The Sports Bookie Blog

To coincide with the start of the Premier League season and York’s Ebor meeting, bet365 are offering all new customers the chance to grab £200 in free bets – providing you register before midnight Sunday 24th August. 

To qualify, simply register with bet365 and place your first qualifying bet of £5 or more. You will then be entitled to a free bet to the same stake as your largest qualifying bet up to a maximum of £50. So if you place £50 on a horse running at York, you will get a free £50 bet to place on a sporting market of your choice - the new football season perhaps!

Another free bet up to £50 is available after you’ve placed a further five bets with bet365, while third and fourth free bets are available in much the same way. 

Remember, this offer is only available for this week, so whether you’re a racing punter or a football fanatic (or both), be sure to register with bet365 and land your £200 free bet basket this summer.

Click here to register with bet365 in minutes.

>>Find out more about this popular online sportsbook in the latest detailed Bet365 Bookmaker Review on site at BookieLabRat.com.
>>Want a second opinion? Here’s what the team at GoonersGuide.com think about Bet365 Sportsbook.

(Sorry, no US residents can join bet365 sportsbook)

Here’s a quick round up of the latest sportsbook offers on the first week of EPL football. These offers all give you the option of winning, losing or getting your stake back and so can be considered a king of betting insurance. Last season the bookies ended up paying out some big bucks on their cash backs specials, lets hope it continues in the 2008/08 season!  

[For a detailed daily update comparing all bookmaker cashbacks and specials check out this page on GoonersGuide.com].

T ‘n’ T - An Explosive Start!
Sunderland v Liverpool - Sat 5.30pm Setanta and Man United v Newcastle - Sun 4pm SS1

If Fernando Torres or Carlos Tevez scores the last goal in either of these games, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on that match.  Max Refund €300/£200 per customer. [Note: If the Fernando Torres or Carlos Tevez play no part in the games, the special will refer to if the last goal is scored outside the box.]

There’s Only One Keano?
Sunderland v Liverpool, Saturday August 16

Betfred will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast win single bets on the Sunderland v Liverpool match on Saturday as a free bet - if Robbie Keane scores the last goal of the game. Maximum refund is £200 (or your currency equivalent) per customer.

Carlos The Tevez-tator!
Man Utd v Newcastle, Sunday 4pm

Betfred will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast win single bets on the Man Utd v Newcastle match on Sunday as a free bet - if Carlos Tevez scores the last goal of the game. Maximum refund is £200 (or your currency equivalent) per customer.

Gold Difference!
2008/2009 Season Antepost Cashbacks: English Premier League, Championship League One, League Two, BlueSquare League

If any of these leagues is decided by goal difference, BoyleSports will refund all losing single bets on that particular League. Max refund per bet per customer per League is €300 (or currency equivalent). Applies to existing bets & bets placed up to Aug 31st, 2008

Bore Draw!
Olympics Football, ALL Football! Place a pre-match correct score, double result or scorecast bet on ANY FOOTBALL MATCH and Bet365 will refund losing stakes if the match finishes 0-0.

Football Yankee Free Bet!
Have an Ante-Post Yankee on any four English and Scottish leagues and if you have only ONE WINNER VCBet (Victor Chandler Bookmaker) will refund your stake as a free bet. Max refund £110 (€132) per person. Applies to Yankees placed on Outright market only. Applies to Yankees placed before 31/08/2008.

>>Check out the latest bookmaker reviews on these top online sportsbooks at BookieLabRat.com.

Well if you’ve not checked up on Paddy Power bookmaker’s charity betting on hatching eggs, you’re a sad bastard! Really.

What with live streaming video and the odds on first hatchling and other fun betting markets changing all the time, the BookieLabRat.com team, like a whiole heap of punters, are in eager anticipation of chicks. .. and they’re probably due tomorrow! One day to go!

