Posts by Walter Edwards

rustypanther80 said:So, here’s my recent headache—I signed up just a few days ago, and yesterday I finally got some cash into my account and immediately placed a few bets. Everything seemed totally fine, they processed my wagers, updated my balance today, and then—boom—they just shut down my account!!! I’m sending an email at 5:00 PM today to demand an explanation, and by 6:00 PM I get a reply saying I have to send over ID docs along with a photo of my credit card just to get the account unlocked. Has anyone actually dealt with this before?

Just send it over, shouldn't be an issue🙂

DraftKings usually runs about 0.02 to 0.05 lower on the odds compared to Pinnacle, but honestly, their betting limits are way tighter... So, let's just wait and see how they handle your payouts when things get real...

Matthew,

http://www.sportsbookreview.com/ — you can find everything here, from the ratings to the blacklists and all that junk.

http://www.bookmakersreview.com/ — basically the same deal as the one above.

Both sites are independent and run by people who actually know their stuff about betting, plus they listen to regular users. You should also check out http://www.goonersguide.com/bookie_guide.html

you'll pick up a lot more info on different bookies there, even though it’s a private site.

George Nguyen3 said:Betway
DraftKings
William Hill
BetRivers
Bet365
DraftKings
10bet
BetMGM

I’ve personally messed around with some of these from the list. Honestly? 10bet is absolute garbage compared to the rest—I spent three weeks waiting on a measly $40 payout to hit my Microsoft account, drowning in unread emails while they dragged their feet. Eventually, I just cleared out whatever was left in there and walked away. Now, look, Betway, BetRivers, and Bet365 will limit you pretty damn fast once they realize you actually know what you're doing, but at least they don't flake on paying out. DraftKings is a solid bookie in my eyes, and William Hill, BetMGM, and DraftKings are reliable US staples—pretty decent,
even if I don't use them constantly since I don't keep much bankroll sitting there (not because I don't trust them, just because their odds aren't always hitting the spot for me).

As for stuff off this specific list, I've tried Gamebookers (which is basically the same deal as BetMGM)—kind of like FanDuel or Betway, except those guys are Austrian and love making everything unnecessarily complicated. You get hit with limits almost instantly, and then they might "lower" those limits once you hit a bigger win, so watch out for that. 🙂

I also gave Starbet and MGM (Asian) a shot. Starbet had such ridiculous errors with their odds that they probably shouldn't have even stayed in business (until BetMGM picked them up), but hey, I ended up blowing hundreds of dollars on their table games (Blackjack and whatnot)... so that was fun. MGM is an Asian bookie; they're fairly reliable, but they operate through "agents," which is a massive risk in itself. For me, it wasn't worth the headache—though maybe for some high rollers it would be, but we don't exactly see those types around here.

EDIT: Forgot to mention Sportingbet, which is just aggressively mediocre. But the real reason for the edit is BetMGM—absolute bottom feeders who still owe me money to this day. Depositing with them is a huge gamble; honestly, they're even worse than 10bet.

analogviper12 said:Man, I’m losing my mind here—I’ve been told three or four times now that they haven't even received my ID or credit card copies. Seriously? Is anyone else dealing with this absolute circus when trying to get their payouts? Or am I just getting singled out by their support team?

Look, I’m trying to get my hands on some cash here, right? But they're hitting me with that classic runaround—asking for copies of my ID just so they can "verify" everything before they release the funds. Is this some kind of joke? I sent over the files in a ZIP folder, and now they're acting like they never even saw them. Like, hello??? Am I losing my mind or what? Who is actually playing games here? 🙄

I’ve never had a single issue getting my payouts from them... honestly. If you're running into trouble, try not to zip those files up—just send them over as straight email attachments instead. Seriously, if you do that, you shouldn't have any headaches when it comes to actually pulling your cash out.

