How will gambling forums, stat sites and lines services fare?

[SBR_John]

I would think very poorly. There may be some consolidation and deals but they will be cram-down deals. These sites in the beginning were very inexpensive to operate. Mods did it as a hobby. Hosting was next to nothing and operators didn’t worry about content. Then competition heated up and suddenly you needed contests and stats and lines and writers and professional mods.

Sponsorship for these type of websites has all but gone the way of the dodo bird. There will always be suspect books wanting some exposure. But the top books and mid tier books have signaled they not only will not be reupping they want off. Exposure is suddenly not good. We had a book “demand” we take off “accepts US players” recently. Of course we didn’t but the example illustrates the new thinking.

SBR will continue contests but will not involve sportsbooks because if we did we have been advised we would need to prohibit US citizens.

I would think most sites will try to weather the storm but it won’t be easy.

[onlooker]

How are the Las Vegas sponsors coming along John? What about some of those Atlantic City casinos? Or them ones down South?

[SBR_John]

How are the Las Vegas sponsors coming along John? What about some of those Atlantic City casinos? Or them ones down South?

I think we are doing a decent job but its a slow process. Also, these type of forum sites do not offer the value that they would to an offshore sportsbook. In other words the revenue you could expect from say a Biloxi casino advertising their casino would only bring in a fraction compared to an offshore sportsbook.

[tacomax]

How will gambling forums, stat sites and lines services fare?

Just ask jjgold - I'm sure he has the information available.

[bigboydan]

We had a book “demand” we take off “accepts US players” recently. Of course we didn’t but the example illustrates the new thinking.

Now thats going overboard on the books part IMO

The book might be at risk, but as long as there not part of one of the stock exchanges and don't step foot on U.S. soil there fine.

[bookie]

There are still a lot of US residents who want to bet online and will put up with some hassle to be able to do so. Therefore there is a market for information about how to arrange access to sports wagering with the greatest security and the least hassle. Therefore there will be third parties with expertise providing this information.

It will be interesting to see what bussiness model takes hold of the new circumstances to supply the market.

[pags11]

I just never thought it'd come to this...

[jjgold]

I already see a major slowdown in forums, line services will be a hard sell unless price is like $50 a month, just no demand anymore for it.

A site like Covers will always be huge

[Korchnoi]

Well i'm a degenerate 10-posts-a-day, constantly-reading-the-forum-addict. As soon as I get my last cash in hand, I'm retiring for a good while.

Considering taking up turntables, chess (again), bridge, go, or dominoes. Perhaps some charity work. Perhaps meeting a lady friend. Perhaps meeting a girl while spinning at a (chess) club running a fundraiser for the inner-city domino club.

[jjgold]

Yeh a lady is the way to go, I have cut down posting because not much to write about anymore.

Not many books to play at anymore and very few funding methods so it is like when we 1st started.

Really not much to gain posting or reading forums now.

[SBR_John]

Well i'm a degenerate 10-posts-a-day, constantly-reading-the-forum-addict. As soon as I get my last cash in hand, I'm retiring for a good while.

Considering taking up turntables, chess (again), bridge, go, or dominoes. Perhaps some charity work. Perhaps meeting a lady friend. Perhaps meeting a girl while spinning at a (chess) club running a fundraiser for the inner-city domino club.

Great plan! I'm going to give my golf game some extra time. I still like capping a game and bellying up to the bar. But, there are other things to do out there than cap and bet.

[Korchnoi]

Great plan! I'm going to give my golf game some extra time. I still like capping a game and bellying up to the bar. But, there are other things to do out there than cap and bet.

In fairness, it took me until about junior year in college to kick my addiction to the Princeton Review message boards...