OLBG Forum to close down?

[Shrews]

Hi Colin,

Discord is invite-only which we are putting out in stages.

I am not sure you fully understand when we are talking about hackers and the forum, we are not talking about people posting on the forums, not talking about people under fake numbers claiming prizes, we are talking about the coding of the forum, the stuff behind the forum that no one sees, the nuts and bolts which run the forum. Reducing the size of the forum would make no difference, it's the coding which is problematic and as we have found out is a way in for the hackers, a way they can flood the site and make the site non-operational otherwise known as cyberattacks and it's all coming through the forum.

We are happy to see so many already over on Discord and have a look around, it's a great site and others so much and actually offers members much more flexibility over there too, don't forget any questions be sure to ask!

It's not a great site, it's an awful site. A backward step, actually a backward leap.

Messageboards operate all over the world, the vast majority of which have much more sensitive and controversial subjects than OLBG, and therefore more susceptible towards drawing in negative attention. These forums seem to control their hacking attempts without feeling the need to jump ship to an alternative forum. An adequate defence of these things is just part and parcel of setting up a forum. The bad-guy-cyber-crime-hackers are out there and they WILL attempt to attack Discord too, the problem will not go away just by switching providers. And if you don't have that adequate protection then they'll find a way in, just as they seem to have done here.

All you are doing is running from the problem, but they will catch up, and you will just have the same issue all over again.

I would suggest you take a look at the defences you have here. Are you maxing out on protection or trying to do it on the cheap? Do you have people in control of your defences who are capable or incompetent? etc. Switching provider depreciates the OLBG brand, the cosmetics and the depth. It's radical, needless, and amateurish. The quality of the brand is all important.

If this is seen as a positive move, then the days are numbered I am afraid. That is a shame, because it's been part of the betting community for 25 years. Established.

"Let's beat the bookies" - such a great slogan, and the lead to what the brand is. But you don't beat the bookies unless you have the discussion to do that. A collection of hobbyist tipsters posting to win a competition does not achieve that. Inviting in discussion, where people discuss these things, based around a competition, DOES help to 'beat the bookies'.

That needs embracing and encouraging to ensure the brand stays strong. As an absolute base minimum that means somewhere where they can go to do that - the platform if you like. Then after you get the platform right you provide the encouragement to go there and contribute. Up to now the platform has been good, the encouragement weak. Dismissive and negative, based around "people don't want messageboards nowadays, they like Twitter" - what absolute nonsense! There are messageboards out there thriving.

OLBG here has an opportunity here not to be aloof and to actually listen. Discord is NOT the answer. Instead get it right here, in its current form, and then build it up again. Encourage people to contribute more, not just take from the competition. Or just scrap that slogan and have a rethink of what OLBG is and rebrand completely.

[meoldmate]

What Shrews is saying is correct, through and through.

OLBG stands for On line betting guide, what it may stand for now OLBG One Lost Betting Grid.

I know it is the nuts and bolts that hackers love to get into, their are male ware setups that can secure against these things happening, Banks have setups in place and more than likely you have with payment policies for paying out winners, security is in line there.
Hackers will get in anywhere they wish, we have to be on our guard all the time.

Yes the site was hacked last year for a few days, trojan horses etc had to be removed, Cyber technology is on the up, tech boys can react quick and fast, I believe OLBG backroom staff who work with Invendium Ltd, you are apart of will have the technical staff to follow this through.

If security is not tight, bring a company in like IBM to make it tight, no need to move to another web setup that you will be paying a premium for

[racingformstudy]

May I ask something and I might be a bit naive or silly for asking this

How much does it cost to keep the site running per year and the security andd that up to date. I assume it is yearly?

Now instead of moving to Discord which I agree with Shrews is a pile of rubbish from what ive seen

Would you be able to charge users of the site a yearly sum to keep OLBG going. Even if we could pay it monthly or every 3 months. I know its meant to be free but its one thing I can think of doing

The other is to do a poll to see what members actually want because at the end of the day if it does move to Discord a lot of people will go elsewhere or maybe someone can make a new forum I dont know but it would be a shame to lose OLBG

[Mike N]

May I ask something and I might be a bit naive or silly for asking this

How much does it cost to keep the site running per year and the security andd that up to date. I assume it is yearly?

Now instead of moving to Discord which I agree with Shrews is a pile of rubbish from what ive seen

Would you be able to charge users of the site a yearly sum to keep OLBG going. Even if we could pay it monthly or every 3 months. I know its meant to be free but its one thing I can think of doing

The other is to do a poll to see what members actually want because at the end of the day if it does move to Discord a lot of people will go elsewhere or maybe someone can make a new forum I dont know but it would be a shame to lose OLBG

I wouldn't pay to use a racing forum to type opinions in a forum. If I had to pay I wouldn't use it.

I would agree with others that OLBG need to tighten security in order to keep the site going, Cyber-type attacks are part and parcel of the online world, they can't keep closing sites down every time there is a problem.

[racingformstudy]

Hi Mike

Thats why I asked. I dont know how much it costs to run this site or for the security. But you are right in the fact you cant run away every time there is some sort of cyber attack etc I agree there

As for paying I wasnt sure thats why I suggested even make a donation towards making OLBG extra secure would be something

You just have to look at the bigger picture and see all the online banks and other big firms that get hacked etc they just increase their security system.

I dont pretend to know much about it because I dont I leave it to the people that do and have done on here for a number of years now.

I dont know if you have looked at Discord i joined it and to be honest if it does go there I wont be staying. As much as I respect peoples opinions on horse racing and other sports I think OLBG will lose a lot of people

Lets hope something can be sorted out

[Grittar82]

I'm with Mike N on this, while a forum is a good place to exchange ideas and views on topics (racing in this case). I just don't think paying for it is justify, besides which money might be tight. I'm just a causal user when the Grand National entries are announced in early February until the actual race as when I joined here it was called The Grand National Blog, even though it's format was really a forum.

