CRIS ANNOUNCEMENT

[DoubleJJ]

I wonder why Dana hasnt replied....could it be noone told him what to say yet?

[mls]

I believe Don Best is working on adding a number of new offshore books. You can then simply choose to not include the non-dime line shops on your screen (my screen only has room for 14 books).

[boris]

Just three things to say, because I fell asleep reading the same tired ol' crap thru virtually every post.

1. Can't beat a 20c line. Bollocks! America ain't the only country to have pro punters, and the rest of the world yawns at baseball - work that one out.

2. DoubleJJ - you've obviously got no idea how any business, let alone a sportsbook works.

3. For some imaginary bloke that christians believe in's sake, IT'S ONLY BASEBALL!!!

[Cons]

Not to p!ss off anyone, but I think a dime line too little of a margin for a sportsbook, though it looks damn good from a bettors point of view.

At street-corner sportsbooks here in England, 40-cents is the standard. From my point of view it's strange listening to complaints about a 20-cent line, when I have to face 40-cent lines every week.

Overall, I think 20-cents should be the standard for most bets, and what I'd really like to see is tennis odds going in this direction.

[DoubleJJ]

Boris-
Since you obviously can not put an argument together that is intelligent, or backed by facts, Ill just ask you, what I have said that is either not true, or shows any sign that I dont know what Im talking about. Further more I have been in this business since you were calling your ****, ****y. And if youd like to see what I do in baseball, you get an independant judge from this forum, Ill post my picks, and well see who finishes +40 games, betting mostly dogs for the season.....up for the challenge?

[DoubleJJ]

Cons-
I do not know much about wagering in England, or the price of the line there. But here where you can choose to support or not play with the books who are moving to the 20 cent line is important. Whats to stop these same shops from saying next football season, that juice will now be 6:5 on all straight bets. The house has a tremendous edge over the players in general. If it aint broke you dont fix it, what if your line was increased to 50 cents, would you just accept it?...If so, I dont belive you are cashing more winners then losers.....

[Don Best]

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[scott]

Dana: Be cool boss. You dont have to defend yourself against this guy. Your reputation in this industry is impeccable. I learned long ago I'm a big dog in a pissing contest. Scotty

[MAXIMUM VALUE]

Boris

What are you trying to say????
explain #3

[reno]

The reason a 40-cent line in England is "standard" is collusion. Just like high gas prices. And the same thing could begin with U.S. books. I've seen some of the boxing lines from England, and it's criminal the way they load on the juice. Reminds me of Caliente in Mexico, which has a monopoly.

That's why bettors are taking a stand. The 20-cent line in baseball could be just the start. Where does it end?

[boris]

Max Val,

3. For some imaginary bloke that christians believe in's sake, IT'S ONLY BASEBALL!!!

As Ferris Bueller once said - "People shouldn't believe in an 'ism', they should believe in themself"

I am completely unreligious, and believe that most wars of the world are caused by it.
To each your own beliefs, I don't want to waste the precious resource of oxygen debating it.

And it's only baseball. If people were interested in the game, then bookmakers wouldn't have needed to go to 10c lines in the first place..... All 10c lines do is create scalpers, and I've already given my opinions on their shallow existence.

DoubleJJ,
You're a typical arrogant NewYorker that isn't aware the world exists outside your own lunchbox, let alone the US. Couldn't give a farouk if you can pick more winners than Biff in 'Back to the Future II' once he had all the answers, that's not what the debate was about.

[boris]

Reno,
You've got too many places in your market to collude. There'll always be a cowboy ready to take on the competitors, thus ensuring lowest margin possible. The UK system has been going so long that punters are brainwashed into paying tax, and wide-lines (and often ties). And the English aren't exactly known for being entrepreneurial (with the noted exception of Richard Branson).
In Australia, Megasports tried hard early, offering 8c baseball lines, and better margins on every sport in comparison to the locals. All that did was call in the pros, and their margins receded to something more like the others

[Cons]

Boris/Reno, good points. Collusion actually happens a lot in England. Price-fixing is so wide-spread it's surprising Scotland Yard hasn't looked into it. The car business in England (and pretty much any other business) rips off the English consumer like no one else. As for gas prices, it's mostly the tax here. Same with beer.

The books here must be cooperating more than people think. Most bettors will not only pay tax, but they will settle for high vigm as well. Offshore books will change that, and books like William Hill will lose business if they continue to rip off players.

Yeah, Branson is quite a businessman. If there's one guy who can take on the coca-cola company, it's him. I actually think his cola tastes better, though I always order beer instead... I wonder if he'll ever enter the brewing business...?

[This message has been edited by Cons (edited 03-17-2000).]

[DoubleJJ]

Dana-
If you want to match wits, Ill remove my brains, and then well start even. First of all anyone who knows about Don Best, knows your old man, was the brains behind it, and getting the compnay started. And if you want to come on this message board, and say you dont care what people say, that your not answering to anyone , your flat out lying. Many post have mentioned you were the help behind setting up the meeting of the "commision". If you truly didnt want to take a stance, or particiapte it what the players feel is a bad move you would have stayed neutruel. If your going to say that you and CRIS dont have a "special" relationship, then your flat out lying. And if you deny it, Ill will tell people how I know you do. And finally, you might better off beinng a lawyer then in this business, you have never made a wager in your life, have no idea, what its like to try and make a living as a gambler, but you want to arrogonatly querstion, why people are upset with Donn Best, and their involvement with the moveto the 20 cent line.

[DoubleJJ]

scott-
if having a monopoly in an industry, is an impeccable reputation then, your right about Donn Best. Its too bad people on these boards, cant articulate an agrument, just fire from the hip.