Sportingbet Inc. locked my accounts - 3400+ USD trapped but nobody seems to care...

[Lukas85]

Hi everyone,

this complaint is to warn you from being not
careful enough even when dealing with groups
that are well known and supposed to be honest.

I have accounts at a couple of sportsbooks and casinos
belonging to the Sportingbet Group that is also traded
at London's stock exchange.

More than 2 weeks ago I found all my accounts at this group
to be locked with the advice to contact customer support.

When asking support via livechat i was told that the closure
was due to "management's decision" and only my account
at mysportsbook.com would remain open and funds in my
other accounts will be transfered to this account ( Just to
make it clear: I did NOT HAVE multiple accounts at one casino
however I had e.g. one account at Aces.com and one at Sportsbook.com
without being aware of this being not "allright" in any way.
All the money in the account was mine (deposit+legimate winnings+ bonuses that had been played through!!! )

All in all a total of more than 3400 USD are now trapped in this account.
I ve tried to contact support about 15-20 times now but they either say that there's no update or that I'll recieve an email from them - NEVER EVER ANTHING HAPPENS!

Now I'm afraid that they are giving me the run around for ever.

Do you have any suggestions for me on this???

best regards

Lukas

 

[thesmacker]

If you would like I could contact them for you as I am an affiliate for them and have a good rapour with the sportingbetusa group. Please email me at guru@casinoguru.org with the details of this problem and Ill see what I can do.
Cheers

 

[largeeyes]

You are not alone. They seem to be having a major crackdown on a lot of people, locking accounts and such. I was one of the lucky ones who got their withdraws.

 

[Lukas85]

Thank you very much for your feedback & offer to help me.

well, I don't know whether my posting has something to do with it or if they made this first progress without it, however yesterday about 2400 USD were transfered to the account at mysportsbook.com so there's only about 1000USD in my account at playersonly.com trapped . According to their information their department is currently dealing with this final transfer (although I still don't understand how this can take so long)
Hopefully it won't take another two weeks and a further complaint here to get it finished.

I'll keep you up-to-date on this!

best regards

 

[thesmacker]

Good to here things are getting looked after. If you ever need help in the future with them feel free to contact me.
Cheers

 

[kareque]

I saw this thread and thought I would chime in just to keep my complaint in the correct casino group's thread. I was about to use the pitch a bitch thing, but if I can get it resolved soon I don't want to bother casino meister's work load on that front.

I had three cashouts pending here, and they refused to honor anyhing over the deposit amounts, even though I cleared bonuses completely.

I also mearly got the "management's decision" excuse, which didn't explain/comfort me any. The total amount lost is $1700, so as you can guess I'm pretty upset.

The casinos in question...
Sportsbook.com= $100 in bonus removed from a $900 cashout, $800 paid last week.
Betting Express= $1850 paid 2 weeks ago, then suddenly re-taken out of my Neteller account, and only $1000 put back in. Loss of $850.
Sportsbooks.com= Only $1000 of a $1750 cashout paid. Loss of $750.

I am not a very successfull gambler, and at these places I bet $100 a hand, so it's not like I didn't risk my own money. In fact, the really depessing thing is that I have had a horrible month at other casinos and sportsbooks, the two big wins mentioned above were the only things I was counting on to save me from a truely horrific loss this month.

Unfortunately, I was put in the lose/lose situation of either losing my money from my big betting, or not winning anything if I got lucky. I can't believe a publicly traded company would act like this.

I sent an email already to that guru guy that posted above. Do you guys know if this is a really common thing for casinos to do? I had no idea online casinos refused to pay out like this. In the future I'm only going to use land based casinos, which kinda stinks because the baseball lines aren't as good, and they never give bonuses for blackjack play.

Sincerely,

Kareque

 

[Aindreas_Daoc]

etting Express= $1850 paid 2 weeks ago, then suddenly re-taken out of my Neteller account, and only $1000 put back in. Loss of $850.

Whoa....that is very very nasty.

 

[Lukas85]

Still there s no update on the remaining 1000 bucks. But your feedback and as well this note:

Note: There will be no withdrawals processed the week of Monday July 11th to Friday, July 15th. Withdrawals will resume normal processing July 16th. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

doesn't make me feel much better about this issue....

regards

 

[thesmacker]

I have just contacted them and hopefully this matter will be resolved soon.
Cheers

 

[aodat2]

Betting Express= $1850 paid 2 weeks ago, then suddenly re-taken out of my Neteller account, and only $1000 put back in. Loss of $850.

Could they actually do this? Could they take money from your account without you actually knowing it?

As far as I know, even if you owe the casino money, they have NO RIGHT to actually take money away from you. What they paid you is YOURS and they could never take it away from you without your concent.

Please do correct me if I'm wrong. This is what I know, but I could be wrong.

Opinion anyone?

 

[KasinoKing]

Could they actually do this? Could they take money from your account without you actually knowing it?

