Almost 20 years after being forced out of the US, BetCris is back on the scene.
A deal with Plannatech and the San Carlos Apache Tribal Gaming Enterprise has allowed BetCris to launch its online sportsbook in Arizona. This marks the first time BetCris will take bets in the US since being forced out in 2007. Bettors in the Copper State can now access the app and begin placing wagers.
Long before sports betting became legal in the US, BetCris was one of the most popular offshore sportsbooks available. The sportsbook used a loophole to operate in the so-called “grey market,” which is still active today.
BetCris’s success in the US ended in 2007 when the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act became law. https://aq999gameapp.com/This act banned banking transactions to gambling sites, preventing customers from funding or withdrawing from their accounts. As a result, the operator opted to withdraw from the market instead of risking legal action.
The BetCris brand’s voluntary departure is partly why it is back in the market, this time as a regulated sportsbook.
Operators have often used Arizona to test their ability to compete. The crowded market has seen many new operators fail, ending hopes for expansion. The feeling is that if you can compete there, you can in most other US markets.
BetCris choosing to only launch in Arizona isn’t by accident. While new to regulated sports betting, many veteran bettors may remember the once-popular platform. The sportsbook’s performance in a test market will help the operator learn just how much cache their brand still has in the US.
The grey sports betting market has been a hot topic over the last year. Many states have issued cease-and-desist letters to unregulated offshore sportsbooks, threatening federal legal action if they don’t shut down their platforms. Most of those operators have complied with these requests, accepting the cut in revenue as an alternative to a dangerous legal battle.
One of the most prominent books to be banned is Bovada. The global brand has a massive legitimate gambling platform, which includes sports betting. Some were surprised when operators so readily agreed to begin exiting US markets, but it appears the company may have been following BetCris’s lead.
With Bovada complying, they could possibly begin pursuing licenses in US markets. BetCris entering Arizona shows that it can be done, and Bovada has already developed into a popular brand in the country. Time will tell if the operator decides to https://aq999gameapp.com/transition to the regulated market.
