Matchbook liquidity

**Shonner** · 09-27-10, 05:40 PM

Actually, many of the sharp posters around here would say it is harder to make money at Matchbook because they have the most fairly efficient market, meaning...if you are looking for +EV opportunities you won't get any.

I personally disagree with this theory but there is much evidence to support it.

**roasthawg** · 09-27-10, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by Shonner

Actually, many of the sharp posters around here would say it is harder to make money at Matchbook because they have the most fairly efficient market, meaning...if you are looking for +EV opportunities you won't get any.

I personally disagree with this theory but there is much evidence to support it.

No way, there no vig lines are usually the sharpest but their vig is also usually the lowest making them a must have book.

**Shonner** · 09-27-10, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by roasthawg

No way, there no vig lines are usually the sharpest but their vig is also usually the lowest making them a must have book.

Again, I disagree with it.

**magynuck** · 09-27-10, 07:15 PM

can usually find a better price elsewhere on the side i want to bet on

**brumbies** · 09-28-10, 12:18 AM

Three things that I hate about Matchbook are:

1) The currency used is US dollars. For international users, the daily fluctuating currency exchange rates kinda defeat the purpose of using the book, since the money you saved on the vig is then spent on the rates conversion.

2) Tthere's a 3.5% fee when depositing. I know it is reimbursed in the form of commission credits but other good books like Betjm does not charge any fees. I hate it when for example I deposited $200. My balance would read $193.

3) There are no line movements in the market it seems. If it is -2.5 Pittsburgh, it stays at that number. Only the odds change. You can't buy points at all.

**Kevy** · 09-28-10, 02:28 AM

good thread

**JohnAnthony** · 09-28-10, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by Kevy

good thread

Yep. Very on topic.

**andywend** · 09-28-10, 05:18 AM

[COLOR=#000000 !important]

[COLOR=#000000 !important]Three things that I hate about Matchbook are:[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]1) The currency used is US dollars. For international users, the daily fluctuating currency exchange rates kinda defeat the purpose of using the book, since the money you saved on the vig is then spent on the rates conversion.[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]2) Tthere's a 3.5% fee when depositing. I know it is reimbursed in the form of commission credits but other good books like Betjm does not charge any fees. I hate it when for example I deposited $200. My balance would read $193.[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]3) There are no line movements in the market it seems. If it is -2.5 Pittsburgh, it stays at that number. Only the odds change. You can't buy points at all.

1. Matchbook is the U.S. version of England's BetFair. The site focuses on U.S. sports and caters to U.S. players.[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]2. If you want to avoid the commission credit problem, then do book-to-book transfers as Matchbook accepts transfers from just about every major sportsbook out there.[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]3. You can buy points via the alternative lines section as Matchbook is pretty good at keeping up with line movements (i.e. if a line moves from 1 1/2 to 3 points, you will generally find the -1 1/2, -2 and -2 1/2 option as well as the -3).[/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important][/color]
[COLOR=#000000 !important]3. [/color]
[/color]

I SURE DO HATE THESE DISGUSTING COLOR TAGS.

**wrongturn** · 09-28-10, 07:58 AM

Taking offers is just the half of what Matchbook provides. The other half is to make offers. So don't let the appearing "low" liquidity deter you from using it. You will be surprised that how many times your "great" offers are accepted by others.

**arwar** · 09-28-10, 08:42 AM

are they solvent?

**clarkacal** · 09-29-10, 12:33 AM

God I hope so I've got over 20k in there!

**brumbies** · 09-29-10, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by andywend

[COLOR=#000000 !important]1. Matchbook is the U.S. version of England's BetFair. The site focuses on U.S. sports and caters to U.S. players.[/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important][/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important]2. If you want to avoid the commission credit problem, then do book-to-book transfers as Matchbook accepts transfers from just about every major sportsbook out there.[/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important][/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important]3. You can buy points via the alternative lines section as Matchbook is pretty good at keeping up with line movements (i.e. if a line moves from 1 1/2 to 3 points, you will generally find the -1 1/2, -2 and -2 1/2 option as well as the -3).[/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important][/color] [COLOR=#000000 !important]3. [/color] [/color] I SURE DO HATE THESE DISGUSTING COLOR TAGS.

The problem is that book to book transfer requires a certain rollover before you are allowed to use that option.

**sharpcat** · 09-29-10, 01:37 PM

Matchbook is great if you are one of those types who likes to offer a team at -3 (-140) when everybody else has it at -3 (-110) and hope that some idiot bites on it.

It makes me sick when I look at the lines that are floating around at matchbook sometimes some of these guys putting up offers would rip off their grandmother giving the opportunity, you can rarely get a good price unless it is 1 hour before game time or you are putting up offers.

**Miz** · 09-30-10, 08:38 PM

3) There are no line movements in the market it seems. If it is -2.5 Pittsburgh, it stays at that number. Only the odds change. You can't buy points at all.

