There is no such thing as a “bad line” only bad bookmakers!

[SBR_John]

I lifted this from peepsplace.com, posted by Insomniac. Its a good read in light of the recent 'cancel after the game ends because of a bad line' gig that happened recently at BetonSports.
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A wise old bookmaker once said “there is no such thing as a “bad line” only “bad bookmakers.”

He continued...

“There is a responsibility when one offers their opinions (lines/odds/price) up for book, which includes honoring what is agreed to from others with differing opinions even when your opinion maybe an unpopular one...a bet made, is a bet honored between honorable individuals.

It is very easy for anyone to make excuses to dishonor a bet, themselves as well as others and most in time do. But one must remember that there are no second chances in gaining the trust from those you hope to benefit from if you hold them responsible for your own errors.

While it reasonable to expect that any business built upon a foundation of errors voided by excuses will eventually falter from the lack of trust they never earned from those they relied upon in keeping it going.”

[JoshW]

IMO, Insomniac exists in a black and white world were only three books on earth are safe enough to play at (and even they wouldn't meet this bookmaking standard). His opinion on bad lines is similar. While books should be as responsible as possible for their lines, putting up reversed lines like -14/+14 is obviously an error, and as much as the player might not like it, no book should have to stand by that error.

I do agree with the idea that books that continuely handle these cases poorly will get a deserved bad reputation. Kernal of truth in everything he says, but just too extreme. I have made a lot of my edge by getting lines that are a point off consensus, so I understand that some view extremely bad lines as similar, but I don't. I think bad line discussions are always interesting, maybe some others can add their views.

[mad]

No farging way a book should be able to call a bad line after an event has started. It is not the players fault if your lines are off. That Mr Bookmaker is not MY responsibilty, it is as they say good sir "all on you". How hard is it to double check your work before posting or adjusting a number. Voiding wagers after an event has started because you ****** up is reprehensible and any bum that tries to weasle out should be taken out back and shot.

You post it and accept my money on it, then you stand behind it. Perhaps next time you will pay attention.

[Mudcat]

I basically agree with you Lakerfan. When I was reading the quote I kept thinking, Well sure in an ideal world.

I am somewhat forgiving of the humans who work at sportsbooks in that I accept the need for bad line clauses.

The problem I had with the latest BOS thing was cancelling the bet after the final score was in. Especially since they had apparently discovered and corrected the bad line a long time before. If they want to void bets when they discover the error - before the event has begun - I say okay. I mean, it's not a good thing, but I get it.

But when they did what they did, it does become a black and white issue for me. The book has to take responsibility for their error (and I'm giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt even calling it an error and not an outright scam). The book then has to take their lumps and, if they don't like it, work harder at making sure it doesn't happen again.

The other thing in the quote that was stated as black and white which does not hold true in the real world was this:

But one must remember that there are no second chances in gaining the trust from those you hope to benefit from if you hold them responsible for your own errors.

Sounds nice but it's not true. Books who do these things get all kinds of second and third and tenth chances. Players don't tend to rally together on these things. As long as it happened to someone else, there will always be lots of players to keep posting up at the offending book.

Just the way it is.

[isetcap]

I would like to every now and then say to the bookie...Dude, there's no way I meant to lay 3 points on the Horned Frogs. You know me better than that. I just filled out my capsheet wrong. Now give me my money back.