Referendum: which type of book do you like?

[PerpetualCzech]

I'm interested in your opinions out there on this one ... which type of book would you prefer betting at:

1) One that has a reputation of putting up lines first with a little more juice and letting the public bet into it to smooth them out? or,

2) One that waits until the line has been "ironed out" and posts it later with less juice.

I'm interested in this because those of you who know Olympic know that Spiro is certainly the first type, someone who like to play around a lot with loose lines and gamble a bit. Opinions?

[AussieVamp2]

Early is good

i.e. can bet, go to bed, go out, go do whatever, and not have to hang around until before the game at whatever weird hour that might be

[This message has been edited by AussieVamp2 (edited 08-13-2000).]

[wintermute]

Why not the best of both worlds? Post early at twenty cents and then switch to 10 cents when the line has settled down - say an hour before game time.

Greedy 'mute

[boris]

If you're trying to cover world markets, then early is good. I've got no problem with books that go up early and a little wide, and then tighten up a little later - as long as I know that is the way they operate.

[ShiftySheik]

If you're talking about baseball, I'd take a dime line posted late any day. The 20c baseball lines at Olympic are useless to anyone who has multiple outs.

[SEC]

I agree with the Sheik - I love olympic for golf, football, props, etc.. but IMO they do themselves a disservice with the 20c line during bases. With their differing lines sometimes, they'd get alot more action (if thats what they're looking for.)

As for late vs. early line...I give it a definite 'depends' on the situation and how much the line could be bet into. I'd usually go for the less juice if gametime is to far in advance (week+).

[Underdog7]

I think the answer here is depending on what kind of player you are and what sports are we talking about. Since the topic is baseball I guess, and you are a scalper or middler, the more line moves the better for you, so #1 suits you most. If you are a "straight" player, just shopping for the best line, #2 is what you are looking for.

[buckeye]

PC,
I would prefer consistent 20 cent lines for all sports, except 10 for bases for those players. Your golf lines, for example, are VERY LATE to post compared to many other outs that offer many of the same 72-hole matchups you do. So THEY let players "right" the lines and then you come along with 30 cents on the same matchups. I could "kind of" understand if you only hung 30 cents on lines that were unique to Oly, or your own, but you are consistent at 30 cents for ALL. You do offer some "different" matchups, but why the 30 cent lines when others offer 20 cents across the board on 72-holers?

As for the original question, why not offer wide lines until others hang them, then tighten them. That seems like a decent compromise.

BTW, thanks for being willing to ask such questions, it takes some brass nuts to let know-nothings like me shoot at them!

[big o]

There is no doubt that you guys are one of the best books out there; however, your
baseball lines are a big negative and have
caused me to go elsewhere for action.
I personally would prefer to play mlb with
Olympic but will not until the lines are
better.

[big o]

There is no doubt that you guys are one of the best books out there; however, your
baseball lines are a big negative and have
caused me to go elsewhere for action.
I personally would prefer to play mlb with
Olympic but will not until the lines are
better.

[AussieVamp2]

Well, if Olympic having 20c baseball lines keeps them running along nicely and offering all those other things that are offered nowhere else, then keep them, makes sense to me.

Let the baseball sharks go elsewhere - no shortage of other places to get the 10c line it seems.

On the golf thing, from what I read in the odd publication etc., it seems golf matchups are beatable (not by me, of course) if you know what you are doing - i.e. some UK places removed them for most events, things like that.

So, if Spiro, as people seem to acknowledge, is very knowledgeable about this sports betting stuff, and has a 30c line, seems to go along with the 20c baseball reasoning and seems to indicate some consistent thinking by this bookmaker - i.e. wants a shot at making some money on both these events.
No-name player A vs no-name player B at non-name PodunkCorp Open at Ineverwannagotheresville, got to be a bit tricky to deal with?

That being said though, what are their golf markets on the big tournaments? Would seem fairly reasonable to expect some better markets on matchups with these events. (don't look at them, so wouldn't know)

[This message has been edited by AussieVamp2 (edited 08-14-2000).]

[sportshobby]

I think 'mute beat me to it, but the answer is both. Being the first out with the odds is great in many circumstances. Olympic gets more baseball totals action from me than probably any other book.

But you have to be competitive. The baseball sides at 20 cents causes them to almost never get any of my plays. In fact, I probably miss a few bargains because it is not usually worth my attention to even look at them.

The same must be true for soccer and other sports (and maybe Cub totals ) If you are the only one posting the odds, you can probably get away with higher juice. But as the game gets closer, the competition heats up, and the lines have been somewhat ironed out. This is the time to go for lowest possible juice.

[AussieVamp2]

Originally posted by sportshobby:
The same must be true for soccer and other sports (and maybe Cub totals ) If you are the only one posting the odds, you can probably get away with higher juice. But as the game gets closer, the competition heats up, and the lines have been somewhat ironed out. This is the time to go for lowest possible juice.

-- Does this make sense for the sportsbook though, seeing this is when you get most of the betting, closer to the game. i.e. none of the NFL specials you see are 'get 1.95 odds on the NFL, but only for an hour just before gametime!'

[sportshobby]

An hour before game time for an NFL game is certainly too late to reduce the juice. This is because most people have already made their bets by that time.

What I'm saying is that if a book goes out on a limb and posts odds earlier than anyone else, charging a bit more juice shouldn't be frowned on.

[AussieVamp2]

wasn't disagreeing with that