April 5, 2003 -- A pair of CBS employees with inside information on the network's hit reality show "Survivor" used that knowledge to place winning bets on an Internet gambling site, according to the shocking claims of the betting-services owners.
A spokesman for the Costa Rica-based BoDog.com said that at least two CBS workers won $35,000 by picking the winning contestants from two seasons of the show and also placed bets on the most recent contest, "Survivor: The Amazon."
The alleged employees were spotted by site security because they gambled only on "Survivor," instead of placing numerous wagers on sporting events as do most site clients.
They also stood out because of their supernatural clairvoyance, said spokesman Lance Bradley.
"We never expected someone would take advantage of this in this way, he said. It [the "Survivor" betting] was just supposed to be an extra entertainment for our hard-core betters."
Bradley would not reveal the identity of the alleged insider bettors, although he said one was in a "production role."
He also said that BoDog has not contacted CBS officials or instigated any legal action to reclaim the $35,000 allegedly lost.
The network yesterday seemed to downplay the offshore gambling site's claims.
"Only ‘The X-Files' has more conspiracy theories than ‘Survivor,' " said network spokesman Chris Ender.
Ender said the network had not heard directly from BoDog and knew nothing more of the allegations than they learned from the media.
He would not say if CBS is investigating the claims.
Bradley said BoDog concluded the pair were CBS employees by using an Internet search to find documents linking them to the network.
He said that the site also has suspicions about four other bettors, who may either be additional employees or aliases used by the suspects.
Bradley said one of the employees made a successful $1,000 bet at 8-1 odds on the winner of "Survivor: Marquesas."
Show officials said such wagers skewed the odds for the site's "Survivor" betting, driving other gamblers away.
BoDog.com has consequently stopped offering to take bets on the pre-taped show and was forced to refund all bets placed on the most recent show.
A spokesman for the Costa Rica-based BoDog.com said that at least two CBS workers won $35,000 by picking the winning contestants from two seasons of the show and also placed bets on the most recent contest, "Survivor: The Amazon."
The alleged employees were spotted by site security because they gambled only on "Survivor," instead of placing numerous wagers on sporting events as do most site clients.
They also stood out because of their supernatural clairvoyance, said spokesman Lance Bradley.
"We never expected someone would take advantage of this in this way, he said. It [the "Survivor" betting] was just supposed to be an extra entertainment for our hard-core betters."
Bradley would not reveal the identity of the alleged insider bettors, although he said one was in a "production role."
He also said that BoDog has not contacted CBS officials or instigated any legal action to reclaim the $35,000 allegedly lost.
The network yesterday seemed to downplay the offshore gambling site's claims.
"Only ‘The X-Files' has more conspiracy theories than ‘Survivor,' " said network spokesman Chris Ender.
Ender said the network had not heard directly from BoDog and knew nothing more of the allegations than they learned from the media.
He would not say if CBS is investigating the claims.
Bradley said BoDog concluded the pair were CBS employees by using an Internet search to find documents linking them to the network.
He said that the site also has suspicions about four other bettors, who may either be additional employees or aliases used by the suspects.
Bradley said one of the employees made a successful $1,000 bet at 8-1 odds on the winner of "Survivor: Marquesas."
Show officials said such wagers skewed the odds for the site's "Survivor" betting, driving other gamblers away.
BoDog.com has consequently stopped offering to take bets on the pre-taped show and was forced to refund all bets placed on the most recent show.