As far as I know, even if you owe the casino money, they have NO RIGHT to actually take money away from you. What they paid you is YOURS and they could never take it away from you without your concent.

Please do correct me if I'm wrong. This is what I know, but I could be wrong.

Opinion anyone?

We've had this discussion before in another thread...

I think everyone here is agreed that NO-ONE should EVER be able to draw funds from your Neteller without your express permission. i.e. Only if YOU initiate the transaction yourself.
Anything else is theft.

This proves once again that some casinos record your 'secure ID number' which they are NOT supposed to do!
This is TOTALLY unacceptable - if it happened to me I would be fricking furious, and would have pitched the mother of all bitches straight away!

kareque, please keep us informed on the progress/outcome of this...

 

[scrollock]

sportingbet (their overall global division) and sporting odds (the UK division) are 100% safe and honourable companies IMHO, however some of their subdivisions i would be very wary of, as they seem to have their own separate offices and departments based in other countries, which makes me guess that many of these sportingbet clones are sites they have bought up and are run as standalone sites.

so i would suggest contacting sportingbet and complaining to them direct so they could address your problem from the top of the pyramid by contacting those at the bottom.

 

[kareque]

Could they actually do this? Could they take money from your account without you actually knowing it?

Yes, they can. Whether they are supposed to is another matter.

Anyway, I don't know which of my emails got passed up the ladder, but I got an email from an EFS manager today (that appears to be the people who process the money)

Dear xxxxxx,

Your accounts with Sportsbook.com, Bettingexpress.com and Sportsbooks.com have
been inactivated permanently by managerial decision. Your original deposits
have been returned to you, minus winnings and unearned bonuses. We are fully
within our rights to persue this course of action. As per site rules:

Termination of Agreement
The agreement between Internet Opportunity Entertainment Ltd. and the user may
be terminated by the customer at the customer's request. Or if deemed necessary
Internet Opportunity Entertainment Ltd. reserves the right to revoke the
agreement between the user and Internet Opportunity Entertainment Ltd

The decision of management in this matter is final and binding.

Kind regards,
Louis B. Renton.
--
EFS Manager
www.efscaribbeaninc.com

I have sent in a pitch a bitch complaint as of yesterday, and I know the rule that one shouldn't flame the problem casino publicly, so I'll keep it civil.

That "rule" that they quote only seems to be referencing their right to close my accounts, not the right to take the previously mentioned balances. I am not contesting their closing of my accounts.... I don't care, I don't want to play here anymore anyway. But certainly they owe me the money that has been left dangling in the wind.

I really don't appreciate how standoff-ish and unspecific these emails are too. I realize I'm asking for some tough things, like "reasons" and "justification for taking my money" but that's not out of line I should think.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Have you complained to SBR? Seen as these are predominantly sportsbooks they should be able to help you there.

Link Removed (invalid URL)

They certainly have no right to steal your winnings and bonuses - and that term they quote doesn't allow them to do it (just close your account).

 

[mgibson99]

You stated:

All the money in the account was mine (deposit+legimate winnings+ bonuses that had been played through!!! )

They stated:

Your original deposits have been returned to you, minus winnings and unearned bonuses

The decision of management in this matter is final and binding.

If you got your original deposits back (which I believe you did), then it sounds as if they are invoking this clause to confiscate your winnings and bonuses. Also sounds like they are not going to be open to any kind of discussion or re-consideration of the matter. Hopefully someone will able to intercede on your behalf to get some action.

A quick question.....do you have ANY idea why they might have locked out all your accounts? They don't appear to be be claiming bonus abuse or multiple accounts. It is rare that a casino refuses to pay winnings without giving at least some kind of reason (even if it is bogus or lame). Without a reason, you don't even know what to contest!

I'm very curious to see how this pans out.

 

[kareque]

I assume it's because I have multiple accounts within the Sportingbet family, I had played some other ones in the past, that's how I first knew something was wrong because they normally pay quite fast. The silly thing though is that assuming they have a beef with the fact that I have multiple accounts (at different casinos, I wouldn't have multiple accounts at a single casino), it is they who pointed to way for me here...

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

I had presumed (wrongly I guess) that they would list these links so prominently because they are not just allowing, but suggesting you try some of their other sites as well. With the whole "publicly traded" thing being mentioned so frequently, I took it to mean... "Try these other site's as well, they are one of us and hence are trustworthy".

It goes without saying that if they had printed at the top of the page- No Member May Open More Than One Account At A Sportingbet Controlled Sportsbook, this mess wouldn't even exist because I wouldn't have done it. I'm not some "rebel without a cause" type, if a casino says don't do something, I don't do it.

 

[thesmacker]

Lukas,
I have been assured by management that your case will be looked after very shortly. Please keep me updated
Cheers

 

[Lukas85]

Hi thesmacker,

thanks a million for your help! I've sent you a PM with some details that might be helpful!

thanks again!

regards from Antigua, Guatemala

Lukas

 

[Lukas85]

STILL there's NO UPDATE on the situation!!!