Jesse Kelly57 said:I’ve got a question about this cash situation—so, I’m using a Chase account, and I’ve done deposits and even pulled out a small amount once before. But here's the thing: three days ago, I requested a withdrawal of $333 and got an email confirming it should hit within two or three business days. Well, it’s been three days and nothing has landed in my account yet. So, my question is, how much longer am I supposed to sit here waiting for it to show up, or what's the longest you guys have ever waited for a payout? Also, one more thing—can my bank actually freeze these withdrawals since you guys say it's all technically illegal? Honestly, I'm starting to stress about whether I'll even see this money at all.

Give it 5 to 7 days, then you can start getting worried... 🙂

At worst, the bank might just flag it and ask where the hell the money is coming from—you know, asking for explanations like "online shopping" or "travel booking" or whatever. Most of the time, that stuff flies under the radar...

It’s a bit of a messy situation. If your Bwin account is under your own name, they’re going to come knocking for a scan of your ID—could be a driver's license, passport, whatever—and most likely an official bank statement showing your name too. Probably both, honestly. Now, here’s the kicker: if the card you used belongs to your parents, then the bank statement is going to be in their names, not yours, which is where things could get dicey. Might pass without a hitch, might not. I’ve never actually been in this exact spot myself, but man, you really made things complicated for yourself.

Anyway, keep us posted on how it plays out. Fingers crossed for you. 🙂

amberpanther57 said:Thnx!

How the hell are both Paddy Power and Bet365 sitting on the "green list" over at sportsbookreview.com when they basically try to drive players away by slapping you with those ridiculous limits? In my book, that’s a massive red flag—I wouldn't put them on a recommended list if I were running the show. I tried checking what the verdict was over at sportsbookreview.com, but their site is acting up and won't let me see their take.

I noticed you already posted about which books you actually trust. So, does that mean you can actually place decent bets there without constantly looking over your shoulder for a ban? By "decent," I’m thinking somewhere in the $200 - $500 range. I'm not playing with those kinds of numbers just yet—right now I'm hovering around $15 per unit—but I'm hoping to scale up to something like $50 per unit eventually.

Since I'm a regular on your blog, I see you hitting the smaller books too (like Bet-at-Home), so I was wondering—if you don't mind me asking—what's your typical unit size?🙂

$30 per unit, though I'll occasionally bump it up to $1667 in specific spots. With that kind of approach, even the "smaller" books work fine for me; honestly, I could probably increase my unit size, but I'm just a bit of a 😉
conservative soul.

amberpanther57 said:So, you're looking to see what the deal is with FanDuel, Bet365, and Ladbrokes? Honestly, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you start digging into how they actually treat people. I've spent enough time staring at these screens to have some thoughts. If you're looking for variety and those massive parlays that make you feel like a genius right before they ruin your life, Bet365 is pretty much the gold standard—they've got everything, but man, their interface can be a lot to take in if you aren't used to it. Then you've got FanDuel... look, they're huge for a reason. Their promos are usually solid, but just keep an eye on how they handle things when you actually start winning consistently. They're great until you become a "problem" for them. And Ladbrokes? They're decent, reliable, a bit more old-school in vibe, I guess. Nothing too crazy, just a steady way to play. What's everyone else's take? Anyone here actually sticking with one of these long-term, or are you all jumping around like I do? I play on those sites quite a bit too, and honestly? Now I’m starting to get a little paranoid that they’re gonna come after my account and limit me over there as well...

Watch out—Bet365 is going to pull the exact same stunt they did at Paddy Power, especially if you’re playing with anything north of a hundred bucks. I never ran into those kinds of headaches with FanDuel, and honestly, I can't say for sure when it comes to Ladbrokes...

urbanhawk17 said:I can see this place is full of scammers... so let me ask—it wasn't an online sportsbook, but I'm curious...
Maybe three years ago I was down in St. Louis, and I placed some bets at this local spot (can't remember the name, just know they used those touchscreen kiosks) inside some cafe. I put money on a game that ended in a draw, but according to their terminal, the match wasn't even supposed to start for another half hour. It was a Waterpolo match, odds were sitting at 10... and naturally, the system forced me to add two more legs to the parlay to make it valid, so I did... I threw $67 on it (didn't have much cash left over 😁) and of course, I hit it... So I head back there the next day, and what do you know? They only pay out what I won on those two other legs where the odds were absolute garbage... Now I'm wondering, do they actually have the right to do that? I know it was a long time ago and I don't even have the damn ticket on me, but I'm curious...

