SBR Posters Top Sportsbooks: Final Results for October 2007

bigboydan · 11-09-07, 12:37 PM

Which one of you guys voted for BetBTW in regards to ranking them #2 on your poll, and why?

Art Vandeleigh · 11-09-07, 12:51 PM

I think Tradesports gets a bad rap around here.

Betfair takes 5% off winning bets.

I am not affiliated with Tradesports in anyway shape or form, and am not an investor or whatever. Just a player.

I'd just like to see exchanges that are open to US players be stronger and supported by more players.

I think it can be used well with Matchbook (funds can easily and quickly be transferred back and forth with no commission), especially by those players for who it takes some time to wager $10,000. A lot more excellent wagering opportunities at Tradesports, IMO.

bigboydan · 11-09-07, 05:53 PM

Hows Tradesports volume in comparison to Matchbook in your opinion Art?

Art Vandeleigh · 11-09-07, 07:24 PM

Not familiar with those numbers Dan.

If you go to their site, one of their main market makers, someone who goes by the username Fair Value, he's often times around their trading pit chat site. You can have a chat with hime there, I'm sure he can give you more details than I. But just at random I see at the moment NCAAF Indiana (-2, Matchbook, -1.5 Tradesports) vs Northwestern, availability at Matchbook is $1,134 at -108, at Tradesports $500 at -117 and $3000 at -122, of course you can offer your own price their as well.

There are some things Tradesports offers Matchbook doesn't such as

- 1 1/2 puck lines in hockey
- several more alternate lines on all NFL games
- market makers for golf tournys, especially the ones Tiger plays in
- at the moment I still don't see over/under for NCAA hoops at Matchbook
- Over/unders for soccer matches (if anyone cares)
- and of course, every event at Tradesports is open for trading until the bitter end.

Not trying to bad mouth Matchbook, I think it's in US players interest if they both prosper.

It's just hard for me to imagine that anyone who likes Matchbook, and according to the survey it's number one for U.S. players, that there isn't a place in a players portfolio for some funds and some usefulness at Tradesports, even with the higher take out.

betplom · 11-09-07, 07:39 PM

I like Tradesports in general.

I stopped playing there after Neteller was no longer available,payout options are limited for North American players, no Instadebit, Moneybookers, or Fedex cheque only regular mail cheque.

If they offered Instadebit OR Moneybookers I'd start playing with them again.

Dark Horse · 11-10-07, 01:22 AM

I used to have five figures in Tradesports. That became useless after liquidity went way south. TS isn't even a blimp on the radar now.

As to the voting result. The only book that got a distribution that looks off is Carib. A post count of 25 isn't that hard to run up, if books take this as serious free advertising.

Art Vandeleigh · 11-10-07, 04:06 AM

Originally posted by Dark Horse

Cashed out at Tradesports after they were downgraded here first to B- and then C+. But I'm taking another look at them. In the new climate financial security is the number one priority. And as far as I know Tradesports is very reliable when it comes to paying.

Matchbook is probably the better exchange, but Tradesports is right up there for featured games (nationally televised). I would rate Matchbook A and Tradesports B+ to A-, which is much higher than the official ratings here. So my question is: does SBR hold exchanges to higher standards? If so, why? It is much easier to make a profit when playing directly against other gamblers than against the house. Not only is the vig lower, but, just as importantly, the player -not the house- benefits from square action!

When I look at my records over the years my profit margin at exchanges definitely exceeds that at regular books. Not even close. I'm sure many others have a similar experience. So, if we all have the best interest of gamblers in mind, why do exchanges such as Matchbook and Tradesports not get two major thumbs up?!

The only problem I have with exchanges is the lack of action. This can be solved through better feedback. The more people play at exchanges, the more action. In the long run greater popularity of exchanges could force books to lower their juice. So unless we all love to play at full juice against some very sharp linesmakers, let's start giving these places their due. Instead of holding them back with overly critical ratings.

Dark Horse, here is something you wrote earlier this year regarding exchanges. I don't understand why you won't support an exchange like Tradesports with some action, especially after the passionate case you made for exchanges, unless you had a problem with someone there. Liquidity has increased since they made their agreements with Pinnacle/Matchbook.

Just what is your version of liquidity anyway? Are you looking to trade every game on the board every night?

Santo · 11-10-07, 05:06 AM

Main reason I don't use them is simply that TradeBetX doesn't work with Firefox, and I have no intention to learn the contracts interface.

vanman · 11-10-07, 05:09 AM

Glad to see pinny is still number 1 even though US players can`t play there.

Art Vandeleigh · 11-10-07, 05:16 AM

Originally posted by Santo

Main reason I don't use them is simply that TradeBetX doesn't work with Firefox, and I have no intention to learn the contracts interface.

