Best Online Sportsbook ( You Make It )

[smoothsuave]

Alright fellas, everyone is always saying this is the best sportsbook, no that is the best one. So why don't we post what we like from all existing sportbooks and what we would like to have from sportbooks ( Being realistic ) and Maybe a sportsbook or someone will give the gamblers what they really want. Be descriptive/detailed as possible.

[jay88]

Interesting post... Why isn't anybody posting maybe their dream will come true...

[why]

Pinnacle, Bet Trojan, for lines
RichCoastSports for Customer Service
BetGameDay for action points that are turned into cash
Oly and 5dimes options for betting
Canbet for live chat

[smoothsuave]

What about incentives, such as Betcris giving you a pager on a $1000 dollar deposit.
I like having a pager on gameday, especially if you cannot/are not watching the game.

I seen the actual service provided by the company and I would probably not get it do to the cost, but I think there are better things that they could get instead of a pager. I am sure they have something worked out with the company to make it cheaper, but they could do the same with other company such as.
Sirius satellite radio or something comparable (cost would be close, but really would blow away a pager all together, live updates on scores and you could listen to the game.
I think nice incentives like that can beat close comparisons with other sportsbooks.

[pags11]

pinnaclesports.com
bodog.com
betcris.com

[BuddyBear]

Pinnacle and Sportsinteraction

[jay88]

What exactly would you want from a sportsbook to be the top for you. ( Being realistic )

[Ganchrow]

What exactly would you want from a sportsbook to be the top for you. ( Being realistic )

1. 100% of deposited and at-risk funds either fully insured or held in escrow
2. Tight markets (let's say -105 or better)
3. Overnight lines
4. Fast website with accurately reported lines
5. High limits that are not cut for sharp players/A willingness to take all action
6. A proven record of prompt, hassle-free payouts
7. All policies clearly laid out in writing and the prompt communication of any changes thereof
8. A stated agreement to fully submit to SBR arbitration in the case of player disputes
9. A 24-hour customer service department that is able to expediently handle all reasonable inquiries

[Ganchrow]

And as nod to Jay and BetOnStars I'll also add:

10. A book manager who is readily available to the community to answer questions and offer opinions about gambling in general and his book in particular.

[jay88]

1. 100% of deposited and at-risk funds either fully insured or held in escrow
2. Tight markets (let's say -105 or better)
3. Overnight lines
4. Fast website with accurately reported lines
5. High limits that are not cut for sharp players/A willingness to take all action
6. A proven record of prompt, hassle-free payouts
7. All policies clearly laid out in writing and the prompt communication of any changes thereof
8. A stated agreement to fully submit to SBR arbitration in the case of player disputes
9. A 24-hour customer service department that is able to expediently handle all reasonable inquiries

Great keep them coming!!!

[Max Levine]

1. 100% of deposited and at-risk funds either fully insured or held in escrow
2. Tight markets (let's say -105 or better)
3. Overnight lines
4. Fast website with accurately reported lines
5. High limits that are not cut for sharp players/A willingness to take all action
6. A proven record of prompt, hassle-free payouts
7. All policies clearly laid out in writing and the prompt communication of any changes thereof
8. A stated agreement to fully submit to SBR arbitration in the case of player disputes
9. A 24-hour customer service department that is able to expediently handle all reasonable inquiries
10. A book manager who is readily available to the community to answer questions and offer opinions about gambling in general and his book in particular.

What else could I add. Ganchrow's list is exhaustive.

Max

[jay88]

And as nod to Jay and BetOnStars I'll also add:

10. A book manager who is readily available to the community to answer questions and offer opinions about gambling in general and his book in particular.

Appreciate a lot your comment. Now as far as your post.

100% of deposited and at-risk funds either fully insured or held in escrow

-Could be done but you would have to consider that when you request a payout you would have to wait much longer for the sportsbook to be albe to send the money.

Tight markets (let's say -105 or better)

- If you consider that the sportsbook makes money out of the juice only sportsbook with really high volumes or that like to risk a lot can offer that. (we are actually planning to do it only on fridays, we are studying the risks involved.)

Overnight lines

- Easily done. Anybody with a night shifter can have them up. (we do)

Fast website with accurately reported lines

- Up to internet connection and sometimes climate.

High limits that are not cut for sharp players/A willingness to take all action

- Not going to happen with us at least not during this season and few sportsbook that I know allow it. Gambling is a business and personally being an avarage gambler myself I'd rather play somewhere were limits are strong on wise guys. Any wise guy with lots of money could brake any sportsbook at any time no matter how big the sportsbook is, if the gambler limits are not cut. If a player with $5000 can get his balance up to $50,000 in a week just imagine what could happen with a player with $500,000 in his account. Even a pinnacle or cris would get really hurt.

