Bestline annoucement

[stomie]

Copied from SBR

BestLinesSports scalps player

Opened a new acct.on friday 10-10,and was offered less than the advertised bonus. When i requested deposit via neteller, I was then subjected to a 20 min phone interview by magnum,the gm. Was then told they would accept my business at the 30% free play offer. I placed a bet for the entire deposited amount plus the free play on oklahoma-5.5,this was about 1600 friday, no steam was involved with this line. The wager wonand on sunday i phoned in and while on tape specifically enquired under the terms and conditions of bonus if i could withdrawl some of my winnings only,and only if there would be no bonus penalty. I was told i could withdrawl 2996 and if original 2500 was left no penalty would be assessed and the neteller withdrawl would be free,remember this was recorded with derrick,customer service,payouts mgr. On monday logged into acct and only.82 cents left in acct.i called and only derrick would talk to me,he basically said bestlinesports didn,t want to do business with sharp players or players who may win so my acct was closed,bonus and associated winnings removed,and neteller fees assessed,totalling 727 theft of legitimate winnings.this unethical book is advertised under osga endorsed list which earned my misguided trust

 

[Nick Douglas]

I read that, too. I would stay away from Bestline because of this. Originally I was skeptical and I expected Bestline to post a retort explaining that this player did something untoward, but they have remained quiet on this issue. I think they are just hoping it would go away.

Realistically, this type of unethical activity wouldn't affect the average player because the average player isn't wagering $3,000+ per game. But if you are a player that watches line movement and plays "steam" plays or even if you are a player who believes that books who engage in these tactics don't deserve your business, I would stay the heck away from them. Plenty of other great Mad Jack's sponsors to choose from.

 

[MadJack]

I just saw this and will look into it. You can't go by SBR. I'll get the facts, if possible, and report back.

thanks,

Jack

 

[MadJack]

the other side of the story....

Before the guy signed up he had a lengthy conversation with Magnum and was told that they would allow him to play but if they saw that he is following steam they would not pay him the bonus money or the money he won with bonus money.

The guy was paid everything except the bonus money.

I guess the guy agreed to not play steam but did anyway and they don't want steam players and told him that upfront. A lot of books don't want steam players, so if you play steam, it's probably a good idea to ask upfront.

 

[S-Love]

I don't know why I see so much bad-mouthing of Bestline- I've only been with them since the start of the NCAA contest but I've had no problems either from Customer Service or withdrawal- seems to me to be a well-run outfit. I think some people want their books to do everything including making their bets for them.

I give them a thumbs-up

 

[Nick Douglas]

I think everyone would agree that 95% of players will not have any problems whatsoever with Best Line Sports.

The problem is that someone has made a very serious claim that their bonus was robbed from them despite following the rules stated both on the book's website and by the book's customer service representatives. It is more a matter of principle than the book being a threat to stiff the average bettor.

 

[stomie]

I guess I don't understand what is steam? Playing a posted line that has moved? Didn't THEY post the line? What is the problem? It's not like Oklahoma won a tight game. How about they put a rule in that says you get a bonus only if you lose it.

 

[Nick Douglas]

Jack,

Can Best Line provide evidence that his bet was placed at a time where it would be considered a "steam" play? The accuser states that he placed the bet at 4 p.m. on Friday at -5.5. At least using Pinnacle's line movement log at Best Bettor, the line started at 5.5 on Friday and didn't move off of 5.5 until Saturday morning and then again shortly before game time. It would appear from looking at this information that it is very likely that this person made a play that happened to end up being a steam play rather than actually intentionally betting steam.

 

[timbo]

I could be wrong but I don't think Oklahoma was a steam play.

 

[THE HITMAN]

Great question. What is a steamer, anyway? Could be Steam to one, not steam to another. Who decides? Steam?? 1/2 point movement=steam??????? If OKLA lost it wouldn't have been steam? Does this mean that any team that has more than 50% of the action is a steam play ?? Maybe they should put a picture of a locomotive icon by the teams that they consider steam plays for the week................that would identify them, by golly !

The bottom line to me is this: YOU (the book) POSTED THE LINE. If you as a book didnt want action at 5.5, then DON'T PUT IT UP.
Or, put a limit on a wager @ 5.5. It is hard for me to see the book's point of view. If you don't want action, don't ask for it.
Just my $.02 worth.

 

[timbo]

Oklahoma was a general public play.

