JIMMYMAC VS. ODDSMAKER DISPUTE: THE VERDICT
written June 22, 2009
First off, special thanks to the following people who I reached out to for help in resolving this dispute:
1: JIMMYMAC
2: ODDSMAKER
3: Anthony Stewart
4: The OSGA, specifically Jim
5: Stephen
6: Jay C
7: SBR/The General
Overview:
A player named JIMMYMAC was profiled carefully by Oddsmaker to have met their criteria to receive an extremely generous bonus in the hopes that he would eventually deposit real money with their sports book.
Oddsmaker only sends this offer out to a very limited number of players via email and it is called a VIP BONUS. Specifically, the recipient is offered a 500 dollar FREE PLAY without having to make a deposit. There are no strings attached except to meet a rollover requirement and wait 30 days before cashing out..
Given that this is a very dangerous offer that can be costly, many people try to abuse it. The sports book is able to detect fraud or abuse by requesting the player to call a specific 800 phone number and by asking the player to request to talk to an "Anthony Stewart."
What followed has been fairly well established on the forums and also by SBR/The General's report...
1: The player rolled the $500 dollar free play into $8400 dollars.
2. The player DELIBERATELY tried to ABUSE the BONUS that was meant exclusively for him by sharing it with his Father... I use the word "deliberate" because he meticulously went through the plan of signing up online an additional VIP account using his Father. Then, after the account was established, neither the player nor his Father tried calling Antony Stewart or the 800 number that was provided on the email....
For if they had used the traceable number provided on the original email or the name that was required, they knew they'd be caught. Also I believe had they done this with honest intentions, they would have called Anthony directly to ask for his approval ...
Rather, they tried to get an extra 500 dollar FREE PLAY by calling another toll free customer support number in the hopes that the clerk wouldn't know the difference.
3. The player got caught. At first he lied to Oddsmaker about his foiled attempt to abuse the bonus that was meant only for him, but the truth eventually came to light... Oddsmaker has proof to back all of this by the additional online application and tapes. Additionally, SBR (The General) also agreed with this finding in his report.
Conclusion:
Most sports books have rules and regulations that are clearly posted on their website. Oddsmaker is no exception. What I find disturbing is that the majority of players don't bother reading the rules and regulations before getting involved with a sports book.
For example, many sports books have a very controversial rule that I don't agree with so I avoid these books. It's called the "WISEGUY RULE" which virtually gives them a license to steal if they believe you are in collusion with one or more other players.
Now back to ODDSMAKER....
If Oddsmaker doesn't have a rule on their web site that addresses this scenario, then the sports book cannot take away a player's winnings, period...
Simply because he lied, or he was rude or he attacked them on posting forums are not grounds to take way a player's hard earned winnings...
But what about Bonus Abuse?
Let's review the terms and conditions that Oddsmaker does have listed on their website quite clearly...
http://www.oddsmaker.com/terms.php
If you scroll to the bottom and look under the sub header titled "BONUS ABUSE," I believe they have 10 paragraphs of terms and conditions.
The one I find paramount to this case can be found in paragraph #4, second sentence...
Professional players or PLAYERS CONSIDERED TO BE ABUSING THE BONUS SYSTEM BY ANY MEANS may have bonuses revoked and be subject to further sanctions, at the discretion of OddsMaker.com management.
Like it or not, the above sentence which is clearly found under their rules, applies here. The player was indeed "considered to be abusing the bonus system," even though he got caught doing so. If a robber gets caught trying to rob a bank but gets caught in the act, he is still guilty of ROBBERY...
It's not at all about whether someone likes the rule...
But rules, just like laws are enforceable...
I personally think that jay walking and smoking pot are silly laws, but try telling that to a Judge...
Therefore, I rule in favor of ODDSMAKER....
They have the rules to back them up.
THE SHRINK
written June 22, 2009
First off, special thanks to the following people who I reached out to for help in resolving this dispute:
1: JIMMYMAC
2: ODDSMAKER
3: Anthony Stewart
4: The OSGA, specifically Jim
5: Stephen
6: Jay C
7: SBR/The General
Overview:
A player named JIMMYMAC was profiled carefully by Oddsmaker to have met their criteria to receive an extremely generous bonus in the hopes that he would eventually deposit real money with their sports book.
Oddsmaker only sends this offer out to a very limited number of players via email and it is called a VIP BONUS. Specifically, the recipient is offered a 500 dollar FREE PLAY without having to make a deposit. There are no strings attached except to meet a rollover requirement and wait 30 days before cashing out..
Given that this is a very dangerous offer that can be costly, many people try to abuse it. The sports book is able to detect fraud or abuse by requesting the player to call a specific 800 phone number and by asking the player to request to talk to an "Anthony Stewart."
What followed has been fairly well established on the forums and also by SBR/The General's report...
1: The player rolled the $500 dollar free play into $8400 dollars.
2. The player DELIBERATELY tried to ABUSE the BONUS that was meant exclusively for him by sharing it with his Father... I use the word "deliberate" because he meticulously went through the plan of signing up online an additional VIP account using his Father. Then, after the account was established, neither the player nor his Father tried calling Antony Stewart or the 800 number that was provided on the email....
For if they had used the traceable number provided on the original email or the name that was required, they knew they'd be caught. Also I believe had they done this with honest intentions, they would have called Anthony directly to ask for his approval ...
Rather, they tried to get an extra 500 dollar FREE PLAY by calling another toll free customer support number in the hopes that the clerk wouldn't know the difference.
3. The player got caught. At first he lied to Oddsmaker about his foiled attempt to abuse the bonus that was meant only for him, but the truth eventually came to light... Oddsmaker has proof to back all of this by the additional online application and tapes. Additionally, SBR (The General) also agreed with this finding in his report.
Conclusion:
Most sports books have rules and regulations that are clearly posted on their website. Oddsmaker is no exception. What I find disturbing is that the majority of players don't bother reading the rules and regulations before getting involved with a sports book.
For example, many sports books have a very controversial rule that I don't agree with so I avoid these books. It's called the "WISEGUY RULE" which virtually gives them a license to steal if they believe you are in collusion with one or more other players.
Now back to ODDSMAKER....
If Oddsmaker doesn't have a rule on their web site that addresses this scenario, then the sports book cannot take away a player's winnings, period...
Simply because he lied, or he was rude or he attacked them on posting forums are not grounds to take way a player's hard earned winnings...
But what about Bonus Abuse?
Let's review the terms and conditions that Oddsmaker does have listed on their website quite clearly...
http://www.oddsmaker.com/terms.php
If you scroll to the bottom and look under the sub header titled "BONUS ABUSE," I believe they have 10 paragraphs of terms and conditions.
The one I find paramount to this case can be found in paragraph #4, second sentence...
Professional players or PLAYERS CONSIDERED TO BE ABUSING THE BONUS SYSTEM BY ANY MEANS may have bonuses revoked and be subject to further sanctions, at the discretion of OddsMaker.com management.
Like it or not, the above sentence which is clearly found under their rules, applies here. The player was indeed "considered to be abusing the bonus system," even though he got caught doing so. If a robber gets caught trying to rob a bank but gets caught in the act, he is still guilty of ROBBERY...
It's not at all about whether someone likes the rule...
But rules, just like laws are enforceable...
I personally think that jay walking and smoking pot are silly laws, but try telling that to a Judge...
Therefore, I rule in favor of ODDSMAKER....
They have the rules to back them up.
THE SHRINK