[jrcaces]

Which is better and whats the con's of betting at A las vegas sports book?

[jrcaces]

Offshore you can make a bet anytime from your comp. possibly better lines but longer payouts.. Bookie / Vegas sportsbook thats cash right away. Any other major differences?

[MrX]

Easier to lineshop online.
Slower moving lines in Vegas.
Easier to make large bets online, especially totals and smaller markets.
You won't get stiffed by the book in Vegas.
If you're the paranoid sort, there is some paperwork kept on your wagers in Vegas if you're betting enough to trigger them.

[jrcaces]

If you bet big in A sportsbook in las vegas and they see your sharp do they really limit your betting?

[SPECULATOR 13]

Which is better and whats the con's of betting at A las vegas sports book?

That is a excellent THREAD JR,I am always interested in questions having to do with Vegas books.I hope to be able to bet there regularly one day(if i don't happen to just be residing there full time).I hope the players who live there will give us some valuable info.IMO i think if you can manage to have both you're in business.I heard Kenny White,Fezzik and A.Boston say that :Station,coast hilton,ceasers and mirrage will take bets between 5 to 10k without looking twice(& 25k if you speak to mgmt. according to Axel Freed)combine that with Matchbook,wsex,pinny,bookmaker and maybe Canbet & your looking good!!

[jrcaces]

We need jj!

[DrunkenLullaby]

If you bet big in A sportsbook in las vegas and they see your sharp do they really limit your betting?

Yes, but it has very little to do with being sharp and more to do with the fact that there are no bookies in Vegas - at least not in the true sense of the word.

Forrest Gump could walk into a book and try to lay down a few dimes on an NBA game and after a few yells of "KEY!" and the manager getting the guy's photo & biography they might let him get down for a nickel.

[jrcaces]

Yes, but it has very little to do with being sharp and more to do with the fact that there are no bookies in Vegas - at least not in the true sense of the word.

Forrest Gump could walk into a book and try to lay down a few dimes on an NBA game and after a few yells of "KEY!" and the manager getting the guy's photo & biography they might let him get down for a nickel.

Ya but what would the bio have to say for them to limit someones betting??

[jrcaces]

Anyone else play at A las vegas book? JJ where are you????

[vanzack]

There are no real professionals in vegas.

You cant bet enough, the logistics are daunting, and the juice is too high.

Anyone in vegas who you know about is there for one reason - publicity. Anybody who bets real money and bets to make money - bets offshore.

Period.

[pokernut9999]

There are no real professionals in vegas.

You cant bet enough, the logistics are daunting, and the juice is too high.

Anyone in vegas who you know about is there for one reason - publicity. Anybody who bets real money and bets to make money - bets offshore.

Period.

Bullshit

[vanzack]

Bullshit

Explain how it is bullshit.

[pokernut9999]

There are many pros in Vegas period.

[vanzack]

There are many pros in Vegas period.

Thats quite an explanation.

The truth is that you cant get a bet down for any kind of real money. The truth is also that anyone who is serious about making money is not paying -110, and running around town (or paying someone to run around town) looking for the best number.

There are no pros betting in vegas.

Why would anyone choose to bet in vegas? Can you name one advantage for a pro? The only advantages are for the tourists - they can walk up to a window and bet their 100 bucks with ease. No pro needs this. No pro lays -110 unless a number is good. And no pro can walk up to vegas and hit them for 20K on a line.

Pros are pros because they get the best number and are value conscious, and can bet big money. Who would choose vegas over Pinnacle, BetCris, WSEX, and Matchbook? Im serious, can you name one advantage? Pros make money by ONLY getting the best number and juice, and you are at a logistic disadvantage looking for that in vegas - and then walk up to the window and have a manager cut your nuts off by limiting you to 2k per side.

Vegas is a myth. Its the past. Nobody bets sports in vegas anymore.

[biffsworld]

Can you place bets into a Vegas sports book over the phone? Or do you have to go there physically in person and give them cash?

[MrX]

Why would anyone choose to bet in vegas? Can you name one advantage for a pro?

I shop the both offshore and Vegas for MLB moneylines. About half the time a Vegas book will have a better price than any of my offshore outs, often by a significant margin.

