Sportsbook News

How to Become a Bookie

With the dozens of Pay Per Head businesses now operating offshore, many sports betting aficionados are now asking how they can become a bookie.

It’s easy, the folks from RealBookies.com suggest.

Submitted by Guest on, May/30/2015

Orlando Area Bookies: Orange County, Central Florida

News flash!  Mickey Mouse likes to bet sports.  You know how we know this?  Mickey and the gang from Disney just entered into a multi-million dollar deal with one of the leading daily fantasy sports sites Draftkings.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, May/29/2015

Bookies in Cleveland Get Boost From Cavs and the New Lebron James Era

Bookies in the Cleveland area have been enjoying a successful spring, something they haven’t had in the years since losing Lebron James to Miami.

Well, Lebron is back and the Cavaliers are back in the NBA Finals for only the second time in their history.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, May/29/2015

US Homeland Security Asked to Get Involved in Ahmed Zayat Gambling Case

Gambling911.com has learned that attorneys representing an individual claiming to be owed substantial monies from American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat at one time requested the assistance of the U.S. Homeland Security citing that the debts owed were to offshore gambling operatives.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, May/26/2015

Three More Found Guilty in Legends Sports Billion Dollar Sportsbook Case

Three other individuals tied to what authorities call a billion dollar sports betting business were found guilty in an Oklahoma City federal court.

Rodger Bramley, 73, of Plano, Texas; Kelley Diebner, 43, of Houston; and Leon Moran Jr. 54, of Kingsburg, Calif., were found guilty in Oklahoma City federal court of racketeering conspiracy, conducting an illegal gambling business and money laundering conspiracy.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, May/25/2015

Ahmed Zayat Accuser Howard Rubinsky Issues Statement to G911

As the Ahmed Zayat story continues to develop, there are similarities between his gambling debt to Costa Rican bookmakers and previous issues which were revealed in 2013.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, May/23/2015

Ahmed Zayat to New York Observer: ‘I Have Never in My Life Bet on Sports’

American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat denied Gamblng911.com Publisher Chris Costigan assertion, courtesy of the offshore sportsbook operators, that he was betting both sports and horse racing.  The bookmakers and an agent claim Zayat owed approximately $2 million in gambling debts.

Submitted by Gilbert Horowitz on, May/23/2015

Media Outlets Digging for More in Ahmet Zayat Gambling Debt Allegations

A number of media outlets, mostly from the New York area, have been digging for more information related to the explosive allegations that American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat owes over $2 million to offshore sportsbooks.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, May/22/2015

Ahmedzayat.Com Goes Live: Parties Behind Site Unknown

He owns American Pharoah, the horse competing for the Triple Crown, but Ahmed Zayat does not own the website for his own name.  Ahmedzayat.com is now live.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, May/22/2015

American Pharoah Owner Ahmed Zayat Active Offshore Gambler – ahmedzayat.com

In a Gambling911.com world exclusive, we can reveal that Ahmed Zayat is still an active offshore gambler following reports he owes over $1 million.

Gambling911 learned Thursday evening from a long-time source deeply entrenched in the gaming industry that Zayat has extensive debts and players at the highest levels of the gambling industry maintain that Zayat “is not trustworthy”. 

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, May/21/2015

American Pharoah Owner Reportedly Fails to Pay $1.65 Mil Debt at Online Casino

The owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah owes $1.65 million to an online casino, at least that is what one man is claiming, and he has filed suit.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, May/21/2015

Best Pay Per Heads for Football – 2015

Gambling911.com has your best pay per heads for the upcoming football season, in no particular order so be sure to check each of them out as their offerings vary and can be customized to fit your own personal needs.

PayPerHead.com – Gambling911.com has known the folks behind this outfit since before they were ever in operation.  We’re talking 1998!!! 

Submitted by Guest on, May/19/2015

Bookies in Connecticut: The Case of the Stun Gun, Cattle Prod and Arson

Over the past four years there have been a number of high profile bookies charged in various Connecticut towns.  But it all came to a head this past January when John Barile of East Hartford was charged with burning down a Middletown restaurant for insurance fraud.  The crime he is accused of was actually committed five years previous.

Submitted by Alejandro Botticelli on, May/18/2015

Bookies In…. South Carolina: Brett Parker Thrusts State Into National Spotlight

Gambling911.com’s “Bookies In…” series has become a hugely popular read among bookmakers, agents, sports bettors and the curious alike. 

In the series we hone in on specific regions, dispense useful legal information in regard to state and sometimes local statutes, while at the same time providing a colorful history of said city, metropolitan area and/or county in terms of its bookie ties and roots.

Submitted by Alejandro Botticelli on, May/16/2015

Cook County Illinois Bookies: Chicago, Elgin, Naperville, Joliet

When we think Cook County, we first think of one of the United States largest cities, Chicago.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, May/15/2015

Bookies in Collier County Florida: Naples, Marco Island

Live in Collier County, Florida?  Bookies are quite plentiful but be careful who you choose to do business with and always ensure they are doing business with call centers operating in legal offshore jurisdictions

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, May/15/2015

Bookie Sentenced to 4.5 Years Had Enforcer Willing to ‘Bite Your Face Off’

A Naples area bookie claiming ties to offshore sportsbook owner Spiros “The Greek” Athanas and a $100,000 per month nationwide network of enforcers to collect debt was in reality “small time” according to his lawyer.

