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Sportsbook Scene by Buzz Daly
May 1, 2002
New Premium Offshore Book Targeting U.S. Bettors, Grande Sports, Is Ready to Launch
It would appear by events of the last couple of months - including offshore books gone belly up, weary bettors waiting for the other shoe to fall in some other bad-news scenarios, and a higher level of angst among industry participants - that we are suffering from a severe case of Post Super Bowl Blahs.
Sportsbook Scene does not consider itself a cheerleader for offshore gaming, but for a while we've been sitting on a story which we feel is a much needed breath of fresh air for this industry.
Recently there have been hints, most notably in several posting forums, that one of the most respected, prestigious and professionally managed sportsbooks conducting business for an international clientele would be joining the post-up business.
Well, it's true. Dominican Republic-based Grande, known to insiders for its impeccable reputation, will soon open its doors to the public via a new office in Costa Rica to be called Grande Sports, says its founder and lead bookmaker, Skip.
An official announcement will be made shortly via a press release to the mainstream media including newspapers, radio, television, wire services and the Internet. Its website, www.GrandeSports.com, should be operational before the end of this week.
With the permission of Skip, who is currently overseeing the final prep work on software, phone lines, training personnel and all the other logistics which have to be put in place, we are giving the industry a slightly premature announcement of this happy event.
We characterize the launching of Grande West as a "happy event" because we are well aware of the anticipation by the cognoscenti, who look forward to betting into this organization.
A pioneer in the offshore industry, the parent company Grande has provided first-class worldwide service to professionals and betting syndicates since 1989. It is well known to savvy bettors, many of whom were disappointed in the company's long standing policy of declining most new customers.
However, after years of operating as arguably the largest and most successful independent sports betting business in this hemisphere, Grande is responding to popular demand that it open up to a wider audience.
Grande Sports will specialize in servicing casual and recreational players via the Internet, with supplemental service on toll-free phones.
"It's silly to keep telling players that we can't help them," said Skip. "We're going to open the new office and let those people play," he added.
We don't wish to go through a laundry list of betting options offered by Grande Sports, but here are a few items to whet a bettor's appetite: Grande Sports offers a true 10-cent baseball line, a full service betting menu with the most competitive vig anywhere, and its usual insistence on promptly fulfilling requests for payouts.
"The sharp professionals and syndicates all bet with us," said Skip. "We're run by seasoned professionals, who know how to open a line. We move our numbers according to the play we get, back and forth. You have to stay on top of it, but the business has worked out well for us," he noted.
One unique innovation to be implemented by Grande Sports, said Skip, will be a monthly public statement of its post-up funds held in an escrow account, verified and authenticated by a leading audit firm.
Post-up funds are not intended to be used for operational or marketing purposes. Books that fail have been known to tap into these funds; hence, a litany of complaints from stiffed bettors on posting forums throughout the Internet.
"No one in this industry has ever released such sensitive material, said administrative director John Kellogg. "We'll not only be revealing confidential information to customers, but to the competition as well," he added.
"But the very reasons why no one has ever done it before are the very reasons we believe the information must be made public," said Kellogg. He promised to provide much greater detail of the book's procedures and policies when Grande Sports announces the launch date of its book and casino.
As a bettor, we are looking forward to matching wits with Grande Sports bookmakers. We are well aware that we are overmatched and the equivalent of a +3.20 dog. But that 10-cent baseball line that goes all the way up the ladder is just too inviting to pass up.
We hope this "heds up" to the industry has a salubrious effect on punters. After all, a new book with deep pockets, original lines, and a "welcome" sign out for baseball bettors doesn't come along every day.
Say Good Night, Gracie. If Burns and Allen were known for anything, it was the graceful way of ending their act.
We believe that knowing when it is time to say goodbye is just as important as a cheerful hello.
So we take this opportunity to let both bettors and books know that the annual magazine which we have published since 1994 will not be coming out this year.
Originally published as Players' Guide to Las Vegas Sports Books, and most recently changed to Players' Guide to Sports Books, it has had a terrific run. We believe it was the first independent magazine to acknowledge the viability of the offshore sportsbooks and to try to cover them as an emerging industry.
Yep, we were there at the time when the books first began spreading their wings. And we were observers to history, so to speak, as the offshore industry began superseding Las Vegas and today is solidly established as the Mecca of sports betting.
We are deeply appreciative of the support rendered by offshore books and related businesses. Let us also acknowledge the warm, positive response to Players' Guide from bettors. The combined efforts of both industry participants and the betting public allowed us to achieve critical and financial success.
To all parties, we want to simply say, thank you.