Four of the ten eggs were removed from the hatchery as infertile a week or so back, but the news for the remaining six eggs is good…here’s Paddy’Power.com’s latest posting…

I moved egg7 and it chirped!!! - Wed 6th August 2008
Just 30 mins ago Duncan popped in to prepare for the final stage of Eggycam. This involved turning off the thingy that rotates the eggs (they are now in the positions they will hatch in), adding water (to make the incubator even MORE humid) and lowering the heat to 37.0 degrees Celsius (they’ve been living at a balmy 37.7 for the past 19 days)…

Paddy Power’s Yoke of the Day!
How did the wealthy rubber chicken cross the road? 
In her Cadillac stretch limo

Remember, it’s for charity (Downs Syndrome Ireland) and the results guarantee to be eggstremely cute! Check out PaddyPower.com now.  [Look for eggycam]

For more on the top rating bookie in Ireland, check out the latest Paddy Power sportsbook review here

Whoa! I almost missed the limited time deal at top bookie Bet365. It’s only available for a few days (closes 3 Aug 08) and is not just for those of you who like a flutter on the horses, so check it out!

Bet365 is our top rating sportsbook overall, and all of us at BookieLabRat.com have had Bet365 accounts for many years (except our 2 US based punters who just can’t - and they’re gutted!) Here’s the deal:

A GLORIOUS £200 FREE BET BASKET!
 
Bet365 celebrate the Goodwood Festival by doubling their new customer offer.
 
Glorious Goodwood is one of the highlights of the racing calendar and, if you’ve not yet registered with bet365, you now have the perfect opportunity to do so.
 
This is because the popular bookmaker are offering all new customers the chance to grab £200 in free bets – providing you register before Sunday 3rd August. 
 
To qualify, simply register with bet365 and place your first qualifying bet of £5 or more. You will then be entitled to a free bet to the same stake as your largest qualifying bet up to a maximum of £50. So if you place £50 on a horse running at Goodwood, you will get a free £50 bet to place on a sporting market of your choice.
 
Another free bet up to £50 is available after you’ve placed a further five bets with bet365, while third and fourth free bets are available in much the same way.
 
Remember, this offer is only available for eight days, so whether you’re a racing punter or a football fanatic, be sure to register with bet365 and land your £200 free bet basket this summer.
 
Click here to register with bet365 in minutes (or to go for a wander round the newly revamped Bet365 Betting site).

Check out the latest Bet365 Bookmaker Review at BookieLabRat.com (what’s hot and not at Bet365, their banking options, specialty bets, etc.)

Bettors from most countries around the world can be members at Bet365 (except USA residents). They’ve got multiple site languages, all odds formats and the most banking options of any bookie on the net!

Paddy’s Price Promise: Starting this weekend, Paddy Power will be offering Guaranteed Prices on both Horseracing and Greyhound racing.

Never worry about whether or not to take a price again as they’ll ensure that you will always get the best value, which, to use the words of renowned wordsmith and literary genius Sir Patrick Power, “is pretty snazzy.”

You cannot get this anywhere else, Paddy Power are the only bookmaker to guarantee all early and board prices on BOTH Horses and Dogs!

- Take 2/1 and if your selection wins at 6/4 you get 2/1!
- Take 2/1 and if your selection wins at 4/1 you get paid at 4/1!
- If a Rule 4 is applied to the price you have taken but your returns would be better if your bet was settled at starting price, we will pay you the starting price.
- The fact that guaranteed price applies will be signified by the GP symbol on your betslip.
NOTE:This does not apply to bets placed at Ante-Post odds, tote bets or bets on US racing.

>>For more info on this horses and dogs betting offer check out PaddyPower.com
>>For the latest info on Paddy Power Bookie (Ireland’s top online sportsbook) read the latest detailed review of Paddy Power Bookmaker here at BookieLabRat.com. (Sorry, no US punters).

Here’s a quickie: Place a £10 bet this weekend on Betfred Mobile. Receive a Free £10 bet for use next weekend. Easy.

Anyone who places a bet of £10 or more on Saturday 26th July or Sunday 27th July on BetfredMobile will qualify for the £10 free bet.

