[austintx05]

I currently use 3 books.

1. Pinnacle
2. Matchbook
3. Mansion

I have been looking at other books to add just for the sake of flexibility. I am big on reduced juice as you can see by my choices above. I notice aroudn the SBR world, CRIS seems to be popular amongst most and I am curious as to why. I thought about adding them as one of my books, but I do not like the way they round the change on a bet. Sounds stingy I know, but it adds up over a season. The good that I have heard about CRIS is they open a line even before Pinnacle and I have never heard of anyone having a problem of getting paid. They sound like a reputable book from a financial standpoint, but I think its the -110 across the board that makes me hesitant.

With these Anti-Gambling Laws is CRIS going to be as reliable as they have been and why do you choose CRIS?

[David]

CRIS is one of the most reputable books. They also have good bonuses and a good loyalty program. If you're looking for a book that posts early lines you may also want to check out The Greek. If you're looking to add another ruduced juice shop you may want to try Cascade.

[Yoshi]

Basically they are around -109 coz of the loyalty prog, throw in a bonus + early lines and they should be a very good shop for you.

[Arilou]

Cascade is your choice if reduced juice is what you want. CRIS is not about reduced juice. What CRIS will give you is a book you can trust, early lines and a decent set of bonuses up to the point where they decide you're a pro; you can stay but the bonuses will be gone. If that's what you want, go for it. If not, look elsewhere.

[austintx05]

Thanks for the input. I personally am not crazy about bonuses, thats not why I choose a book. I prefer the reduced juice as I strongly believe that is how you make money wagering. I have heard good things about CRIS being a strong book. I have never heard about Cascade, and I will have to check them out.

I have taken some time to review CRIS' site and say that it is a very clean layout, just not sure if it is a book that will suit me.

[austintx05]

Also, by "pro" I am assuming that you mean how large each wager is?

[pags11]

Austin, Cris is defnitely reliable...just requested another payout about a half hour ago (payouts are free on Fridays)...them, along with betjamaica and legendz are the only other three books I play with (besides pinnacle and matchbook)...

[Brooks]

cris is definitely a great book however i havent put in too many wagers there lately. they had a dimeline for the baseball playoffs and doubled the loyalty points for the month of october so i had a ton to redeem which was great and they have a free withdrawal every friday for 2500

id probably lean to wsex before cris because they have been known to hang some unique numbers and i put in alot more action there along with a free 5k withdrawal every 10 days

if you strictly want a reduced juice shop go with cascade. call them up and im sure they will give you a one time 10% bonus if you were so inclined but they charge 25 bucks for each withdrawal so a high percent if a smaller player.

gl

[McBa1n]

I use Cris because the BTP contest only - I also only post plays on there from Cris only, as that's not the 'get paid' fund... And frankly, they deserve credit for such a cool free/easy contest. It ain't big money, but it's fun money to take some aggressive shots. That's probably why I'm losing a lot on there, lately... I normally bet a few times/week but bet big, but with Cris, I see it as fun money and go nuts and be everything and do what I'd do if I weren't so damn disciplined otherwise. Their juice is pretty standard and their square lines aren't bad. They are very solid, also - with a reasonable interface. I havn't had a cash transaction problem with them at all.

They are a top notch book, but value-wise, you can do much better at other A books... For casual betting, however, they are mustard.

[RickySteve]

Thanks for the input. I personally am not crazy about bonuses, thats not why I choose a book. I prefer the reduced juice as I strongly believe that is how you make money wagering. I have heard good things about CRIS being a strong book. I have never heard about Cascade, and I will have to check them out.

Bonuses and reduced juice are the same thing.

[RickySteve]

Also, by "pro" I am assuming that you mean how large each wager is?

Average wager size is a minor, if not negligible, factor.

[Mudcat]

I would add my thumbs up for CRIS. Reputable, good bonuses, plus they have bailed out many players from books gone STIFF. They are giants of the industry.



They are also a must-have book if you play moneylines, particularly NCAAF dogs (but lots of other situations too).

They are a full-juice shop though. I understand what RickySteve is saying about bonuses being basically the same thing as reduced juice - and there is truth to that - but I don't see it as being quite that simple.

So if your skill-set is really geared towards low-juice and your bonus management techniques are less developed - and it sounds like that's the case - CRIS may not be as good a choice as some others.