The reason for ceasing publication is quite basic. The sports gaming industry has gotten too big for us to cover it in the manner in which we did so in the past. We simply do not have the resources to continue to upgrade the magazine every year and give readers a behind-the-scenes look at how books conduct business.
Players' Guide staff consists of Buzz, who handles advertising, editorial and distribution; Sherryl, who handles production and administrative responsibilities; and Jason, the Art Director in charge of graphics and liaison with ad agencies and the printer.
Additionally, a dedicated and talented group of freelance contributors made it possible to produce the magazine each year.
Our two original offshore advertisers, Carib Sports and World Wide Tele Sports, survived the turmoil inherent in a rapidly growing and volatile business to become seasoned veterans and industry leaders. They have been joined in the now mature industry by large, multi-book operations as well as niche-oriented shops, whose success is due to a crucial common denominator: enlightened management which possessed both vision and dedication.
Some of the early stores were run by men with - gasp! - criminal records. That is, if you consider being busted for bookmaking a serious breach of society's laws. We don't.
We remember the big offshore bust of 1998. The government bullied and pressured some fine establishments out of business. But one, WSEX (www.wsex.com), stood tall and is still flying its colors.
Jay Cohen, WSEX founder, embodies the rebellious spirit of a man with strong convictions and the character to fight for them. Despite the worst efforts of hypocritical politicians, government agencies and other anti-gaming zealots, Jay Cohen and WSEX continue to be thorns in the side of repressive elements, which hate and fear the free will expressed by his fight to make sports betting accessible to U.S. citizens.
In 1997, Players' Guide recognized the influence exerted by the offshore industry. We became a magazine within a magazine as we gave birth to the Off Shore Betting Guide, a supplement devoted exclusively to offshore coverage.
Gradually, this became the dominant part of the publication. Offshore books were creative, aggressive and experiencing explosive growth. The books cooperated with us as they instinctively picked up on our agenda, which was to support the concept of U.S. bettors being offered a legitimate outlet for a legitimate activity.
Betting with offshore books was and is an attractive alternative to illegal stateside bookmakers. That, in a nutshell, has been the point of view of Players' Guide.
However, although the magazine is being retired, we will still be around via our website and the weekly sports betting tabloid, Players' Choice, which comes out during football season.
This year we are planning to increase Players' Choice's distribution, through both newsstand sales and targeted freebie audiences in Las Vegas, Reno-Tahoe and other gaming markets. Our first issue this year will be in August with a college football preview.
Through the addition of local advertising, Players' Choice will reduce the ratio of offshore advertising and limit the number of ad pages by books in each issue. We are aware of how distasteful many books find it to advertise in venues which are crammed with promotions for competitors.
Over the years, we've had the privilege of interviewing most of the offshore bookmaking fraternity's leading lights. From WWTS's Billy Scott in our first edition, to Carib's William Caesar, NASA's Gary Champion, SportingbetUSA's Petter Higgins, as well as Herman and Mickey from CRIS, Millennium's Tommy Miller, and representatives from such outstanding books as Hollywood, Casablanca, Horizon, Heritage, SOS, Pinnacle, Island Casino, All World, Rio, WIT, Bowman's, Bet365, Canbet, BC Sports, Grand Central Sports, Royal, World Wide Wagering and Parlaycard.com.
Regretfully, we never did do an interview with Olympic's Spiro or Players-SB's Dalton Wagner. From the conversations we've had with both of them, it was most apparent that the accolades they get are well deserved.
We've done consulting for several books, including Pinnacle. We knew this book would be a popular out, not only from the high caliber of its principals but also because they paid their bill even before we presented an invoice.
But now it's time to stop looking in the rear view window, and cast our gaze forward. Offshore gaming, which encompasses both Internet and phone wagering, needs to continue broadening its customer base. We hope to contribute to that effort through Players' Choice and our website.
Football season is just around the corner. But for those who bet baseball, this is the best time of year. Get yourself a couple of outs with different lines, and start looking for some live dogs, or favorites that can win on the run line.
If distributors of other free gaming publications are interested in adding Players' Choice to their inventory, please email us at [email protected].
Derby Update. This week's radio show, The Bettor Line, heard from 2:05 to 3 pm Pacific time on KSHP 1400 AM Las Vegas, will feature indepth coverage of the Kentucky Derby by our cohost and horse racing authority Kelso Sturgeon. We'll also hear from Jimmy Vaccaro on the NBA playoffs. The show will be streamed live on the Internet: enter www.kshp.com and click on K-SHOP Internet Radio halfway down the left side of the page.
Please send comments, questions, etc. to [email protected].
