Sportsbook of the Day - Betmaker

**Mudcat** · 06-14-06, 02:28 PM

I've used them on and off for quite awhile. It's not the greatest book for my style but I would think it's a pretty good little book for recreational players. Hopefully we can get some thoughts from current users.

They have a small North American selection. It's not a place to go for a huge variety of options. Limits are quite low - although I have had mine increased (to $500) on request.

I find a relatively good number of soft lines there. (As such, I must say, too bad about the low limits.) I find this book rejects wagers and changes the line a little too often - but I do manage to get some good plays in.

They've got dime lines on MLB sides, otherwise full juice.

Although they do have some reduced juice promos at times. They have a lot of promos there. Too many to describe. They have a 20% cash sign-up bonus and 10-15% reloads depending on the money transfer method. You really have to check the site for all the terms and conditions. Many promos.

I have taken quite a few Neteller payouts with never a problem.

**SBR_John** · 06-14-06, 02:29 PM

Good people involved in this operation. This is an all star team.

**Mudcat** · 06-15-06, 12:00 PM

Anyone have any experience playing at Betmaker?

**David** · 06-15-06, 12:34 PM

I've played there and never had any problems. Definitely one of the best recreational books.

**jumper** · 06-15-06, 01:40 PM

i like this group.only 1 acct. allowed,i use bookmaker,they have always treated me fairly.

**isetcap** · 06-15-06, 03:19 PM

Some significant hoops for that initial deposit bonus.

Restrictions and conditions for bonus:

Maximum bonus credit is $500.

To earn the bonus, when the majority of winnings are earned in the sportsbook, customers will be required to wager their signup deposit, fees and bonus: once for an E-Check deposit; five times for a Neteller deposit; three times for all other deposit methods. Lines below -140 do not apply. Or when the majority of winnings are earned in the casino, customers must wager their sign-up deposit, fees and bonus seven times. Roulette and Craps do not apply.

If a withdrawal is made before the rollover is completed, then the bonus amount and winnings generated from the bonus are forfeited.

Once the rollover is complete the bonus amount and winnings from the bonus must remain in the account for 30 days from the date of the deposit. The account must remain active during this time.

**Mudcat** · 06-15-06, 03:48 PM

Good point. I particularly don't like this:

Originally posted by isetcap

Lines below -140 do not apply.

I've heard of books using -200 as the threshold - and even that I don't like (although I sort of get what they're thinking) - but -140 is excessively unfriendly.

**TLD** · 06-15-06, 04:51 PM

I played with them off and on for a year or two. They were never a favorite of mine.

There was much more value when I first joined them. They had non-consensus lines fairly often, and their various promos were quite generous. Over time it became much harder to find any non-consensus lines, and their promos were gradually watered down or discontinued.

Before very long, they cut me off all promos anyway. I was slightly ahead of them, my average wager was probably about $500, and I didn’t bet steam or bad lines or anything like that. Not exactly the profile of the sharpest customer, but then again not a complete square either, and this is one of those very “recreational” books (or whatever euphemism we’re using these days for books that have unspoken rules against betting with a positive expectation).

They cold call quite aggressively. One time I was promised something by phone that they didn’t deliver on my next deposit. Each time they called after that I told them that I would only respond to written offers. One fellow persistently called, offering to put me back on all the promos if only I’d redeposit, but every time I said, “Sounds good. As soon as I get that in writing I’ll seriously consider it,” he danced around and evaded and did everything but put it in writing.

But every time he called I politely responded that same way, and after maybe the sixth or seventh time he finally sent me the offer in an e-mail. The e-mail did indeed say “you have been restored to all our promos, including…” and then a list.

And here it’s no doubt more my fault than theirs, but I kept getting tripped up on the small print of their convoluted promos. For instance, the very first wager I made after re-upping was only to my advantage if it came under a certain promo, and thus I was surprised to find out that it wasn’t graded in accordance with the promo. I followed up and was told I was not eligible for that promo. Well, looking back at my e-mail, I realized that that promo indeed wasn’t in the list of what had been restored. So I could either get into a semantic dispute with them about the meaning of the phrase “all our promos” or I could just let it go, and I let it go.

But things like that happened multiple times. Some of their promos are online only and some are good both online and by phone. There was one I had played several times by phone over the course of months, but apparently I had happened to lose all those, because when I finally won one and didn’t get the bonus, they pointed out that phone wagers aren’t eligible.

Anyway, I finally concluded that since even if you meticulously go through all the rules and fine print and use all their promos correctly, they’re at best barely worth having, and since evidently I’m too dumb or impatient to be that meticulous with them when I’m trying to juggle so many sportsbook accounts and such, it really wasn’t a good book for me. So I haven’t played there in awhile.

I don’t know that they’d be all that great a book for any bettor demographic. I would say for some they’d be an OK book, and for some they wouldn’t be worth bothering with.

**isetcap** · 06-15-06, 04:56 PM

Originally posted by SBR_John

Good people involved in this operation. This is an all star team.

Apparently they need to take a look at TLD's post if they want to continue to move up.

Excellent post, TLD.

**TLD** · 06-15-06, 05:22 PM

Thanks Isetcap.

I think these threads are a good idea and I hope readers can benefit if we share our experiences.

**Mudcat** · 06-15-06, 09:53 PM

I have to admit, I haven't delved into the Betmaker promos. Other than taking deposit bonuses when I was eligible, I have just placed bets there.

It's something I mentally scold myself for sometimes. I tell myself I am just being lazy-ass for not taking the time to learn and apply the finer points of all the promos.

And I'm sure there is a lot of truth to that. In my defense, there are always a lot of things to think about but still, I'm sure I could make the time to read that fine print.

Anyway, I don't feel quite so bad about myself now.

**wpet99** · 06-17-06, 03:31 PM

They don't like paying out their refer a friend bonuses, the person who referred me was classed as "non-recreational" and therefore does not qualify

**Mudcat** · 06-17-06, 03:58 PM

Welcome to the forum wpet99.

FWIW, I collected a 30% referral bonus once. I guess they must look for specific things that I don't do.

**SBR_John** · 06-17-06, 06:35 PM

TLD might be angeling for my job with that write up! Good job.

Besides the nuts and bolts of the operation we like to know who owns and runs these smaller to mid size books. This operator has been in the business since Moby Dick was a minnow. You will get a great reference on him from the heavyweights like Assehton - VIP, Sacco -CRIS, ect. Thats very important. This is a solid B book with room to move up.

**CA_Bettor06** · 06-20-06, 11:35 AM

How is GoldMedalSports - BetMaker's sister book?

I haven't played at BetMaker, but I'm currently at GoldMedalSports. They offerred me a 20% sign up bonus, but it came with a larger rollover of 7X. Seems like BetMaker has the better deal. Can someone give me feedback GoldMedalSports? Can I expect the same kind of service/treatment as BetMaker? The only thing I don't like so far is they only give me a $250 limit on line, so I have to call in all my bets, which is a hassel. I would rather do it on line. Thanks for the info...

**David** · 06-20-06, 12:59 PM

All their sites are basically the same. If you say that Betmaker has the better sign-up bonus than play there instead.

**JoshW** · 06-20-06, 07:30 PM

Eventually they pull all the promotions if they think you are an advantage player. They also put players on the phone if you chase much steam, but that is nothing new.

I think they are good operation, and Bill seems to be able to get any situation that comes up resolved with them so for an SBR poster I think is a pretty good fit.