Online gambling web sites purporting to be industry "watchdogs" have a responsibility to serve their readers best interest.  And while most of these self-described "watchdogs" do an admirable job, there still exists a serious flaw in judgment exhibited on occasion.

TheOffShoreWire has recently raised eyebrows with its "rookie project", a segment of the web site devoted to "risky" startups.  In exchange for advertising money, TheOffShoreWire.com promotes its "rookie project" sports betting operations as "high rated" but "with some degree of risk".

The "rookie project", is really just another creative way of saying "We are willing to endorse fly by night operations".  Essentially that is what it is and TheOffShoreWire's owner has provided a terrible disservice to his readers by promoting such poorly funded online betting operations under the pretenses of extensive due diligence.

TheOffShoreWire.com is owned and operated by one Roberto Castigliano, a once aspiring porn star who starred in a sex-filled swimming pool romp showcasing the Italian Stallion's unmitigated libido - all two minutes of it.  Castigliano would later be appointed CEO of BetRoyal.com, where he reportedly continued to demonstrate his penchant for playing the pink oboe before finally settling down into a monogamous relationship.

As the proprietor of TheOffShoreWire.com "watchdog" web site, Mr. Castigliano has a duty to act responsibly when taking on advertisers.  In the case of his so-called "rookie project", Castigliano appears to have shunned such responsibility, instead suggesting that his readers were well aware of the risks involved with advertising such sportsbooks as Rich Coast Sports.  Evidently not all his readers received the memo - some claim to have five figure balances at the later named book and herein lies the problem.

Rich Coast Sports, a company that was denied advertising at Gambling911.com when approached early in the season, suddenly without warning closed down this week, citing a heart attack suffered by the primary owner.

Alas, a "new" partner was set to step in and right the ship.  This "new" partner would ensure all players get paid in full.  However, we are left wondering why this "new" partner was not brought on board prior to the "old" owner suffering his unfortunate heart failure.  Of course we may never know the answer to this question but for those of us who have been around the industry for some time and dealt with similar start up operations, it is an all too common theme. 

With any luck Rich Coast Sports will prove the exception to this rule.  They would probably be the first exception to this rule. 

The difference between a "fly by night" operation (or as Roberto likes to call it "a rookie project") and the established online sports betting operation is quite simple in the above illustrated context.  Should Spiro, the founder and wheels that keep well-oiled Olympic Sports spinning, suddenly suffer heart failure one night (God forbid), Olympic Sports might not get their lines for the next day's games up in a timely fashion.  They will, however, continue to operate and pay like clockwork.  A "fly by night" the likes of Rich Coast Sports seemingly cannot continue to operate when one of its key personnel falls ill. 

Castiglioni means well and has gained respect within the online gambling industry.  But it is this increasingly visible role that has some of his colleagues - MajorWager.com, SportsbookReview, OffShoreGamblers Digest among them - baffled by such a severe lapse in judgment.

The SportsbookReview web site was even prompted to feature the following message on its own web site, with a not-so-subtle (but well deserved) jab at Castiglioni's organization.

RichCoastSports.com(SBR rating F) has failed. Supposedly a new ownership group is trying to be formed.  It is unclear if players will recover any money or be forced into a lengthy roll over. The victims seem to be limited to referrals from a watchdog touting high risk operations. RichCoast Sports appears to be a victim of under capitalization and poor management.

Castiglioni gained some notoriety two weeks ago after his company was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, a story spotlighting online gambling industry "watchdog" web sites. 

We here at Gambling911.com are willing to accept the notion that new found readers arrived at TheOffShoreWire as a result of this article and were most certainly unaware of Mr. Castigliani's.....errrr.....Rookie Project.  Instead, they may not have differentiated Rich Coast Sports from say a well-established shop the likes of Wagerweb.

Those of us at Gambling911.com have had the pleasure of dining with Roberto on numerous occasions, he even picks up the tab sometimes.  A major downfall of Mr. Castiglioni we have found is that he has some degree of difficulty thinking outside the box.  He is very short-sighted, a trait well documented in his pool side sex romp of two years ago where the means to instant gratification could only be achieved through premature ejaculation, as opposed to a steamy long lasting intimate love making session that would have perhaps aroused his audience instead of sickening them. 

An irate Castiglioni on his web site Wednesday evening denounced his critics, all of whom are in the right.  He insisted that Rich Coast Sports will rise from the ashes and that new owners would fulfill their obligation to pay players.  Castiglioni has failed to address concerns in a thorough and timely fashion, citing travel for the past three days.  What is he flying to the moon and back?

For Roberto's sake and the sake of his loyal readers, we hope he is right.  On a side note, TheOffShoreWire had planned an elaborate Bahamas gathering in March sponsored by none other than.......Rich Coast Sports. 

------

Christopher Costigan, www.gambling911.com

Originally published December 29, 2005 12:13 am EST

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