By checking this box you accept the Terms and Conditions.Terms and Conditions. BetCris.com Costa Rica International Sports (CRIS or BetCRIS.com) is a renowned sports betting industry Leader since 1985. The fact that they have been around since 1985 lets you know that they.
BetCRIS.com is a popular online betting site well known in Spanish speaking markets. They have significant offline presence in the form of multiple casinos, sports clubs, or betting shops in Mexico, Venezuela, and Panama with a smaller brick and mortar presence in other countries as well. Although they're best known today for the version of football played with one's foot, their roots are tied to the other sport called football (gridiron). Back in 1994, shortly after America's top bookie Ronald Sacco was arrested, his former crew was recruited by a man named Harry Craft. Together Mr. Craft and what was left of Sacco's operation set up shop in Costa Rica under the name Costa Rica International Sportsbook (CRIS).
Where the Line Originates
Only months after settling in Costa Rica, in 1995 the higher ups at CRIS decided to take a major risk. As one the largest shops with about 4% market share in the US alone, they began questioning 'what if we could beat Las Vegas to the punch?' The group then hired talented handicappers to try something no bookie had dared since Gary Austin Sportsbook failed. These handicappers would give their opinion of what they believed the correct point spread should be for each NFL football game. Less than a year later they perfected their model well enough to start posting odds a full 24 hours before Las Vegas. This process was repeated for other sports and before long bookies that used to have agents on standby at all major Nevada sportsbook, now simply needed to be on the phone with CRIS at the time odds opened for NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, MLB and NHL.
Ron Sacco and CRIS
Although he was in prison at the time, it was widely known during the 1990's that CRIS was established by the former crew of America's top Bookie Ronald 'The Cigar' Sacco. After earning many millions by leveraging his outstanding reputation, CRIS made good when Sacco was released from prison on May 15, 1998. Although on supervised release at the time – he believed Costa Rica was non-extraditable for bookmaking and similar crimes. Most likely using a fake passport, he fled there and took on a consultant position with CRIS which was the equivalent of a top executive roll. The success CRIS experienced with his name, face and voice now truly behind the brand was amazing. For detailed information read our article on Ron Sacco – the Cigar.
BetCRIS.com Launches
BetCRIS receives a lot of attention as being the first, but keep in mind this only applies to 'offshore betting targeting the US via call centers'. Intertops was the first sportsbook, and many other sites such as BetMaker, WSEX, Sportsbook.com, VIP, Pinnacle Sports etc. were all online before CRIS. When they do come online though, BetCRIS spared no expense when launching their first interactive betting website in March 2000. This website branded with the words 'our motto is we can't pay you fast enough' and it featured an endorsement from Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, the man depicted by Robert De Niro in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film ‘Casino'. It was actually Lefty who first coined the saying 'where the line originates' when referring to CRIS. The company later decided on that as their website tagline.
CRIS also had the mentality they wanted to take on the world. Although United States media portrayed CRIS as a US operation using Costa Rica as a safe haven, true to their name Costa Rica International Sportsbook the company has always been global. In February 2001 a Chinese version of BetCRIS was launched at chinesegambler.com, and over the next couple years a half dozen additional sites would open targeting Norway, Sweden as well as Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries.
BetCRIS Marketing Boost
Oddly enough it was Ron 'Cigar' Sacco getting arrested in Costa Rica in March 2002 that helped put BetCRIS on the map with recreational sports gamblers. Although true Costa Rica was virtually non-extraditable for bookmaking and similar crimes – Sacco was caught having two passports and eventually as a result was deported to the United States on the Fourth of July in 2002. During his plea, details of the BetCRIS operation were released in court documents – which were soon used by gambling portals to help market how safe and secure a gambling website www.betcris.com truly was.
