Sportsbook of the Day - Matchbook (Betting Exchange)

[Mudcat]

The purpose of this thread is to post experiences, ratings, rantings and questions on any and all aspects of Matchbook Betting Exchange.

SBR rating = B

[Mudcat]

I have not used Matchbook yet, and I know we have a number of people here who have. So rather than me going to the website and picking out bits of information that look important, I'm hoping our experienced players can paint the picture here.

[SquareShooter]

+)2% comission is attractive.

+)Amount available for betting in Matchbook on american markets is most often 5-10x larger than in Betfair (standard by which all exchanges are measured) for the same game.

+)Needless to say that their lines are sharp even after 2% comission is deducted.

+) Fast, quality customer support.

-)No Moneybookers

-)And now about a problem that if not solved will never allow them to be top 3 sportsbook they'd rightfully deserve. The problem is that they have by far highest depositing costs in the market - 4.9% (highway robbery, that how I'd call it!!!) for creditcard deposits. They don't charge them if you win and pay that 2% comission, but thats still one of the most debiliating aspects a nice sportsbook could ever have. I think they'd triple their turnover if they removed this mutiliating comission.

[jumper]

this book ranks up there with mansion and pinnacle as my 3 favorite outs.just need to calculate the 2% to see if their odds are superior.today for example they have best money line on pistons,after multiplying by .98

[SquareShooter]

You haven't taken depositing costs into account.

[David]

You haven't taken depositing costs into account.

Depositing costs are reimbursed via commission credits. So essentially all deposits and withdrawals are free.

[joe blow]

Depositing costs are reimbursed via commission credits. So essentially all deposits and withdrawals are free.

The only way you can say there are depositing costs,is if you are looking to hit and run...I love these exchange places

[LGBoots]

Good exchange, I've used them a lot over the last 10 months.

Interface is nice & easy + fast, just 2 clicks & your bet is on

Prices you can often pick up here are pretty darned good as well

I know some punters don't like the thing about Com credits but I personally have no problems with it.

A bit plus with Matchbook is that WSEX hold a large stake in it so your $ is safe with them.

[SquareShooter]

Name one exchange that your $ is not safe with!

Except maybe total scams but I have never heard of scam exchange. As well as I have never heard of slow paying exchange.

[Doug]

I love Mansion, but would consider ( WSEX backed) Matchbook safer, overall. WSEX is a bookie run exchange, not sure what Mansion is trying to do.

Mansion reminds me of the movie " The Thomas Crown Affair"... rich playboy crashes and burns 100k Catamarans for the **** of it... likes to see them sink or something ?

I doubt Mansion is close to profitable, or ever has been profitable. Really seems a billionaire's toy, hope he doesn't get tired of playing with it ( us). B+ is right on, IMO !

[kiwi]

As far as I know Matchbook still doesn't accept other currencies than USD or has that changed recently?

[tacomax]

Name one exchange that your $ is not safe with!

Except maybe total scams but I have never heard of scam exchange. As well as I have never heard of slow paying exchange.

You've never heard of exchanges that seed their own lines and end up going bust?

[pags11]

essentially being free and being free are two different things...matchbook is a great exchange and a great business model, they just need to fix this commission credits deal...just kind of wacky...

[TLD]

This is the last time I’ll beat this dead horse, and I totally respect people’s right to play where they want, to encourage sportsbooks to change policies they disagree with, etc., but I want to say this just for anyone who might be reading this who does not yet play at Matchbook and might be concerned that they’ll be paying a fortune in transaction fees.

I have been at Matchbook since shortly after they opened. I have placed many, many bets there, often playing every day. I have made many deposits. I have made many withdrawals. I have never altered the size or timing of a deposit or withdrawal to avoid fees, as I commonly do at other books (e.g., letting a large balance sit for a few extra days because I can get my next freebie withdrawal the first of the month). I deposit what I want, when I want, as often as I want. I withdraw what I want, when I want, as often as I want.

To date, here’s the total amount I have paid in transaction fees at Matchbook: $0.00.

That is how it’ll be for virtually everyone who plays there (unless folks succeed in talking them into changing their transaction policies).

[SquareShooter]

You've never heard of exchanges that seed their own lines and end up going bust?

No, never! Which was it?

[imgv94]

Matchbook is great! They usually have the best lines!

[LGBoots]

Name one exchange that your $ is not safe with!

Except maybe total scams but I have never heard of scam exchange. As well as I have never heard of slow paying exchange.

In the UK there was Sporting Options. Had been going a while, seemed a safe place & your cash + winnings were held in a 'Ringfenced' A/C so seemingly a decent exchange.

Unfortunately they had been losing cash hand over fist, so the owners started to 'seed' the exchange heavily with cash from the so called 'Ringfenced' Account.

It didn't work & they went bust owing a fortune. Luckily for us punters Betfair stepped in & paid out all clients owed in full up to £2k. If you were owed more then the rest was given in Com credits

[Fishhead]

This is the last time I’ll beat this dead horse, and I totally respect people’s right to play where they want, to encourage sportsbooks to change policies they disagree with, etc., but I want to say this just for anyone who might be reading this who does not yet play at Matchbook and might be concerned that they’ll be paying a fortune in transaction fees.

I have been at Matchbook since shortly after they opened. I have placed many, many bets there, often playing every day. I have made many deposits. I have made many withdrawals. I have never altered the size or timing of a deposit or withdrawal to avoid fees, as I commonly do at other books (e.g., letting a large balance sit for a few extra days because I can get my next freebie withdrawal the first of the month). I deposit what I want, when I want, as often as I want. I withdraw what I want, when I want, as often as I want.

