Who was the first "offshore" book?

[vegasisstilldead]

I remember there was a place that started advertising in the daily racing form in the early 90's. I can't remember the name.Does anyone remember it? They were supposed to offer a debit card (at least thats what the ad said) and they used a picture of a bookie that looked like groucho marx i think.
The first book i ever used was bowmans. It was phone only at the time.I don't miss those days of being stuck on hold at 12:50 on a sunday afternoon. Were they the first? Ah, The good ole days...

 

[Dante]

Carib has to be very close to being the first they have been around for maybe 10 yrs??? .....not sure though good question

 

[TampaLuke]

ESB is the oldest I can remember

 

[Objection]

ESB was my second book.The book I had before them was Carribbean Sports.I would fund my account by getting a money order at 7/11 and faxing a copy of it to the book.Getting paid was always interesting.I once was paid with a personal check from, I'm guessing, the owner.

 

[REDEYE]

I believe Royal could have been first or close to it

 

[Insiders]

CRIS i think was the first major one. I really cant remember that far back. But i do remember Socko being on 60 mintues way back then. He was soo big that he thought NO one could touch him, but he found out different.

 

[vegasisstilldead]

I would fund my account by getting a money order at 7/11 and faxing a copy of it to the book.

Too funny!!! I used to do that exact thing with wsex in the early days.

 

[BookIt+]

I used to phone Bowmans in the late 80's. When they first were available they kept 10% of all winning bets for British tax. That stopped when they moved, I think to Gibralter. I didn't take long to figure out you had no chance losing 10% of your winners. Three weeks to get paid by mail!!

 

[Dante]

I remember getting small payouts from Carib my first book like 8-10 yrs ago before I even heard of forums

and it was in a fed ex envelop with a congratualtions PEN that they would send with it...I think I still have it....Hilarious

 

[Seymour]

Bowmans was the first offshore that I can remember - but I am talking about call in - no internet.

 

[vegasisstilldead]

I used to phone Bowmans in the late 80's. When they first were available they kept 10% of all winning bets for British tax. That stopped when they moved, I think to Gibralter. I didn't take long to figure out you had no chance losing 10% of your winners. Three weeks to get paid by mail!!

I remember that tax...:lolBIG:

 

[Duke1]

Bowmans for me too. Had to pay the tax and pay for the WU fees on deposits as well

 

[queposkid]

Cris..##1..

 

[dimeplayersonly]

cris....offshore since 1986

 

[Trendsetter+]

Carib has to be very close to being the first they have been around for maybe 10 yrs??? .....not sure though good question

I know they were the first one to be base in Antigua

 

[wilheim]

Trendsetter did your shirt arrive?




wil.

 

[winbet]

Most of you youngsters wouldnt remember but Off-shore probably started after that St Peter made a killing on that Sea of Galilee fix.:drink:

 

[Insiders]

queposkid & dimeplayersonly

I thought so...I played in the islands in 89 and at that time i think CRIS was a differnt name then. We used to just call it "The Islands" Socko's joint!

 

[WildBill]

CRIS and Bowman's argue this. CRIS obviously wasn't called that when they opened in the Dominican Republic. Bowman's has had the same name since they started up around the same time. Remember back then Bowmans got quite a few customers even though you had to fork over the 10% tax. The offshores as we know it in DR and Antigua really got off the ground just because the UK refused to relent on that tax. If they had the current rate they have now, which is no tax on the bets, just the book's winnings, most of us might be playing with UK operations today.

 

[PatrickMcIrish]

Ronnie boy was first - CRIS.