These documents showed that even though their founder Harry Craft was apprehended in the United States in 1998 and convicted for running his earlier Santa Monica operation, the CRIS brand never skipped a beat. It pointed out that today (March 2003) Costa Rican International Sports is a legally licensed and legitimate Costa Rican corporation that pays all required taxes and fees, and is run by a president, vice-president, general manager, corporate counsel, supervisors and has some 140 employees. It furthered showed their operation was divided into separate departments which were the wagering department, marketing department, finance, Asian operation and European operations.
Live Cricket Betting
Considering for many years the US authorities and media had portrayed the 'Sacco operation' as the America's largest bookmaking organizations that illegally booked hundreds of millions of dollars in bets per month (billions per year), BetCRIS.com was now an easy sell. Here you could point out this was the largest gambling website in the world, and even though numerous associates have been indicted, arrested and convicted, including unique heads of their operation in 1998, and 2002 – this company has NEVER missed a payout. When you wager with most bookies you need to worry 'will they pay?', 'what will happen if they get busted?', while wagering with BetCRIS.com your money is safer than it would be wagering with a Nevada sportsbook. Of course, that later part is a stretch, but at the time many websites did point out the occasions where legally licensed Las Vegas sportsbook went bust and couldn't pay back their post-up phone account bank, or cash winning tickets once they closed.
BetCRIS Paints the Story
During the 1980's and 1990's Ron Sacco appeared on popular television shows (including 60-minutes), was discussed in magazines, had books written about him and with him now apprehended in the US there was no shortage of media attention in 2003. Rather than distancing themselves from their former employee who was being charged, as most corporations would, BetCRIS embraced it. Advertisements featuring a burning cigar were used and their about us page was written to claim they've been a leader in sports betting since 1985. CRIS has always lived up to his reputation and standards, so I guess how much involvement Sacco truly had in their brand was irrelevant. During much of 2003 though, they used the media attention for all it was worth. While previously using a flashy homepage, the new homepage was a letter signed by John Melton (most likely an alias) which read:
We at Costa Rica International Sports have redesigned our website to reflect our reputation in the industry. We are a straight forward sports book with no flashy graphics and no BS. Our competitors know CRIS as 'Where the line originates', because most will not make a move before we do and our customers know CRIS for our company motto, 'We can't pay you fast enough'. Everyone knows CRIS was the first offshore sports book to open in the mid 1980's and not one player has ever been kicked out for winning. That's a track record no one can match!!!
We invite you to join the world's oldest and respected sports book and if you want to take a break from the sports action check out our poker room and casino. Also, don't forget to enter our loyalty program to qualify for our prizes and bonuses. Contact one of our online representatives if you have any questions or comments.
Thanks
John Melton
This was the first time the claim 'not one player has ever been kicked out for winning' was ever made, and when the Ron Sacco media hype stopped it was what CRIS pushed and became known for. This was a site where winning bettors could wager $10,000, $20,000 or even $40,000 on an NFL side win at a huge clip and still not be banned. CRIS further showed their dominance from 2003 to 2006 when they bailed out a good 80% of sportsbooks that failed during those years.
Cris Betting
BetCRIS Acquisitions and Bailouts
One of the first sportsbooks to set up offshore was Diamond Sports International, now operating at www.betdsi.com (more about them in our article on BetDSI.com history). This once reputable sportsbooks ran into major financial struggles in 2002, which start with a dispute between owners. When the dispute was settled new management was hired to run the brand, but then a dispute between management and ownership started. By early 2003, everything was shambles. Perhaps not profitable to do at the time for most – CRIS was thinking 'long term'. They ended giving major financing to this brand for a share of equity, which including leasing them a small 40 desk spot in their building, full use of their software, support and other facilities as needed in exchange for equity profit sharing. Had it not been for this, players would have been stiffed as even salary to employees was well past due.
Perhaps seeing the response this got on forums relieved CRIS had bailed them out – this is became a routine thing for CRIS, though future bailed out brands were generally, but not always, shutdown and migrated to www.betcris.com. Some of the many sportsbooks CRIS bailed out between 2003 and 2006 include Option Sports, Get More Sports, ASAP Sports, Rich Coast Sports and TCBets. In these cases bettors would have been have stiffed had CRIS not come to the rescue making good on player's balances.