To date, here’s the total amount I have paid in transaction fees at Matchbook: $0.00.

That is how it’ll be for virtually everyone who plays there (unless folks succeed in talking them into changing their transaction policies).

This is far and away the #1 book for bettors that bet straight wagers for $5000 and below.

[rolemand]

This is far and away the #1 book for bettors that bet straight wagers for $5000 and below.

For those not in this book, please explain why it is worse if you bet $5k+. Is it just that they don't have action at the end of spectrum?

[bg193]

I love this book. Great lines and quick cashouts. You just have to play there awhile to make up for the 4.9%.

[SquareShooter]

Doh. You don't have chance to make up for 4.9% if you loose!
You deposit 1000 and you only have $951 at your disposal.
If you bet them and loose you have just paid $49 comission to Matchbook.

Tell me please how do you manage not to loose in sportsbetting. I'm very interested in that.

[Santo]

It seems that you deposit expecting to lose, I don't... that must be the difference..

Though if you were expecting to lose all $1k anyway, why does it matter to whom it goes!

[TLD]

I lose all the time. I lose almost half of the bets I place. I’ve long since lost track of all the bets I’ve lost at Matchbook.

Yet I repeat:

To date, here’s the total amount I have paid in transaction fees at Matchbook: $0.00.



Rolemand,

Yes, Fishhead just means that for most events you aren’t going to be able to get a huge amount of money down, at least at the best price. The best offers tend to be two, three, and four figures.

[Mudcat]

I'd say it's high time I got a few dollars in there and had a look.

[tacomax]

It seems that you deposit expecting to lose, I don't... that must be the difference..

Though if you were expecting to lose all $1k anyway, why does it matter to whom it goes!

The credit sytem rewards loyalty for it's regular customers and gives them free deposits and withdrawals. I don't want to have to pay for my withdrawls in order to subsidise someone who wants to hit and run at Matchbook. As Santo says, if you stick in $1000 and lose then why are you concered that you've got money tied up in commission credits?

If you can win on a semi-regular basis, the credit system is no problem. If you lose every bet you place then maybe you shouldn't be betting at all.

[David]

Why would you hit and run an exchange? Aren't you there for the competitive prices?

[tacomax]

Why would you hit and run an exchange? Aren't you there for the competitive prices?

Well I'm looking for the best prices, but the only possible reason I can think of for not liking the credits system is someone hit-and-running or someone who loses just about every bet they place.

[Brooks]

im not sure where this 4.9% figure came about but the fee for sending in 1000 thru neteller is 2.9 % or 29 for every 1000 sent.

without being harse, if someone has a problem with the way matchbook handles deposits they most likely dont have the proper bankroll to even have a chance at beating sports over the long haul.

the other alternative would be to charge the 2.9 on withdrawals however that is the opposite of what neteller does as they charge the book when we (the players) deposit.

of course they could stop with the commision credits all together but they already give us the most competitive numbers in the industry, a fair commision rate, great customer service, and free withdrawals.

matchbook is the type of book/exchange we have to support if we want to stop the proliferation of recreational books that forums and watchdogs seem to love so much.

i can only hope there are more matchbooks in my lifetime as in the future we will be dealing with increased liquidity, 1 or 2 cent lines and paying at most 2% on our winning wagers.

amen to that

[tacomax]

im not sure where this 4.9% figure came about but the fee for sending in 1000 thru neteller is 2.9 % or 29 for every 1000 sent.

SquareShooter said that it was the fee for credit card deposits (refundable in credits, of course).

[SquareShooter]

Transaction Fees

So the bottom line is if you're paying commissions at Matchbook, you're not paying transaction fees.

On the deposit side, Neteller, Credit-card and InstaDebit fees are currently reimbursed via Commission Credits as follows:

Neteller $29.00 in Commission Credits per $1,000 deposited
FirstPay $35.00 in Commission Credits per $1,000 deposited
Credit card $49.00 in Commission Credits per $1,000 deposited
InstaDebit $35.00 in Commission Credits per $1,000 deposited


Have any questions? Contact one of our Cashier support team via these options:
accounts@matchbook.com
live chat (via our Contact Us page)
1 866 285 9583 (toll free)

[SquareShooter]

Please don't misunderstand - Matchbook is one of my best books. And I'll love them even more when they (at last) finish their Moneybookers implementation project within couple of weeks.

[freebie]

Can't remember if Matchbook charges 2% both ways or just 2% on buying? anyone can confirm? I know Mansion does not charge for selling but only charge 1% on buying.

[David]

Can't remember if Matchbook charges 2% both ways or just 2% on buying? anyone can confirm? I know Mansion does not charge for selling but only charge 1% on buying.

Matchbook charges 2% both ways.
Mansion is FREE FOR BUYERS and 1% for sellers.

[TLD]

Freebie, Matchbook charges 2% whether you accept an offer or have an offer accepted. (Note, though, that the 2% is on the market and not the specific bet. That is, if you bet both sides of the game—like if it’s live betting and you’re hedging or whatever—and you win $1,000 on one bet and lose $800 on one bet, you pay the 2% on the $200 profit not on the $1,000 winning bet.)

Mansion charges 1% if you have an offer accepted, and zero if you accept an offer.

[LVHerbie]

I'd say it's high time I got a few dollars in there and had a look.

Don't you do alot of scalping Mudcat? How could you not have matchbook (except that your bettting amounts are slightly limited by the volumn available)