Archive for December, 2006

Bet365 takes over Bowmans Sportsbook

Bowmans International has closed down it’s operations and sold off it’s customers to two big online sportsbooks.

Last week Bowmans closed down its Gibraltar operation and significantly downsized its Mauritius call center after transferring existing US based customers to Costa Rican based operation Bodog.

Now all remaining non-US sports betting customers are being migrated to U.K. based Bet365 (as Bet365 does not accept US customers) and it seems that Bowmans is closing for good.

Bowmans International is the latest closure as the result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which has resulted in many publicly traded and privately owned U.K. based sportsbooks to abandon the U.S. market.

Bet365 is our top-rated #1 Sportsbook at 92% and we are confident that all players will find a good home there – with good odds and a nice joining bonus. (see our Bet365 review)

PinnacleSports remain at #2 with a rating of 91%, and are the best option for US based players who are still welcomed. Great odds (betting to -104 on major lines) and a good joining bonus. (see our PinnacleSports review)

Add comment December 17th, 2006

Christmas treats from Ladbrokes?

As fairly active punters ourselves, the team at BookieLabRat.com often wonders how the hell Ladbrokes makes money!

A couple of the bookies we recommend are running ‘Advent Calendars’ in the run in to Christmas where each day a new special offer or bonus is promoted.

Ladbrokes Advent Calendar has included cash back refunds for first goal/last goal scorers, and a range of non football related deals too (like today’s: Place a winning Tricast on the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot today and they’ll bonus your winnings 50%).

SO WHAT?
Ladbrokes have just announced that they have paid out again! As a result of Geraint Jones being out for a duck, Laddies are refunding all losing bets on him being highest England first innings run scorer.

This is the SEVENTH TIME the Ladbrokes Advent Calendar has paid out (and it’s only the 15th!) – we like those odds!

We suggest you have a look at what’s on offer in Ladbrokes Advent Calendar – it might just prove your lucky day!

>> Suss out Ladbrokes here

Bookmaker Ladbrokes Advent Calendar - daily new offers!

Add comment December 16th, 2006

How to Handicap College Bowl Games (pt 1)

With 32 College Bowl Games spread through January 8th, many handicappers are putting in extra hours.

While some suggest treating these games just like any other, there are two good reasons to spend some extra time studying these match-ups.

First, games that are televised over the holidays have more “public” money bet on them, giving the studious player the opportunity to gain an extra edge.

Second, there are a number of factors that cause many of these games to play out differently from the regular season, giving yet more value to professionals.

“Technical handicapping” is a method of looking for statistical trends without giving too much weight to the teams themselves. This method has previously proved very successful for Bowl Games.

In the past four years, underdogs getting more than 7 points have gone 25-10-1, or 71.4% against the spread. However, be careful not to blindly bet a technical trend that has done well in the past.

More people are discovering these angles and betting into them, so if everyone has the same idea, the line eventually becomes more efficient (e.g. a +12 dog in years past may now only be +8), pushing the trend towards 50% going forward.

(more handicapping advice tomorrow)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING GOLDEN RULE – GET THE BEST PRICE !!!

Remember to get the best lines on College Football you don’t have to search all over the place – simply head over to PinnacleSports who are betting at -105 to each game instead of the online bookmaker average of -110.

Those 5 percentage points per game are usually enough for most “Average Joes” to turn a profit over a weekend – so even if you think that you are betting for fun – why not make some beer money with it?

Add comment December 14th, 2006

College Bowl Betting at Pinnacle Sports

What are players betting at Pinnacle Sports this week?

Here is the inside word from one of the linesmakers …

 

USC +1 -103 v. Michigan

After UCLA stunned USC and Florida beat Arkansas, both of these former championship contenders had to settle for the Rose Bowl. Michigan’s omission from the title game has caused controversy over the BCS selection process and it appears that regional politics impact who plays in the big game. Michigan was considered the #2 team in three out of four regions, but the South voted strongly in favor of Florida, pushing them up the poll.

We opened the Wolverines at -2 ½ (-105) but have taken twice as many wagers on USC as Michigan, causing the line to creep down. The sharps have mostly steered clear of this game to this point.