I was part of a forum a few years ago, the was only 3 to 4 people taking part, so really small but friendly then changed my laptop and lost my login details so that was the end of that.

While the people on here are friendly and the a few ideas I'd use to form opinions on horseracing, and I would like the chance to form new opinions, I'm sorry for the forum's closure. Maybe it's time for me to move on.

[meoldmate]

Grittar I remember you from way back, forum discussion page had many importers, good to see you are still around.

I agree with you and Mike, would not pay to add my information on here, I do not pay for tips and I do not expect to be paid for my tips written up on the discussion page, not on.

It is annoying such a powerful site as OLBG with thousands of members not just in this country but others all of sudden have issues with hackers, twice last year along with individuals letting loose on the threads with rubbish.
We are on this site with the knowledge that we could be open to cyber attacks, this is our own risk, once we open any web pages, of course we all have our own security.

Thousands use OLBG as I mentioned how many will desert OLBG with discussion pages on various sports. Is this what OLBG want.

Because OLBG is now living up to they are highlighting at the bottom of the page with ABOUT US, I am loyal to this site as members see with eighteen years in service and looking at a pension afterwards

I will give this Discord a go, as we will not get a choice, as it will say take it or leave it.( I have not been invited yet, might not get an invite now)

I have to agree with Shrews, movement of half of this site is either make money by selling onto Discord or someone getting a bonus for sounding out a good idea. Of course us members will be told nothing to do with you, move on.

What I cannot get around my head why the competitions are staying using the same security and why the rest of the nuts and bolts of the site are not under this same control.

Everything has a life cycle, mid you with what is going on elsewhere in this world, our life cycle could questioned.

[racingformstudy]

Hi Meoldmate

I should have probably said nothing about a payment as you know my views like yours on paying for selections. I do it to win people money and because unlike some people I have time on my hands.

It was never my intention when I said about paying for OLBG , I just thought , rightly or wrongly x amount per head could upgrade security but as I have also stated how many sites come under cyber attack nowadays? This is the first time I have known about a racing one I maybe wrong probably am

It will be a shame to see a lot of knowledgable people leave as not everyone will go to Discord. As you say if thats what whoever owns/runs the site thinks is best then so be it. I went onto Discord to have a look but am sorry I for one dont like it one bit.

Maybe as others have said its time to look elsewhere or set up your own telegram account or email people with selections

What is the solution I dont know but its 2023 surely the security should have been upgraded on a constant basis.But thats nothing to do with me I just do selections and have some fun with the tipping comps

[meoldmate]

racingformstudy I understand what you mean, we as the community of OLBG that bring the threads to life, will more than likely drift into the dark mass, which may not be with Discord.

I have down loaded this and signed in, every time, I come on Nitro wants me to sign up, each time I click the exit button. This is what is going to happen with members who sign in with OLBG, we get all the widgets that we do not want in the first place, which is not there with OLBG due to being secured, now we are heading into the unknown with Discord like Facebook can be hacked.

Only a few days ago and we will be lost to the unknown, with OLBG community managers washing there hands of us.

What ever happen to Nigel, he had the site firmly in place.

OLBG Tipster Competitions

Betting Site Titles missing
Casinos
Slots
Tips
Strategy
Blogs
News
School
Forum

Would not be shocked to find the Comps moved over to Discord in six months.

[Seymour Winners]

Just adding my ten penneth here.
Maybe I am missing something, but I really do not see an issue? Admittedly I am not too bright when it comes to technology, so this Discord caper, I am not really sure what it entails.
However, "The Forum" keeps being mentioned.......I will be honest, as a regular visitor to the Forum, I very rarely see ANYTHING being debated or discussed. All I see is people putting up their betting tips and giving reasons why Horse A will win. I rarely see things being discussed at length, such as the Whip debate or the current betting industry debacle regarding proof of earnings, etc etc.
I would be an active contributor if there were lively debates, but there is not. Betting tips and reasons for betting can be viewed in the Competition section, in which I post daily, as do a lot of other members. So I am trying to see what the potential downside is here? All a member has to do is go to the competition section and view what other members have picked, they do not need to access Discord for that.
Personally, in my opinion the Owners can choose to do what they want..its their business. They have always paid me, on time, every time I have made a few bob on the tips.
I have only been a member for a couple of years, so I do not know what is was like years ago, maybe it does not compare favourably and maybe old farts like me are getting left behind, but honestly I think there has been an over reaction to this news.

[meoldmate]

I agree with you concerning debates Seymour Winners, I am guilty of putting up tips, also I have put up several points, that members who read, never come on and put in there points. I am not the only one who has put up issues, never get replies from any members that play the comps.

I also agree, management with OLBG will do what they want, no concern of ours. Yes payment is always good, plus you can read all the tips with members put over and can be answered with Yes and No, which to be honest, could be reading more No’s than yes, some of those tips have very good points and warrants following.

We have seen OLBG rise to great heights with sponsorship of races, then come down the line with alterations.

I honestly think, OLBG look to be down sizing, where this other site can be used for security and getting rid of bankroom staff that are not required.

Maybe we are moaning for the sake of things, with something that has been there and no longer will be, unless going to Discord.
Every time I put up OLBG get a load of rubbish, with games etc.

We will no need to discuss things, as Discord will be doing the answering and not general management, that are here and been helpful, always.

[TeddyT]

I honestly think, OLBG look to be down sizing, where this other site can be used for security and getting rid of bankroom staff that are not required.

We are definitely not downsizing. We have tried over and over again to open up threads for discussion and no one replies. Let's hope some more people want to actually get involved when we move over.