Sportsbook Blacklist: Betting Sites We Recommend Avoiding

As part of our commitment to giving our audience the best possible betting coverage, OSB maintains an active blacklist of betting sites that we recommend users avoid.

Some operators on our blacklist have detailed warnings explaining the concerns we found, while others appear in our broader list of sites we do not recommend. The blacklist can include active, closed or rebranded operators with a history of serious concerns.

Why are these sportsbooks blacklisted?

Sportsbooks appear on blacklists for problems that can put customers' money, personal information or betting accounts at risk. Common reasons include unpaid winnings, repeated withdrawal delays, unfair bonus terms, misleading licensing claims and serious regulatory violations. Some operators also face complaints about account closures after successful betting or restrictions that make it difficult to collect legitimate winnings.

The severity of these concerns varies. A confirmed regulatory enforcement action carries different weight from an unresolved player complaint, while a sportsbook that closed years ago presents a different situation from one still accepting bets. Our blacklist explains these distinctions so readers can identify the specific problems associated with each operator.

Warning signs to look for in a sportsbook

• Check for a License: Make sure the site is licensed by a trusted authority.
• Read User Reviews: Watch for lots of complaints about payments or support.
• Look for Clear Terms: If the terms are vague, confusing or unfair, it’s best to avoid the sportsbook.
• Test Customer Support: Try asking a question before signing up to see if they’re responsive.
• Assess Security: Look for HTTPS, secure payment options, and two-factor authentication.
• Check Ownership: Be cautious if the website does not clearly identify the company or operator behind the sportsbook.
• Regulatory Concerns: Check whether the operator has been subject to warnings, enforcement action or other serious regulatory issues.

Priority blacklisted sportsbooks

Our priority blacklist highlights sportsbooks associated with significant payment concerns, restrictive withdrawal policies, financial failures or regulatory enforcement. These include active operators with reported withdrawal issues and historical brands whose closure or legal proceedings affected customers. We assess the seriousness of the available evidence, distinguishing confirmed regulatory findings from unverified player complaints.

Sportsbook.com

• Main concern: Historical withdrawal delays, account freezes and disputes over rules used to void winnings.
• Current status: Sportsbook.com is a historical brand associated with Sportsbook.ag, whose services remain accessible.
• Related brands / aliases: Sportsbook.ag; historically associated with Jazette Enterprises.
• Supporting evidence: Trustpilot reviews of Sportsbook.ag include a March 2025 allegation of unsuccessful cryptocurrency withdrawals and a March 2022 review describing slow payments alongside otherwise positive customer experiences. These are individual customer accounts, not independently verified findings.

Sportsbook.com has a historical association with Sportsbook.ag, which has received customer complaints involving payment processing and withdrawal difficulties. While some players have reported problems accessing their funds, others have described more positive experiences with the service.

These individual reports do not establish widespread payment failures, but they raise concerns about payout reliability. We recommend caution and encourage bettors to verify the current operator's identity, withdrawal conditions and payment reputation before depositing funds. Historical complaints should not automatically be attributed to a different present-day operating company.

BetPhoenix

• Main concern: Restrictive sportsbook withdrawal conditions, management discretion over payouts, and account restrictions affecting customers classified as non-recreational bettors.
• Current status: BetPhoenix.ag operates sportsbook and casino services.
• Related brands / aliases: BetPhoenix; BetPhoenix.ag; historically BetPhoenix.com.
• Supporting evidence: BetPhoenix's published withdrawal rules require management approval, establish a maximum withdrawal amount of $4,000 within seven days, and allow lower individual payout limits. Its house rules also permit restrictions on accounts classified as non-recreational bettors. These are contractual conditions, not findings of misconduct.

BetPhoenix offers sportsbook and casino services, but its published withdrawal policies raise concerns about the flexibility and predictability of customer payouts. The operator requires customers to contact support to request withdrawals and complete applicable rollover requirements before receiving payment.

These conditions may make it more difficult for customers to anticipate when and how they can access their funds, particularly those classified as non-recreational bettors. While such contractual restrictions do not establish misconduct or systematic non-payment, we consider them important factors when evaluating the operator's suitability for recommendation.

Oddsmaker

• Main concern: Historical allegations of withheld winnings and account restrictions affecting successful bettors.
• Current status: Oddsmaker.ag remains accessible, with recent customer complaints about delayed or unpaid withdrawals.
• Related brands / aliases: OddsMaker; Oddsmaker.ag; historically Oddsmaker.com.
• Supporting evidence: Trustpilot reviews from May to August 2026 include allegations of unpaid winnings and withdrawal difficulties. These are unverified customer reports, not regulatory findings.

Oddsmaker has a history of customer complaints involving withdrawal delays, withheld winnings and account restrictions affecting successful bettors. More recent reports suggest that payment reliability remains a concern. In a Trustpilot review dated August 13, 2026, one customer claimed that a $1,000 withdrawal requested in July 2024 remained unpaid. Another review, published July 12, 2026, alleged approximately $17,000 in outstanding winnings.

Although these allegations have not been independently verified, the combination of historical concerns and recent complaints raises questions about Oddsmaker's payment reliability. We recommend avoiding the sportsbook because customers should be able to withdraw legitimate winnings without unreasonable delays or restrictions. While Oddsmaker.ag remains accessible, this does not confirm that outstanding disputes have been resolved.