Thomas Welch, 49, was sentenced to 4 ½ years behind bars after pleading guilty to single counts of racketeering and money laundering in connection to his local and Internet-based sports betting business.

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, May/15/2015

BetClic.com Players Face Fines: 79 Players Forced to Pay Thousands of Euros

A government crackdown on the European online gambling website BetClic.com has resulted in some 79 individuals having to pay thousands of dollars in fines….and this is just the beginning, authorities have warned.

BetOnline

Submitted by Nagesh Rath on, May/12/2015

Legends Sports Founder Convicted of Running $1 Billion Sportsbook

On one of the biggest betting days of the year, Legends Sports founder and father of 7, Bartice “Luke” King of Spring, Texas has been convicted of running a $1 billion sports betting enterprise.

Submitted by C Costigan on, May/03/2015

Betting on the Mayweather Pacquiao Fight to Exceed $60 to $80 Million

Experts predict that betting on the much ballyhooed Mayweather Pacquiao fight will range between $60 and $80 million.  And that’s only in the state of Nevada.

Submitted by Tyrone Black on, May/01/2015

Any Online Sportsbooks Accept Bitcoin for Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight?

BetOnline is the latest online sportsbook to accept the anonymous digital currency Bitcoin and will be doing so for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.  They have been a long time sponsor of the Gambling911.com website.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Apr/30/2015

BetMayor Casino Complaints: Gambling Company Confiscates $51,000 From Player

A player has reported that BetMayor Casino has confiscated $51,000 in winnings after that individual went on a two-month hot streak, winning 87% of the nearly 40,000 hands.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Apr/24/2015

William Hill Reports Record Weekly Loss in January

The United Kingdom’s biggest bookmaker revealed it lost £14m in January after a series of what it referred to as "customer-friendly" football results. 

BetOnline

Shares were down 3.3 percent in Thursday’s midafternoon trading as a result.  Some of that was recovered by Friday.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Apr/24/2015

English Sports Betting Head Dead

The long time CEO and Managing Director of one of the first offshore sports betting companies, English Sports Betting, has passed away.

Tom Lanford died from natural causes recently.  He ran the long established company while it was based out of Jamaica during much of the 1990’s.  Once a wealthy businessman, Lanford was living on the streets of Atlanta, homeless, at the time of his death at 53.

Submitted by Jagajeet Chiba on, Apr/22/2015

Sportech Shares Rise on News of US Entry

Gambling group Sportech (SPO) gained 2.3% to 66.25p Tuesday on news its US racing subsidiary has been awarded a gaming licence in New Jersey.   

BetOnline

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Apr/21/2015

TopBet Slow Payouts Complaints Blamed on Processing Issues

A series of slow payouts complaints related to three-year-old Manila-based online sportsbook TopBet.eu have begun filing in to the industry monitoring site SportsBookReview.com, prompting concerns from sports bettors.  Update: April 25, 2015 - Some affected players report receipt of payments

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Apr/18/2015

Trial of Legendz Sports Founder Bartice “Luke” King Gets Underway

The trial of Legendz Sports founder Bartice King (better known as “Luke” among his peers) got underway Thursday in an Oklahoma City courtroom following two days of jury selection.  The case number is CR-13-063-1-F, listed on the local courtroom docket as USA vs. Bartice A. "Luke" King.

Submitted by C Costigan on, Apr/16/2015

Magnus Hedman the New Man Behind the Curtain at Pinnacle Sports

SBC News has revealed that Touchbet ltd and Sporting Index owner Magnus Hedman is the new majority shareholder in Pinnacle Sports, once among the biggest online sportsbooks catering to North America.  The company pulled out of the US market in 2007, opting instead to focus on Europe and Asia.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Apr/16/2015

666Bet.com Back Peddling on Payout Promise: ‘We Can Only Pay When Back Online’

Beleaguered 666Bet.com issued a statement on Tuesday informing its customers they can only pay if back up and running online.  This comes after assurances the company would refund customers once its licensing authority gives the green light.

Submitted by Aaron Goldstein on, Apr/15/2015

Motorcycle Shooting of Sportsbook Operator Outside CR Bakery Was Failed Hit

A man shot four times outside an Escazu, Costa Rica bakery last month was the target of a failed hit, Gambling911.com can now confirm. 

Sources close to G911 tell us that a sportsbook operator from California by the name of Jason was the target of this hit though the incident does not appear to have any ties to a bookmaking/Pay Per Head businesses had ties to. 

Submitted by C Costigan on, Apr/14/2015

Breaking News

Top Betting Markets May 30 - Hot Searches

While MLB games dominate the Friday evening schedule, on Saturday the Pacers have a shot at advancing to the NBA Finals should they beat the New York Knicks.  We also have UFC Fight Night on Saturday.