Offer applicable to new & existing users.

>>Visit BetFred.com for details
>>Here’s a link to a detailed review on Fred Done’s sportsbook (BetFred.com Bookmaker Review) - sorry, no US bettors.

We regularly list the best sportsbook cash cack offers and bookie free bet specials on this blog. Unfortunately we’ve been slacking a little lately, and did not list last week’s ones (but you can always catch the latest bookie offers here at the GoonersGuide.com Bookie Bulletin Board. These guys update it most days).

We refer to this stuff as “betting insurance” as you get 3 possible outcomes instead of two (ie win, lose or get your stake back). Generally the bookies are smart enough to make the offers obscure or unlikely enough that they do not often payout…well, only once in a while (or in Paddy Power’s case something most weeks - as they’re just crazy!). However, this week another popular Irish sportsbook, BoyleSports.com took a real pounding. A roasting actually…

If you had a bet on the British Open, the German Grand Prix or on Armagh v Fermanagh at BoyleSports we recommend you check your account for your stake refund!

British Open - Padraig Harrington’s second British Open title in two years could be good news for you. Boylesports are refunding all losing single bets on the outright market. This applies to bets placed prior to the start of the tournament only. The maximum refund is €300/£200 per customer. Applicable to win singles and win part of each way bets only.
 
German Grand Prix - Kimi Raikkonen’s failure to make the podium at Hockenheim on Sunday means that Boyle Sports will refund all losing single outright winner bets on this race. This applies to bets placed up until 12:30pm on the 20th of July 2008. The maximum refund is €300 (or currency equivalent). Applicable to win singles and win part of each way bets only.
 
Ulster SFC Final - Fermanagh’s powerful comeback against Armagh in Clones will see the Ulster final replayed. As Fermanagh’s number 13 scored the last goal of the game, it will also see Boylesports refund all single losing bets in the following markets: First, last and anytime goalscorers. Winning margins. 1st scoring play. Score first-lead H/T – win F/T. This applies to win singles and 70 minutes only. The maximum refund is €300 (or currency equivalent) per customer. Applicable to bets placed before kick-off.

There’s more great betting action this week including the Tour De France (BoyleSports and Paddy Power both have cash back offers in place), ATP Masters Series Tennis (Will the Fed Express get back on the right track at Toronto? BetFred.com has a free bet offer on the Rogers Cup), The World Matchplay Darts is worth a look with James Wade ready to defend his title this week.

For more on Boyle Sports read the latest BoyleSports.com Sportsbook Review. You can get up to £200/€200 in free bets as a new customer (sorry, no USA or Canadian bettors).

Off season wagers and beating that boredom 

Ever wonder what the marketing team at sportsbooks do in the off season? (And by that I really mean when there’s no football on… so don’t whinge at me via email about all the great golfing, cycling, tennis, poker and other non-football related betting opportunities currently in play!) I’m still missing my football…

It IS the off season when footballers play musical clubs, dump their girl friends, get that “new look”, recover from knee ops, etc.

The crew at Ireland’s top online bookmaker PaddyPower.com have come up with yet another new series of betting market to fill in time - and provide a modicum of entertainment…it’s called EggyCam.

You can watch ten numbered eggs hatch live - and of course, in true Paddy Power style, bet on a range of markets. These include: Which egg you think’s going to hatch first, second, third, last; Chick out odd or even; a midday hatch; the sex of the chick; spread betting (e.g. the first chick out will be from an egg numbered 6-10), etc.

The “first to hatch” odds for all ten eggs are currently at 8-1 except egg seven, at 7-1, and poor old egg five at 9-1… obviously deemed the runt.

The live streaming video lets you watch your egg (24×7 if you like!) to check that no Leprechaun jumps out and juggles them or whatever… the eggs do rock around a bit so it’s actually not quite as boring as I thought it would be!

Paddy Power’s crew are not taking this new betting market too seriously (although I bet they watch the eggs almost as much as I watch my Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner do his thing). They’re donating all profits from Eggycam betting to the Down Syndrome Ireland charity.