However, If I had to choose one or the other, I would choose offshore.

[vanzack]

I shop the both offshore and Vegas for MLB moneylines. About half the time a Vegas book will have a better price than any of my offshore outs, often by a significant margin.

However, If I had to choose one or the other, I would choose offshore.

I dont know if you are a pro or not - and Im not going to ask you how much you bet - but when you get these good numbers in vegas you cant bet 20-50K on it. Most places limit a walk up bettor to about 3k per side in NCAAF, and that is a hassle.

I would also be surprised if Vegas has a better number at -110 than a combination of Pinnacle, MB, Cris, and WSEX half the time. I have a very difficult time believing this. 1 cent spreads at MB and 8 cent lines at pinny have to counteract the half point you might be able to get.

PS EDIT - didnt see MLB lines in your post. Are you telling me that a vegas dime line (being generous) has better prices than a 1 cent spread at MB where you can get 50K down routinely on a normal MLB game? That doesnt sound right to me. But even if it is a better price, in your experience how much can you bet on that MLB side? I would be surprised if it was 2k.

[BuddyBear]

The shrink was on the radio the other day stating that anyone who is betting big money is not doing it in Vegas. I can't say with complete conviction, but it seems like all the pros are betting offshore.

JJGold put it best a few years back, "vegas is for tourist, offshores are for the sharp gamblers...."

[pokernut9999]

So you have to bet 20k to 50k to be a pro now ?

[DrunkenLullaby]

Can you place bets into a Vegas sports book over the phone? Or do you have to go there physically in person and give them cash?

See "Wire Act, The".

[durito]

sbrodds has vegas lines. You will see some #'s that are better than pinny/matchbook/greek/wsex/cris from time to time. almost always on dogs. the lines look a lot like bodog or sportsbook.com, which I think says pretty much all you need to know about vegas.

vegas books take big action from high rollers that lose million of $ there per year. they have no interest in taking large bets from people they don't know or people who win.

[jon13009]

While going to a legal sportsbook and placing bets there is a nice thing to have, particularly watching a game at the books themselves, I think doing making sports bets in the comfort of your home (or anywhere internet service is available) is easier and more efficient.

By placing bets at home, not only do you save gas and time traveling from book to book, but you can do all the game research, get tons of opinions and info from various gambling forums, shop for good lines and make multiple bets without having to fill out a bunch of paper tickets. When you win, your account is credited almost instantaneously, and you can place bets 24 hours a day or night (as long as you book has the lines available) The only problem is that you are dependent on your internet service running smoothly.

If only the US govt didn't pass that idiotic law, I would be able to fund and withdraw funds directly from my bank account.

I have never used a bookie, and if the internet/offshore options were not available, I probably would not be betting sports right now or ever heard (or know of) things like Kelly stakes, Pinnacle leans, steam moves or vig and arbs.

[MrX]

I dont know if you are a pro or not - and Im not going to ask you how much you bet - but when you get these good numbers in vegas you cant bet 20-50K on it. Most places limit a walk up bettor to about 3k per side in NCAAF, and that is a hassle.

Yes, Vegas is an enormous hassle, and I usually have to bet at more that one book to get my bets in (yes, 3k-5k is as high as most places will take on a MLB side). That's the number one reason I would take offshore if I had to make the choice.

I would also be surprised if Vegas has a better number at -110 than a combination of Pinnacle, MB, Cris, and WSEX half the time. I have a very difficult time believing this. 1 cent spreads at MB and 8 cent lines at pinny have to counteract the half point you might be able to get.

I can't speak for anything but MLB. I get the hell out of Vegas as soon as baseball is over.

PS EDIT - didnt see MLB lines in your post. Are you telling me that a vegas dime line (being generous) has better prices than a 1 cent spread at MB where you can get 50K down routinely on a normal MLB game? That doesnt sound right to me. But even if it is a better price, in your experience how much can you bet on that MLB side? I would be surprised if it was 2k.