I don't know which shop that was, but honestly, they usually have the upper hand here... Everything is buried in their T&C. If you're trying to exploit their glitches like that, most of the time they catch on and just reset the odds to 1.00... But hey, worth a shot, you never know 🙂

Bryan Scott4 said:Come on, walk me through it—say I request a withdrawal from a sportsbook straight to my foreign currency account, what am I actually looking out for here?

Just make sure you don't try to pull more than $3,000 all at once.🙄

Other than that, honestly, nothing. Literally nothing. I’ve pulled cash out more times than I can count and never hit a single snag—I've even had funds sent from overseas accounts directly to my checking account without anyone batting an eye. To be real, I don't think there's even a legal leg to stand on for them to sue you or freeze your assets, even if you admit the money came from an online sportsbook. Like Stipe said, it's this weird, gray area situation where the government doesn't really have the legal ground to come after you.

Beyond that, I know plenty of people who bet online constantly and have zero issues getting their payouts.🙂

Anyone got the scoop on what’s going on with DraftKings and their move into online betting? They’ve been talking about it forever... Is everyone just sitting around waiting for some new legislation to pass through Congress? I feel like we've been hearing the same promises for two years now, yet here we are still waiting...

briskjackal5 said:So how’d it go?
Did you tell them where the money came from or did you just play it cool?

Nah, hold up. I didn't just wander in there blindly—I did my homework beforehand, so there weren't any hiccups. As for that amount, I know for a fact it's solid because I've got an "insider" connection.🙂

Bryan Scott4 said:Wait, are we talking $3,000 all at once or total? Because if it's the total amount, you have no idea how people would be betting out in the real world...

Looks like you answered your own question 🙂

all at once

Look, the truth is, nothing is clearly defined here... It’s not like online betting is explicitly banned or anything—it’s more about those laws against sending money overseas just to chase some kind of profit or whatever legal loophole they use to trip you up...

Btw, the IRS doesn't even bother looking your way until you pull in more than $3,000 from abroad. I know that for a fact...

Yeah, Marcel Hossa 🙂

Andrew Roberts26, if you're looking for the ones that are actually reliable (well, as reliable as anything in this business can be), stick to Pinnacle, DraftKings, FanDuel, Betway, ICBC, 888Bet, or Betfair—though let’s be real, Betfair isn't even technically a sportsbook... Just go check out www.Bookmakersreview.com or www.sportsbookreview.com.

On that second site, there’s actually an article about Bwin that pretty much sums up the headache:

"bwin (SBR rating C+) users continue to submit multiple complaints to SBR each week. The majority of complaints involve bwin closing accounts for various reasons without offering an explanation to the player. The player must then wait an extra month to receive his funds. Other complaints include bonus and wagering disputes. The sportsbook commonly agress to mediation and giving the player the benefit of any doubts. The volume of disputes can partly be attributed to the high rate of fraud. bwin markets free-money promotions causing its risk management department to closely review winners. bwin has been urged to improve communication with players directly and provide explanations when taking administrative actions."

Anyway, since I’m actually feeling up to writing today, here’s another little horror story involving FanDuel...

The game was an NHL matchup: Minnesota Wild vs. FBI.