Florida +7 ½ -109 v. Ohio State

With a convincing win over Arkansas in the SEC title game, Florida edged out Michigan for the #2 spot in the BCS rankings by just 1/100th of a point. The computer rankings had the two teams tied, but Florida passed Michigan in the Harris Poll and USA Today poll. That was just enough for Florida to earn an invitation to the BCS National Championship Game.

We opened the Buckeyes at -7 (-105), and took a lot of early Ohio State money. The line spiked as high as -9, with twice as many bets on Ohio State as Florida, but a few sharps played the Gators at +8.5 and +9 forcing the line to drift back to +7.5.

——- 

Remember that betting at Pinnacle Sports makes sense – they have the sharpest online prices on NCAA football of any of the top 10 bookies.

Be safe, be smart, get the best prices at Pinnacle Sports 

Add comment December 9th, 2006

NFL Sharps Betting at PinnacleSports

What are players betting at Pinnacle Sports this week?

Here is the inside word from one of the linesmakers …


Cleveland +9 -129 v. Pittsburgh

We initially offered Cleveland at +9 (-112). Using this unusual number (instead of +7 ½ at a normal moneyline) helps protect us on teasers, as teasing “large home favorites” is one of the strongest teaser plays you can make.

The opening number of Cleveland at +9 (-112) is equivalent to +8 (-105) using Pinnacle’s point-selling option. While the betting public strongly favors Cleveland by a 15:1 margin, some of the early sharps are playing Pittsburgh.


Indianapolis -1 -112 v. Jacksonville

This game has remained at the current price (-1 -112) since opening. Once again, teaser protection is a concern. While small underdogs are not as dangerous as large home favorites, we would still prefer to minimize damage from these types of plays. Skewing the line this way is an easy way to achieve this. While bettors favor the Colts by a 5:2 margin, the line has not moved. The early sharps have been on both sides of the game, so it’s anyone’s guess where this one is headed.

——- 

Remember that betting at Pinnacle Sports makes sense – they have the sharpest online prices on NFL football of any of the top 10 bookies.

Be safe, be smart, get the best prices at Pinnacle Sports 

Add comment December 9th, 2006

Ladbrokes to buy-out 888.com ?

On of the most respected name in Uk Bookmaking – Ladbrokes Plc – could strike a 490 million pound deal to buy online gaming group 888 Holdings Plc. as early as next week, the Daily Mail reported on Friday.

The two firms had been in talks for more than a month, the newspaper said, citing a source close to the situation. It said the takeover offer for 888 was expected to be pitched at between 140 pence and 145 pence a share.

Neither company has made an official comment.

On November 5, Ladbrokes said it was considering a possible bid for 888, as the online sector consolidates after a U.S. ban on Internet-based gambling. An industry source at the time said any deal to buy 888 would have to be “north of 470 million pounds.”

Add comment December 9th, 2006

Shevchenko : I may leave Chelsea

£30 million striker Andriy Shevchenko has admitted for the first time that he could leave Chelsea

The Ukranian moved to Stamford Bridge from AC Milan in the summer but has failed to show the sort of form which made him one of Europe’s deadliest strikers over the last decade.

Shevchenko now admits he could leave London because his game is not suited to the style of Blues boss Jose Mourinho. The 30 year-old told the Daily Mirror: “I feel at home at Chelsea, and it’s felt like my team for a long time, but unfortunately my game doesn’t suit Mourinho.

“Everyone has been writing about me being sent on loan to Milan. I still haven’t discussed this question with the management, but the bosses themselves probably still haven’t decided.

“But if it happens, I’m ready to pack my bags. I’m a completely self-confident person. If I don’t suit somebody then I’ll go back to Italy, no problem, and prove how good I can still be.

Shevchenko was signed by Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich after the Russian finally persuaded AC Milan to sell. “Roman is my friend and completely on my side,” admits Shevchenko

“But all he could do was insist on a loan deal instead of me being sold.