BetCRIS.com Closes to the US
On March 1, 2007 all US players had their BetCRIS account migrated to Bookmaker (now operating at www.bookmaker.eu). This is a brand CRIS had acquired when purchasing the BetMaker group in August 2006. The plan going forward was for CRIS to focus on the European market while Bookmaker was their US brand. This is how it worked for a while, until late-2010 when BetCRIS and Bookmaker separated entirely. Today Bookmaker accepts players from all over the globe still operating from the old BetCRIS office in Costa Rica, while the new BetCRIS is licensed in Malta and has some form of 'legal physical presence' in Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Panama, Brasil, Panama, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras and Rwanda. Their website is extremely popular in many Spanish speaking countries and they are one of top brick and mortar betting shops in Venezuela.
Today BetCRIS is about 'legal' sports betting. For the continued history of their US operation which dates back to operation started by Ron 'The Cigar' Sacco in 1985 that was once managed by Tony Ballestrasse and Marisa Lankester refer to our article on the history of bookmaker.eu.
Mobile App for Android
Unlike other online bookmakers, Betcris does not have a mobile app. However, they rely on their mobile website optimisation to allow users from all over the world to access the website.
Unlike apps, the mobile site version is a convenient choice. It does not need download and installation, and it does not take up a lot of space from a device. That's why Betcris chose to focus on optimising their mobile website instead of creating a mobile app.
The mobile site version has the same design and colour theme of blue and white as the desktop version. Although the desktop version's layout is neat and organised, the mobile site version's layout is even more well-ordered as it has been optimised for mobile use.
What's great is that most of the features on the desktop version are available on the mobile site version. With this, players won't have to worry about missing out on anything while using the mobile website.
Mobile App for iOS
The website doesn't also have an iOS mobile app. So if you have an Apple device, you have to go to your mobile browser and search for the official mobile website of Betcris to access the exciting features of this betting company.
Most of the features on the desktop version can be accessed on the mobile site version, so the latter is basically just the mobile version of the desktop version, sharing the same features. Although it's not an app, it has the same quality as that of one. It functions smoothly, loads quickly, and doesn't lag.
Mobile Site Version
If there's one thing that can describe Betcris, it is mobile-friendly. It is optimised to make it easier for players to experience good quality casino gaming and sports betting.
Appearance-wise, the mobile website version comes with a simple design. There are no unnecessary fancy animations. It comes with a colour theme of white and blue to make promotions more visible for players. Plus, it is designed with a layout that is specially designed to fit the size of smaller screens.
Mobile Site Features
Aside from its simplistic design, the website also houses several useful features that players can enjoy. For one, players can choose from 10 different languages to use on the site. Although most of its users are Spanish, Betcris also makes sure to cater to the needs of other players who use different languages. These language options include Español, English, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai, Tagalog, Khmer, Vietnamese, Russian, and Korean.
Another feature to take note of is the live betting on sporting events that are televised. This feature allows players to bet on their favourite sports events while they are going on live. What's more, this live betting feature is offered on an easy-to-use web interface.
The website also comes with a highly-secured system. This system is designed to maintain privacy as well as the safety of all players from all around the globe. In fact, a part of this system includes country restriction which heightens the company's level of security. If you can't access the website from your country, that means you are not eligible to register to the site. Another security measure used by the website is the players' personal verification process. In this process, a player will be asked to submit documents as proof of identity.
Betcris' mobile site version has more features to offer, and all these features guarantee the quality of the gaming experience and the safety of each player.
Mobile Sports Betting
Although the Betcris offers casino games, it is predominantly a sports betting website. It provides at least 14 sports markets to choose from. The sportsbook has separated its racebook to make it easier for players to place their bets.
In the sportsbook, you can see that the sports markets are ranked from the most popular down to the least popular ones. Many players often bet on basketball, football, and tennis. For basketball games, Betcris offers wagers for Euro League, NBA, and other championships. You can see these wagers once you register on the website.