Three days before this, the Minnesota Wild were playing away against the Edmonton Oilers, and things went absolutely sideways—a massive brawl broke out, and a bunch of players were looking at suspensions, including their star guy, Hossa. Since the FBI isn't exactly a powerhouse and it was the Wild's first home game after that mess, the odds on the FBI looked juicy, and FanDuel posted them pretty early. So, in a moment of pure, momentary insanity—I actually wanted the visitors to win, mind you—I placed a bet on the home team to win. Fast forward to now: I’ve been trying to get ahold of them via live chat, but getting an actual human operator is like trying to find water in a desert. I sent an email, and they have the nerve to tell me I either need to call their office in Austria or settle it through the live chat. It’s just one endless loop of nonsense. Finally, after waiting around for two hours on the chat the next day, I get someone on the line, only for them to claim that bets can only be voided within 15 minutes of being placed—which totally ignores the fact that I spent two hours just trying to talk to them! I figured my money was gone for good. But then, on the day of the game, the NHL revises the player suspensions, and wouldn't you know it? Everyone is cleared to play. 😂

The Minnesota Wild pulled off a 2-1 win, I actually collected my winnings, and everyone lived happily ever after—well, everyone except FanDuel. 😂

Look, you should probably reach out to Rotten Tomatoes and lay out exactly what happened, or maybe just hit up that user "pier0" over on ESPN Bet and see if he can give you a hand. Honestly though, don't just roll over—keep breathing down DraftKings' necks and demand your money. If you dig through their T&C, it doesn't say squat about them having the right to just grab funds from your balance; all they get is the right to shut the account down...

DraftKings also has that live chat feature, so just harass them relentlessly until they cough up the cash—because they legally have to pay you. I’ve been stuck in the mud with them before (and dealt with even bigger clowns over at 10Bet, but hey, what can you do when they're the only ones offering decent odds on certain hockey leagues?), but they always eventually paid up—even if it took ten emails and a couple of months of fighting. They’ll probably just limit your bets to like $5 or just kill your account entirely in the end, but you'll get your payout....

Look, if you're rolling with a $1 stake—which, let's be honest, probably means you aren't just playing singles—then pretty much any sportsbook will work for you, except maybe DraftKings. You might want to check out BetMGM, BetRivers, FanDuel, or Betway, but personally? I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for BetRivers, though that’s totally subjective. Plus, they're throwing out first deposit bonuses right now.

You think it’s just a bank transfer maybe??

Well, I mean, it might be doable since Bank of America recently inked a deal with JPMorgan Chase, but there's no way you can do it just with a simple deposit slip—Bank of America doesn't even allow cash deposits from people over here in the States. So, you'd probably need to open a foreign currency account and then maybe try a wire transfer, though honestly, that's not exactly a foolproof method and I wouldn't bet my life on it actually working. Honestly? Your best bet is to just have your parents (or you??) grab a Visa and call it a day. 🤷

Bet365 isn't just leagues ahead of DraftKings (and look, even they trip up sometimes)—they aren't even playing the same sport. For instance, if you check out Bookmaker.com, Bet365 is sitting pretty with a solid 4+ rating:

http://www.bookmakersreview.com/Revi...tsbook/Bet365/

meanwhile, DraftKings is stuck on the blacklist:

http://www.bookmakersreview.com/Orange_list/

with the whole "slow payouts, terrible customer service" headache.

I've been bouncing between both for years now, and there's really no comparison... DraftKings might have a slightly deeper bench when it comes to those weird, obscure leagues nobody's heard of—and sure, their live betting is decent—but everything else? It’s a landslide for Bet365. And don't even get me started on the odds, which are obviously much better.

DraftKings

Bet365

Take a close look at that "profit margin" table—the juice, if you want to be technical. DraftKings is taking a 7.1% cut, while Bet365 only takes 5.5%.

Personally, I think BetMGM is a notch below Bet365, especially when it comes to how they set their lines, but hey, that's subjective and not worth an argument. Besides, driftingraven53 already asked about avoiding BetMGM and FanDuel.

For anyone obsessed with live betting, I'd suggest looking into some Asian Handicap Betting options—they tend to be way more welcoming to Americans. I'd personally point you toward IBCB or Bet365.