Major Bookmaker Pinnacle Exits The US Market

Published: Thursday, January 11, 2007 Online-Casinos.com

RESPECTED INTERNET SPORTS BETTING SITE EXITS US MARKET

Onling sports gambling site Pinnacle reluctantly pulls the plug....

Internet sports betters were taken unpleasantly by surprise this week by the news that after almost eight years of US operations, Pinnacle Sports has fallen victim to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and has decided to exit the American market.

Splashed across the landing page of the popular sportsbook Thursday was the following message:

"Effective Immediately...

"After careful consideration, Pinnacle Sports has chosen to voluntarily exit the U.S. market. Accordingly, wagers will no longer be accepted from clients within the U.S. as of Thursday, January 11, 2007.

"Those clients who are affected will be required to withdraw their balances using the cashier of their account. We assure all our clients your balances are available and Pinnacle will continue providing our international clients our same great value."






Pinnacle, which is respected in the sportsbook sector and carries "A" ratings from influential sportsbook guides like Sportsbook Review, was founded in 1998 and in a short time grew to be one of the leading international sportsbooks, with thousands of satisfied customers from over 100 countries. The operation took pride in its ability to handle high margin operators and give gamblers attractive rates, boasting 105 style pricing 50 percent better value than many of its competitors and depending on a low margin business model with cash rebates.

Licensed in Curacao, the sportsbook handled a large range of sports action with professional skill and efficiency, maintaining sufficient reserve funds in a secure and seperate account to cover deposits and winnings of players.

Sportsbook Review, which rated Pinnacle Sports an A+, described the operation thus: "There are currently no equals that can compare to Pinnacle Sports in the categories of; promptness of payouts,value of betting lines and email response times. Additionally, Pinnacle Sports customer service department was awarded the Sportsbook Review 2004 Excellence Award. With the addition of Pinnacle Racebook's 7% rebate along with lines of -105, Sportsbook Review recommends that players takeadvantage of a one of a kind sportsbook and play at A+ rated Pinnacle Sports.

The timing of the exit will be painful for both players and Pinnacle, with only the six play-off games and the Superbowl left in the NFL season.