Line movement during bet confirmation process.

slacker00 · 06-11-2006, 11:42 AM

We've all had the line move during the final confirmation while placing a bet. Pinnacle alone as moved the line on me 100's of times while I am placing my bet. Sometimes I go ahead and take the new line, even if it's worse, but sometimes I decide against the bet, perhaps on stubborn principal.

My problem is that some books seem to ALWAYS move the line against me. As I noted, Pinnacle as moved the line 100's of times on me, but I'd say it is 50-50 whether the new line is better or worse. Right now, I'm using a book which I will not name, but I swear that it moves the line against me every freaking time. I am getting a little flustered about it. It seems like a complete ripoff, because they can move the line every time, and sometimes I'll take the worse line. It's a win-win deceptive scam for them. Anyone else have similar experiences?

What I am considering is taking down data about how the lines move during this final confirmation process. I know it's a pain, but maybe SBR should start a moratorium on this type of activity. It's clearly a deceptive practice if a sportsbook is really doing this to keep an unfair advantage. Maybe I am just deluded and have gotten extremely unlucky in getting the wrong end of the line moves at this particular book. Comments, anyone?

Terris · 06-11-2006, 12:10 PM

would need to know your betting patterns and the type of bookie, cause if you pick only the best numbers (and the book is *not* pinny) its somehow logical that the line will never move in your favor

Mudcat · 06-11-2006, 12:27 PM

Good topic.

I've experience the line switcheroo more times than I could even guess. Someone started a thread here awhile back about Bet Jamaica who was doing it to them like you describe, moving the line every time. I'll see if I can find the thread.

I've never had it happen that bad although I am currently experiencing the worst I have ever experienced with V-Wager. They are declining my bets and moving the line probably more than half the time.

Some books I have found worse than average in this respect: Sportbet, Betmaker, Wager Web.

slacker00 · 06-11-2006, 12:32 PM

I'm not sure what you mean, exactly, Terris. But, I bet pretty much anything that is offered. This morning, I placed about a dozen baseball bets at both books. Pinny moved 6 times, 3 for and 3 against. The book in question moved 6 times against me. (Yeah, lots of line movement this morning.) I usually bet later in the day, so I don't always notice much line movement at that time.

To expand on my betting patterns, I bet hoops, football, baseball mostly. I mostly stick to sides rather than totals. I never bet horses or soccer except the rare occasion. I sometimes hit the props, but those are rare as well. Mostly just sides of the major U.S. sports as far as everyday betting.

Mudcat · 06-11-2006, 12:39 PM

discussion of a similar situation

Terris · 06-11-2006, 12:42 PM

What i ment is: if you pick odds at the new books that are better than Pinnys, the chance of getting an even better line are near zero.

Bill Dozer · 06-11-2006, 01:59 PM

2 thoughts on this...

1) Players who join Pinnacle first and as their only book will see the lines move both ways. Pinnacle often is the first to move the line on US sports. When the player adds a second book, and price watches the two, he may find that anytime the price of the second book is different it moves against him. Since many books follow the Pinnacle line it may seem they are baiting him with a good line but it is actually because the player was first to spot the difference. This isn't the case all the time but is common. Dumb bookies will automatically assume the player is betting steam.

2) If the line is going off the board and you think you have good odds, expect it to change. You have to be quick at game time. If it's not, check SBRlines for line history. You can find out if the market really did justify a sporadic 10 cent jolt.

Bill Dozer · 06-11-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terris

would need to know your betting patterns and the type of bookie, cause if you pick only the best numbers (and the book is *not* pinny) its somehow logical that the line will never move in your favor

Right, what I was getting into.

Ganchrow · 06-11-2006, 02:33 PM

Just a thought, but do you think this might have something to do with it?