They are just giving me the runaround by stating the same stupid excuses they've come up with during the past 4 WEEKS!!

Chat from Sunday

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Cory'
Cory: Hello
Cory: How may I help you today?
Lukas : Hi Cory!
Lukas : Please check on the ticket code I provided!
Cory: Please bear with me while I look up your account details...
Cory: This should be complete by morning - we apologise for the delay - all of last week, we had server updates which led to long back logs of work and we are almost through the worst of it now
Cory: We will e-mail you tomorrow to confirm the transfer of the funds
Lukas : I hope you are right this time...
Cory: Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Lukas : no thanks very much. Godbye!


Chat from Monday:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Nial'
Lukas : Please check on the ticket code provided!
Nial: Please bear with me while I look up your account details.....
Nial: The transfer is actually happening as we speak. It does seem to be taking a while. But you will be e-mailed once it is completed.
Lukas : Well, so what timeframe are we looking at? Minutes, hours, days?
Nial: Hours- a Day
Lukas : ok, thank you for your support! Godbye!


Todays Chat session:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Roy'
Roy: How may I help you today?
Lukas : check ticket code provide please
Lukas : provided
Roy: Please bear with me while I look up your account details.....
Roy: we are expecting an update from Managment very soon
Roy: you will be emailed at this time
Roy: Apologies for the delay
Lukas : this is planely pathetic please read this please >*copy of Mondays and Tuesdays chat session*
Roy: I appreciate your frustration
Roy: we area doing all we can from this end to get them to transfer the funs
Roy: funds
Lukas : you've been doing "all you can" for 4 weeks now? Just to transfer some funds from one accuount to the other??
Roy: I apologise for the delay
Roy: I hope this will be resolved very soon
Roy: Is there anything else I can assist you with?


I completely desperate!! What shall I do?? Dont want to spend my entire vacation chating with these incompetent folks...

 

[thesmacker]

I have gotten a response from them and was told you will be contacted shortly.

 

[kareque]

Fwiw, your situation still sounds infinitely more promising than mine. They haven't responded to any of my most recent emails... a text book "stone walling" I suppose.

 

[scrollock]

STILL there's NO UPDATE on the situation!!!

They are just giving me the runaround by stating the same stupid excuses they've come up with during the past 4 WEEKS!!

Chat from Sunday

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Cory'
Cory: Hello
Cory: How may I help you today?
Lukas : Hi Cory!
Lukas : Please check on the ticket code I provided!
Cory: Please bear with me while I look up your account details...
Cory: This should be complete by morning - we apologise for the delay - all of last week, we had server updates which led to long back logs of work and we are almost through the worst of it now
Cory: We will e-mail you tomorrow to confirm the transfer of the funds
Lukas : I hope you are right this time...
Cory: Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Lukas : no thanks very much. Godbye!


Chat from Monday:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Nial'
Lukas : Please check on the ticket code provided!
Nial: Please bear with me while I look up your account details.....
Nial: The transfer is actually happening as we speak. It does seem to be taking a while. But you will be e-mailed once it is completed.
Lukas : Well, so what timeframe are we looking at? Minutes, hours, days?
Nial: Hours- a Day
Lukas : ok, thank you for your support! Godbye!


Todays Chat session:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Roy'
Roy: How may I help you today?
Lukas : check ticket code provide please
Lukas : provided
Roy: Please bear with me while I look up your account details.....
Roy: we are expecting an update from Managment very soon
Roy: you will be emailed at this time
Roy: Apologies for the delay
Lukas : this is planely pathetic please read this please >*copy of Mondays and Tuesdays chat session*
Roy: I appreciate your frustration
Roy: we area doing all we can from this end to get them to transfer the funs
Roy: funds
Lukas : you've been doing "all you can" for 4 weeks now? Just to transfer some funds from one accuount to the other??
Roy: I apologise for the delay
Roy: I hope this will be resolved very soon
Roy: Is there anything else I can assist you with?


I completely desperate!! What shall I do?? Dont want to spend my entire vacation chating with these incompetent folks...

lol @ the smacker

" I have gotten a response from them and was told you will be contacted shortly "

 

[Lukas85]

got my money eventually. Thanks for your support- especialy your efforts, smacker!!

I'd advise you once more though not to deposit large amounts there....

 

[thesmacker]

Glad to hear you got your money Lukas. I only wish it would have been taken care of in a more timely manor and for this I apologize.

Also, Scrollock, its people like you that make me NOT want to try and help people, but thanks for your smart alec reply anyways. If you ever need help feel free to not contact me.

Cheers

 

[scrollock]

Glad to hear you got your money Lukas. I only wish it would have been taken care of in a more timely manor and for this I apologize.

Also, Scrollock, its people like you that make me NOT want to try and help people, but thanks for your smart alec reply anyways. If you ever need help feel free to not contact me.

Cheers

hey chill out, didnt mean any offence, i was just pointing out the irony in your reply.