[Relentless]

Looks like a good place to play? Any thoughts or opinions or experiences?

[bigboydan]

Matchbook is a very good exchange to play at. There a sister book of WSEX

[Arilou]

Matchbook was rapidly taking over from Pinnacle as my #1 place to play as I learned how to take proper advantage of it. In my mind, it is a wonderful place to play and it will only get better with the influx of Pinnacle refugees. If you are willing to wait until shortly before the game to place your wager, you can get a spread of 1-2 cents for major sports (5-6 after paying 2% commission) with little or no effort. In general it offers great value. Also keep in mind that if you decide to hedge your position before game time, you end up not paying commissions on anything but your net win.

There are four downsides. One is that they will not give you a bonus, because their business model won't allow it, and they seem at first glance to be charging for deposits. Ignore those charges, because if you bet there you will use up your credits quickly. Two is that to get maximum value out of Matchbook you need to be willing to invest time in using the exchange to get the best price, but you can also look at that in a positive way: You can get a six cent line (-103 line set) most of the time, OR you can try to make offers and watch the lines at other books for movement and time your moves and do even better. The last problem is that because it is an exchange they are not under any obligation to offer a reasonable line on all games at all times. On rare occasions no one will want to offer you one side or both, because there is no one who is confident they know the right price, and for a time you won't be able to wager. Four is that for sports like NCAA basketball that other sportsbooks offer as a service to gamblers (for smaller games) they won't offer you value on small events because no one will be willing to give it to you.

For these reasons, you should make sure to keep an out at a solid book like Greek or CRIS in case matchbook won't give you an out on a game you want. But to me, this is the most useful sportsbook left.

[bigboydan]

I think people are still scared to use an exchange, because they feel it's probably a bit complex. Trust me people it's definitely worth learning if you like making money.

[Jay Edgar]

Excellent post, Arilou.

FWIW, there was more liquidity at Matchbook last night than previously -- at least in the NBA. If that trend continues, life will be very good indeed.

[Tchocky]

It's fine for small players. If you bet a $1,000.00 USD or more a game, then you may not always find someone to take your bid or offer. Matchbook is great for live betting but not trading a game.

[Arilou]

It depends on what you want and what you are willing to pay. If you're willing to take the MarketMaker's offer (to pay to vig, as it were) then you can get very large amounts down. For major events, you can clear very, very large amounts at the market middle, mid five figures or more. In general, there's some number at which people will give you a lot of action, and if you're just short of that you will get a drizzle of small action. Certainly how much you want changes the price you get by 1-3 cents depending. And if you want to bet large compared to what you are betting on, you may end up moving the market.

Again, this is why you keep other outs available: In any given game, you may not be able to get a trade though at a worthwhile price if something about the game is unusual, or the game is of insufficient interest. Matchbook can also be very opinionated at times.

[pags11]

have started playing their a lot more than I did previously did...currently in my top 2 due to the pinny situation...

[Shack]

Matchbook and Pinnacle were neck and neck on my bets, with matchbook getting almost all my smaller bets and Pinnacle getting the majority of my live betting and half time bets. Matchbook is a must have if you bet on the game lines or money lines. They also have live betting on several games and for the playoffs and hopefully going forward they are doing live bets on the point spread and money lines. In my talk with them yesterday they told me they were very pleased with their action they got on live betting the past week. They made a lot of money is what I gathered and they are happy to see Pinnacle go, they will be making a lot more money now. I wish I could invest in Matchbook.

[punchmaster]

What about non-mainstream sports such as boxing....is there enough volume- or is that even a factor...

[Chuck Sims]

Matchbook gets thumbs up by me. Liquidity(short of players) at this time is the only downside.

As more players get involved and realize they can get better prices than even Pinnacle could offer, word of mouth will spread.

[Dark Horse]

Very interested to see which book will kick it into the next gear to fill the void left by Pinnacle. My early money is on WSEX/Matchbook.

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[Yoshi]

Are most of the offers coming from MB themselves, like it was with Mansion? I dont really know, not much money on most stuff, but the lines look like it often.

[Sam Odom]

Have WSEX & Matchbook worked-out their payment 'problem' ?

[Santo]

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Are most of the offers coming from MB themselves, like it was with Mansion? I dont really know, not much money on most stuff, but the lines look like it often.

I believe they use a market making service, who get commission breaks in return for minimum spreads. I don't think they're self populated. From the lines I have a theory which MM group they're using, but it's only that.

[vanzack]

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Are most of the offers coming from MB themselves, like it was with Mansion? I dont really know, not much money on most stuff, but the lines look like it often.

Matchbook, unlike mansion, does not "seed" their exchange.

Mansion seeds their own exchange. The offers you see are Mansions own money 90% of the time. Therefore, the commission is a bonus on them making a book. They think they can make money like every other book, by getting equal action on both sides and collecting vig - and making a little commission in the mean time. Why do you think they offer 0 commission if you accept an offer? Because it is MANSIONS offer you are accepting!!

Matchbook does not seed their own exchange. They make money soley upon commissions gained through trades. Therefore, the more liquid the market the more Matchbook stands to gain. They dont make book and therefore cannot go to a model of lower commissions as it is their only income stream. Matchbook employs "market makers" who in return for guaranteed offers on both sides gets reduced or no commission.

[Arilou]

Santo is correct. Matchbook does not post offers of any kind. Matchbook's website states that Matchbook is willing to discuss commission rates with anyone who, in their words, "can bring substantial liquidity to the market." This certainly includes market makers.

[jjgold]

Sammy I think payments have been quicker this week.