For the football market, there is a wide array of football championships ranging from Argentinean to Brazilian to European leagues. The sportsbook also offers bets for national, international, and club competitions such as the Copa Libertadores, Europe League, World Cup, and the UEFA Championships.
Betcris do not offer a very high level of margin, which is usually 5-6%.
Moreover, aside from sports betting, Betcris also offers bets for eSports. The bookmaker usually specifies the time and name of the teams that will be playing. They don't often add other details.
Aside from their sports betting market, they also offer other surreal betting events. They even accept bets on the exact time of a hurricane to landfall in the USA. This had caused a significant uproar against the American government. They also offered bets on Fidel Castro's time of death.
Www.betcris.com
Mobile Bonuses
The website offers several types of promotions for its users to choose from. New players can receive a 25% Welcome Bonus worth of up to US$300 USD. In this bonus, players are asked to deposit at least US$50. This bonus will be credited as free play credits to your account. Thus, it will not be included as a part of real money. Nevertheless, you need to wager the welcome bonus at least 4 times before you can withdraw your winnings.
Vegas for newbies. You can also avail of the other bookmaker's offers which are available for the registered players. There is no specific mobile promotion, but players can activate every bonus code of BetCRIS which is available for customers.
System Requirements and Compatibility
The mobile website version of Betcris is mobile-friendly. This means that it is compatible with just about any device or any operating system.
Here are some examples of compatible devices:
- Samsung S8
- Samsung S9
- Samsung Galaxy Tablets
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 8
- Huawei P20/P10
Payment Methods
Betcris offers a wide array of payment methods for players to choose from when they withdraw and deposit cash into their account. These methods are often processed within 24 hours. Before you deposit or withdraw money, make sure that you check out the tables below for their minimum and maximum deposits. In this way, you will be guided when you make these transactions.
| Payment Method | Deposit Minimum | Deposit Maximum | Time for Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | $25 | $999 | Instant |
| Bank Wire Transfer | $2500 | no limit | 1-3 days |
| Neteller | $25 | $10 000 | Instant |
| Skrill | $25 | $10 000 | Instant |
| Paysafe Card | $1 | $1000 | Instant |
| EcoPayz | $25 | $1000 | Instant |
| MasterCard | $25 | $999 | Instant |
| Bitcoin | $50 | $50 000 | 24 hours |
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Minimum | Withdrawal Maximum | Time for Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | |||
| Bank Wire Transfer | |||
| Neteller | $25 | $25 000 | 24 hours |
| Skrill | $25 | $25 000 | 24 hours |
| Paysafe Card | |||
| EcoPayz | $100 | $1000 | 24 hours |
| MasterCard | |||
| Bitcoin | $100 | $50 000 | 24 hours |
All Withdrawal Methods: EcoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin
Mobile Bonuses
The website offers several types of promotions for its users to choose from. New players can receive a 25% Welcome Bonus worth of up to US$300 USD. In this bonus, players are asked to deposit at least US$50. This bonus will be credited as free play credits to your account. Thus, it will not be included as a part of real money. Nevertheless, you need to wager the welcome bonus at least 4 times before you can withdraw your winnings.
Vegas for newbies. You can also avail of the other bookmaker's offers which are available for the registered players. There is no specific mobile promotion, but players can activate every bonus code of BetCRIS which is available for customers.
System Requirements and Compatibility
The mobile website version of Betcris is mobile-friendly. This means that it is compatible with just about any device or any operating system.
