Remind me . . .

jjgold · 09-25-06, 06:44 PM

I thought the BoDog shading was to the sucker side, favs usually inflated.

pags11 · 09-26-06, 03:46 AM

true JJ...but from my experience there, there does seem to be a bit of a lean to the sharp side of games...as they make you pay -115 usually for that side...

Jay Edgar · 09-26-06, 09:39 AM

Thanks for the responses, JJ and Pags.

I think what Pags is saying is that they try to entice action to a side (presumably, the 'square' side) by offering a lower juice number on a pointspread that is not particularly competitive for that side.

For example (the example that triggered my post) , yesterday while the first half total in most places was at 21.5 or 22, this line was up for a minute or two at Bodog:

O 23 +120
U 23 -140

Pags' translation would be that the under was the sharp side and that Bodog was trying to entice action on the over.

(This story does not have a happy ending. I liked the under but -140 was too steep and I would have needed to get money back into Bodog anyway. Took under 22 at -105 elsewhere. The personal foul and 51 yd FG at the halftime gun pushed the total to 23.)

Justin7 · 09-26-06, 11:00 AM

BoDog has the "Square line" listed on livelines. This typically inflates the total and the spread slightly. If you make two bets on the "wrong" side (underdog or under), they will give you the sharp line. This still has value sometimes, but nowhere near what is listed.

koko · 09-26-06, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by Justin7

BoDog has the "Square line" listed on livelines. This typically inflates the total and the spread slightly. If you make two bets on the "wrong" side (underdog or under), they will give you the sharp line. This still has value sometimes, but nowhere near what is listed.

Is there any chance that SBR live lines could replace the square lines with the sharp ones? Afterall anyone using the Live Line is already getting the sharp lines at Bodog.

tacomax · 09-26-06, 11:59 AM

Calvin Ayre, founder of Bodog.com, one of the world's biggest sports books, says that computers at his Costa Rican site identify each bettor and then personalize the odds. Such player profiling cannot occur in the legal sports books in Las Vegas because those casinos publish their lines in newspapers. Ayre says the individual odds are nothing more than a high-tech version of the traditional bookie's practice of taking advantage of, say, a Philadelphian's emotional tendency to bet on the Eagles. "They have the choice to take our offer or the other side," or to go to another site, Ayre says.

koko · 09-26-06, 12:07 PM

I saw that quote too. If Bodog does do that, I can't believe he would tell the world that he's doing it.

Also, from comparing notes with some of my sports betting buddies, we are all getting the same lines.

I could totally see a bookie charging players that always bet the same team regardless of the line an extra half to full point. If I kept book, I'd do it.

But a guy taking book in a bar doesn't have to worry about his customer base getting on line an comparing the lines they each got. Could you imagine what would happen to Bodog's customer base if it found out (or thought) they were paying more to bet on their favorite teams?

tacomax · 09-26-06, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by koko

But a guy taking book in a bar doesn't have to worry about his customer base getting on line an comparing the lines they each got. Could you imagine what would happen to Bodog's customer base if it found out (or thought) they were paying more to bet on their favorite teams?

It fits in with their player profile, that's why they do it and that's why they can get away with it.

gummo · 09-26-06, 06:23 PM

On the game tonight, bodog has the line at -6.5 -115 but halftime has stayed at -3 -125. Kinda strange.

pags11 · 09-27-06, 04:14 AM

jay,

that's 100% correct...

gummo · 10-11-06, 03:37 PM

Just got this email from them.

As a valued client who has bought points this football season, we would like to provide notice that we have made a risk management decision to no longer offer the option to buy points on NFL, NBA or NCAA spreads. We have not offered this option on the majority of our football games this season. The majority of our player base chooses to use teasers to adjust lines.

In light of feedback we have received over the past couple of seasons, we will now focus on posting fewer off-standard lines. (We have used off-standard lines in the past as a line management tool.) We hope this renewed focus will make betting easier for the majority of our player base, which comprises recreational players.

We hope that as an experienced player you understand that these decisions will make Bodog a stronger sportsbook and will allow us to accept your wagers well into the future.

These changes will go into effect on Oct. 12, 2006. If you have any questions, please contact us at sports@bodog.com.

Best Regards,

The Bodog Sportsbook

moses millsap · 10-11-06, 10:23 PM

Originally posted by gummo

Just got this email from them.

As a valued client who has bought points this football season, we would like to provide notice that we have made a risk management decision to no longer offer the option to buy points on NFL, NBA or NCAA spreads. We have not offered this option on the majority of our football games this season. The majority of our player base chooses to use teasers to adjust lines.

In light of feedback we have received over the past couple of seasons, we will now focus on posting fewer off-standard lines. (We have used off-standard lines in the past as a line management tool.) We hope this renewed focus will make betting easier for the majority of our player base, which comprises recreational players.

We hope that as an experienced player you understand that these decisions will make Bodog a stronger sportsbook and will allow us to accept your wagers well into the future.

These changes will go into effect on Oct. 12, 2006. If you have any questions, please contact us at sports@bodog.com.

Best Regards,

The Bodog Sportsbook

I got that same email, I guess they weren't happy with me buying points on games like Utah State this weekend or any of the games where Pinny doesn't have the drop down menu option available.