To time out or not

[Topspinner]

One of my pet peeves is a books software that times out. I keep all of the books lines up at the same time when capping games and it is such a pain in the ass to have to go through the log in procedure, because the book has timed me out, this really sucks especially right before game time.

Anyway, I signed up with a new book before they had their software online and now they went online and their software timesout after ten minutes. I complained to them about this and was told it was done for my protection. I guess my puppy might be making a bet. (she only bets dogs) I was just wondering if you guys hate this much as I do, or think this timing out thing is a good idea. Maybe if the books see feedback that the players hate it, they might do something about it.

[sportshobby]

Two hours timeout, I could understand. But 10 minutes?!!! The whold thing's B.S. anyway, because most people use the built-in feature to save the user name and password in the computer's browser.

I'm convinced that the best approach to this problem is that taken by WSEX. You don't even have to log in to check games and lines. Whenever you try to place a wager or check funds, a password dialog box comes up (and your browser can automatically store this info, so just an "enter" is necessary).

But for books that can't do that with their software, for heaven's sake, extend the timeout time!

[Java]

Duh. Of course there are timeouts. An online sportsbook is not a line
service. (That's why Don Best charges a fee.)

When you log into a sportsbook: you come in, get the lines and either
bet or not. The online sportsbook will take your action at whatever line it
posts, but it is NOT in the book's interest to HELP you pick them off. Is
ANY sportsbook going to be upset that your getting timed-out and having to
log back in saved them from getting hit on a line move?

The timeouts are a small deterrent to the wiseguys (as are lower wager
limits, and separate lines for profiled players). The timeouts do not
affect the standard player that comes in, bets and leaves.

There are also technical reasons. Every internet connection/login eats
up computer resources. Since many players 'forget' to log out or just turn
off their computers, the software needs to log you out and clean up memory
or it will get overloaded with hundreds of players coming in but only a
fraction of them actively wagering. Also, the managers like to get an
accurate count of how many players are actually online, rather that just
sitting there. Internet connections are very expensive offshore, and a good
manager has to figure out how much bandwidth is needed based upon how many
players are really playing.

[Cons]

I use over a dozen outs, and none of them prevents me from seeing the lines without logging in. I would never consider signing up with a sportsbook that doesn't make their line public...

[Topspinner]

You made some valid points Java, however all the other books that I play with (olympic, premiere league, intertops and Wsex) do not time you out, and these are among the best books in the industry. I guess it depends on what the book wants to spend on bandwidth and servers. I agree with Sportshobby, that Wsex system is the best as they automatically refresh the lines.

[JohnnyDeMarco]

Time-outs occur for two reasons.
1) Lines do change, if you sit there and do not refresh your screen for a while and the line changes on a game that is a problem for you & the store.
2) Also, imagine if everyone just sat there. How many internet servers would a store need then? Too many.

[jacmar]

I signed up with Grand Central Sports a few weeks ago. I thought their site was great...until I saw that I timed out every 5 minutes. I wont re-up with them until it is fixed somewhat. It's just ridiculous.

[sportshobby]

Java, you're right that the most square player will just come in, see the lines, play, and leave.

But short of wiseguys are those who study, look at a few lines, maybe wait on a number they're looking for. An online book that times you out after 10-15 minutes is way too much trouble for even this type of player.

[bsky2]

Jacmar, I had the same problem with Grand Central's site. They told me they didn't want wiseguys waiting for the lines to move and still be able to get the old number. They informed me that they are re-designing the site to never time out unless the line moves on the game you want to bet and you have been on for more than 2 minutes. In other words even if the line moves you get that line for 2 minutes. If the line doesn't move, they said you could be on there system all day without a timeout.

They claim this will be done this week. They seem to be a real good book other than that annoying problem.

[Java]

The WSEX site is great site. Personally, I don't like the auto-refresh. If you are in the middle of entering a play, the screen can refresh on you.
Also, I've been surfing the net for 5 years now (used to be on a 14.4 modem) and I just hate seeing wasted bandwidth. I surf with graphics off (each graphic is about the same size as the page it sits on). If WSEX wants to eat the extra bandwidth or make the sharp player's job easier, I wish them luck.
Topspinner, if you ran a sportsbook, would you want someone like yourself as a player?
As far as the length of a timeout: I agree with jacmar that 5 minutes is way too short. 10-15 should be reasonable for most players. If you are sitting there for more than 10-15 (max 20) minutes without hitting a button, it is reasonable Internet programming to assume that you walked away or lost the connection. It used to be that many ISP's would terminate your dial-up connection if no activity for 20 minutes and cancel your account if you used a 'robot' program to keep the connection alive.
Costa Rica has a lot of bandwidth problems, and it's not always the sportsbook's fault. The government run Internet there is terrible and it is very difficult to get decent bandwidth. I heard a sportsbook ordered a T1 line and the government installed a 128K line, and charged them for T1 until they got caught. All they really have is 128K lines. Unless a sportsbook can go with a satellite, they can't get decent bandwidth easily.

[Mad Jack]

I'm sitting here right now with 5 windows in the background connected to CRIS, Rio, ABC, WSEX and NASA, and those windows have been active since about 2:00 this afternoon and no time out. If I tried to place a bet on a line that was changed, the bet won't go through. I get a message that tells me the line changed and my only option is to go back to the main menu and refresh the lines. I don't have to retype in my ID and password.

I could be wrong, but I don't think I'm using bandwidth unless I refresh and download the page again, and big deal if I am using bandwidth. That's part of the overhead of their business, which is really cheap. I'd probably have to reload a page a couple million times per month to cost those books $50. I don't think these books are worried about the bandwidth. Look at all the money they spend on referral fees, advertising, bonuses, reload bonuses, Fed Ex, etc., etc.

They should just get the equipment necessary to make their site as user friendly as possible and they will make up those costs in the long run many times over. I'm not going to bother using a book that requires me to enter my ID and password every 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or whatever. But, that's just me.

[Jeff]

If a book wanted to be the ultimate in online wagering, they would/should use a combination of Olympic and WSEX, in my opinion.

WSEX, because of the refresh. Sure, it's possible to have it refresh just as your about to wager, but more times than not, it's not a problem.

Olympic, because of the new feature which shades the lines gray, if they have changed within the last 15 min. No refresh on Olympic though.

Also, one of my favorite features in an online book is the ability to make a play at the new number, if a line has changed, without having to go back and start all over again. Basically, "the line is now -125, do you still want the play?"....

What's truely amazing about WSEX, is that they were one of the very 1st online books, and have not made one change to the site other than some behind the scenes upgrades such as bandwidth and servers. No one has yet duplicated their system.

Caribs book is similar. It was done by the same guy as wsex.........