Sportsbook Scene by Buzz Daly
May 1, 2002
New Premium Offshore Book Targeting U.S. Bettors, Grande Sports, Is Ready to Launch
It would appear by events of the last couple of months - including offshore books gone belly up, weary bettors waiting for the other shoe to fall in some other bad-news scenarios, and a higher level of angst among industry participants - that we are suffering from a severe case of Post Super Bowl Blahs.
Sportsbook Scene does not consider itself a cheerleader for offshore gaming, but for a while we've been sitting on a story which we feel is a much needed breath of fresh air for this industry.
Recently there have been hints, most notably in several posting forums, that one of the most respected, prestigious and professionally managed sportsbooks conducting business for an international clientele would be joining the post-up business.
Well, it's true. Dominican Republic-based Grande, known to insiders for its impeccable reputation, will soon open its doors to the public via a new office in Costa Rica to be called Grande Sports, says its founder and lead bookmaker, Skip.
An official announcement will be made shortly via a press release to the mainstream media including newspapers, radio, television, wire services and the Internet. Its website, www.GrandeSports.com, should be operational before the end of this week.
With the permission of Skip, who is currently overseeing the final prep work on software, phone lines, training personnel and all the other logistics which have to be put in place, we are giving the industry a slightly premature announcement of this happy event.
We characterize the launching of Grande West as a "happy event" because we are well aware of the anticipation by the cognoscenti, who look forward to betting into this organization.
A pioneer in the offshore industry, the parent company Grande has provided first-class worldwide service to professionals and betting syndicates since 1989. It is well known to savvy bettors, many of whom were disappointed in the company's long standing policy of declining most new customers.
However, after years of operating as arguably the largest and most successful independent sports betting business in this hemisphere, Grande is responding to popular demand that it open up to a wider audience.
Grande Sports will specialize in servicing casual and recreational players via the Internet, with supplemental service on toll-free phones.
"It's silly to keep telling players that we can't help them," said Skip. "We're going to open the new office and let those people play," he added.
We don't wish to go through a laundry list of betting options offered by Grande Sports, but here are a few items to whet a bettor's appetite: Grande Sports offers a true 10-cent baseball line, a full service betting menu with the most competitive vig anywhere, and its usual insistence on promptly fulfilling requests for payouts.
"The sharp professionals and syndicates all bet with us," said Skip. "We're run by seasoned professionals, who know how to open a line. We move our numbers according to the play we get, back and forth. You have to stay on top of it, but the business has worked out well for us," he noted.
One unique innovation to be implemented by Grande Sports, said Skip, will be a monthly public statement of its post-up funds held in an escrow account, verified and authenticated by a leading audit firm.
Post-up funds are not intended to be used for operational or marketing purposes. Books that fail have been known to tap into these funds; hence, a litany of complaints from stiffed bettors on posting forums throughout the Internet.
"No one in this industry has ever released such sensitive material, said administrative director John Kellogg. "We'll not only be revealing confidential information to customers, but to the competition as well," he added.
"But the very reasons why no one has ever done it before are the very reasons we believe the information must be made public," said Kellogg. He promised to provide much greater detail of the book's procedures and policies when Grande Sports announces the launch date of its book and casino.
As a bettor, we are looking forward to matching wits with Grande Sports bookmakers. We are well aware that we are overmatched and the equivalent of a +3.20 dog. But that 10-cent baseball line that goes all the way up the ladder is just too inviting to pass up.
We hope this "heds up" to the industry has a salubrious effect on punters. After all, a new book with deep pockets, original lines, and a "welcome" sign out for baseball bettors doesn't come along every day.
Say Good Night, Gracie. If Burns and Allen were known for anything, it was the graceful way of ending their act.
We believe that knowing when it is time to say goodbye is just as important as a cheerful hello.
So we take this opportunity to let both bettors and books know that the annual magazine which we have published since 1994 will not be coming out this year.
Originally published as Players' Guide to Las Vegas Sports Books, and most recently changed to Players' Guide to Sports Books, it has had a terrific run. We believe it was the first independent magazine to acknowledge the viability of the offshore sportsbooks and to try to cover them as an emerging industry.
Yep, we were there at the time when the books first began spreading their wings. And we were observers to history, so to speak, as the offshore industry began superseding Las Vegas and today is solidly established as the Mecca of sports betting.
We are deeply appreciative of the support rendered by offshore books and related businesses. Let us also acknowledge the warm, positive response to Players' Guide from bettors. The combined efforts of both industry participants and the betting public allowed us to achieve critical and financial success.
To all parties, we want to simply say, thank you.