BetIslands

• Main concern: Sportsbook closure following financial difficulties, with substantial customer balances reportedly unpaid.
• Current status: Closed since December 2012.
• Related brands / aliases: BetIslands; BetIslands.ag.
• Historical incident: December 2012 sportsbook collapse.
• Supporting evidence: Player discussions from December 2012 raised concerns about unpaid withdrawals and BetIslands' financial stability.

BetIslands was a Costa Rica-based sportsbook that collapsed in December 2012 after reportedly losing its financial backing. Before its closure, players reported withdrawal delays and difficulties accessing their funds. These complaints raised concerns about whether the operator had sufficient resources to meet its financial obligations.

We include BetIslands on our sportsbook blacklist because its collapse highlights the risks of keeping money with financially unstable betting operators. Unlike an ordinary withdrawal delay, a sportsbook closure can leave customers with limited options for recovering their balances. Although BetIslands is no longer operational, its history serves as a reminder of the importance of payment reliability and financial transparency when choosing a sportsbook.

BetOnSports

• • Main concern: Federal racketeering proceedings, misleading licensing claims alleged by US authorities, and regulatory action involving customer funds.
  • Current status: Closed following federal enforcement action in 2006.
  • Related brands / aliases: BetonSports; BetonSports.com; BetonSports PLC.
  • Historical incidents: July 2006 federal enforcement action and May 2007 corporate guilty plea.
  • Supporting evidence: A US Department of Justice announcement from July 2006 details the federal indictment and action involving customer funds. US congressional records document the company's subsequent guilty plea.

BetOnSports was a major online sportsbook that became the subject of federal enforcement proceedings in July 2006. US authorities accused the company and associated individuals of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud. Prosecutors also alleged that BetonSports.com misleadingly promoted itself as a legal and licensed sportsbook. These accusations formed part of the indictment and should be distinguished from the company's subsequent guilty plea.

The enforcement action directly affected customers. Federal authorities sought to stop the operator from accepting US wagers and required action concerning funds held in customer betting accounts. BetonSports PLC pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy in May 2007. We retain BetOnSports on our historical blacklist because its documented legal proceedings highlight the importance of verifiable licensing, regulatory compliance and customer fund protection. The operator is no longer active.

Historical operator and regulatory changes

Not every sportsbook that closes, changes its name or loses a licence should automatically be treated as a globally unsafe operator. We also track historical changes that may affect where a sportsbook can legally operate or which company is responsible for customer accounts.

188Bet: Market withdrawal and subsequent rebrand

188Bet stopped serving the UK and Irish markets in March 2019. Its international brand subsequently underwent further changes. In a company announcement published by GlobeNewswire on 28 July 2025, CyberArena stated that 188BET had rebranded to taptap effective 1 July 2025. The announcement also said that existing account credentials, balances and playing histories would remain intact.

We do not treat the UK market withdrawal or the later rebrand as evidence that the operator withheld winnings or mistreated customers. Bettors considering the successor platform should independently check the current operating company, applicable licence and withdrawal terms. Without stronger evidence of sportsbook-specific misconduct, these business changes do not justify placing 188Bet among our highest-priority blacklist cases.

Bet-at-home: Suspension of its former British licence

On 7 July 2022, the UK Gambling Commission suspended the operating licence of bet-at-home.com Internet Limited, citing suspected failures involving social responsibility and anti-money laundering requirements. The notice concerned licence number 039091-R-319322-006 and expressly stated that customers could still access their accounts and withdraw funds during the suspension.

The company subsequently surrendered its British licence and left that market. This regulatory action concerned the former British licensee, not a finding that every international bet-at-home operation had committed the same violations. The wider group continued operating elsewhere. Its 2026 financial reporting identifies Germany and Austria as core markets.

We advise British bettors not to regard bet-at-home as a currently UKGC-licensed sportsbook. The 2022 suspension is a significant part of its regulatory history, but it does not independently prove present-day withdrawal failures or misconduct across the international group. A broader blacklist recommendation would require additional evidence linked to the relevant operating company and jurisdiction.

Other blacklisted sportsbooks

Our wider sportsbook blacklist includes active operators, closed betting sites and historical brand names associated with previous concerns. We distinguish confirmed closures from blacklist recommendations and mark uncertain identities for further review. Some older entries may refer to alternate domain names or spelling variations rather than separate operators. We retain historical entries where their identity and supporting evidence are established, but we do not treat a name change, closure or rebrand alone as proof of misconduct.

How we decide which sportsbooks to blacklist

OSB may blacklist or avoid recommending a sportsbook based on a number of factors, such as licensing problems, regulatory action, payment or withdrawal issues, misleading terms, player complaints or security concerns. We also consider findings from our own experience and testing, where available, alongside official records and independent third-party reports.

When deciding whether to blacklist a sportsbook, we look at the overall pattern and seriousness of the available information rather than relying on a single isolated complaint. We also consider when the issues occurred, whether they have been resolved, and whether they concern the current operator, a former licensee or a related business.

How we review the blacklist

OSB periodically reviews our blacklist and updates it when there are significant changes, such as operator closures, rebrands, ownership changes, regulatory developments, or significant new evidence.

How we evaluate sportsbooks

OSB's blacklist is separate from our regular sportsbook ranking and review process.

Serious concerns involving safety, licensing, payments, or player protection influence how we evaluate sportsbooks and determine which operators we recommend.

Report a sportsbook issue

We welcome feedback from readers, particularly when they have serious concerns about a sportsbook. This could include withdrawal problems, licensing concerns, misleading terms, closures, or rebrands.

OSB always reviews submitted information before making changes to the page or updating the blacklist.

You can report a sportsbook issue through our contact page.