My Take on Watchdog Sites

The Major · 11-06-2001, 01:52 PM

After reading BW and the RX over of the last few days I have decided that I will no longer engage in any response or opinion of fellow watchdogs. I watched the fall of BW and must say that their downfall has helped MajorWager immensely. Reading the last thread at their site with Jeff, BG and his sidekick Cashew, I was awakened to the fact of how pitiful we all have become. I suppose watching the Rx over the last few days allow a very questionable book, which sounds like a duck, on their preferred list didn’t help in my decision either. Rx , WTF do you think they are going to say? "ya, we are the old action sports"?

Let us get this out in the open once and for all. BW and The RX have taken books that are owned by NASA. They have taken books like BoDog and BigBook. All these books have been declined at MW. We turn down more books in a week here than anyone can imagine. Now, enough of blowing MajorWager’s horn. We have had our disasters as well and we do our best at helping everyone get paid. We are not saints here. It is a tough line to walk when being fed buy the very people we watch. One thing I can promise you however is you will never see a new version of Action Sports, Dunes Sports or NASA related books at MW. That decision probably has cost us 12,000 per month but we feel we have done the right thing. Does it piss me off that the RX and BW shun their responsibilities by allowing these type of advertisers? YES. Am I done commenting? YES

Peep said it well enough. “They are what they are” (which includes us). From now on I am I going keep my rants to myself with regards to BW and RX and simply let the readers decide.

The Major

Amazing · 11-06-2001, 02:04 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:[/size]<HR> “They are what they are” (which includes us). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Very honest and well put. Like you said, you guys are only human but at least you try to show responsibility when selecting who you will accept as advertisers and/or endorse. Also, your forthright response to me regarding my Direcbet situation, and subsequent attempts to help, says very much about this site to me. You guys are one of the best current watchdog sites for good reason. Well said and keep up the good work.

[This message has been edited by Amazing (edited 11-06-2001).]

Johnny Detroit · 11-06-2001, 02:10 PM

Have to love Directbet. Here is the response a friend of mine was sent when asking why he has not been been updated on his withdrawal request->Dear MS,
>Your request has been forwarded to the finance dept. There are limited
>funds
>available at this time! We will process your request asap!
>If you have any questions you can mail the finance
>manager(eugene@direcbet.com)

Limited funds? OUCH.

The Major · 11-06-2001, 02:31 PM

Johnny, the reason that it is that way is because the purchasing company is waiting for the deal to close so all funds are in escrow until that happens, which I have been told by the purchasing company is sometime early next week. Let hope so

The Major

alysheba88 · 11-06-2001, 02:46 PM

Great post Major.

Peep · 11-06-2001, 03:05 PM

Major,

Wouldn't go beating yourself or the other boys up too much.

Gamblers are by nature a cynical and skeptical bunch, and I think we all appreciate the forums where "we can speak our piece".

As to your relationship to the books, not a heck of a lot different IMO that that of a lot of regulators in the "stright/real" world. Like I really trust the police watchdogs to watch the police (last I heard in Toronto something like 3 out of 300 cases made it past "phase one"), the AMA to police the doctors, the bar association to police the lawyers, the airport commission to police the airlines.

Don't think so.

By nature, familiarity breeds sympathy, and anytime any commission is funded by those it polices.....

I am real happy with the information exchange here and at Rx, we are doing Shrink's "dirty work" for him on Pro 5, so...

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

[This message has been edited by Peep (edited 11-06-2001).]

BigMo · 11-07-2001, 02:27 AM

Don't post here much but my .02c.

1) Not willing to point out the nefarious dealings of other supposed watchdogs, and their 'behind the back' stiffing of bettors, takes away a large portion of your 'watchdog' business model.

2) You have taken an uneven approach thus far in your treatment of bwld vs. Rx, which undoubtedly comes from your personal relationships. As the upstart, that was fine, but now in a position to replace the market leader, your actions need to be more measured. Can you take the step up? In additon, you rarely, or ever, discuss sites other than those 2.

3) As a 'watchdog', which is what brianhood started out as, you are required to point out the much more serious shams which occur through other sites support for player stiffing advertisors, than mediating the occasional player dispute. It is quite a gravy train to say you will no longer engage the other sites who shill the bettors, not that you have spent much time doing that up to now other than grinding your ax vs. bwld.

Quite easy to sit back and avoid conflict along with the sites who've sold out. Cash those fat advertising checks and join the club.

In the meantime you will have compomised the same values that turned brihood into advertisingworld.

Harsh words I know, but you have never been one to pull a punch have you? Neither am I. So bottom line, you've done a lot to avoid bad books, and that is why I'm taking the time to respond here. However, the bigger problem is the sites who promote those books, and utilize other troublesome practices. When you take them on you will truly be doing the bettors a service, solidify yourself as the site of significance, and benefit financially through the # of visitors to your site, and their use of your recommended books.

