I think SBR points are a bad thing for SBR.

[Peep]

Well, not for me personally, I have gotten two free plays of $100 each from Bet Phoenix and couldn't be happier.

But I think the are bad because of the changes they cause in the forum. A few thoughts about this, in point form.

1) It creates and encourages ghosting. Ghosting is stupid at the best of times, even more stupid when it is to try and earn 25 cents worth of points a day. It fills the forum with meaningless posts that would not otherwise would have been made, to no ones benefit other than the provider who sells SBR bandwidth.

2) It brings out the worst in gamblers. I was looking at the SBR "credit report". OMG. We/you are creating stiffs at an alarming rate, and the program is still in its infancy. Way back when I first went into business, I used to loan customers who where short money a few bucks so they could bowl that week. What ended up happening was not only did I not get paid back in many instances, they also quit bowling because they did not want to be shamed when they couldn't pay their debt. That is what I think will happen here too, SBR will lose posters who can't pay their debts. So it will be a net loss.

3) Encourages bad gambling habits. Anyone thinking of borrowing money to gamble with, I only have one word for. DON'T. You can't win to it. If you don't have the funds as discretionary income, it is sad, stupid and pathetic to gamble. You make a joke about this, but it is not a joke to those living around/with the borrowing gambler.

Anyway, a few of my thoughts. I welcome other opinions. I did not forsee any of the above when the program started.

[THEGREAT30]

All of these things were going on in some form or not before the points came about. The points and the contest are good for business as long as SBR can keep it up.

[FishFace5]

I dispute 2 of the 3.
SBR allows the ghosting to occur. Recently they seem to be instituting new rules to prevent this and hopefully we will see less of it.
The credit report is pretty bad, I agree about that. But posters are pretty good at policing themselves and as the stiff count builds it will be tougher and tougher to get loans.
Your 3rd point is very true. Because most don't view the points as actual $$ they become reckless with them. Similair to chips in a casino but worse.

[Peep]

All of these things were going on in some form or not before the points came about. The points and the contest are good for business as long as SBR can keep it up.

Good point 30. Guess I never really saw them or was looking for them before. It is just that the points/credit report thing make it blantly obvious.

And as to people not overbetting.... "You can no more stop a fool from returning to his folly than you can stop a dog from eating his vomit".

[CarpeDime]

I don't know what the behind-the-scenes numbers are but my guess would be that points are the best thing sbr ever did, far better even than sbrlines

[onthewhat]

Agree with Carpe

Call me Carpe

[scarp]

If you are worried about people loaning points and not getting paid back... Then don't loan out any money and make them earn it like everyone else.

[jjgold]

SBR lines and SBR Points books is the greatest thing that was ever created on a forum.

Jealousy thats all

[Footballtime]

New around here, but love thre forum and posters! FBT

[Busterflywheel]

I love it...gives me a reason to spend my time here..I wouldn't mind getting that 42" for my bathroom..

[Deuce]

SBR lines and SBR Points books is the greatest thing that was ever created on a forum. Jealousy thats all

You created Lines, I created Sportsbook, you get 400 a month deposited in your account, I get 0. Where did I go wrong?

[Glitch]

we just need a spam thread where we can vote who gets banished to only being able to post in the spam thread- if you get 15 spammer votes- youre vanquished.

and about borrowing and bad gambling habits and whatnot- its way better to do it with points than money. (especially if your irresponsible/compulsive nature wants you to play a few 13-teamers or roulette spins.) you can do that here and gamble responsibly with the stuff you use to pay the bills.

[whatsgood5]

It's bad for the forums for sure, not bad for SBR though. SBR is making much more $$$ as a result of the point system...

[THEGREAT30]

New around here, but love thre forum and posters! FBT

The love affair will not last

[ZBOIZ]

He love points

[flyingillini]

Forums come and go, the list is long. SBR is much more than the forum. The forum could be gone tomorrow and SBR is still a huge company in the industry. The forum is just a nice thing for the people.

[Dunder]

The issue of ghost accounts is very valid and appears to be a difficult one to contain.

