Sensationalized Reports Have Bookies Fleeing Costa Rica
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Many online bookies just packed up and left following a cryptic message that appeared on the eGaming Review Magazine website Tuesday. The publication unraveled already frayed nerves by suggesting that the US Department of Justice would not apprehend more internet gambling operators, perhaps even turning the tourist playground of Costa Rica into Club Fed.

Rumours suggesting further online gaming arrests planned for this week have been denied by the Department of Justice (DoJ) in New York and Washington DC this afternoon.

A spokesperson said: “Nothing would be made public until an individual or company was charged.”

According to sources in Washington DC who have spoken to eGaming Review, the US authorities are on the verge of unsealing another set of indictments against a high-profile US-facing betting and gaming operator.

Is the DoJ really going to answer the phone and tell some online gambling publication that "Yes indeed, we plan to make more arrests this weekend of a high profile internet gambling operator. Please publish this so that you guys can give them advance warning"?

We think not.

Gambling911.com, which prides itself on fair and balanced reporting, is having a tough time grasping the eGaming Review report. We will never let a good story get in the way of facts.

Gambling911.com attempted to confirm this story with the DoJ and they promptly hung up on us.

So if we are to believe eGaming Review, a spokesperson for the DoJ says "Nothing would be made public until a person or company was charged" yet eGaming Review's headline suggests "There will be no actions taken by the DoJ this week".

Don't tell that to the Costa Rican bookies who have been fleeing the country in record numbers this week, some even claiming to have sold their businesses.

"eGaming Review will come out and say 'We were right' no matter what transpires this week," said one bookmaker. "If nothing happens, they point to their headline. If something does happen, they point to their 'source's information' and the vague comment supposedly from a DoJ spokesperson."

The latest rumor going around Bookie Central is that some four dozen FBI agents have descended upon the Central American hamlet and plan on rounding up about two dozen rogue bookmakers (two agents for every rogue). Costa Rica will cooperate, according to these rumors, because of a us$200 million US loan that has been forgiven.

"(The) story goes that (the) plane was half full on way here (to Costa Rica) and they have booked full plane for ride home (back to the US)".

The Costa Rican bookies will believe anything they hear because they are so on edge these days. Having a bunch of FBI agents globetrotting around the world hunting online bookmakers might not sit too well with an American public still wondering why Bin Laden is yet to be captured. But Costa Rican bookies believe they are sitting ducks....literally.

One freaked out bookie relayed to Gambling911.com:

"At the Marriott there was this guy with a book on 'Bird Watching' and he had a pair of binoculars. The funny thing was, there were no birds around and he kept directing the binoculars towards me when it appeared I was sleeping."