As a European player you have several other exchange options.

Dark Horse · 11-10-07, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by Art Vandeleigh

Dark Horse, here is something you wrote earlier this year regarding exchanges. I don't understand why you won't support an exchange like Tradesports with some action, especially after the passionate case you made for exchanges, unless you had a problem with someone there. Liquidity has increased since they made their agreements with Pinnacle/Matchbook.

Just what is your version of liquidity anyway? Are you looking to trade every game on the board every night?

They're in my books-on-backburner file. There's really not much there that Matchbook doesn't offer. Tradesports is probably best for balances around 2500. A balance of anything more than four figures is basically just sitting there. In other words, it is much easier to double 2500 than 10K.

TS seems a victim of micromanagement. I don't know what the background of those folks is, but it isn't sports betting. They rarely listen to a word of the many good suggestions thrown out by members. You can only run into a wall so many times. And that split between TS and Intrade was an absolute fiasco in terms of liquidity. (not to mention that they didn't tell anybody at the time that transferring funds to Intrade was fine, but the funds couldn't be transferred back. That was the final drop for me).

LGBoots · 11-10-07, 08:58 AM

I wish Matchbook would offer a £ Account option. Like many here I have been burned by the $ lately

SPECULATOR 13 · 11-10-07, 09:35 AM

Originally posted by Art Vandeleigh

I think Tradesports gets a bad rap around here.
I'd just like to see exchanges that are open to US players be stronger and supported by more players.
I think it can be used well with Matchbook (funds can easily and quickly be transferred back and forth with no commission), especially by those players for who it takes some time to wager $10,000. A lot more excellent wagering opportunities at Tradesports, IMO.

ART I'm with you i don't get it?I have been using both MB & TS,the only thing is that TS as a hard time matching the liquidity of MB.It is to bad that it is those f*ck-ups at BETFAIR (whom won't even post U.S. odds)that seem to carry all the money.Dark House is right about TS's attitude they won't do anything to attract the attention of the American market,they seem to be contented to just lick their crotches all day in self satisfaction and not to bother with anyone or anything...to their detriment!!I am hoping TS will wake up and that they will soon get it right and that the next U.S. administration will repeal the us gambling laws so those idiots at BETFAIR will cater the the american market along with TS.To have 2 of these big exchanges catering to U.S. sports as MB DOES would be a dream come true

greek · 04-03-08, 10:27 PM

this 2007 thread?

bobbywaves · 05-26-08, 01:57 PM

Please start another top sportsbook poll with no expiration date, since I didn't get to place my vote.

Thanks

THE HITMAN · 06-25-08, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by vanman

Glad to see pinny is still number 1 even though US players can`t play there.

That's precisely why I can't vote them # 1. I probably would if I could use them, tho.

BETJD · 07-20-08, 03:50 PM

Howcome betus.com is not on that list?? Im sure like any other book theres some situations that gets complicated with customers at some point, but what book doesnt have issues with customers? Our job at the sportsbook is to fix that issue, thats only if we are dealing with someone who is not trying to pull a fast one, and we all know theres players that like to cheat sometimes.

I work for betUS and theres over 350,000 active players... they must be doing something good..

bigboydan · 07-20-08, 03:56 PM

First off, Welcome to the SBR forum sir.

BetUS has had a checkered past with all sorts of issues that include slow pays and confiscations. My guess thats probably why SBR posters didn't vote for them.

BETJD · 07-20-08, 06:44 PM

I just read about that 18 thousand dollar confiscation... Ill look into that.. never really heard about the case. We have so many satisfied players, just find it strange for a book to be degraded to that level because of one persons bad experience who most like already got payed or will get payed soon.

SBR_John · 07-20-08, 07:28 PM

JD obviously you work for BetUS which is all fine. But lets not try to pretend here. The brothers that own BetUS have been ripping off players, other bookies and even employees like yourself for many years. They have done better at times recently and we are all glad about that. But lets not forget all the players who have been ripped off since the Little Nasa days.

bigboydan · 07-20-08, 07:31 PM

Originally posted by BETJD

I just read about that 18 thousand dollar confiscation... Ill look into that.. never really heard about the case. We have so many satisfied players, just find it strange for a book to be degraded to that level because of one persons bad experience who most like already got payed or will get payed soon.

That matter was resolved thanks to Mr.Dozer, Mr.Justin7, and TheShrink. Otherwise that player would have never received his funds at all IMO. However, if you really wish to revisit some outstanding complaints levied again your establishment, please feel free to send an Email to: Assistance@SportsbookReview.com and we will be more than happy to go over each and every one of them we have in our archives. Hopefully you can help overturn some of these unfair confiscations we have on file.