In case you don't read the news, this was posted today in Casinomeister's News section:
https://www.casinomeister.com/static/news/april2005.html
ROUGH STUFF IN COSTA RICA
15 April 2005
Police intervene in Royal Sports incident
Royal Sports.com has been the subject of caution flags at several watchdog sites this year after reports of payout difficulties, but this week the issue escalated to alarming proportions with allegations of attempted intimidation of a well known and respected watchdog site owner, John Walker and three of his Sports Book Review.com (SBR) staffers.
Bill Dozer and colleagues at Sportsbook Review.com (SBR) had earlier downgraded his rating for Royal Sports to a dismal D+ and has been monitoring complaints about the payment and promo activities of Royal Sports for some months.
Among issues SBR has studied is a restructuring project in an attempt to fix business weaknesses, and a case in a Dutch court in which an American player is alleging misconduct over a $50 000 claim which could now be heard in Costa Rica, where Royal Sports recently relocated from Curacao. Another case involving over $16 000 owed to an affiliate was also reported.
The intimidation took place in Costa Rica, where Dozer was visiting his staff and went unannounced to the offices of Royal Sports on the same floor of the Oficentro Building as Virtual Casino.
The VC owner is alleged to be the owner of Royal Sports, according to Roberto Castiglioni, a senior executive who was previously the CEO of the site and who now runs a watchdog operation. This has been confirmed by Royal's current management.
Apparently he has denied ownership and asked for the chance to make a statement to this effect but then did not do so. Royal has not denied that the guy is involved and current Royal management has not made a statement, but it is known that he is the majority, if not sole, owner from information supplied by the former CEO..
Dozer was denied access to the Royal office, and the fireworks started when he and his companions went to a local restaurant and found their car blocked in by a large vehicle and some scary, gun-toting heavies.
Fortunately, someone sounded the alarm and these thugs were arrested without further incident by heavily armed Costa Rican police. The SBR report says, "SBR appreciates the remarkable response time and overwhelming force employed by Costa Rican police."
Royal Sports has apparently now declined to issue a *corrective* statement as promised, leaving little doubt that the original report by SBR was correct and Virtual Casino is involved in Royal Sports.
The SBR report goes on to say that, "Tactics of intimidation threaten the industry and give critics of gaming in Costa Rica fuel for their argument that gaming attracts thugs, organized crime and other undesirables."
When InfoPowa went to press it was not clear what had happened to the thugs arrested in this incident, and Dozer declined to comment any further than the information he had posted on his site saying, "SBR has made the decision not to speak about the incident in detail. We still have employees in Costa Rica and must consider their safety. This is a matter we are now leaving to the authorities."
This is total bullshit. Bullshit implicating not a false statement, but a totally unacceptable situation.
I'm bringing this to the forefront of issues this week because this is exactly why caution needs to exercised when dealing with these types of businesses. If this incident is true (which I believe it is - I've spoken with some of these people myself), then Virtual Casino needs to step up to the plate and explain what their exact relationship is with Betroyal.
Are they related by ownership? Operations and management? Some or all?
In the meantime, I will be making my own assessment dealing with the information that I have at hand.
VirtualTed, this is not a personal jibe - you are a member of this forum - but you are now in the hot seat to answer a few questions. You are also free to invite any Betroyal reps to join in the conversation as well.
Bill Dozer is also a member of this forum, but I am not going to ask him to jump into this thread for the same reasons given in the infopowa report. It's strictly up to him.
I should also note that I am aware of similar incidences - it's not like current or ex-employees don't give me the heads up sometimes on what's going on behind closed doors - but I take everything I hear with a grain of salt.
I would like to keep this thread as civil as possible - I know there are a number of "Virtual" haters out there - ready to grab the pitchforks and torches. This is not your opportunity to start a slam fest. This thread's purpose is to produce information that may or may not have a serious effect on Costa Rican operations. And I expect it to be done in responsible manner.
