[Paul Kersey]

Also stuck up my craw besides "Sign-up bonus Mania" are CONTESTS.

Why do I think they're cleverly promoted in some way getting you to either join a book, promote their sportsbook business or in some subliminal way BET MORE than you planned? EX: raising your confidence to back your teams & bet more!!

Think I'm just going to stick with the NFL contests I played last year at the OSGA. *Nothing to join and FREE to enter. Anyway..I can keep it separate from my Sunday/Monday NFL betting and just have fun.

Last year the weekly progressive pool lasted the entire year..which I just missed cashing a pretty decent prize..damn. And I didn't risk anything.

Anyway..if you want to check this out the website is www.osga.com

At least I won't be sweating out the game results plus they printed the player results each week. Better than keeping score of my rollovers..lol.

Anybody else out there a bit leery of these "contests"? Wish we all weren't getting so jaded..

[DukeJohn]

Also stuck up my craw besides "Sign-up bonus Mania" are CONTESTS.

Why do I think they're cleverly promoted in some way getting you to either join a book, promote their sportsbook business or in some subliminal way BET MORE than you planned? EX: raising your confidence to back your teams & bet more!!

Think I'm just going to stick with the NFL contests I played last year at the OSGA. *Nothing to join and FREE to enter. Anyway..I can keep it separate from my Sunday/Monday NFL betting and just have fun.

Last year the weekly progressive pool lasted the entire year..which I just missed cashing a pretty decent prize..damn. And I didn't risk anything.

Anyway..if you want to check this out the website is www.osga.com

At least I won't be sweating out the game results plus they printed the player results each week. Better than keeping score of my rollovers..lol.

Anybody else out there a bit leery of these "contests"? Wish we all weren't getting so jaded..

I guess you posted just to put that link in there, idk. However, those contest require you to join osga and then if you win you will have join whichever sportsbook sponsored the event. Furthermore the prize pool is so much less than SBR, so, I don't really understand why this upsets you.

[Paul Kersey]

What upsets me is...and as I was saying...the SPORTSBOOKS run contests as an application to incite more betting. In some way you have to join to be involved.

It hasn't and didn't cost me a dime anywhere to join the OSGA contests. Yeah..I understand the book sponsors help pay the prizes but you don't have to join the books to play. Elsewhere you're "indirectly paying".

[econoguy]

Just because you join a sportsbook doesn't mean you have to bet? Most of them have free games, while others require minimum account balances.

[DukeJohn]

What upsets me is...and as I was saying...the SPORTSBOOKS run contests as an application to incite more betting. In some way you have to join to be involved.

It hasn't and didn't cost me a dime anywhere to join the OSGA contests. Yeah..I understand the book sponsors help pay the prizes but you don't have to join the books to play. Elsewhere you're "indirectly paying".

I guess it is just your prespective on this, but all SBR's contest are free to join. I would also add that this is a sports betting forum, so having multiple accounts is just part of the business of making sure you get the best line. Now, if you do not have the funds to fund account, then you don't have to. I know I have several accounts I have only signed up on, but not funded, maybe one day I will. However, if you are just playing the OSGA contests because you know you will lose and have no belief you will win anything, then okay, I guess you can get away with not having to sign up for an account. However, if you plan to win any prize at all you will have to sign up at that book to collect your prize. You might as well play at ESPN or something.

However, your entitled to feel how you want about this and posting your comments may entice others to feel they are not alone in feeling the way you do. I personally just don't really think it matters and would much prefer to play a contest with a bigger prize pool and that doesn't cost me anything, like the ones at SBR.

BoL,

[Paul Kersey]

Yes...understand your point. Whatever contest you play AWAY from the books is no harm/no foul. In fact you could play different sides in a few different contests to enhance your chances.

The major point is stay away from contests AT THE SPORTSBOOKS. Psychologically, that screws up your mind and can alter an undisciplined bettor gameplan.

Anytime there's a hint of money around..everything changes.

[Dark Horse]

Upside: contests draw people in, and can improve capping skills through competitive drive.
Downside: contests draw people in, causing them to make bets they otherwise might not make.

[ehp6737]

this thread makes absolutely no sense