On the other issues, I don´t agree. Borrowing to gamble is a bad idea, but some are going to do it regardless of how many times they are told that is a bad idea. As a lender of points I would much rather someone borrowed points from me (even if I end up getting stiffed) to stay in the action than taking an advance against their CC or dipping into next month´s rent. The stiffs on the credit report represent a very small proportion of those that have taken loans and I would, therefore not agree with the "alarming" part either.

I have no idea how much it costs SBR to run the points system, but there is little doubt in my mind that it drives traffic and is therefore ultimately beneficial.

[konck]

PTs are now the life line of SBR, everyone wants them, everyone wants the action. The ones that loan for profit well gl.

[Fishhead]

sbr lines and sbr points books is the greatest thing that was ever created on a forum.

Jealousy thats all

Bingo, we have a winner!!!

On that note, enjoy an sbr point on me mr. Gold.

[pavyracer]

SBR lines and SBR Points books is the greatest thing that was ever created on a forum.

Jealousy thats all

They are good if you know how to use them. What have points given you so far JJ? You don't gamble them and you don't cash them out. It's like those horse racing tickets you keep taking from the trash can hoping a fool has thrown out a trifecta winner.

[jjgold]

Thanks Fishhead!!!!

SBR is on the verge of creating a gambling empire and you will here here to enjoy it all.

[Reload]

One of the best ideas ever. We've gotten to reward a lot of unsung heroes at SBR thanks to this, and it will only grow from here.

[blueghost]

looks like your in the minority peep and you have done well by them think they are here to stay

[2daBank]

It's bad for the forums for sure, not bad for SBR though. SBR is making much more $$$ as a result of the point system...

says the guy on the stiff list

[flyingillini]

May Jesus Christ Bless you and your plays for this Saturday.

[mmike032]

Well, not for me personally, I have gotten two free plays of $100 each from Bet Phoenix and couldn't be happier.

But I think the are bad because of the changes they cause in the forum. A few thoughts about this, in point form.

1) It creates and encourages ghosting. Ghosting is stupid at the best of times, even more stupid when it is to try and earn 25 cents worth of points a day. It fills the forum with meaningless posts that would not otherwise would have been made, to no ones benefit other than the provider who sells SBR bandwidth.

2) It brings out the worst in gamblers. I was looking at the SBR "credit report". OMG. We/you are creating stiffs at an alarming rate, and the program is still in its infancy. Way back when I first went into business, I used to loan customers who where short money a few bucks so they could bowl that week. What ended up happening was not only did I not get paid back in many instances, they also quit bowling because they did not want to be shamed when they couldn't pay their debt. That is what I think will happen here too, SBR will lose posters who can't pay their debts. So it will be a net loss.

3) Encourages bad gambling habits. Anyone thinking of borrowing money to gamble with, I only have one word for. DON'T. You can't win to it. If you don't have the funds as discretionary income, it is sad, stupid and pathetic to gamble. You make a joke about this, but it is not a joke to those living around/with the borrowing gambler.

Anyway, a few of my thoughts. I welcome other opinions. I did not forsee any of the above when the program started.

isnt this the business plan

[Shortstop]

I love SBR Points! I wager with them now instead of real money until baseball season!

[mmike032]

call me crazy,
but SBR powers that be are geniuses even if they had to bring in overseas wifes to complete their personal lifes

[Patrick McIrish]

Guy cashes in a couple $100 gifts from a book and is complaining about the program? Here's what I would do if I owned SBR, ask members if they like the point system or not. Guy comes around bitching about free money than disenroll him from the program. Problem solved. Those that want to partake can, those that do not are not eligible. Seems pretty simple to me. My guess is you will start to see less and less of the attention hounds complaining about free money.

Like my Uncle Chang used to say, crying with a loaf of bread under each arm!!

[Tsoprano]

I don't really care about the points but think it's a good idea for SBR with their goal for it to keep numbers/traffic up. It is also a motivator to keep posters posting day in and day out. Like I said somewhere else it's their currency. Its a unique touch to add to the forum in my opinion.