A proven record of prompt, hassle-free payouts

- Not a problem. Most of the time you guys read too many posts of gamblers crying over a payout, when maybe the gambler still hasn’t met the restrictions on his bonus or is doing something fishy. Most sportsbook wont hassle in sending a payout because we all know that once a customer gets paid promptly he comes back.

All policies clearly laid out in writing and the prompt communication of any changes there of

-The basic policies are all the same for everybody. The only polocies that might change are bonus restrictions and limits.

A stated agreement to fully submit to SBR arbitration in the case of player disputes

- Don’t see any problem with that… I personally trust Bill Dozer decisions as long as he is willing to listen to the sportsbook side of the story.

A 24-hour customer service department that is able to expediently handle all reasonable inquiries

- Almost everybody has it.

A book manager who is readily available to the community to answer questions and offer opinions about gambling in general and his book in particular.

- Here I am… LOL!!! Most medium sportsbook will have a really personalized service. The problem comes when you go to huge books where they can’t take care in a personalized way more than 2000 customers.

[jay88]

Most of the stuff you are asking for are not that difficult to find in the industry... There are many medium size sportsbook that can offer all of that and more. It all depends what type of player you are, what sports you like to bet on and what limits do you need. The problem is that if you are a big player most places will cut your limits if you start winning a lot.

[Ganchrow]

100% of deposited and at-risk funds either fully insured or held in escrow
-Could be done but you would have to consider that when you request a payout you would have to wait much longer for the sportsbook to be albe to send the money.

Well, that's where a book's own operating capital should come in to play. That being said, asking a book to keep 100% of deposited funds in escrow is certainly rather onerous. Verifiably holding all deposits in cash or cash equivalents is essentially just as good.

A proven record of prompt, hassle-free payouts
- Not a problem. Most of the time you guys read too many posts of gamblers crying over a payout, when maybe the gambler still hasn’t met the restrictions on his bonus or is doing something fishy. Most sportsbook wont hassle in sending a payout because we all know that once a customer gets paid promptly he comes back.

Perhaps you're right regarding the culpability of players in slow-pay situations. Regardless, I believe prompt, hassle-free payouts should be the rule and not the exception.

A stated agreement to fully submit to SBR arbitration in the case of player disputes
- Don’t see any problem with that… I personally trust Bill Dozer decisions as long as he is willing to listen to the sportsbook side of the story.

If he weren't it wouldn't truly be arbitration. The point is in the (hopefully rare) case of irreconcilable differences, a book needs to agree to submit the judgment of some an knowledgable and impartial individual or group of individuals -- whether its Bill Dozer, Roberto, Judge Judy, or the US Supreme Court is somewhat irrelevant.

It's clear by most of your answers that you're trying to cater to the recereational player, and in fact you have stated as much numerous times. And of course there's nothing wrong with that. Clearly a recreational player's needs are rather different from those of a more "dedicated" player. It's all about serving your niche.

While I highly doubt I personally will be playing with you guys any time soon, it does seem to me that you're certainly doing what you can to provide a strong, customer-friendly product for the strictly recreational player. Get your SBR rating up a bit and I might even start recommending you. And of course continuing to post here won't hurt either.

But just be careful of those bonus hunters. They really can take a bite out of you. Keep your lines sharp and your rollovers high. Best of luck.

[jay88]

The SBR rating is up to Bill and the SBR team. I'm sure that little by little we'll go up. I hope to be out of the D books ASAP but I understand that we need to give time to Bill to proove to him that we deserve it.

[rm18]

Well this question doesn't really work in some ways because if you try to combine the best aspects of pinnacle, bodog, and 5dimes for example, that book would be great to make money at but wold go bankrupt, playing at alot of different books to serve different niches is the way to go.

[mad]

Good post rm,
Better off doing one thing really well, than ten things half assed!

[Bill Dozer]

Well this question doesn't really work in some ways because if you try to combine the best aspects of pinnacle, bodog, and 5dimes for example, that book would be great to make money at but wold go bankrupt, playing at alot of different books to serve different niches is the way to go.

Good post.

Players often have a hard time understanding why a book can't offer a 20% 1-3x roll and bases dimelines and overnights.

Books have to pick and choose which perks they want to run with. The BMs that switch back and fourth are like cars switching to whatever lane is moving. They get their slower.

[pags11]

great thread here...