[marc]

I think Bodog killed themselves with this "upgrade" I think the old site was much better. Is there anyone who likes it. I really hope the change it back

[Bill Dozer]

The left side nav is much easier to use than the drop down menu they used to have, where you had to put your nose to the screen to see your league. The betting pages now work with netscape. I'm not crazy about black backgrounds but the layout is a big improvement.

You gotta give em credit for the gutsy move. Their old site worked so well that sites like BetMill and USsportsbook blatantly copied it. They see that and change up almost over night.

[freebie]

Never did like bodog

[ego74]

Looks a bit messy from my vantage point. May hurt with newer people, but not with the usual bettors

[marc]

I thnk signing in was easier. I agree that the drop down menu wasn't very good. But the home pager was great. Easy to see al the lines. Easy to log in. A nice light blue color. Also now when you place basball bets, on the right side you enter the amounts, on the left is where you selct picthcer. But the way it is designed, it easy to forget to check off the pitchers you wnat. I'm sure there will be a lot of people betting action when they wanted listed. Would be nice if they could set the default for listed instead of action.

[Walk of Life]

Disagree, I actually like the new home page a lot more. Then again you need to consider what the target audience. The website has a lot of design behind it and it fulfills it's purpose perfectly.

It's targeting a niche that has no intention of including sharpies like yourself, marc.... so as you can see, it works perfectly for what they want it to work...

[biggs]

Their homepage layout is simply brilliant

[JoshW]

I agree, don't like the new look. But with everyone copying the Bodog look, is nice to see other sites carrying on the clean but functional "old" bodog look.

[marc]

Walk,

What about the betting screen. I much prefer placing bets on the old site.

[Walk of Life]

Have to agree with you there, marc... thought you were referring to the layout of the homepage... the conceptual design

[marc]

Walk,

I alos liked the home page better. I liked the fact that you could log in on the home page, and that the homepage had the list of all the available lines.

[ramdog]

Was not crazy about the old site, but liked it compared to this one.

[Bill Dozer]

Walk,

I alos liked the home page better. I liked the fact that you could log in on the home page, and that the homepage had the list of all the available lines.

There is an extra log on screen now isnt there? Walk will say it is to slow down you sharpees.

[jjgold]

I am going to look now at new site, did not realize they changed it. I did like old stuff a lot but will have to test first.

[magnavox]

The new site times out much faster, this sucks.

[slash]

Timeouts suck in general...

[marc]

At least with bodog, eventhough it times out, the lines are still accurate. Some other books, when they time out, they give you stale lines.

[Mudcat]

My comment about Bodog always remains the same.

They don't take Canadian accounts so they can BITE ME!!!

[SBR_John]

I think Bodog killed themselves with this "upgrade" I think the old site was much better.

Man I agree! They are trying to get sooo yuppyish that they are going too far.

Pinnacle is STILL the best site and there aint a close 2nd.

[Walk of Life]

Those who know this industry know that the man sitting at the very top of the Bodog's helm is a freaking legend... he goes by the name of Roxy... 'nuff said...

If we let the numbers do the talk (which is all that counts in the end), Bodog allegedly had an actual percentage of hold of 10%-11% on over 3/4 of a Billion dollars last season... Do the math...

These days, the industry seems to be polarized completely... you either are big in sharpees and credit or you just don't care for that type of action at all... The trend was started by BoS, SBG, VIP and other companies that are now giants.

Old-school bookmakers and punters have a problem with booking only squares... it's almost pornographic from a romantic point of view... but in the end, money is all that counts... and the model has proven to be very profitable.

Pinnacle is the quintessence of a progressed bookmaking-betting operation (these days the betting is probably not as big as it used to be in the past), but the likes of Bodog, VIP, Nine and other RECREATIONAL places ARE NOT looking to be bookmakers... they are a marketing machine that provides a service to a very specific niche of the market... hence, the targeting.

Bodog's new website is not a fortuitous incident, there's a well-developed avant-garde concept behind it...

It might be a little bit too 'yuppy', but hey whatever lines them up them duckies... what better market than a guy who has disposable income in the range of 40K-50K a year??? That's where the gravy is...

I tend to agree with all of you guys... the new place sucks for the guy who's looking to bet a good number, get the value and get out soon to hit the other number at one of his 10+ outs... But this place is a dream for the dude that drives a harley because he can, and that has no time -nor interest- to spend in front of the screen to get a spread one whole point on his favor....

Yuppy market means money... it's that simple.

[Clip Joint]

Excellent post Walk of Life...people have a hard time believing BoDog's numbers. It is truly amazing how far ahead of EVERYONE in the industry they are.

[jjgold]

Most people that bet online are betting less than $100 a game. Now why would any book not want the Bo Dog Model??

