How do I collect on a debt from a bookie?


I appreciate you taking the time to share that with me. I’ve prepared your answer with your concerns in mind. Please take your time reviewing it, and if anything is unclear or you have more questions, just let me know. I’m here to help.
I want you to consider a few alternatives:
- I'd begin with a demand letter. In it you make a demand, include a deadline and make clear you're ready to take legal action. This letter can lead to settlement and otherwise can be used later in court.
- You can also sue. You can file a summons and complaint with the Court clerk, who can provide the paperwork.
- In this situation, I would consider using a lawyer on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement is often a win-win with no downside as the lawyer is only paid from any final recovery.
- Proceed as a class action where others defrauded/not paid.
- Police report.
Does all of that make sense to you?
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I spoke with a lawyer about a debt that a bookie owes me. He claimed that he has sued bookies in a civil court using RICO statutes. Unfortunately, he is not responding anymore. I want to know about any knowledge around the subject.

I understand your concern about the debt owed to you by the bookie. Have you consulted with any other lawyers regarding this matter?

Not in an official setting. Only through text to someone I know to be a lawyer.

Can you provide more details about the specific interactions you had with the lawyer who mentioned suing bookies in civil court using RICO statutes?

He is someone who posted on social media that he had done this in the past. So I asked him how he was able to sue someone. He gave me the information about using RICO and that's it.

Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with RICO statutes.

No

Hello, My name is Daniel, and I’ve been a licensed lawyer for over 21 years. I'm truly sorry you're going through this, and I'll do my best to provide clear answers and address your questions with care. To get started and better understand your situation, I have a couple of quick questions.
1. How much are you owed?
2. When was the money due?
3. Are you aware of others also owed money?

1. Owed $22,210.27.
2. Money was requested in March of 2023.
3. I am aware of others and have been in contact with 3-5, though it has been some time since I had contact with them.

Okay, thank you. Is there anything else you'd like me to consider about this situation?

I'm not exactly sure what might be relevant. But to give some additional info, I do semi-professional sports betting on the side. So the bookie gave a number of reasons for not paying me out, which ranged from varying my bet sizes too much all the way to betting on lower league sports. I communicated with them on a few occasions after being blocked.
He attempts to maintain an anonymous profile, but I was able to figure out the primary party. He lives in California, while I live in Texas. Let me know if there are any other pertinent details that I can provide.

Please bear with me as I'm working on your answer. Thank you for your patience.

I appreciate you taking the time to share that with me. I’ve prepared your answer with your concerns in mind. Please take your time reviewing it, and if anything is unclear or you have more questions, just let me know. I’m here to help.
I want you to consider a few alternatives:
- I'd begin with a demand letter. In it you make a demand, include a deadline and make clear you're ready to take legal action. This letter can lead to settlement and otherwise can be used later in court.
- You can also sue. You can file a summons and complaint with the Court clerk, who can provide the paperwork.
- In this situation, I would consider using a lawyer on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement is often a win-win with no downside as the lawyer is only paid from any final recovery.
- Proceed as a class action where others defrauded/not paid.
- Police report.
Does all of that make sense to you?

Ok, I did send a demand letter when this first happened. That did not lead anywhere.

When it comes to the summons and complaint, what kind of court am I filing this with?

I would file in the state court where the defendant is located. You can hire using www.avvo.com. I want to make sure the answer is clear and that you fully understand it. If you have any follow-up questions or need clarification, please feel free to ask. Otherwise, if everything makes sense, just reply with “all set.” Thank you!

I would like to use a lawyer, but honestly, I have not found many who advertise this kind of service. If I were to try a lawyer, would it be better to find someone in California where the other party lives? Or in Texas where I live?

Best where defendant lives and ideally on commission basis. Wishing you all the best, and I look forward to helping again whenever you need it.