About that Matchbook rating

mavs1978 · 03-18-07, 04:46 AM

matchbook

i would agree with you.. i wondered that from the first time that i saw their rating.. i would have to think that financially they are A rated but b/c its an exchange it may have different criteria.. i like and believe the markets their to be much deeper than they appear.. could i please get your opinion of 5dimes?

thanks

Dark Horse · 03-18-07, 05:34 AM

This may sound overly simplistic, but these days I only bet with people (owners) who I would respect if a group of us were having dinner. If there are red flags in terms of trust and honor, I'm out, regardless of financial security.

In my -simplistic- model, employees reflect management, and if it is within my power I would rather not do business with the Almighty Himself, who also appears to go by the name of Tony:

http://forum.sbrforum.com/players-talk/22214-my-horror-5dimes-com.html?highlight=5+dimes+tony

But that's just me. 5Dimes has a high rating and funds are safe there.

jjgold · 03-18-07, 06:18 PM

wsex and matchbook should be the same exact rating

A's

Dark Horse · 03-18-07, 07:52 PM

I came to the same conclusion JJ. It doesn't make sense to have WSEX A+ and Matchbook B.

I don't think any book or exchange has received more positive feedback here, on this forum, in the new era (post-Pinny) than Matchbook. The only reported problems were some slow payments that were experienced across the board because of Neteller's f*ckups.

Would really appreciate if someone could explain.

pags11 · 03-19-07, 02:04 AM

I'm thinking at least an A- for matchbook...SBR has said they are too new, but they've done an excellent job serving players in a tough environment...

Dark Horse · 03-19-07, 03:03 AM

You're right. Second anniversary next month.

4/27/2005 10:32 PM
SBR initiates coverage of Matchbook at B-. Matchbook is a new betting exchange that is funded by the ownership of WSEX (SBR rating A). The exchange aims to offer the American sports bettor the ability to wager via peer-to-peer with the same ease of making a wager at a regular sportsbook. Matchbook has developed its own software and says they have focused on simplicity and functionality. Like all betting exchanges, the quality of the playing experience will be dependant on Matchbook’s ability to attract players and an active trading market. This operation is still in its infant stages.
Player funds are backed by the same investment group behind WSEX and players are able to make transfers between Matchbook and WSEX at no charge. However, Matchbook holds its own gaming license and has separate operational, customer service and management teams.

austintx05 · 03-19-07, 03:29 AM

what is the best method of deposit with them?

jjgold · 03-19-07, 06:17 AM

Book Transfer

Doug · 03-19-07, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

wsex and matchbook should be the same exact rating

A's

Agree, they are the same. What happens with one, will happen with the other.

jjgold · 03-19-07, 02:38 PM

I think the rating should be changed today to an A, if not all mods should be removed from their jobs.

pags11 · 03-19-07, 07:01 PM

atta boy jj...anymore youtube shows lately?...

durito · 05-03-07, 07:47 PM

Does SBR have an answer to this question yet?

I believe SBR John said a couple months ago that we should probably stick to the A- or better books. What does that say about Matchbook?

BigBollocks · 05-03-07, 07:58 PM

I don't like Matchbook simply because they rarely have the options I need. I like to play lots of props, soccer, alternate lines, etc, and Matchbook just doesn't meet my needs. The only thing they are useful for is MLB and certain NFL games, where they have high liquidity at low juice. Outside of baseball and featured NFL games they usually don't even have lines on the stuff I want to bet, and if they do I can't get down what I want to get down. B, B+, or A- in my book...

LargeMouthBass · 05-03-07, 08:30 PM

Matchbook can never become an A book since there are limits to what you can wager. It's good that the vig is low and the payouts are prompt but you can't really get the best lines using Matchbook...

durito · 05-03-07, 08:54 PM

Originally posted by LargeMouthBass

Matchbook can never become an A book since there are limits to what you can wager. It's good that the vig is low and the payouts are prompt but you can't really get the best lines using Matchbook...

Why can't you get the best lines using matchbook?

RickySteve · 05-03-07, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by jjgold

I think the rating should be changed today to an A, if not all mods should be removed from their jobs.

There shouldn't be any qualifier on that action.

LargeMouthBass · 05-03-07, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by durito

Why can't you get the best lines using matchbook?

In order to get the best spread, you often have to use the overnight lines and Matchbook overnight lines are virtually non-existent.

Bill Dozer · 05-03-07, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by Dark Horse

First, I know this isn't an exact science. Just trying to understand how this works.

We have seen books such as Nine and Betmania start out at high ratings because they were backed by A rated companies such as VIP and Skybook. Both Nine and Betmania went on to receive many complaints and were eventually downgraded.

Switch to WSEX, and its exchange Matchbook. WSEX is rated A+. Top of the line. Matchbook is operating to everybody's satisfaction (unlike Nine and Betmania), and more and more sports bettors are seeing the benefit of playing there. Yet Matchbook is rated B; even lower than Nine, which is B+ even after its downgrade.