There will be no more Cris, Pinnacle, Greek in the future but More VIP's and Bo Dogs

Look at WWTS........they use to take wise guys and are now a square book

[Walk of Life]

Pinnacle is the quintessence of a progressed bookmaking-betting operation (these days the betting is probably not as big as it used to be in the past), but the likes of Bodog, VIP, Nine and other RECREATIONAL places ARE NOT looking to be bookmakers... they are a marketing machine that provides a service to a very specific niche of the market... hence, the targeting.

That's plain wrong for me to say.... bodog is a 2-front machine.... marketing rails them in... Roxy grinds them to the bone...

And Roxy has kids that play some terrific 'defense'... Shulz is a freaking wall, dude is a sharp, sharp, sharp kid... probably 28-29... he guards the assets and let's Roxy shoot from high places... (metaphorically speaking)....

10% hold, hard-core bookmaking??? That's a superb job...

Besides, THERE ARE sharps playing high limits at Bodog... gotta have an opinion though... they don't pay grinders (middlers-scalpers)

[Clip Joint]

There will be no more Cris, Pinnacle, Greek in the future but More VIP's and Bo Dogs

But that is why CRIS, Pinnacle, and Greek will always survive and be monsters. They will maintain critical mass needed for high volume with a much smaller hold %.

[Walk of Life]

They will maintain critical mass needed for high volume with a much smaller hold %.

Right on the money, clip!!! 2 different business models... one cannot compare apples with oranges...

[jjgold]

Clipper high stree running those books and simply not worth it and plus you need tons of cash and the new guys getting into biz do not have tons of cash.

You will always have the Catalina's, Delamar's, Jazz and Cascades of the world that you can hit hard and are solid but they are more for the credit guy and you have to be in certain circles to bet there.

[Clip Joint]

Clipper high stree running those books and simply not worth it and plus you need tons of cash and the new guys getting into biz do not have tons of cash.

You will always have the Catalina's, Delamar's, Jazz and Cascades of the world that you can hit hard and are solid but they are more for the credit guy and you have to be in certain circles to bet there.

That is my point Coach...no new books can enter and attack Pinny, CRIS, and Greek. They already have the critical mass and will remain successful because of that. There is no way a new book can come in and try and compete with that business model.

[SBR_John]

Good post Will but brother I ain't buying that they held 11% in the sportsbook!!!!!! Those guys are very prone to exaggeration(to be nice).

Otherwise a brutally strong post from a guy who you would want to call if you were down to your last lifeline on a sportsbook industry question.

[Clip Joint]

Good post Will but brother I ain't buying that they held 11% in the sportsbook!!!!!! Those guys are very prone to exaggeration(to be nice).

They were above 8% I know for a fact...and even that is AMAZING! Can you imagine even holding 4% with their volume?

As for their exaggerations, does that mean you aren't buying their claim of spending $50 million in US advertising in 2006?

[Walk of Life]

Good post Will but brother I ain't buying that they held 11% in the sportsbook!!!!!! Those guys are very prone to exaggeration(to be nice).

I know it's hard to believe, my man... I would have had a hard time believing it myself, if I had not seen the very spreadsheets myself...

It's what a good bookmaker does... in the same group of guys you have Big Rick (Nine.com), Larry Mac (betmaker.com) and Fernando (Hollywood)... hard-core, old-school number crunchers... give them candy-ass bets only and they will chew on them kids all day long...

Ask your man Rick how much he held last season and be favorably surprised... ... decimals short of a 2 digit figure...

Otherwise a brutally strong post from a guy who you would want to call if you were down to your last lifeline on a sportsbook industry question.

Thanks for the compliment, it's much appreciated...

[SBR_John]

Hmmm $50 mil on advertising? It depends on how they break that down. If bonuses are included in marketing than yes, the number seems right. If not, its right there with the 11% hold.

[Clip Joint]

Hmmm $50 mil on advertising? It depends on how they break that down. If bonuses are included in marketing than yes, the number seems right. If not, its right there with the 11% hold.

I think the $50 million in American ad money is a much further stretch than the 11% hold. I would not be the least bit surprised if they held that much.

[Walk of Life]

The figure I handle is $30 MM in ad money... and you're right about the 11%... it ain't quite the 11 pts... it's more like 10.76%... and that ain't no pig-in-a-poke either...

[SBR_John]

I wonder how many of their affiliates saw 10.76% hold? I'd put that nimber at 0 -110.

You guys might know them better but I've dealt with them sincethe stone ages, the days of TheBigBook and before. That hold is simply not possible on $700 million in handle. You just cant pick that many losers on that big of volume. They are not publicly audited and they have a long history of exaggerating. And dont they deal a dime line in bases?

Now they may be mixing in casino and horses or cooking the books somehow.

Anyway it doesnt really matter. They are a solid operation with good cs. We have been looking to upgrade them from A- to an A. Probably wait to see if their web site holds up at the start of foots. (lot of complints last year)

[jjgold]

No way does Bo Dog spend 50 million a year

Numbers exagerrated, everything offhsore is inflated