 

[BestLineSports]

Sorry We took so long to reply. The player in question is by no
means an average Joe. There were factors beside his steam play
that aided us in our decision. He has several accounts offshore
and was even turned down by another outfit inwhich he was
trying to bet into.

The player started his account on Friday and that was the only
play he made, what about all weekend?

BestLine Sports player profile is 18 + who love to play for fun,
if there were more plays made giving us a fair chance that would
have been all good, obviously this player knows what he was
doing. The guidline was set forth to the player before hand and
he agreed.

We think the situation was handled well, the player was paid in
full with the exception of the bonus money or the winings
from the bonus money. He had to cover the fees because
he was not a member for 21 days. There is a 3 time deposit roll
over, the player only had one.

The player is trying to use the forum as do many others. The
most important thing to take in consideration is our impeccable
reputation since our inception.

 

[kickserv]

"He had to cover the fees because he was not a member for 21 days. There is a 3 time deposit roll over, the player only had one"


What the heck is that

are you saying he needed to pay the fees for the deposit If so that is pathetic........books always pick up fees on deposit (if over a certain amount..usually 200 or higher). Or are you saying he had to pay the fee for withdrawl :shrug:


anyway from what I've read........I have to side with the player...I think you were very picky........but it's your business and you can do what ya want.

As for the "steam" thing.......who cares.....if there's a line ya don't like..don't put it up.....just that simple.......and why can't a player just play one game and then withdrawl....nothing wrong with that. But good to see you paid him his money, and I see your point about not paying the bonus (though I disagree) but if you made him pay a fee for a withdrawl AND a deposit that is low...very low :nono:


And FWIW I wish these books wouldn't get so technical with this bonus crap.........make it easy to understand...none of this rollover crap...either give a bonus or don't give a bonus........


ok....there's my two cents

 

[BestLineSports]

We pick up the fees on deposits but the players pick up the fees
on payouts, however we give one free payout every 21 days
by neteller or fedex.

 

[kickserv]

ok......gotcha.......for a second there I thought he had to pay both

(so I take it if he waited 21 days he would pay no fee for the withdrawl?)

 

[BestLineSports]

You got it.

 

[Nick Douglas]

Derrick,

Thank you for addressing this matter. The person in question claimed that he spoke to one of your customer service representatives and explained his playing style, making sure that the bonus would be valid if he made the deposit. He said that the only reason he chose to sign up with Best Line was to get the 30% and said that if that promotion was not offered, he would have taken his business elsewhere.

If any of this is incorrect, please let me know, but I'm basing the rest of this post on those things being true.

If Best Line did not want to give bonuses to players who bet their entire deposit on one game and then withdraw the winnings, then the customer service representative who spoke to this person should have told him that the bonus would not be valid if he played this way.

It appears to the unbiased observer that Best Line was "taking a shot" at this person. If he deposits $2500 and loses it all on one game, then Best Line makes out with $2500 that they would not have had if they had not offered the bonus. If he wins his one game bet, you confiscate the bonus based on some arcane rules that are not even stated on your website or by your customer service representatives prior to deposit, then chalk it up as a standard -110 wager loss.

I understand the fact that this person is not your chosen demographic, but if you are going to offer a bonus after the player explains his wagering style, then you should honor the bonus. As I stated earlier in this thread, it is just a matter of principle.

 

[E-Z MONEY$$$]

Heres my 2 cents or whatever its called this way. You are a book that obviously makes good money as do most. You put up a line with which the bettor bet into it. You didnt have a problem with him until after the bet won. You offered the bonus. You can't say you dont want players that win which is essentailly what you are doing. Sorry, but you offer a service, some people win and many more lose. For you to say you don't want winners, albeit legal becuase you own the joint is going to give you a bad rap. Theres a reason that books like pinnacle and oly have good reputations because they dont kick people out and always pay. If you don't want a line bet, then dont post it. It wasn't a bad line, it was 5.5 or 6 all week and even pregame. You posted a line and he bet it. If you dont like bets than don't take em. No offense, as I'm sure you are reputable, but my take is that if you don't like winnners, why would i ever want to play with you.

 

[kickserv]

well said EZ and Nick............that's why I said that I side with the player..........not good business sense if ya ask me.....it's stuff like this that gives books a bad name.........and when this happens it doesn't bold well for BL's reputation

 

[stomie]

They are BestLine unless you win and then they are WorstLine. I like books like pinnacle where if you win you win.