enough money in his account to make the wagers.

Now Sting, what I want to know is, did NASA Int'l accept these wagers? If so, then they should pay them. If they don't, then they have violated the first rule of bookmaking.

They have the right to refuse wagers. They have the right to set their own odds/lines, even to deal multiple lines to different players based on whatever they want. They have the right to kick out players. But they don't have the right to accept wagers and then not pay them.

Sting, you are wrong on this one.

[STING]

Thanks Big Money....I am not really taking any sides on this particular issue. You obviously bring up a valid point. But I believe this is the first time they have publicly told their side of the story..maybe I'm wrong.

I think there is a little more to it than just a wager being placed and accepted. Questions regarding who placed the wager, if he had the funds to do so, if this individual cheated....and then there's the question of why Walters, if owed the money, has not discussed this with Greg Champion....BUT...and here's the big BUT...

They do admit to this situation and have stated that EVERYONE has gotten paid EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE PERSON...whether there are any other mitigating circumstances, they did admit this to me and only time will tell what happens.

[j]

Sting,

Let me add to the cheers for this interesting article. You always hear offshore is a booming industry, but you showed us what the boom looks like in terms of office buildings, company gyms, and employee titles.

I'd be kind of interested in reading some profiles sometime about what exactly the various departments of a modern bookmaker do. For example it might seem obvious what the new accounts manager does, but I'll bet these guys have some stories to tell about the day-by-day of their jobs—and the same with all the other business divisions. Also, it would be interesting to know stories about the folks who decide to go down there and work in the industry. Not just the BM's, but the key employees...

Keep up the terrific reporting...

[This message has been edited by j (edited 02-01-2000).]

[scott]

Sting, I have a better sence for the offshore books/bookmakers and island life. I have been offered a job or two offshore and your account of your trip has relieved some of my anxieties as far as the properties themselves and the professional atmosphere. Imo this is your best work. Mabey you have created a market. The overwhelming betting public wants to know more about the offshore books. You have the job(wrong choice of words). Scotty

[STING]

Thanks guys. If more people had the opportunity to visit these businesses, there would be a much better perception I am sure. I wouldn't expect any class trips to be arranged however until after the US government gets their act together and stops contradicting themselves as to what is right and what iss wrong in terms of gambling legalities. Glad you all enjoyed it.

[Skybook]

If anyone cares
I have been wanting to throw my 2 cents in on this one for a while. Maybe this is a good
time. A while back a employee of mine along with many others spent a lot of time bashing intertops and Nassau. His reason was simple. He did it because he had evidence that clients were not paid. I actually also just assumed he was talking about the other Nassau. When It was brought to my attention from one of the people that works here I asked him to stop. Here is why. The Nassau everyone is talking about as it turns out is NAssau international. I know personally the owner and top executives from this company. They are my friends. When Skybook was starting out I actually went to visit them in Antigua. They showed me all around and helped me in many ways (As did WWTS which I have previously stated) They showed me there software and even helped introduced me to a bank that we opened and still have an account with. 3 baseball seasons ago I had an account with them as well. I didnt start it until a little before the all star break. From that time until the end of the season I won over $150,000.00 betting with them. It was the year the Marlins won and I knew they would win. I then bet around 25k a series on the marlins with them in every series and 50k on the world series. The marlins won it all leaving them oweing me another 100,000.00 or so. When all was said and done I had won over a quarter of a million dollars from them. How much of that did they pay me. Well they paid me a quarter of a million dollars, every penny of it. Do I bet there any more? I also dont know if they want me to. I havent asked.
This is just something I have wanted to get off my chest.
Does this mean I think they are right in this everlasting feud. I dont really know the facts. I havent talked to either party. It is none of my business and I really dont care, or wont care until I know all the facts.
I know this about myself and the way Skybook is run. We have always and will always pay every client every penny of a winning bet. There are absolutly no exceptions to this rule.

Just something i wanted to get off my chest.
Thanks Lance

[STING]

Nicely said Lance, what I'm finding from feedback I'm getting is not so much that BW has not been paid, but what's repeated time and time again is that disclaimer. They were very open as to why they have such a disclaimer...it's there so that there are no questions whatsoever regarding the fact that NASA does NOT want you if you are a wiseguy, syndicate or whatever...they want this to be abundantly clear....no small print I suppose.

The problem is that while NASA International expressed they have no intention of screwing players over by citing this disclaimer, there are many out there who interpret this literally....which makes perfect sense.

The owner is a maverick who I don't think will change the disclaimer. I personally think that the disclaimer should be changed. What people need to understand though is that the types of customers NASA wishes to market to are less inclined to read the disclaimer and less inclined to feel it will apply to them. In my opinion I do feel that the only way he'll be removing that disclaimer is if he ever has a drop off in customers. That's simply not happening now though.

[Skybook]

Sting
I too read many of your posts and find them
as I have already stated educational and entertaining.
Take care Lance

[BigMoney]

The problem with the disclaimer is that it leaves the sportsbook to decide whether it wants to call you a wiseguy, based on an unspecified criteria. It's just a license not to pay anyone they decide not to pay.

What I don't understand about the infamous no-pay case is why they continued to accept wagers for so long. A book shouldn't have to lose six figures before it "figures" out that the player is not the type they desire.