The reason for ceasing publication is quite basic. The sports gaming industry has gotten too big for us to cover it in the manner in which we did so in the past. We simply do not have the resources to continue to upgrade the magazine every year and give readers a behind-the-scenes look at how books conduct business.
Players' Guide staff consists of Buzz, who handles advertising, editorial and distribution; Sherryl, who handles production and administrative responsibilities; and Jason, the Art Director in charge of graphics and liaison with ad agencies and the printer.
Additionally, a dedicated and talented group of freelance contributors made it possible to produce the magazine each year.
Our two original offshore advertisers, Carib Sports and World Wide Tele Sports, survived the turmoil inherent in a rapidly growing and volatile business to become seasoned veterans and industry leaders. They have been joined in the now mature industry by large, multi-book operations as well as niche-oriented shops, whose success is due to a crucial common denominator: enlightened management which possessed both vision and dedication.
Some of the early stores were run by men with - gasp! - criminal records. That is, if you consider being busted for bookmaking a serious breach of society's laws. We don't.
We remember the big offshore bust of 1998. The government bullied and pressured some fine establishments out of business. But one, WSEX (www.wsex.com), stood tall and is still flying its colors.
Jay Cohen, WSEX founder, embodies the rebellious spirit of a man with strong convictions and the character to fight for them. Despite the worst efforts of hypocritical politicians, government agencies and other anti-gaming zealots, Jay Cohen and WSEX continue to be thorns in the side of repressive elements, which hate and fear the free will expressed by his fight to make sports betting accessible to U.S. citizens.
In 1997, Players' Guide recognized the influence exerted by the offshore industry. We became a magazine within a magazine as we gave birth to the Off Shore Betting Guide, a supplement devoted exclusively to offshore coverage.
Gradually, this became the dominant part of the publication. Offshore books were creative, aggressive and experiencing explosive growth. The books cooperated with us as they instinctively picked up on our agenda, which was to support the concept of U.S. bettors being offered a legitimate outlet for a legitimate activity.
Betting with offshore books was and is an attractive alternative to illegal stateside bookmakers. That, in a nutshell, has been the point of view of Players' Guide.
However, although the magazine is being retired, we will still be around via our website and the weekly sports betting tabloid, Players' Choice, which comes out during football season.
This year we are planning to increase Players' Choice's distribution, through both newsstand sales and targeted freebie audiences in Las Vegas, Reno-Tahoe and other gaming markets. Our first issue this year will be in August with a college football preview.
Through the addition of local advertising, Players' Choice will reduce the ratio of offshore advertising and limit the number of ad pages by books in each issue. We are aware of how distasteful many books find it to advertise in venues which are crammed with promotions for competitors.
Over the years, we've had the privilege of interviewing most of the offshore bookmaking fraternity's leading lights. From WWTS's Billy Scott in our first edition, to Carib's William Caesar, NASA's Gary Champion, SportingbetUSA's Petter Higgins, as well as Herman and Mickey from CRIS, Millennium's Tommy Miller, and representatives from such outstanding books as Hollywood, Casablanca, Horizon, Heritage, SOS, Pinnacle, Island Casino, All World, Rio, WIT, Bowman's, Bet365, Canbet, BC Sports, Grand Central Sports, Royal, World Wide Wagering and Parlaycard.com.
Regretfully, we never did do an interview with Olympic's Spiro or Players-SB's Dalton Wagner. From the conversations we've had with both of them, it was most apparent that the accolades they get are well deserved.
We've done consulting for several books, including Pinnacle. We knew this book would be a popular out, not only from the high caliber of its principals but also because they paid their bill even before we presented an invoice.
But now it's time to stop looking in the rear view window, and cast our gaze forward. Offshore gaming, which encompasses both Internet and phone wagering, needs to continue broadening its customer base. We hope to contribute to that effort through Players' Choice and our website.
Football season is just around the corner. But for those who bet baseball, this is the best time of year. Get yourself a couple of outs with different lines, and start looking for some live dogs, or favorites that can win on the run line.
If distributors of other free gaming publications are interested in adding Players' Choice to their inventory, please email us at [email protected].
Derby Update. This week's radio show, The Bettor Line, heard from 2:05 to 3 pm Pacific time on KSHP 1400 AM Las Vegas, will feature indepth coverage of the Kentucky Derby by our cohost and horse racing authority Kelso Sturgeon. We'll also hear from Jimmy Vaccaro on the NBA playoffs. The show will be streamed live on the Internet: enter www.kshp.com and click on K-SHOP Internet Radio halfway down the left side of the page.
Please send comments, questions, etc. to [email protected].