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A group of customers owed money by Costa Rica-based Jazz Sports plan to take legal action in the U.S. against that company's former founder, an individually commonly referred only by his real first name, "Mike". In Costa Rica, he is often called "Barefoot Mike" for his insistence on not wearing any shoes.
Due diligence prior to the anticipated suit finds that the Mike agreed in 2019 to pay $1.1 million in back taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service, a debt that most certainly placed a financial burden on Jazz Sports.
Mike satisfied the 1.1M judgment on August 14, 2024.
The group of gamblers are hopeful they can settle their claims with this individual prior to filing their suit.
Jazz Sports, which first opened in 1994, has been mired in chaos in recent years. Several players have been owed five figure amounts, many of whom were told by the new owners they will not be getting paid.
Mike insisted to Gambling911.com he had sold the company two years ago but was removed "and stiffed" shortly thereafter.
Our sources in Costa Rica insist its all a bunch of smoke and mirrors.
"After looking into this more closely, it appears to be little more than a smoke-and-mirrors move.
"Jazz is still owned by the same principals and is being run by the same management and marketing team. Yes, Buckeye is managing the PPH side, but it is not clear whether this is simply a service agreement or some type of hybrid arrangement where they purchased a portion of the PPH package or are only providing operational support."
Buckeye is well known in Costa Rica for operating a Pay Per Head/sports betting service.
"It appears they made a deal with the Jazz owners to provide them with a PPH post-up solution at no cost for a period of time in exchange for a percentage of the PPH business.
"Buckeye has no ownership stake in Jazz," our source confirms. "They are simply the software provider. From what my own sources tell me, the owner, Lou (Robert Gurin), formerly of MyBookie and associated with G*** K*****, is still calling the shots. Day-to-day operations are reportedly being handled by Joe Criatta, a name some may remember from the BetIsland disaster several years ago involving him and SBR.
"Jazz was purchased 2 years and then run into the ground through poor management, yet the blame was shifted to the original owner by claiming they had bought a 'lemon'.
"The final act appears to be the story that the company was 'bought out again,' when in reality very little changed. That narrative seems to have been used as an excuse not to pay players with larger balances, while telling them that the new owners did not want their action and that they would need to contact the old ownership — which, in effect, appears to be the same people.
"Classic stiff the players , pad their pockets, blame on OLD ownership.. open a NEW sportsbooks .. but in this case used the same name."
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
