Archive for December, 2007
Betfair Betting Exchange has just launched a new ‘Starting Price’ product that they believe will significantly undercut the current SP offering from other betting firms.
Traditionally in the UK, the Starting Price (SP) for any horse in any race has been set by the on-course bookies who determine an aggregate price or odds. With Betfair’s new product, the SP will be determined by matching bets from customers who want to back and lay. It will be interested to see just how competitive BetFair’s odds are.
According to a Betfair spokesperson, “players are far more likely to have better odds using this system as opposed to that of traditional bookies, because it is other customers placing the bets and because there is no margin for profit built in for the company”.
BookieLabRat.com understands that Betfair expects to take a commission of around 6% from SP bets, claiming traditional bookmakers take a margin of around 20%.
To begin with the company will offer SP betting on British horseracing win markets only, however it plans offer it on Place markets, Irish, US, Australian and South African horseracing as well as other sports in the future.
Other recent additions to the Betfair stable include:
TradeFair, a financial exchange aimed at those with an interest in trading on the financial markets, and in late November, a series of innovative betting markets including the market price for climate change related outcomes. (for example bets on the HSBC Investable Climate Change Index, the ECX CFI Futures Contract, and Highest and Lowest UK Temperature).
For more information on BetFair Betting Exchange:
>> Visit Betfair
>> Read a detailed independent review of BetFair Betting Exchange
(Sorry, no US residents can joing BetFair)
December 15th, 2007
Hey there – Are you ready for bowl season? 32 games, 19 days.
Top offshore online sportsbook, Bodog, is running a “College Bowl Pick ‘Em Contest”.
Register now and you could win a grand prize of $100,000 by picking all 32 games correctly.
Other prizes include a trip for 2 to NYC for the 2008 NFL Draft, a $2,000 electronics gift card, iPod Touch and Bodog Fantasy Swag.
Sign up to Bodog Fantasy Football before Dec. 20th, and make this your greatest NCAA bowl season ever!
More info on site at Bodog Sports here.
More info on Bodog Sportsbook in a detailed bookie review, here.
(Bodog accepts players from around the world including USA. Sorry, Canadians cannot join Bodog).
December 14th, 2007
Here’s the latest cash back deals to be posted at top online sportsbooks. The offers come down to whether you think players will see red during the big weekend games (with at least one red card) or whether either game will be sealed with a header… Nice-to-have betting insurance – and these offers pay out surpringly often!
Ready for War!
LIVERPOOL V MAN UTD
ARSENAL V CHELSEA
Super Sunday 16th December Live on Sky Sports
If any player is shown a red card in either of these 2 matches, then Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast single bets on this match. (Player must be on the field at the time of sending off).
Max refund is €300/£200 per customer.
One Step Ahead
LIVERPOOL V MAN UTD
ARSENAL V CHELSEA
Grand Slam Sunday Dec 16
If you place a losing first/last goalscorer, correct score or scorecast win single bet on the Liverpool v Man Utd or Arsenal v Chelsea game on Sunday, BetFred will refund your losing stake as a free bet – if the last goal scored in that game is a header.
Max refund is £100 (or equiv) per customer.
For the latest sportsbook reviews and quick comparisons between the top bookies, check out our Bookmaker Review Directory at BookieLabRat.com.
December 13th, 2007
Premiership Betting Previews for Matchday 17 fresh from Simon at PinnacleSports.com
The Premiership’s weekend schedule is dominated by the mouth-watering double bill of action featuring the fantastic four at the top of the table. Current champions, Man Utd, could go top if they can repeat last season’s win at Anfield, though Liverpool are boosted by an emphatic midweek Champions League victory. Later on, league leaders, Arsenal, defend an unbeaten home record against a resurgent Chelsea side, minus Didier Drogba.
Liverpool’s Title Credentials to be Tested by Champions
Though there have been rumblings of discontent at Anfield between Rafa Benitez and the club’s US owners, the football did the talking on Tuesday night as Liverpool crushed Marseille in France to make the last 16 of the Champions League. With the crucial Christmas period approaching, the Pool have the best opportunity for many years to mount a serious title Premiership challenge, and this game could be the litmus test of their credentials. Benitez will hope that last weekend’s shock 3-1 defeat at Reading was because his players were distracted by the Marseille game, and that the intensity of this game will raise performance levels.
Alex Ferguson has been to Anfield so many times that it will hold no fears for him. United did the double over Liverpool last season without conceding, and will be encouraged by the Reds home stats which show four draws from seven games, though United lost last time on the road – 1-0 at Bolton. Neither side have any fresh injury worries, but while United are likely to stick with the formation from last weekend’s 4-1 win over Derby, rotating Rafa is likely to mix things up. In left midfield Harry Kewell has been back in favour after injury, counter-balancing Yossi Benayoun on the right, but Benitez may opt for a more pragmatic line-up.