[RickySteve]

Ignoring strategies for maximizing the value of promotions and also potential bankroll constraints, just earning bonuses in the course of making your normal wagers is no different than having reduced juice for those same wagers.

For example, every wager you make at Bodog while earning the standard Neteller reload bonus is improved 1.79%; -110 = -107.9, -120 = -117.5, -130 = -127.1...

[BuddyBear]

Austin: I have an account with Cris and I will say it is worth having for many reasons including safety, overnight lines, early lines with NCAAF even before Pinnacle, and free friday neteller withdrawals

However, it is not a reduced juice book, lines are near identical with pinnacle and ML's are almost always better at pinnacle as well as sides (c.f. +4 -112 vs. +4 -110...you can get those probably at Cris). There customer service is well below average and I consider it very very poor. Lot of times on live chat they try to get rid of you very quickly. Their customer service agents struggle with addition. If you think you'll be able to get line value by betting at Cris think again...within seconds of a pinnacle line move they are going to move their lines.

All in all, it's a decent reputable book where your money is safe. However...it is not better than Pinnacle.

4.25 stars out of 5 starts in my opinion.

[tomcast]

CRIS bailed me out in the BetonSports mess so I am a big fan. I like the sportsbook.

[pags11]

good thread...so did you open up an account austin?...

[Jay Edgar]

I've only used CRIS since the BTP contest and while I don't disagree with any of the positives raised here I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the layout, which I find the worst by far among any of the highly regarded books.

If I am in a hurry I don't even bother with CRIS, because finding what I want there, navigating to it, and reading it clearly is an unpleasant and prolonged experience. CRIS would seem to have little reason to be skittish about scalpers or steam players, and they're obviously smart folks, so I don't know why their layout is so bad.

(There's also the whole re-entering the site thing -- although at least at CRIS you aren't retyping an ID and password every time)

Maybe I'm the only one who finds their set-up so strikingly user-unfriendly.

[Mudcat]

You're not alone Jay Edgar. The new layout is a good example of something that was supposed to be NEW AND IMPROVED - but got worse.

I'm not quite as down on it as you are - I guess I've just accepted it and am making do - but I have read from a number of people who are (as down on it as you).

[jjgold]

It is very difficult reading lines at Cris, they screwed up.

[RickySteve]

CRIS' software isn't great, but it's not even close to the worst.

[Jay Edgar]

CRIS' software isn't great, but it's not even close to the worst.

My statement was that the layout (not the software) is much worse at CRIS than at Pinny, Matchbook, Greek, BetJam or other consensus top-flight books.

[jjgold]

Bowmans is pathetic as is Matchbook

[austintx05]

How is Matchbook pathetic? Sure you pay 2% commission, but your no paying 10% either, plus they offer live betting.

JJ - I feel you are here just to stir up trouble and will refrain from speaking to you.

Thanks to everyone's replies in this thread. I have deciuded to go with Cascade as another reduced juice shop.

Thanks Again.

[RickySteve]

My statement was that the layout (not the software) is much worse at CRIS than at Pinny, Matchbook, Greek, BetJam or other consensus top-flight books.

Olympic is the worst interface in the industry. BetJamaica is almost as bad.

[BuddyBear]

I've only used CRIS since the BTP contest and while I don't disagree with any of the positives raised here I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the layout, which I find the worst by far among any of the highly regarded books.

If I am in a hurry I don't even bother with CRIS, because finding what I want there, navigating to it, and reading it clearly is an unpleasant and prolonged experience. CRIS would seem to have little reason to be skittish about scalpers or steam players, and they're obviously smart folks, so I don't know why their layout is so bad.

(There's also the whole re-entering the site thing -- although at least at CRIS you aren't retyping an ID and password every time)

Maybe I'm the only one who finds their set-up so strikingly user-unfriendly.

VIP is considerably worse and Skybook and 5dimes are up there too.

[Jay Edgar]

Don't know about 5 Dimes or VIP, and I agree that Olympi c and Skybook are not great. At least BetJam allows you to enter the wager amount on the same screen containing the lines. I think that's the big item, along with being easy on the eyes. I prefer the layouts and Pinny and Matchbook, as well as the prices.

And all of these, except for CRIS, have discovered this crazy thing called color.

But you guys have named some other poor ones.

[pags11]

I've never had problems with Cris's software...I did with VIP and five dimes though...