What was the Industry Like 10 years ago?

[Miz]

Not really. Last time I did a limits check, b105 was 50% or less of Pinnacle's limits near post.

yeah just meant lines mostly. you're right about limits for a single pop. for majority of guys it's about the same.

 

[BigJay]

limits for a single pop.

@MinnesotaFats

 

[rolandcorts]

11-12 yrs ago it was horribly bleak. No way to move $. Neteller/Skrill/Moneybookers all gone or difficult at best. Western Union was the way to send $ lol.

But 10 yrs ago BTC arrived and there was a mini golden age, primarily thanks to BOL, until about a year ago.

Younger people who got into it a few years ago with legals must think it's pretty great the last few years but they'll never know the bliss and joy of the old offshore. RIP.

 

[rolandcorts]

That 2015 also coincided with 'us' learning about BTC before anyone else and seeing how valuable it was happened to also be life changing for many. At least for those smart enough to hold it. Certain forum squares on here always tried to get rid of their BTC like it was a flaming bag of dog shit.

 

[jackpot_xpress]

only been around a few years and it’s wild to hear how different things were. Crazy to think about sending MG payments and waiting on checks compared to how quick crypto is now.

 

[ktollinche]

11-12 yrs ago it was horribly bleak. No way to move $. Neteller/Skrill/Moneybookers all gone or difficult at best. Western Union was the way to send $ lol.

But 10 yrs ago BTC arrived and there was a mini golden age, primarily thanks to BOL, until about a year ago.

Younger people who got into it a few years ago with legals must think it's pretty great the last few years but they'll never know the bliss and joy of the old offshore. RIP.

yep
I started in '98. Till the Neteller owners got caught in early 2007, offshore was AH-mayhhh-zing...

 

[rolandcorts]

yep
I started in '98. Till the Neteller owners got caught in early 2007, offshore was AH-mayhhh-zing...

What a grizzled vet

 

[milwaukee mike]

That 2015 also coincided with 'us' learning about BTC before anyone else and seeing how valuable it was happened to also be life changing for many. At least for those smart enough to hold it. Certain forum squares on here always tried to get rid of their BTC like it was a flaming bag of dog shit.

and then some (like me) were holding btc at mt gox in the early days... got fukked over and never wanted to hold too much again arggghhh

like others said though, golden age of betonline with all of those 100% bonuses at each bol/sbag, my god was that good while it lasted

 

[baus]

yep
I started in '98. Till the Neteller owners got caught in early 2007, offshore was AH-mayhhh-zing...

There’s definitely been ups and down over the last 20 years. The Neteller days were great, but there were a lot more stiff jobs than present.

Bowmans, WWTS, and the Jazzette (Sportsbook.com) group were all quite profitable in those days. The Greek too.

100% at BOL and SB were great times too.

BAUS

 

[btcfan]

There’s definitely been ups and down over the last 20 years. The Neteller days were great, but there were a lot more stiff jobs than present.

Bowmans, WWTS, and the Jazzette (Sportsbook.com) group were all quite profitable in those days. The Greek too.

100% at BOL and SB were great times too.

BAUS

The Greek had great info (shaded lines) back in day. In a very simplistic way, I miss their very basic interface as well. Smooth and quick. Great shop.

100% Neteller was great in the day, but what a pain in the ass when all hell broke loose. Had a decent experience with Firepay as well back in the day.

 

[jamesy2422]

1) More deposit bonuses back in the early 2000's and less restrictions on how you can bet the freeplays. Less rollovers as well.

2) Credits cards were widely accepted and no extra fees for using them.

3) Looser lines and ability to beat the book at times.

4) Getting Checks/Money Orders in the mail

5) More books as options to use. Now many stopped taking NY so that effects me.

6) It seemed like books actually cared about you as a player. Now I feel like a number.

Sports Interaction was my first book. I will never forget. Loved their color scheme and interface.

 

[btcfan]

Wasn't Sports Interaction a Canadian Indian tribe running that? I remember playing at that shop and their solid interface but doesn't really stand out in my memory for anything else.

