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I won't mention the name of the book because they are all things considered, a pretty decent outfit. I'm considering closing my account with them however but haven't made my mind up yet. Comments from both bettors and sportsbooks would be appreciated. If the unnamed book wants to come out of the closet and identify/defend itself that's OK too. If they read this post they should be able to recognize themselves (they are listed at the top of the page).
On Sunday I placed a fairly substantial wager with them on the Vancouver Canucks at +0.5, +105. The next day I discovered an e-mail to the effect that my wager had been cancelled because the line was BAD. I talked to the general manager and was informed that the line had been posted in reverse. Vancouver should have been
+0.5, -125.
The point I tried to make with him and what I will try to make here as well is "How the hell am I supposed to know that?". At the time I placed the wager Vancouver ranged from -105 at Carib to -120 at WWTS. I said that his line was better than anyone else's by 10 cents so I took it. I didn't think it was so far off as to be a bad line. If there had been a slightly bigger discrepancy (say 5 or 10 cents) I would have checked with the sportsbook. If the discrepancy had been bigger than that I would have avoided the line altogether.
If the line had been posted as he wanted it then his line on Tampa Bay would have been better than anything else currently posted by 5 cents. So either way the line was a good one for observant bettors.
Some other points. This book generally posts their lines about 12 o'clock but may have been delayed due to heavy football action. If they posted them as late as 1 o'clock this BAD line was up for at least an hour before I jumped on it just after 2 PM. The e-mail arrived on my machine at 3:30 PM, just 30 minutes prior to game time but it being Canadian Thanksgiving I was not logged on so didn't see it. The wager I made was large for me but not out of line with what I've bet at this book in the past. In the past this book has often posted lines 10 cents or more better than anyone else's and there's never been a problem.
If they had very unbalanced action on the game because of the BAD line they could always have covered my bet and any other bets on Vancouver at another shop. They might have lost a few dollars but they would be miles ahead in customer relations.
But I suppose the real bottom line here is whether or not there is any honour in this business. This book made a contract with me and I took it in good faith. I'm not out to screw anyone and never have. All I'm asking for is a decent line and my payout if I happen to win. I don't have the option of calling the book back an hour later and saying that I want to take back the wager because WWTS had a much better line and I'm going to wager there instead.
a very steamed wintermute
On Sunday I placed a fairly substantial wager with them on the Vancouver Canucks at +0.5, +105. The next day I discovered an e-mail to the effect that my wager had been cancelled because the line was BAD. I talked to the general manager and was informed that the line had been posted in reverse. Vancouver should have been
+0.5, -125.
The point I tried to make with him and what I will try to make here as well is "How the hell am I supposed to know that?". At the time I placed the wager Vancouver ranged from -105 at Carib to -120 at WWTS. I said that his line was better than anyone else's by 10 cents so I took it. I didn't think it was so far off as to be a bad line. If there had been a slightly bigger discrepancy (say 5 or 10 cents) I would have checked with the sportsbook. If the discrepancy had been bigger than that I would have avoided the line altogether.
If the line had been posted as he wanted it then his line on Tampa Bay would have been better than anything else currently posted by 5 cents. So either way the line was a good one for observant bettors.
Some other points. This book generally posts their lines about 12 o'clock but may have been delayed due to heavy football action. If they posted them as late as 1 o'clock this BAD line was up for at least an hour before I jumped on it just after 2 PM. The e-mail arrived on my machine at 3:30 PM, just 30 minutes prior to game time but it being Canadian Thanksgiving I was not logged on so didn't see it. The wager I made was large for me but not out of line with what I've bet at this book in the past. In the past this book has often posted lines 10 cents or more better than anyone else's and there's never been a problem.
If they had very unbalanced action on the game because of the BAD line they could always have covered my bet and any other bets on Vancouver at another shop. They might have lost a few dollars but they would be miles ahead in customer relations.
But I suppose the real bottom line here is whether or not there is any honour in this business. This book made a contract with me and I took it in good faith. I'm not out to screw anyone and never have. All I'm asking for is a decent line and my payout if I happen to win. I don't have the option of calling the book back an hour later and saying that I want to take back the wager because WWTS had a much better line and I'm going to wager there instead.
a very steamed wintermute
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