loyalty to a sportbook vs efficiency of the out

[Chilly]

I love gameday. Courteous, fair, and honest book. I used them in 99 until I busted the account a year ago, and re-uped this year for football. I play hockey, nba, and football, and give them plenty of action (my bonus points have crawled past free beer of the month club gift status!).

However, their lines come up late for nba totals, and low limits persist for sides until sometimes noon est. Since nba will be my main priority for the next 3 months, I don't know why I should stay there since I can't get the best lines with these practices of theirs. Yet, I feel I owe them, because they have done right be me, and offered great perks and bonuses. I recommend them highly except for the problem for me with their nba lines. What is a gambler to do? any comments?

Chilly

[MISTY]

CHILLY, DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR. OPEN AN ACCOUNT AT "BETALLWORLD", GIVE THEM A TRY AND YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK TO GAME DAY. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH GAMEDAY ONLY THAT YOU WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH "BETALLWORLDS" SERVICE, PERKS AND BETTING OPTIONS. misty

[sportshobby]

I'd say keep a small amount at Gameday for the occasional late play, but open another account or two to get what you want. Right now CRIS is opening with the most unique lines, so you should be there. Other good choices with early NBA lines include Olympic, Jazz, Palmas, AllWorld, and Carib. And you can't pass up the -105 at Pinnacle.

[reno]

Chilly, although I'm allergic to long-term romantic relationships, I'd sooner commit to one woman than to one sportsbook. The only thing that you owe any book is the practice of honorable sportsbetting etiquette. If you're serious about sportsbetting, you need to diversify and play into as many books as you can. I now play into 35 books, and for baseball it'll probably be 40. The extra half-points, and even full points, that you'll find by shopping will pay off in spades for your bankroll.

[Chilly]

OK, whatever I'm doing in these posts apparently invites the impression I'm a (1) square and (2) new at this. I guess I don't mind, but its baffling me.

I've said this in prior posts--I have up to 10 outs I use at one time, presently just six. One of them is gameday. Whether or not I take much or any money from gameday is the question--I already have lines to choose from (wsex, olympic, goto, top of the world, gameday, etc); I just want more and varied lines to choose from, earlier in the day, and wonder I'm "justified" in withdrawing from gameday to get better lines, even though they do right by me. The reason I bring it up is pure self-interest says leave; but if we all behave this way, slefishly, many good books will lose a lot of customers while we individually search for the best bonus and best lines. Is this good for the industry? Should I care? Shouldn't players be loyal to good books like this, or does leaving teach them to "be better"? I guess if others stay and I'm in the minority of leavers, the demand for better lines isn't great enough to require books like gameday to change their practices. What obligation do players have to stay with "nice" books that aren't "great" books for your particular needs?

Chilly

[bbuster]

Reno- I'd be interested in hearing your definition of " honoarable sportsbetting etiquette ".

[reno]

Bbuster, sportsbetting etiquette is not very complicated. It's simply being honest with books and not taking advantage of blatant mistakes--such as taking 15 points on a team that should be favored by 15. If a player is in doubt about a line, he should contact the book for clarification.

[sportshobby]

Chilly, sorry about the misconception. But it may get you better deals and limits if you portray the square.

Anyway, I still believe you have to seek out the best deals for each situation and sport. You can maintain loyalty to Gameday by keeping a small balance there and considering them when their offers suit you.

[sportshobby]

Reno, if you don't mind my asking, what fraction of those 35 books do you have to post up? I'd think that could get to be a pretty big capital committment.

[Jeff]

Chilly, you bring up a great point......"does leaving them teach them to be better?"

Along those lines, I think it's important to voice your opinions/complaints, either in a public forum or privately to the book. Maybe if enough loyal, long time customers requested, say, that they post their totals a little earlier, and maybe raise their limits, they'd listen.

Maybe they would even make exceptions, and allow you to call in to get an early crack at the numbers. It's not out of the question for a book to do that for a loyal customer.......

[reno]

Sportshobby, I'm post-up with all but two.

[Chilly]

Jeff---thanks for the observation. That's a good idea to talk with them, about what they might do, or why I might stop playing there. Its like the bad waitress who makes you annoyed, and all she sees is a jerk because of the small tip, and never realizes why she got a bad tip. Instead, "that guy was a cheap-o". But who tells the waitress why she's getting a bad tip? You do it quickly and scram!

Or am I alone on this one...

Chilly

[parlay]

chilly - i have 5 outs and i find that to be enough for my needs. i agree with what jeff said. i would talk to them and express your concerns. if they say that they will rectify the problem, they i would stick around. if they say, sorry but we can't do that, then i think you take your business elsewhere. it isn't like you are asking for something not done by anyone in the industry.
i have been w/5dimes for about 18 mos and every time i have called to discuss things like overnight, etc, they have been great about discussing it and usually willing to accomodate.
you may find the folks at gameday to be the same way but you will never know until you try.

[Chilly]

well, I talked to someone at gameday, and was told they would make an honest attempt to move up when they put out totals, and curb their overnight limits, which sometimes lasted well past overnight. I will see how this goes, and appreciate their reply.

As a side note, they halved my net teller fee (from $120 to $60), which I thought was a fair compromise considering my ignorance coupled with the excessiveness of the fee. I give them an "A" for effort....

Chilly

[sportshobby]

Chilly, you know it was days after your initial post when I realized I was in the same boat. I have been playing Gameday mostly NFL on the vig-free Fridays. But unless they put up their NBA lines earlier (sides and totals) at full limits I won't really be able to use them much over the next several months.

I hope they make a sincere effort, and I am thankful for your attempt to contact them about your concerns.