Instant Action Sports Review
Instant Action Sports (IAS) is a Costa Rican based bookmaker that opened its doors in 1997. As we mention on our reviews page, longevity in the offshore industry is usually indicative of a strong company, but that’s not always the case. Instant Action Sports is a perfect example of that. While the sportsbook is closing in on two decades of operation, most of their tenure has been mired in complaints and issues from bettors.
IAS has several connections to the defunct 24SportsWeb.com sportsbook, despite insisting they were a separate entity. Withdrawals from IAS were processed from the same Skrill account that matched up with 24SportsWeb shortly after the closure of the latter. Sportsbook Review reported that 24SportsWeb owed players $75,000 when they shut their doors.
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A Personal Opinion on Instant Action Sports
What We Like About Instant Action Sports
There isn’t much to like. While the US offshore industry is still a viable market for sports bettors, the market as a whole doesn’t compare to the regulated markets of Europe. The top sites are still excellent, but the lower tier sites servicing US players are often the bottom of the barrel. With that in mind, we would classify Instant Action Sports as one of these poor sites. They’re simply isn’t anything they’re offering players that is worth going after. This is particularly the case considering their payout woes.
The “good” news is here is that IAS isn’t a “deposit-only sportsbook”. Just don’t expect to be paid in a timely fashion. While they are still complaints being logged at watchdog sites like SBR, they seem to paying their new clients – eventually. Based on their alleged involvement with the 24SportsWeb debacle, how long will continue is a question depositors seriously need to consider.
What We Don’t Like About Instant Action Sports
Quite simply, they don’t pay players on time. There is a nearly endless list of slow-pay complaints coming from customers, who have become frustrated with cashier times and a limited number of methods for withdrawal. Even after players speak with support, the book still doesn’t come through with their agreed payment plan. More concerning, their withdrawal complaints aren’t just from US customers, where processing can be tougher. IAS has issues processing overseas payments to Neteller and MoneyBookers, which is a massive red flag.
Aside from the slow-pay complaints, one other glaring issue is that they are still operating at InstantActionSports.com and not .eu or different domain extension. The reason every online bookmaker worth their salt doesn’t operate from a .com is because sites hosted on .coms are vulnerable to US government domain seizure.
If they did get a larger following of players and became more prominently utilized, they would be a much greater risk of seizure. If the above wasn’t enough, their interface and backend are extremely outdated. While it all seems to function correctly, it’s terrible aesthetically.
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Instant Action Sports Bonuses
Small Bonus, Huge Rollover
IAS offers one of the smallest bonuses in online sports betting, especially in the US market. The bonus is simply a 100% match bonus up to $100 which will be credit in the form of a freeplay. Not only is this amount minuscule, but it also comes with an 8x rollover. This is one of the largest rollover rates online and immediately puts bettors at a disadvantage when it comes to profiting off this bonus. In comparison, most of our top rated sportsbooks offer much higher first-time deposit bonuses and rollovers around 3x.
They do offer some sort of VIP points redemption program, but the rules on this are foggy at best. Their conversion chart doesn’t explain how many points each bettor will receive depending on the amount bet. Even after they receive the freeplay bonus for their points, there’s still an attached 8x rollover as well. Instant Action Sports have several other seasonal promotions they offer depending on what time of year it is, but none of them are especially appetizing.
Instant Action Sports Review Highlights
Markets and Odds
While IAS accepts US players, they certainly have an international feel to their site. They aren’t relying on the US market for all of their business. This would be a good thing if they weren’t flooded with an endless stream of bad press when it comes to their withdrawal processing.
Aside from US-based markets like football, baseball, hockey, and basketball, IAS has a large list of soccer markets. This includes European leagues and title competitions, along with South American action. Other sports offered are tennis, golf, motor racing, fighting (boxing and mixed martial arts), horse racing, rugby, surfing, cycling and political wagering.
Those looking for extensive betting options should likely look elsewhere, however. While they offer parlays, teasers, if-bets and reverse, along with round-robin wagers – the oddsmakers here aren’t too imaginative. There’s no reduced juice or +EV parlays or teaser odds to take advantage of here.
There are some player and team props for sports like the NFL, but for the most part, options beyond sides, totals, moneylines and basic future wagers aren’t available for most sports. The same goes for live betting. Only straight wagers on sides, totals, and moneylines are available for live betting. This isn’t anything special, especially when you consider the how their below-average live betting interface.
Betting Limits
IAS offers $5,000 maximum wagers on NFL sides, but just about every other sport has $2,000 to $3,000 maximum bet on sides. Most totals and moneylines max out at around $1,000 or lower. Their somewhat large soccer markets have a pathetically low $250 maximum bet on both sides and totals.
Instant Action Sports Deposits and Withdrawals
They don’t have an extensive list of deposit options, but depositing via debit card, bank wire, or Western Union can be done relatively easily. These are standard options for the US market and are available at just about every sportsbook. They claim a 15 business day processing time for withdrawals, but we know this is far from the reality. These guys clearly can’t be trusted to process payouts quickly, hence the nearly endless list of slow-pay complaints. Worst of all, checks come with a $65 flat fee regardless of the amount.
Instant Action Sports Support
Support is offered via email, phone and live chat is available. From our experience, the live support was available most of the day and the staff was helpful in answering questions and setting up accounts. However, one of biggest issues players have with IAS is that they become unresponsive after customers inquire about their pending withdrawals. This shouldn’t come as a shock. Rogue bookmakers like IAS will often tell players whatever they want to hear to get their deposit through, but will offer little help once they happen to profit.
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Avoid Instant Action Sports Review Summary
Unless something changes, IAS is an easy avoid for sports bettors. Even if there were no complaints regarding withdrawals, there would be little reason to use this bookmaker. They don’t offer anything special concerning odds or bonuses, and their site and interface are outdated. With all the complaints coming in and their rumored history as 24SportsWeb, bettors should stay far away. One gets the feeling that the vultures are circling IAS, and the sportsbook may be on its last legs.