OUR READER'S VIEWS

Another year has passed, and a lot has been going on with both the OOBG and the Offshore Gaming Industry in general. We've got a new website, check it out at OOBG.com. We've been spending a lot of time coming up with our Top5 World Class Sportsbooks for 2006 list. And we still find the time to answer your questions since you, the readers are so important to us. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that the OOBG answers on a daily basis. If you have any questions regarding the offshore industry e-mail them to contactus@oobg.com and maybe your e-mail will make the final cut for the next OOBG.

What's the criteria for a
"World Class Sportsbook"?
pacolaco@***.net

There are five points we always judge amongst other things.

The first is years of experience. It isn't unusual to find Sportsbooks that have been around 10+ years these days. You may encounter numerous problems if you go with a start-up shop. Find a place that has been around for a few seasons at least. The next thing we look at is how a Sportsbook transfers its funds. Are the payouts quick? What good is winning if you have to wait more than a day to collect? We always say: a player goes offshore for professionalism; if we wanted to wait a week or two to get paid we would still play locally. Next on the list is customer service. English is a must, understandable English is just as important. We want to be able to understand who we are speaking with. plain and simple. With some books we feel we need to take a week-end Spanish course just to get our point across, this is unacceptable. We are also not fans of e-mail only customer service, we think the internet is great. but. sometimes we want to speak to a live person. Next is Bonuses. With so much competition out there, the Sportsbook you choose should offer bonuses upon sign-up and more importantly, on re-deposits, some even offer money back after the season. Things to watch out for: books that only offer reload bonuses between certain limited hours, only on a certain day of the week. If it sounds too good to be true. it probably is. Rollover is a way of life, beware of extremely low rollovers. Finally, technology, a quality quick loading website is a must. Online funding should be easy, payouts should be automated, online as well.They should have a Live Chat option, and your questions should be answered online in a prompt manner. The book or books you go with this football season should score high on this simple test. as all our World Class Sportsbooks do.

Is it safe to send money to a
Sportsbook somewhere offshore and keep it there all Football Season?
oscard410@***.com

Yes your money is safe. All season long. The Offshore Industry is no longer in its infancy; it has established itself over the years and does not seem to be disappearing. A very small percentage (less than a 1%) of sportsbooks have no intentions of paying you when you win. Some might take a while, some might not have as many options, but in the end they all pay. Some books set themselves apart from the rest by offering same day payouts, with multiple methods. When looking for a Sportsbook this season make sure you find one that is as willing and easy to pay out, as they are to take money in.

After getting stiffed by my local guy 2 football seasons ago I decided to go with a book in your Top 5 list, and let me tell you I'd never go back to betting locally. It is the difference between a 5 Star Hotel and the Motel 6 as far as a quality experience goes. Thanks for the heads up.Lowball718@***.com

Your welcome! We here have gone offshore and never looked back as well. There are some things we always tell our friends and readers when trying to explain why it is better to play offshore. First, you can place your bets from anywhere using the Internet. Next, you get bonuses on the funds you initially deposit, and even more importantly some Sportsbooks give you bonuses on every deposit. There is no credit. it is impossible to get in over your head. All you can possibly lose is the money you can afford to send. When you win a wager the winnings are added to your account, when you lose the loss is deducted. Sports gambling should be a fun hobby, not a do or die potential financial catastrophe. Finally, they're always open. Want to bet a game late Friday night for Saturday morning? You CAN do that offshore. No more 3-4 hours a day of operation. There are so many advantages to play offshore we could go on forever. However, in your case Lowball I guess the most important thing is that they PAY.

Got any tips for a betting novice?
Taxme43@***.net

We're not pros by any means here at the OOBG, but we pick up tips as the years go on by those smarter then us. Here is a short list of pointers to go by. Remember, you can always go to OOBG.com to find the latest handicapping angles and information.

1. Bet the line, not the team

Gamblers bet with their heads, fans bet with their hearts. Loyalty should not enter in the equation in sports gambling.

2. Bet with a reputable sportsbook.

It doesn't matter how good a bettor you are if you're not getting paid.

3. Bet early.

The line for games usually moves and you can often get more favorable odds before game day.

4. Take advantage of the different bets.

Besides betting the game, you can bet the 1st & 2nd half separately, the moneyline, (who will win the game regardless of the spread), and the over/under (the total number of points scored in the game).

5. Keep a level head.

If you're losing, take a timeout. The worst thing you can do is to try to recoup a string of manageable losses with one risky jumbo wager.

Bring back the "BAD BOOKS" section. I miss it. It always gave me the heads up where not to play. 6Steamplayer10@***.com

Sorry, the Offshore Sportsbook Industry is no longer in its infancy. with exception of ESB (which we said was coming years ago) a big book hasn't gone belly up in five years. The list of "bad books" is getting shorter and shorter. That doesn't mean that the list of World Class Sportsbooks is getting bigger, it just means you're less likely to get stiffed or run into other major problems with a Sportsbook these days. You're always safe playing with one of the World Class Sportsbooks listed. If you have any other questions about specific books you can send them to contactus@OOBG.com. Or, check out the OSGA, another reputable watch dog agency for the Offshore Sportsbooks Industry.