So the issue of multiple lines and how fair this practice is has really created a stir on this site. There has been a few requests for a BM's opinion....... here is what we think.
First, we feel there are actually 4 different types of players.
Player 1 "Public". The recreational player. He plays because he intends to win. He roots for his team every time he has a few $ on the game, and over time he will get juiced out.
Player 2 "wiseguy" He sits at home and studies his games using all the info available, and today there is alot! He may also pay a professional handicapper (not a tout service). His plays generally win and over time this player may actually generate a profit.
Player 3 "steamer" This player may actually be on a radio call, moving games, or following them. Depending on the success of the outfit and the season they are having..... they generally win over time. Any of you who doubt this, remember baseball last year.
Player 4 "middler" This player doesn't care one way or another He is looking for a point and half or more or a free 5 cents or better.
This player "will win" How much he wins in a particular book depends on how sharp the linesmaker is. He is sometimes a necessary evil.
Now that we have outlined these players you will agree that a book only has a real shot at player 1. These players are generally smaller players. No offense to Scotty, but bookmaking today is a whole different game. With all the info available, players are much smarter. Some of the players we handle are not even allowed to walk into a Vegas casino. Hang out an opening number all day and you will be sweeping the streets pretty soon.
Sometimes players 2,3and 4 may be confused and mixed into one category "wiseguys". Sometimes their action will equal and even surpass that of player 1. There is nothing wrong if a book choses to book their action separately using different lines.
In any event the patterns of these players are very distinct and depending on the volumes you deal of each of them, a sportsbook should should decide to deal multiple lines if it increases their bottom line. Every player wants to win, and every player wants the book to stay around to pay him. To say that a book robs its players by dealing a different line to the squares is ludicrous. A book does take the losers money to pay the winners. So who is robbing who???
We feel that if you don't like the number dealt to you just don't play into it. We also don't agree with all the numbers on the screen and therefore we are quite confident that there are alot of them every day that you would like in our book.
Hope this helps!
Eddie
First, we feel there are actually 4 different types of players.
Player 1 "Public". The recreational player. He plays because he intends to win. He roots for his team every time he has a few $ on the game, and over time he will get juiced out.
Player 2 "wiseguy" He sits at home and studies his games using all the info available, and today there is alot! He may also pay a professional handicapper (not a tout service). His plays generally win and over time this player may actually generate a profit.
Player 3 "steamer" This player may actually be on a radio call, moving games, or following them. Depending on the success of the outfit and the season they are having..... they generally win over time. Any of you who doubt this, remember baseball last year.
Player 4 "middler" This player doesn't care one way or another He is looking for a point and half or more or a free 5 cents or better.
This player "will win" How much he wins in a particular book depends on how sharp the linesmaker is. He is sometimes a necessary evil.
Now that we have outlined these players you will agree that a book only has a real shot at player 1. These players are generally smaller players. No offense to Scotty, but bookmaking today is a whole different game. With all the info available, players are much smarter. Some of the players we handle are not even allowed to walk into a Vegas casino. Hang out an opening number all day and you will be sweeping the streets pretty soon.
Sometimes players 2,3and 4 may be confused and mixed into one category "wiseguys". Sometimes their action will equal and even surpass that of player 1. There is nothing wrong if a book choses to book their action separately using different lines.
In any event the patterns of these players are very distinct and depending on the volumes you deal of each of them, a sportsbook should should decide to deal multiple lines if it increases their bottom line. Every player wants to win, and every player wants the book to stay around to pay him. To say that a book robs its players by dealing a different line to the squares is ludicrous. A book does take the losers money to pay the winners. So who is robbing who???
We feel that if you don't like the number dealt to you just don't play into it. We also don't agree with all the numbers on the screen and therefore we are quite confident that there are alot of them every day that you would like in our book.
Hope this helps!
Eddie
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