Credit cards...wow. I remember making a deposit at Diamond (when DSI was actually a good shop) with a CC and getting a $2K+ credit card bill for cameras and other crap. Someone either stole my info there or on their payment screen, which I don't think was SSL, granted they swore it was. Either way, no harm, disputed but one of the last times using a CC. Cash only...

 

[baus]

Wasn't Sports Interaction a Canadian Indian tribe running that? I remember playing at that shop and their solid interface but doesn't really stand out in my memory for anything else.

Credit cards...wow. I remember making a deposit at Diamond (when DSI was actually a good shop) with a CC and getting a $2K+ credit card bill for cameras and other crap. Someone either stole my info there or on their payment screen, which I don't think was SSL, granted they swore it was. Either way, no harm, disputed but one of the last times using a CC. Cash only...

Up until the last couple years they were operated by that Indian group outside of Montreal. SIA was a great book around 2003-2005. They didn’t really know what they were doing lol.

BAUS

 

[ktollinche]

I lasted one day at Sports Interaction...LOL.

I played something and after the line moved I bought back.

They sent me an email, that they dont want my kinda action.

Fine... got paid, no issues

 

[redrightred]

I’ve only been in the industry going on almost 4 years. What was it like in the golden years? What’s the biggest change? Who fell the hardest that was once one of the best?

There were a lot more books and a lot of good bonuses. It was less expensive to gamble. You could do it all for free and get free money.

The biggest change is the forums. There were a lot of forums with a lot of crazy gamblers and a lot of funny people posting. It was wild. Now it is extremely boring. All the crazies are busted out.

 

[rolandcorts]

There were a lot more books and a lot of good bonuses. It was less expensive to gamble. You could do it all for free and get free money.

The biggest change is the forums. There were a lot of forums with a lot of crazy gamblers and a lot of funny people posting. It was wild. Now it is extremely boring. All the crazies are busted out.

Many made their fortunes and drifted away. For others, it took an immense toll on them: jjgold schizophrenia, fishhead alcoholism, bobby food addiction. Lioneye hiding from the law in Vietnam. Nicky Santoro a brief stint in the looney bin and now works customer service at Mise-au-Jeu. betplom in Kingston Ontario penitentiary with buzzy Buztah. Sammy major gambling debts where he had to trade in his family's vehicles which put him on the used car salesman career path.

 

[ggflux]

1) More deposit bonuses back in the early 2000's and less restrictions on how you can bet the freeplays. Less rollovers as well.

2) Credits cards were widely accepted and no extra fees for using them.

3) Looser lines and ability to beat the book at times.

4) Getting Checks/Money Orders in the mail

5) More books as options to use. Now many stopped taking NY so that effects me.

6) It seemed like books actually cared about you as a player. Now I feel like a number.

Sports Interaction was my first book. I will never forget. Loved their color scheme and interface.

Totally agree with you. It really feels like the industry has gotten much more restrictive over the past decade. The old-school deposit bonuses with fewer restrictions were much more fun to play, and getting checks in the mail felt more personal. Now everything is instant, automated, and you feel like just another account number. Sports Interaction brings back memories for me too. The interface and attention to players made a real difference. Do you still have an old account there or is it long gone?

 

[rolandcorts]

Legalization ruined everything.

 

[redrightred]

Many made their fortunes and drifted away. For others, it took an immense toll on them: jjgold schizophrenia, fishhead alcoholism, bobby food addiction. Lioneye hiding from the law in Vietnam. Nicky Santoro a brief stint in the looney bin and now works customer service at Mise-au-Jeu. betplom in Kingston Ontario penitentiary with buzzy Buztah. Sammy major gambling debts where he had to trade in his family's vehicles which put him on the used car salesman career path.

Nobody gets out alive.

 

[ggzola]

After Covid hit, everything fully went to shit offshore, and 2024/25 was a hypersped one way ticket to the abyss.
Golden years were definitely early 2000s. Oh how I miss the Greek (Olympic sportsbook...even had a dream they were back in business, and I was able to log-into my account again... how nuts is that to get inside my head after more than a decade of being extinct.)
Heritage old platform and lines were so cool, gawd I miss that old format and awesome lines before they changed to shit in 2018 or so as well.
Even BetDSI was great with their props, variety of different sportsbook platforms....can count till the morning how many were nothing short of terrific. A.I ruined the whole market.