The Vegas dime lines and even 15 cent lines often have a better price than matchbook, especially when the line is moving. Vegas is slow. Quite a few decent dime lines take 3k. One will often take to 10k and beyond. Even if I can only pop a good line for 3k and play the rest at MB, the extra value adds up to a lot by the end of the season. Is it worth spending six summer months in this hell-hole? Probably not.

[MrX]

Can you place bets into a Vegas sports book over the phone? Or do you have to go there physically in person and give them cash?

You can at most (you must be a Nevada resident and you can only make the bets while in Nevada), but the phone/computer limits are low low low.

[raiders72002]

vanzack- You can get better information than what I'm posting here because I don't live in Vegas.

That said, you are incorrect on a lot. I had a chance to talk with Fezzik. I've met up with other pros that live in Vegas while I'm there.

A lot of times I've been out there for the NCAA tournament. There are many advantages to being there.

There were many pros before offshore books were available.
The disadvantages are limits and filling out tax forms.

[raiders72002]

Anyone in vegas who you know about is there for one reason - publicity

This is wrong too. Most want to keep a low profile.

[jjgold]

Your money is safest in Vegas as their is no comparison to anything else

Best Lines are offshore, highest limits are offshore

Locals are good for guys with self control

[ForgetWallStreet]

The only "pros" in Vegas would seem to be the guys who make their money selling picks rather than playing them.

Seriously, given the choice, who in their right mind would bet 5K+ at greater than -105. You'd have to be insane.

The biggest problem with this debate is that the definition of a "pro" is grey. I'm sure there are thousands of pros in Vegas. That doesn't mean any of them have money.

[vanzack]

The only "pros" in Vegas would seem to be the guys who make their money selling picks rather than playing them.

Seriously, given the choice, who in their right mind would bet 5K+ at greater than -105. You'd have to be insane.

The biggest problem with this debate is that the definition of a "pro" is grey. I'm sure there are thousands of pros in Vegas. That doesn't mean any of them have money.

Very good post.

I guess my assumption is that I define pro as someone who is serious about making money. Someone who's only goal is to make money.

That being said, I will repeat what you said, who in their right mind is laying -110 at a similar or worse number? Someone who is not serious about making money, and therefore under my definition is not a pro.

So I will maintain, I still have yet to hear why a pro would go to vegas? (other than MrX who states for MLB he can get a better price on certain games).

[regularguy]

I bet at both. Quite modest amounts compared to some of you, I'm sure. I like the offshore sites for line-shopping and for convenience (betting from my computer, in my underwear, on Saturday morning). I like the Nevada books for having a beer with buddies, watching the game, and then picking up my cash. It's all good.

Oh, and don't forget Reno/Tahoe. The people are friendlier. There are trees. There is a lake and a river. The skiing is hellacious.

[fivedimes]

With all due respect I think Vanzack's idea of a pro is a bit out of touch. Yes I do think there are some that lay down $10,000 or more from time to time or maybe even routinely. but from all that I have encountered and heard the vast majority of "professionals" wager a much more modest amount on games, and wager ALOT of games, and they call it a good month when they hit for 54%. By modest I mean $500 to $1000 per game. You can make a very good living doing that and not overextending your bankroll as we all know you should not be betting more than 2% +/- of your bankroll.

So to think that there are a bunch of pros out there with $10 million bankroll that are throwing around $50K is just a bit too glamorous and not in touch with reality.

[fivedimes]

I think the average "professional" sports gambler is profitable, lives a good life, but not a glamorous life. He/She is unkown for the most part, and has a nice net worth of maybe $1MM or more. They wager on average $500 and keep the units consistent (that is my rule and I think it's a good one).

ANYBODY selling picks is suspect immediately. Please excuse me any of you in the teaching profession but an old addage hold true for touts here... "those who can DO, those who cannot TEACH". Touts are marketing talents and marketing talents alone. They hold no value to picking winners over the long haul because if they could do it consistently they would do just that. There is far more money to be made wagering if you are consistently good at it.

This rule also holds true to any of dozens of spin doctors that hold seminars or sell dvds or books telling you how to get rich in real estate, direct marking, online business, etc. Carlton Sheets made his fortune in the selling of his personna, NOT in the investment of real estate. Same holds true for any tout - and I mean ANY and all touts.