Where am I going wrong in thinking that if WSEX is A+, than so is Matchbook? Especially since gamblers can move funds between these two for free, so liquidity at Matchbook isn't really a problem.

Or is it possible that exchanges are held to different standards, because in the end they could mean the end of books as we know them, by lowering juice across the board?

Matchbook is probably under rated especially now with a larger emphasis on backing. The exchange is certainly a favorite of posters and will probably make the Poster Top 5. We planned to speak to the folks at WSEX about Matchbook and how it plans to keep volume flowing and offerings and limits up. Yes, good argument to be made that B is too low for a WSEX backed gaming site.

Dark Horse · 05-07-07, 11:39 PM

Matchbook A-. Just noticed. Good news!

SBR_John · 05-07-07, 11:46 PM

It would help if WSEX would explain their relationship instead of making us guess. I understand they want privacy. But players talk like they are owned by WSEX and they are not. WSEX apparently, from reading the tea leaves, owns a minority stake. Its a great book and they are even a big sponsor here. But players need to understand that this is not a wholly owned WSEX run book. To put it another way, this book could fail and WSEX could remain an A+ book. At least thats how we understand it. Either book is more than welcome to correct me if I'm wrong. I just dont want players to believe this book is 100% backed by WSEX when in fact it is not as far as we know.

durito · 05-07-07, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by SBR_John

It would help if WSEX would explain their relationship instead of making us guess. I understand they want privacy. But players talk like they are owned by WSEX and they are not. WSEX apparently, from reading the tea leaves, owns a minority stake. Its a great book and they are even a big sponsor here. But players need to understand that this is not a wholly owned WSEX run book. To put it another way, this book could fail and WSEX could remain an A+ book. At least thats how we understand it. Either book is more than welcome to correct me if I'm wrong. I just dont want players to believe this book is 100% backed by WSEX when in fact it is not as far as we know.

Thanks John, I didn't know that.

WWTSblows · 05-08-07, 08:55 AM

Yes, thank you John.

In that case, Matchbook should probably stay in the B-range until it is clear who is controlling them. Even though this is my favorite book, by far.

So this is not a WSEX backed book?

slash · 05-08-07, 08:59 AM

Yeah, that's definitely news to me too. Thanks...

JC · 05-08-07, 09:33 AM

It's incorrect.

slash · 05-08-07, 09:43 AM

So Matchbook is fully owned by WSEX?

Dark Horse · 05-08-07, 09:49 AM

Whatever the exact structure with WSEX, Matchbook is obviously not a book, but an exchange; which substantially changes the dynamic of financial risk.

slash · 05-08-07, 09:53 AM

DH, they are seeding their exchange heavily so they are as "risky" as other books.

SBR_John · 05-08-07, 10:23 AM

WSEX and MB do not want their relationship knowm for legal reasons. I have some things slightly off in my post. But, MB is not owned by WSEX, not wholly owned or even majority owned. This has been a tough rating to get right and plus they are a great sponsor. I think we have the right rating for now at A-.

Santo · 05-08-07, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by slash

DH, they are seeding their exchange heavily so they are as "risky" as other books.

Where did you find that out? From what I could establish they're actually using a market making group, who are independent of Matchbook themselves.

Arilou · 05-08-07, 12:21 PM

Santo is correct. I'm sure of it.

slash · 05-08-07, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by Santo

Where did you find that out? From what I could establish they're actually using a market making group, who are independent of Matchbook themselves.

Then this "group" has a very consistent way of making their offers...

Santo · 05-08-07, 02:44 PM

Yes they do. I don't think the source of the lines is any great secret. I imagine they have bots which use the XML feed.

I tested it when they first launched, and repeated it early this season. The movement is fairly predictable. They start off with the base lines, and adjust based on action.

The HG · 05-08-07, 05:35 PM

I would say that really, books and exchanges ought to be rated separately, at least for now. Right now, there are obviously some ways books are just way better than exchanges, and vice versa. Exchanges should only be rated against each other, and books against other books, with the overall strengths and weaknesses of each one assumed.

Dark Horse · 05-08-07, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by SBR_John

WSEX and MB do not want their relationship known for legal reasons. I have some things slightly off in my post. But, MB is not owned by WSEX, not wholly owned or even majority owned. This has been a tough rating to get right and plus they are a great sponsor. I think we have the right rating for now at A-.

There seemed to be more clarity on this issue two years ago. From the SBR description of Matchbook:

4/27/2005 10:32 PM
SBR initiates coverage of Matchbook at B-. Matchbook is a new betting exchange that is funded by the ownership of WSEX (SBR rating A).

Player funds are backed by the same investment group behind WSEX and players are able to make transfers between Matchbook and WSEX at no charge. However, Matchbook holds its own gaming license and has separate operational, customer service and management teams.

I don't really see a whole lot of room to read between the lines in this description. So why are you superimposing a vague description over a clear one?

From the initial description it seems to me that the same investment group is behind WSEX and Matchbook. Therefore both would be equally safe financially. (This is not the same as WSEX actually owning Matchbook).

I don't understand the problem with legalities, unless this investment group includes Americans (living on American soil), which would be bad news.