4) Where are you in 5 years? The flash forum who filled a void, or the premier content site on the gaming net. Thus far its been the flash forum, and your step down this latest path insures it will remain that way. Will you reap this cash cow and be forgotten in net realtime, or invest in the longterm principles and content which will keep players and books coming here far into the distant future?

5) Instead of the backhanded sniping and forum chestbeating we've seen up to this point, a better strategy is to bring it right out in the open the way covers.com did vs. the rx. Run the articles, the exposes', make the investment in doing it responsibly.

Sure you'll get sued, and it will triple readership. People will pay for the truth, sell some.

WATCHDOG, you'd best rethink what it means to you and your business in the longterm.

[This message has been edited by BigMo (edited 11-06-2001).]

superbook · 11-07-2001, 02:51 AM

FWIW, I've been posting at MajorWager since it was launched. Like many here, I migrated to MW from Bettorsworld (where I posted under a different handle).

What I find interesting is that in that year, MajorWager has really evolved into the pre-eminent Watchdog site.

During the past year BW has imploded. And IMO, the RX and MJs have become even more of a place to post picks for tonight's game than a forums to have open dialogues on sportsbooks. Just check out their traffic to their "Mess Hall" compared with their traffic to their sports forums (I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them, I post at the RX and MJs every day in their sports forums, but IMO they're not really Watchdog sites).

Maybe this post is starting to ramble like a beantownjim reply, but what I'm trying to say is:

Freddie and Russ: Congratulations, in just over a year you've made MajorWager the top Watchdog site in the world

soupman · 11-07-2001, 02:52 AM

What's wrong with Bigbook?

bruce1972 · 11-07-2001, 03:56 AM

Not a thing.

Mort · 11-07-2001, 07:09 AM

Soupman, you kind of beat me to the question, although was mine was going to be of Bodog.

Major, what is wrong with Bodog? My experience with them so far has been nothing but good.

Mort · 11-07-2001, 07:10 AM

Major, perhaps my question should be why was Bodog declined?

green machine · 11-07-2001, 07:31 AM

i really hope direcbet gets back on track as i have football futures with them.raiders are one of my futures at 10-1.

bruce1972 · 11-07-2001, 07:50 AM

I know they aren't on the list and I always like to stay with books on this list but Big Book was the very first book I ever played at years ago and I have never had any problems with them. In fact, something happened to me a few weeks ago there which really cemented my favorable view of them. They made a mistake and credited my account an extra $100. I called to tell them and you know what they told me? "Thanks for telling us we decided you can keep it!"
How many books would do that?? These guys rock and I won't forget it.

Mort · 11-07-2001, 07:57 AM

Bruce, reading what you have to say about The Big Book, which I believe owns Bodog, makes me even more curious as to why the Major declined them.

The Major · 11-07-2001, 12:37 PM

Do a search. The owners are scum. They even threatened someones life in here. They tried to rob Mayan of all their players. The list goes on and on. BigMO told it exactly the way it is. I have never heard of a slow or no pay.

The Major

selkirk · 11-07-2001, 02:01 PM

I think you can discuss books and their good and bad points. Also if you do not agree with something a forum did you could still bring it up.
however often these "disputes" just go on and on and it is easy to forget the orginal reason why it was started. it is okay to bring up information about a book, I just used the search to find out information about a book.

that is why I visit, do not care who hates who, just bring information about the books.
and other gambling topics. if you have problem with a book and do not agree with some other watchdog sites, it is fine to disagree and state this.

by the way I believe many gamblers are not cynical or skeptical but that is another discussion.

thanks
selkirk

cecil · 11-07-2001, 02:25 PM

Major, I think it is a good move to stay out of it. The site bickering does this place no good at all. The other sites don't compare to this place.
Sure, I love the forum at the RX I post there everyday. But do I play with there books that the Shrink keeps promoting? No.
The books here are some of the best in the biz, it seems like they take on anybody with money at the RX. You have Sting's constant shilling for Nasa, and the Shrink promoting unestablished books, many with shaky pasts.
It all comes down to trust, and the only watchdog I trust is MW.
Everytime I think you guys have sold out, you have proven me wrong. Keep it up.

Pariaction · 11-07-2001, 08:58 PM

Good move and smart decision Major! I think that you are doing a great job. It takes alot to put your $500 guarantee behind any book you reccomend.
I know how you feel. It is sometimes very hard NOT to respond to something (even if it is baseless)...
I hope that you and Ken can work out your differences as I know you both are trying to be as sincere as possible to help the players in such a wild industry.