“I do understand Mourinho – I’m not scoring as many as I would like to – so even Abramovich isn’t really putting his foot down over it, although he could do as the owner of the club. Of course I will be sorry to leave London if it comes to that. Firstly because of my family, who have already made a new life here.

“My wife Kristen was so happy with the move – she’s American and finally found herself in an English-speaking country. It’s clear I won’t move Kristen and our sons back to Milan.”

Add comment December 7th, 2006

Steelers face Browns on Thursday to open Week 14

Ben Roethlisberger looks to remain unbeaten in his career against the Cleveland Browns when the Pittsburgh Steelers host their AFC North Division rivals Thursday night.

Roethlisberger attended Findlay High School, which is roughly 125 miles from Cleveland, and was the runner-up for 1999 Mr. Football honors in Ohio. He went on to star at Miami (Ohio), rewriting virtually every school record.

In his career, Roethlisberger has won all four of his starts against the Browns. The last time the teams met was November 19, when Roethlisberger engineered a trio of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to help Pittsburgh rally for a 24-20 victory.

Roethlisberger overcame a poor start in that contest and completed 25-of-44 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. In his career vs. Cleveland, Roethlisberger owns a 63.4 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 83.1.

Despite winning three of their last four games, the Steelers (5-7) dug themselves too large a hole early this season and have virtually no chance of defending their Super Bowl title. Nine teams in the AFC have a better record than the Steelers.

Cleveland (4-8) is looking to carry momentum from a victory last Sunday.

With injured starting quarterback Charlie Frye watching from the sideline, backup Derek Anderson spearheaded the Browns to a 31-28 overtime triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Anderson, who had played in just one game in his first two seasons, was 12-of-21 for 171 yards, two TDs and an interception. Frye, who suffered a right wrist injury in the first half, is questionable for this contest.

BETTING AT PINNACLESPORTS :

Oddsmakers currently have the Steelers listed as 7-point favorites versus the Browns, while the game’s total is sitting at 33.

Thu 12/7 201 Cleveland Browns   +7    1.980     3.850   OVER 33    2.000 
05:00 PM 202 Pittsburgh Steelers   -7    1.943     1.317   UNDER 33    1.909 

Add comment December 7th, 2006

Spain follows Italy & UK into licensing betting

Spain is the latest country to embrace online gambling as Madrid’s regional government is set to regulate gaming through the introduction of licenses.

The move comes in the wake of Italy’s decision to regulate gaming, which prompted a flood of applications from UK bookmakers and online companies such as Ladbrokes, William Hill and Gala Coral, who are also expected to bid for licenses in Madrid along with Sportingbet and PartyGaming in the online sector.

Madrid’s regional government announced that it was allowing minimum €1 bets in games locations as well as telephone and online bets, covering sports and other competitions, as well as allowing internet bets on bingo and casino games.

The licenses will last for five years and be renewable if the Madrid regulator’s conditions are met. The announcement will also include strict regulations to prevent the participation of young and mentally ill people.

Italy’s new regulated market has opened up 17,000 licences to the private sector. There will be 7,000 new sports betting shops and 10,000 outlets for betting on horseracing.

Italy’s legal betting market is estimated to be worth €3.7bn (£2.5bn) while all legal gaming, including the Italian lottery, pools, betting, bingo and machine gaming, is worth €28bn.

Add comment December 6th, 2006

Bodog.com to focus on Asia and Europe

Bodog.com Entertainment announced today a plan to pull all its U.S.-facing gaming-related advertising, mostly for its free-play and educational site, Bodog.net.

The advertising pullback, which is quite extensive, includes television, radio, magazine and newspapers in the U.S. market as the online gaming giant has chosen instead to focus its gaming and educational site advertising efforts on European and Asian markets in a strategic decision based on the entertainment company’s long-term business objectives.

The digital entertainment powerhouse will continue to advertise its other digital entertainment products, including television, music and publishing, in North America and markets around the world.

Bodog.com Founder Calvin Ayre, citing current uncertainties in the U.S. market, said the recent legislation passed by Congress was a reason behind the decision. “Though the online gaming environment in the U.S. seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation, the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia”.

Add comment December 6th, 2006

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