Here are some examples of compatible devices:
- Samsung S8
- Samsung S9
- Samsung Galaxy Tablets
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 8
- Huawei P20/P10
Payment Methods
Betcris offers a wide array of payment methods for players to choose from when they withdraw and deposit cash into their account. These methods are often processed within 24 hours. Before you deposit or withdraw money, make sure that you check out the tables below for their minimum and maximum deposits. In this way, you will be guided when you make these transactions.
| Payment Method | Deposit Minimum | Deposit Maximum | Time for Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | $25 | $999 | Instant |
| Bank Wire Transfer | $2500 | no limit | 1-3 days |
| Neteller | $25 | $10 000 | Instant |
| Skrill | $25 | $10 000 | Instant |
| Paysafe Card | $1 | $1000 | Instant |
| EcoPayz | $25 | $1000 | Instant |
| MasterCard | $25 | $999 | Instant |
| Bitcoin | $50 | $50 000 | 24 hours |
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Minimum | Withdrawal Maximum | Time for Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | |||
| Bank Wire Transfer | |||
| Neteller | $25 | $25 000 | 24 hours |
| Skrill | $25 | $25 000 | 24 hours |
| Paysafe Card | |||
| EcoPayz | $100 | $1000 | 24 hours |
| MasterCard | |||
| Bitcoin | $100 | $50 000 | 24 hours |
All Withdrawal Methods: EcoPayz, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin
FAQs
If you want to know more details about Betcris, read on for the frequently asked questions below:
As one of the security methods of the website, you need to verify your account. The company aims to protect the identity of the players against fraud. You can verify your account by simply submitting the required documents. If you are unsure of these documents, you can ask for a list of acceptable IDs and other proof of identity to verify your account. If you failed to verify your account, you would not be able to withdraw any of your winnings.
Is the mobile website version similar to the desktop version?
Yes, they are just the same. Whatever you see on the desktop version is similar to what you see on the mobile site version. Software developers have optimised the website to make it mobile-friendly and user-friendly. You will be able to play and bet on any market with either of the two versions.
No, there is no mobile app version of the website. However, the website is mobile-optimised. Players can still enjoy placing their bets via the web browser of their mobile devices.
Are there special bonuses that I can get when I register via the mobile site version?
No, there are no special bonuses when you register via the mobile site version. You will get the same bonuses that you see on the desktop version. However, you can choose from these bonuses. Make sure that you follow the requirements for you to withdraw your winnings when you have completed the bonus.
No, you can place your bets anytime. The mobile site version is available 24/7, alongside its customer support service. This allows players to place their bets on the best markets once they are opened on the website.
Can I cancel my bets during the middle of the game?
No, you cannot cancel any bets made in the middle of the event. That's why it's important for you to make sure that your bets are final before you place them to avoid cancellation. If you cancel your bets, you will not receive refunds of any form.
What happens if I can't see my country on the list of countries in the registration?
It means that you are not eligible to join betcris.com. The country restriction is one of the security measures undertaken by the website to ensure the security of the players. Players from the US, the UK, and the Netherlands are not eligible to register to betcris.com.
Company Information
Betcris is one of the most popular betting sites in the Spanish market. The company was able to build a good reputation over the years before they have started creating an online betting website. They were able to put several casinos, betting shops, and sports centres throughout Mexico, Venezuela, and Panama. Aside from these countries, they were also able to build their reputation across the world with their online betting website.
The company may have a very long history in recreational gambling, but it was only in 1994 when Betcris was created. It was found after Ronald Saco was arrested. Saco used to be one of the best bookmakers in the US then. He was the main reason for the great beginning of the company. During his arrest, he left the whole operation to his former crew, Harry Craft. Craft and the remaining team members of Saco's crew started to create a shop in Costa Rica and named it as Costa Rica International Sportsbook (CRIS).
Since then, Saco and his team were able to create a more prominent name in the recreational gambling industry. They were able to develop betcris.com. Thus, they were able to hit the global market with the first Chinese version of the website which was launched in 2001.
Now, the website is not popular only with its desktop website but with the mobile version too. It is available for both Android and iOS devices, without the need for any download. Find out more information below.
Conclusion and Rating
Betcris.com is an online betting site that is secure and safe for players who wish to enjoy recreational gambling. It may not have a mobile app, but it has a mobile site version that makes up for what it lacks.
This mobile website version is simple and easy to access. It has a strict registration process to ensure the safety of the players. It is an excellent starting website for inexperienced players. It's user-friendly and easy to work around.
