Favorite book policies/rules/perks, and least favorite

[buckeye]

Favs

1. AcesGold's +100 fri deals.
These are fantastic. I also appreciate that they extend them to parlays. I have a soft spot for this because they created their chart based on my question to them. Now, when someone asks me what a "true odds" spread parlay should pay, I refer them to the chart ( since many can't understand power of 2 - 1 TO 1 )!

2. Cross-sport/inter-sport parlay friendly outs. This includes SIA(best), Camelot(close 2nd), AllWorld(include props!), WSEX, 5dimes, Canbet, carib and a few others. The first 3 are particularly noteworthy as it shows they believe in their lines and aren't afraid to book bets on all of them.

3. All other juice deals period( sense a theme? ).
102Tue, 105Tue, 105(3-4), 105always, 107, 2.9-1, +1006ptrs, etc. etc. I am a juice reduce junkie!

4. Free fast payouts ( >= 1/month ).
I hate getting $20-ed here, $35-ed there, or jacked around. Just get me my damned $ and give me it back free, as long as I give you plenty of action and don't ask for more than 1-2 a month!

5. Fast, intelligible, curteous customer service.
Camelot rates an 11 here, IMHO. I've never been put on hold or transferred 3 times or had to ask them to repeat what they said 5 times or been delayed. Mark answers emails in minutes and most things are done in seconds. Wish they all were this good!

DOGS, besides those that don't do 1-5 above.
1. Crummy/buggy s/w.
I'm almost exclusively an online bettor, and some of these sites SUCK. Some of the books most raved about, like WWTS, are also the worst sites, IMHO. Online is supposed to be point and click and fast, as in not having to sit on the phone for rundowns and readbacks and all the BS that takes forever on the phone. Yet some of these sites seem like they were designed by idiots. Many of my favorite outs still have s/w that spits Java script errors and MS-SQL errors at me all the time. Also, enough with the initials or p/w confirmation, it hasn't prevented me from phucking up once - it just slows down my phuck-ups! Do linesmakers have to type in their p/w for each and every game they hang a line on? Would that prevent "obvious errors in lines"? Maybe I'm on to something! LOL

2. Online low maxs and high mins.
I have said that phone bets should probably have higher mins many places, and definitely be limited to 3 or less team parlays and teasers ( unless they are for a buck or more ).
But online should have lower mins and higher maxs. One out I use doesn't allow >250 a shot online. You have to enter 4 seperate bets to reach their dime max. Even a minnow like me runs into maxs, though rarely, when they are 250 or 275 or even 55 (ITOPS). I can see limiting some unique props, but some of these places are gutless. It is ironic that the most misgrades I get are at these low limit outs. I'd also like to be able to throw $5 away on an occasional big parlay, so why the $20 min some outs have? Online txns are very cheap to them!

3.Dealing two+ lines.
Books complain about multiple accounts and bonus scams, etc., and rightly so, but then they flat out cheat some players by dealing multiple lines. This is a "car salesman-like" sleazy tactic. To the little old lady the sticker is fixed, to the reluctant informed haggler there is a minimum they are willing to "talk the manager into". Many places have two prices, but that is cheating and preying on the ignorance of others, IMO. If it were a case of better vig, or half a point better, to the high volume/action player, I'd have no problem! But it is profiling squares and dealing them worse on favs and their fav teams, etc. That blows, IMO! Fairness is a two way street. Kick the aholes out w/o letting them profit from scams, but don't cheat those that play with you.

GL2All [img]graemlins/Drunk_1.gif[/img]

[ 11-22-2001: Message edited by: buckeye ]</p>

[siniful]

Once again I find your posts very informative. I agree with most of what you are saying. I too am a low vig, no transfer fee junkie. It really is so easy to get the customers if they just listen to what we really want.

[nostaw1952]

Well written and thoughtfully presented. If you like reduced juice on parlays, Infinity gives 7 to 1 true odds on 3 teamers ALL the time, instead of merely on selected days like Ace's Gold & 5 Card Charlie's. All things considered, however,
Ace's is the best of the places of this type.

[Crony]

Buckeye,

Interesting post.

Disagree with #3 on your Dogs section.
Its not like the player is forced to wear a "I am a square" t-shirt and play nothing but favorites.
Books with non consensus lines have value for the player. If a book has you profiled and adjusts their lines, that represents opportunity.
A side benefit, if the book is good at profiling, they are probably able to increase their profit margins. Profitable books can offer more perks and stomache sharp action (not that they all do).

[buckeye]

nostaw,
Thanks a lot for the input. I actually do play most of my NON-FRI 3 teamers at Infinity. I tend not to mention them much here, because they aren't an advertiser AND many here hate all books with any connection to NASA at all. I have had no problems there, and they have added PayPal and Neteller recently, which makes them zoom up the viability list. I do appreciate the input though! Thanks again.

Crony,
What I don't like is getting profiled as a non-square when I really am one, so then I stop getting a hook or better difference to shop with. But I think the whole thing is slimy, just as many car dealerships are slimy. Sure it helps boost profits, but it is underhanded. Just like opening multiple accts to collect bonuses. That boosts the bonus whore's bankroll too, but it isn't fair dealin. I respect your opinion, and understand your take, but I don't think book's should take advantage of squares, just like bonus whore's shouldn't abuse the bonus policies. JMHO!

Happy Turkey day!

[rocketman]

Did the forum ever come up with a definitive list of which books are dealing two lines?

[Proof and Facts]

Crony

I agree with you. If they deal 2 or ten different lines who cares. The player isnt forced to bet any line ever. He can play it or pass it.

Also I think it would be harder for books to do they can open themselves up to bad writes on games as well that way.

I have a good sheet of players mostly "squares" and I often get the "your office has the line to high." Ok so then bet the dog or pass

PNF

Buckeye the rest I think you were right on with

PNF