Not true at all. All you have to do is email them and request an alternate line. I do this all the time. If you wait a little while (usually 5 minutes or so), the line will be posted. Wait overnight and there will be a decent amount of action on either side of the line that you requested (depending on the sport of course). YOu might not get the 1 or 2 cent vig that I have become spoiled by, but you can get the line you want.

It also depends on how much you want to bet. You may need to put the offer out yourself and let people bet into you.

**Fishhead** · 10-01-10, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Shonner

Actually, many of the sharp posters around here would say it is harder to make money at Matchbook because they have the most fairly efficient market, meaning...if you are looking for +EV opportunities you won't get any.

I personally disagree with this theory but there is much evidence to support it.

You are right to disagree

I spend my entire days on Matchbook, and there are baskets full of +EV oppurtunities.

MATCHBOOK is a must and should be funded properly.

**Fishhead** · 10-01-10, 07:22 AM

Originally posted by sharpcat

Matchbook is great if you are one of those types who likes to offer a team at -3 (-140) when everybody else has it at -3 (-110) and hope that some idiot bites on it.

It makes me sick when I look at the lines that are floating around at matchbook sometimes some of these guys putting up offers would rip off their grandmother giving the opportunity, you can rarely get a good price unless it is 1 hour before game time or you are putting up offers.

**byronbb** · 10-01-10, 07:01 PM

Matchbook could be so much better though. Why not have a casino and poker room to give a bonus to squares, and have teaser and combo markets that we can seed?

**gags** · 10-01-10, 11:04 PM

I use Matchbook, Betfair and Pinnacle almost exclusively..
Anybody who checks the odds out on MB and on BF can plainly see that the liquidity on Matchbook is proprietary.

Here’s an example -Watch the NFL Moneylines. At Matchbook you will never have the ability to make money on a team that gets turned over midway through the game…if the Vikings are up 31-0 against Team X midway through the 2nd quarter, there won’t really be any betting opportunities on MB to make money from the Vikes. This is because the MB guys are accepting your bets. They have traders sitting there looking for opportunities to bet against you if they see an advantage. Just like the bookie, it’s not REAL In-play betting where you bet against others…

You will see way more opportunities at Betfair to make money in these types of situations and others. Of course some Betfair bettors have figured it out and will be waiting for you in the same way that the MB traders are waiting for you to place a bet at the wrong odds…

If a team is up by 31-0, bookies (or smart bettors) calculate a percentage of a comeback. The odds you see posted are derived from that percentage. The bookie adds their “juice” and that is the odd you see up on the board. What I’m trying to say is that most folks don’t go through all of the trouble of figuring this out and will simply place the bet at whatever odds they see on the board (within reason of course).

So “proprietary” in this sense means that you are betting against MB bookies not against other gamblers. For the most part you are betting against others like you on Betfair not against sharps or bookies.

I use Pinnacle because the odds are sometimes better than the exchanges. Both Pinny and Betfair are like a bank. I think MB is based in Curacao and I heard that the owner is someplace in Vancouver – maybe he even runs it from there – not sure. Anyway, I don’t keep large sums in MB and I have bet limits at Pinny. No limits at BF, (obviously) and my account will never be closed down if I win there

**QQPALLADIUM** · 10-02-10, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by clarkacal

Matchbook seems to be a great book and over time looks to make you a lot more money. I'm relatively new to online sportsbetting and I'm really dissapointed in the liquidity there for college football in particular though.

There seems to be almost no market for the early and afternoon college games. Yesterday I noticed there was barely a market for one particular nfl game. Did it used to be much better and is this a continuing trend?

MB needs to offer 1 game at a time to increase the trading in game...whatever the national game is...when you have too many games listed you just get those who sit around all day looking for someone to make a mistake or they post reverse lines....i only trade the big games sat night ncaa, snf, mnf, etc)...but as always pregame its the best...

**QQPALLADIUM** · 10-02-10, 06:54 PM

Originally posted by sharpcat

Matchbook is great if you are one of those types who likes to offer a team at -3 (-140) when everybody else has it at -3 (-110) and hope that some idiot bites on it.

It makes me sick when I look at the lines that are floating around at matchbook sometimes some of these guys putting up offers would rip off their grandmother giving the opportunity, you can rarely get a good price unless it is 1 hour before game time or you are putting up offers.

you can buy under 9.5 on bos/nyy at 5-5 at 95.0% ($418 worth)...i guess those "who spend all day on MB" have no real ability to make money and have to try and rip someone off...no moved to 96.0%..what a joke this is...and mb does nothing about it...they should ban this mofo...

**loyd** · 10-10-10, 05:01 AM

Originally posted by Miz

Not true at all. All you have to do is email them and request an alternate line.

you asking him to email to ask for lines while he can just click on a drop down menu on any other book? also if he does that then matchbook will be the counterpart and its nolonger an exchange.

**Firefox14** · 10-10-10, 10:23 AM

Just curious? If Matchbook is so good, why isn't it listed on sbr as top-rated, along with pinnacle, 5 dimes, Jamaica, etc.