"THREATENING" to post on The Rx about a SPORTSBOOK

hamneggs · May 20, 2003

Suppose that a poster unsuccessfully tries to resolve a sportsbook dispute and during the course of the conversations the poster mentions to the sportsbook that he will be posting a summary of the dispute on The Rx.

Does that constitute a "threat"? There are many who would say "yes."

If the poster mentions nothing of his intent to post regarding his experience (then posts about it), the poster is often accused of "never giving the book a chance to work it out."

In my opinion, it is an advantage to the sportsbook to learn that the poster intends to provide a review of the sportsbook. It puts the sportsbook on notice that its actions are being scrutinized, and provides them with a great opportunity to demonstrate how good they are.

Of course, there is a difference between a gambler making an unreasonable demand from the sportsbook in exchange for the poster's silence.

HacheMan · May 20, 2003

Ham, why, in your opinion, do you think many books do not come in here and defend themselves after being bashed rather thoroughly? Do you think that they just dont want to bother with trying to explain and tell their side of the story, because many wont believe it anyhow and take the players side, or could it be, the player is telling the truth?

TheGeneral+ · May 20, 2003

In months of mediating disputes, I have gotten the impression that it does not matter. The books seem to do what they want, posted story or not.

codeworks · May 20, 2003

Funny you posted this at about the sametime I posted a topic regarding if a book would actually, pay you or side with you, if you did not make the "threat" post.

hamneggs · May 20, 2003

I would not venture to guess why a sportsbook chooses particular courses of action. My guess is that each of them has their own reasons for their choices.

Maybe the crux of my post is not well defined?

I think that if I mention to a sportsbook that I will post my experience on The Rx, then I have done that sportsbook a service by placing them on notice and giving them an opportunity to impress me. Of course, this also serves me.

I do not consider this a "threat," rather an act of courtesy. It is self serving, but it also benefits the sportsbook.

It is similar to a restaurant having knowledge that a restaurant reviewer from the local newspaper is dining in their restaurant.

Is it ever appropriate to mention to a sportsbook that I will be providing a review of them on The Rx? When does it become a "threat"?

RPM · May 20, 2003

i would think it is better to tell the book. you may not get a very happy response from them, lol, but at least you were up front and honest about it.

jjgold · May 20, 2003

9 out of every 10 are hustlers and twisting the truth an looking for extortion type money, I pay no attention to no pay threads anymore, they are all scams and are not clean and get so confusing you do not know who to believe

BEANTOWNJIM · May 20, 2003

shut up jim.

[This message was edited by RPM on May 20, 2003 at 05:41 PM.]

lander · May 20, 2003

Kiss the book's ass until you get paid ...
... then squeal like Dicky's Mom

TheGeneral+ · May 21, 2003

Upon review, I think it is courtesy as well. If a poster knows they are posting, then it will become known anyhow, so i see no reason not to inform the book.

TTinCO · May 21, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The General:
In months of mediating disputes, I have gotten the impression that it does not matter. The books seem to do what they want, posted story or not.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very scary.....and painfully true.

Dante · May 21, 2003

I do not think the books that havw your money tied up would respond favorably to a "threat" if you try a few times to work it out peacefully..then just POST it threatening to me will not get the job done....just doing it after trying a few times to work it out is better IMO

PatrickMcIrish · May 21, 2003

Ham - I think I mentioned this once before to you, it's all in the delivery. Not to the extent Buzz and others have but I have helped several players take care of problems with books. Normally once you mention going to the fourms it is taken as a threat and it's all over. Lot of people in this business are sort of old school guys, they don't take threats very well. Even if only percieved. At that point like General says it doesn't matter what you do or where you post it for the most part. If it is a small book with a heavy presence here once in a while this site can work for you, when you get to the big boys they could care less what you do or who you run to.

Anyway for me "going to the forums" is almost my last resort if I ever go to it at all. You can only play your trump card once. At that point and you go to the forums there is ZERO reason for them to then fix the problem. You have played all your cards and told everyone what a bad book the place is, why should they resolve it now? I find it best to innocently "hint" at it before you come out with it. For instance I was helping a guy get his bonus once and I wrote to the book with a response like "I saw a similar thing on the watchdog sites". It lets them know early you post on the sites without threatening them. However for the most part a book will either have it in them to do the right thing or not. I don't really think the pressure of the forums is what it once was. Too much bogus information dispensed (sit down Sting) and too many agendas present for them to carry the weight they once did.

PS - Over at MajorWager they have a Review Committee of some sort that I would highly recommend as well. Especially if the book involved is an advertiser over there. Like every thing else you need to go there before you run to the forums with it though. Also I am always glad to help anyone discreetly with a legit problem with a book. I enjoy it and it makes me feel good to be productive.

TTinCO · May 21, 2003

Going to the forums is often throwing the towel in on getting your money.

A smarter alternative would be to contact Russ and\or Ken privately and tell them that you need help. The book should respect you for keeping it private, and if Ken\Russ can't do anything to help you (or Patrick for that matter), you might as well post it just to keep others from getting sucked into the same trap.

ericdixon · May 21, 2003

I know Pinnacle does not care, in fact it is part of their company policy not to arbitrate issues on the forums.

I know they offer great lines, especially on baseball but they sure do have an attitude and it funnels all the way down thru their system, and thats why their customer service is aweful and needs major surgery. I tolerate their BS only because of their lines but I do not and will not consider it a great book until they do something about their poor attitude.

Dante · May 21, 2003

pat good post...(and I read the entire thing this time)

I agree Pat...going to the forums should be the complete "last" resort....and as eric says some books do not give a royal rat's ass if people post or not about things in forums

THE SHRINK · May 21, 2003

Simply put,

I have helped many a gambler without anyone knowing about it on the forums...

That is the best way for me to help someone, period...

Once it gets to the forums, the chances of resolving a dispute or getting back money that is rightfully yours is slim...

BEANTOWNJIM · May 21, 2003

O.K. BOYS I AGREE WITH THE GENERAL SPORTSBOOKS WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT.IN MY DISPUTE WITH CASCADE I CONTACTED (JIM AT THE OSGA) HE AGREED WITH ME 100% I ASKED MADJACK FROM MADJACKS FORUM HE AGREED WITH ME NO BOOK TAKES AND GRADES A WAGER 15 MINUTES AFTER AN EVENT STARTS.I TALKED TO 3 SPORTSBOOKS OFF THE RECORD AND THEY ALL SAID MY GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRADED NO ACTION.SO BOTTOM LINE GENERAL YOU ARE CORRECT A SPORTSBOOKS WRITTEN RULES MEAN SH-T THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT.(THE OFFSHORE GAMING ASSOCIATION IS A JOKE JIM FROM THE OSGA YOU COULDNT EVEN STAND UP TO LENNY BOY YOU TOLD ME HE WONT BUDGE I THOUGHT YOU WORKED FOR THE GAMBLERS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE DIDNT GET RIPPED OFF OFFSHORE THANKS FOR THE HELP PAL.

MY DOUGH WAS FLUSHED DOWN THE

Pigpen · May 21, 2003

Jack you poor thing.

vinividivinci · May 21, 2003

BTJ

Just wanted to let you know that even though you think of me as a "mackeral-snapper" I think you got hosed by Lenny. He was sitting in the $660 catbird seat and wasn't gettin' out no matter what. Now don't think for a minute I believe you didn't know the starting time! A sharpie like you knows the time changes before anybody else.

Also, gotta say I am BIGTIME impressed with your info on the Pedro-sub. WOW!!!! How can I sign up for this type of breaking news? Lotta money to be made, dude, if you can do this regularly.

VVV