Wow. I was just informed and sent link to Sting's front page.. lot's more info there.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>CIGA Chairperson Vouches for Royal Sports
Christopher Costigan, Sports911.com
Responding to Royal Sports attorney in the Sports911.com posting forum, 911 requested that the chairperson of Curacao's internet gaming regulatory board come forward and vouch for Royal's solvency.
Alistair Assheton, also the acting CEO of VIP Sports, has come to the rescue of many ailing sports books in Curacao over the years and even offered to assist some players after the Aces Gold debacle, where several thousand sports bettors were stiffed when that company's owner fled with all the funds.
It was the Aces Gold situation that prompted Alistair and others in Curacao to form the CIGA (Curacao Internet Gaming Association).
CIGA is dedicated to the industry of internet and online gaming in Curacao, and all member companies agree to abide by a code of conduct that ensures compliance with all licensing requirements, and also general principles of good business. Members of this organization include VIP Sports, Game Day Sports, Pinnacle, Sirbet and Royal Sports.
The later company has come under severe fire on this website and elsewhere after a number of key management personnel abruptly departed, all of whom claimed to still be owed substantial back pay from Royal's investors. Most of this money has since been paid.
Royal's CEO, Roberto Castigliono, also got into a heated exchange with the owner of Olympic Sports after some of these same former principals of Royal set up shop under Olympic's wings. Castigiono alleges that Olympic and BetJamaica (a spinoff company) stole the Royal customer list. Bet Jamaica officials contend they had rights to the customer list in question.
Lost in all of this melodrama is the fact that Royal Sports was slow paying this past summer, which prompted a handful of websites to remove their banners and links temporarily.
In light of Royal Sports claims that they wished to fly myself down to Curacao in an effort to review all accounting records, we instead opted to have Mr. Assheton vouch for the company as a third party independent source, and ultimately somebody who could be held accountable in the event of future slow pay issues related to Royal.
Assheton responded in kind:
I have been asked by them (Royal), in my capacity of CIGA, to make a statement relating to some allegations printed on your web site.
Whilst CIGA does not audit any company's books, I can confirm that in my best judgment and belief, having seen various evidence, Royal Sports has sufficient cash reserves and access to capital to continue to trade profitably, as it has done successfully for many years. Based on the confidential data I have seen, I can further comment that Royal is in far better shape today than at any time in the last 3 years.
Sports911.com has come under some fire of late for reporting on third party slow pay complaints from Royal Sports promoters close to trusted 911 sources.
Until now only one of these promoters has been in touch with Sports911.com, claiming that while the company does pay much slower than in the past, he is still receiving full payment.
In addition to our request for Royal Sports to provide us a "vote of approval" from the CIGA chairperson, we also made it abundantly clear that all promoters claiming slow pay must step forward now or risk losing out on receiving any future aid.
One promoter, who we will call Autiger (based on his own Sports911.com posting handle), has since come forward to reveal his slow -- and apparent no -- payment problem with Royal Sports.
A promoter is simply another term used to describe a sports handicapping service. While the sports service industry as a whole tends to take its share of flack based on a few bad apples, Royal Sports promoters are widely considered among the most reputable in the industry.
"I was one of Royal's first promoters and have been with them for over four years now, sending Royal a few hundred customers," Autiger stated. "Around February I noticed checks were not being cut as fast, but I eventually did get paid. By May they kept telling me that a check was being cut but I never received it. "
Autiger, out of concern for his clients, posted a notice on the sports service website suggesting they would be eligible to receive a better deal at BetPanAm, a new sports book based out of Panama. Autiger also developed a strong relationship with Royal's former Marketing Manager, Marty Monroe, who has since joined the team at BetPanAm.
Many of Autiger's clients were still content with Royal Sports and wished to remain there.
"I did feel my clients were getting the best numbers at Royal Sports," Autiger said. "When clients would call the service asking if they should leave Royal, I did have my receptionist tell them that as long as they were getting paid promptly by all means they should continue to play there."
Autiger, as a promoter, is essentially working off of an affiliate deal, whereby he receives a percentage of the revenues from his referred players. In fact, the majority of Royal's marketing up until recently revolved around such programs. Royal probably would not be in existence today if not for their promoters.
The promoter contacted a gentleman by the name of Kenny at Royal Sports, who informed Autiger that all his accounts were since converted to "house accounts", meaning he would no longer be entitled to receipt of revenue.
Only problem was, Autiger alleges Royal owes him several thousand dollars and refuses to pay. According to Autiger, nobody from Royal Sports ever attempted to contact him in regard to severing this relationship.
Regardless of any letter posted on the promoter's or anybody else's website for that matter, no affiliate program is entitled to just cut off a relationship without due warning. This would be akin any of us sending 500 players to XYZ Sports Book based on a promise of revenue sharing, then being told a year later we are no longer entitled to such payment after they owe us a significant amount of money.
Autiger has also gotten in touch with John Walker of Sportsbookreview.com in an attempt to rectify this matter. Walker is currently in Panama City, surveying BetPanAm.
There is hope, however. With the promoter coming forward and Alistair Assheton's assertion that all is well at Royal, Sports911.com has requested both to get in contact with one another and we request the same of any others who might still be owed monies by Royal Sports. Sports911.com will be more than happy to act as a facilitator. Autiger claims that Royal Sports has failed to cooperate with him up until this point.
We do hope that this is a turning point and issues involving all parties will be settled to everybody's satisfaction.
Sports911.com will continue to monitor the situation very closely.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