Beside Vteds interjection here, I'm hoping that some of our Costa Rican forum members can produce any police reports that might be published in the CR press. This will provide a bit of insight at well.
https://www.casinomeister.com/static/news/april2005.html
ROUGH STUFF IN COSTA RICA
15 April 2005
Police intervene in Royal Sports incident
Royal Sports.com has been the subject of caution flags at several watchdog sites this year after reports of payout difficulties, but this week the issue escalated to alarming proportions with allegations of attempted intimidation of a well known and respected watchdog site owner, John Walker and three of his Sports Book Review.com (SBR) staffers.
Bill Dozer and colleagues at Sportsbook Review.com (SBR) had earlier downgraded his rating for Royal Sports to a dismal D+ and has been monitoring complaints about the payment and promo activities of Royal Sports for some months.
Among issues SBR has studied is a restructuring project in an attempt to fix business weaknesses, and a case in a Dutch court in which an American player is alleging misconduct over a $50 000 claim which could now be heard in Costa Rica, where Royal Sports recently relocated from Curacao. Another case involving over $16 000 owed to an affiliate was also reported.
The intimidation took place in Costa Rica, where Dozer was visiting his staff and went unannounced to the offices of Royal Sports on the same floor of the Oficentro Building as Virtual Casino.
The VC owner is alleged to be the owner of Royal Sports, according to Roberto Castiglioni, a senior executive who was previously the CEO of the site and who now runs a watchdog operation. This has been confirmed by Royal's current management.
Apparently he has denied ownership and asked for the chance to make a statement to this effect but then did not do so. Royal has not denied that the guy is involved and current Royal management has not made a statement, but it is known that he is the majority, if not sole, owner from information supplied by the former CEO..
Dozer was denied access to the Royal office, and the fireworks started when he and his companions went to a local restaurant and found their car blocked in by a large vehicle and some scary, gun-toting heavies.
Fortunately, someone sounded the alarm and these thugs were arrested without further incident by heavily armed Costa Rican police. The SBR report says, "SBR appreciates the remarkable response time and overwhelming force employed by Costa Rican police."
Royal Sports has apparently now declined to issue a *corrective* statement as promised, leaving little doubt that the original report by SBR was correct and Virtual Casino is involved in Royal Sports.
The SBR report goes on to say that, "Tactics of intimidation threaten the industry and give critics of gaming in Costa Rica fuel for their argument that gaming attracts thugs, organized crime and other undesirables."
When InfoPowa went to press it was not clear what had happened to the thugs arrested in this incident, and Dozer declined to comment any further than the information he had posted on his site saying, "SBR has made the decision not to speak about the incident in detail. We still have employees in Costa Rica and must consider their safety. This is a matter we are now leaving to the authorities."
This is total bullshit. Bullshit implicating not a false statement, but a totally unacceptable situation.
I'm bringing this to the forefront of issues this week because this is exactly why caution needs to exercised when dealing with these types of businesses. If this incident is true (which I believe it is - I've spoken with some of these people myself), then Virtual Casino needs to step up to the plate and explain what their exact relationship is with Betroyal.
Are they related by ownership? Operations and management? Some or all?
In the meantime, I will be making my own assessment dealing with the information that I have at hand.
VirtualTed, this is not a personal jibe - you are a member of this forum - but you are now in the hot seat to answer a few questions. You are also free to invite any Betroyal reps to join in the conversation as well.
Bill Dozer is also a member of this forum, but I am not going to ask him to jump into this thread for the same reasons given in the infopowa report. It's strictly up to him.
I should also note that I am aware of similar incidences - it's not like current or ex-employees don't give me the heads up sometimes on what's going on behind closed doors - but I take everything I hear with a grain of salt.
I would like to keep this thread as civil as possible - I know there are a number of "Virtual" haters out there - ready to grab the pitchforks and torches. This is not your opportunity to start a slam fest. This thread's purpose is to produce information that may or may not have a serious effect on Costa Rican operations. And I expect it to be done in responsible manner.
Beside Vteds interjection here, I'm hoping that some of our Costa Rican forum members can produce any police reports that might be published in the CR press. This will provide a bit of insight at well.
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