PinnacleSports.com make Liverpool marginal favourites off a level handicap 1.893 (0/scratch) with Man Utd 2.040 (0/scratch).
London Derby Could Shake Up Title Race
For the first time in a number of seasons, Arsenal go into a London Derby with Chelsea, heading their London rivals in the Premiership table. The gap is currently only three points, having been narrowed by the Gunners’ shock defeat at the Riverside last weekend. Arsene Wenger made no excuses for a poor performance, though the absence of Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and Robin Van Persie weakened the Gunners. Wenger will expect a reaction this weekend at Emirates where his side are unbeaten.
Avram Grant has stepped out of the shadow of Jose Mourinho, tightening up Chelsea defensively, who are unbeaten in his 16 games in charge, keeping 13 clean sheets. The Israeli’s managerial skills will however be tested by the absence of Didier Drogba after knee surgery. He must motivate Andriy Shevchenko to finally fulfil his potential, and what better time than in this crucial Derby game. Though Drogba is out, Peter Cech, Florent Malouda, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira should be available for selection. Both meetings last season were 1-1 draws, but the Blues haven’t lost to the Gunners in eleven meetings.
PinnacleSports.com price Arsenal 2.150 (0/scratch & -0.5) with Chelsea 1.800 (0/scratch & +0.5) – a market price to under 102%.
Check out the latest sportsbook review of PinnacleSports.com. These guys are the Asian Handicap specialists and really are the most consistently offering THE best odds on UK and European football bets.
December 13th, 2007
Ricky Hatton’s tenth round defeat to ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas over the weekend saved UK bookmakers from their largest ever payout on a British sportsman.
Around £20 million was wagered on the fight, which would have seen bookmakers lose £10 million if ‘The Hitman’ had won.
(ie you were in good company if you lost a tad on this sports betting flutter)
BookieLabRat.com has undergone a “face lift” – any feedback is appreciated – contact details on the Contacts page onsite (so we do not get a spam deluge),
Thanks,
Team LabRat.
December 10th, 2007
In an unusual move, top Irish online sportsbook PaddyPower.com has decided the Spanish La Liga is where betting action should be this weekend and is offering punters a money back special accordingly:
Losing La Leada!
La Liga (Primera Division) Weekend
Sat 8th and Sunday 9th December
If your selected La Liga team leads at half time but fails to win, Paddy Power will refund all losing win-draw-win (1X2) bets on the match.
Max refund is €300/£200 per customer.
Here’s a quick snap shot of some of the latest La Liga odds on a couple of the big matches:
Athletic Bilbao v La Liga leaders, Real Madrid:
Paddy Power Home 4.00 (3/1) Draw 3.20 (11/5) Away 1.80 (4/5)
Bet365 Home 4.00 (3/1) Draw 3.40 (12/5) Away 1.91 (10/11)
Ladbrokes Home 4.00 (3/1) Draw 3.20 (11/5) Away 1.80 (4/5)
Bodog Home 3.90 (23/8) Draw 3.25 (9/4) Away 1.85 (9/10)
Barca, second in the division v Deportivo:
Paddy Power Home 1.22 (2/9) Draw 5.00 (4/1) Away 11.00 (10/1)
Bet365 Home 1.20 (1/5) Draw 6.00 (5/1) Away 15.00 (14/1)
Ladbrokes Home 1.25 (1/4) Draw 4.50 (7/2) Away 10.00 (9/1)
Bodog Home 1.17 (1/6) Draw 6.00 (5/1) Away 15.00 (14/1)
December 6th, 2007
Ties to be played over the weekend of January 5th/6th, 2008.
Preston v Scunthorpe
Port Vale/Chasetown v Cardiff
Colchester v Peterborough
Bolton v Sheffield United
Blackburn v Coventry
Brighton v Mansfield
Northampton/Walsall v Millwall
Charlton v West Brom
Watford v Crystal Palace
Luton/Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
Plymouth v Hull
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Tranmere v Hereford
Tottenham v Reading
Burnley v Arsenal
Bristol City v Middlesbrough
Fulham v Bristol Rovers
Huddersfield v Birmingham
Horsham/Swansea v Havant & Waterlooville
Sunderland v Wigan
Oxford/Southend v Dagenham & Redbridge
Everton v Oldham
Derby v Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton v Leicester
West Ham v Manchester City
Ipswich v Portsmouth
Wolves v Cambridge
Barnsley v Blackpool
Chelsea v QPR
Stoke v Newcastle
Swindon v Burton Albion/Barnet
Norwich v Bury
December 3rd, 2007
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