When hatched, the chicks will apparently return to a farm in County Wicklow, Ireland rather than join Paddy Power’s marketing team on a permanent basis. 

Paddy Power says ”All the chickens will live happily-egger-after in the old-yolks-home. No chickens were harmed during the making of this eggstravaganza”

>>Check out this (cute? fun? ridicuous?) little distraction at PaddyPower.com
>>Compare Paddy Power to other popular online sportsbooks in detailed reviews here at BookieLabRat.com.

If you’re into Rugby then check out the latest promotion at Dublinbet Card Club & Casino. DublinBet has a reputation for amazing player competitions with prizes generally with a sporting twist. Their May and June giveaways were VIP packages to the Grand Prix in Silverstone and Monza - and July and August offers some great Rugby prizes. 
 
DublinBet Summer Rugby Madness

This summer DublinBet is celebrating the sport of Rugby, a truly Irish passion! Every day during July and August they’ll award one lucky player with an official Irish Rugby Ball, weekly they’ll be awarding official Jerseys, and at the end of the summer, one lucky player will win an all-inclusive paid trip for 2 to watch Ireland and New Zealand battle it out on the turf in Dublin!

Summer Rugby Madness Promotion Details

Every day from July 1st through August 31st, 2008, DublinBet will draw the name of one lucky depositing casino player, who will be awarded an official Irish Rugby Ball.

Each Friday another depositing player will win an official Irish Rugby Jersey.

All players making a deposit between July 1st and August 31st will be entered into the grand prize draw of a trip for 2 to Dublin to watch the Irish take on New Zealand at Croke Park Stadium on November 15th, 2008.

The prize includes
1. Hospitality package :
- Reserved Seated Match Ticket provided by the IRFU
- Official Match Programme.
- Ref Talk
- Pre-Lunch Drinks Reception
- Superb 4 Course Meal with Wine
- Colour Television Facilities with Video replay
- Post Match Reception with Canapés
- Full Complimentary Bar
- VIP Guest Wallet & Invitation
- Guest Speaker
- Entertainment
- Attendance of Irish Players during post match reception
- Experienced Event Managers in attendance throughout

2. Two night’s hotel accommodation (double room)
3. Dinner with DublinBet VIP Host Cécile (who we’ve not met but she sounds rather saucy!)
4. €500 travel credit to be added to your Player’s Account
5. €500 in casino chips at the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin

Terms and Conditions
To qualify for any of the following prizes, you must be a depositing player at DublinBet.com. Make any initial or reload deposit from July 1st through August 31st to be eligible to win the daily or weekly prizes, and the grand prize trip to the match. Players may only win one daily or weekly prize, but will still be entered into the grand prize draw for the trip to Dublin. The prize draw will take place live, on camera, from the Texas Holdem Bonus table at the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin. The draw will be held on Friday September 5th at 8 pm GMT. All winners will be posted on the DublinBet.com website. Please allow 4-6 weeks delivery for prizes.

>>Check out DublinBet Casino here
>>For more about DublinBet read the detailed DublinBet Casino Review here
>>Compare DublinBet to other top rated Live Dealer Casinos here

ABOUT DUBLINBET.COM
DublinBet Card Club & Casino, is owned and managed by VueTec (Guernsey) Ltd, and operated in association with The Fitzwilliam Casino, Dublin Ireland. They offer some of the best Live Dealer casino play on the net including a hugely popular Early Payout Blackjack, Roulette (European rules), 8 deck Baccarat / Punto Banco and Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker.

Fancy winning a Home Entertainment package just by betting on sports, playing poker or casino games? Popular Australian sportsbook Canbet is giving you the chance…

What can I win?
First up in the Canbet 08 Games Competition you can claim your podium prize:
GOLD: Home entertainment package, including HD TV, DVD player and Surround Sound to the value of £1,200 (€1,500).
SILVER: One year Cable TV subscription, including sports package to the value of £500 (€650).
BRONZE: £250 (€300) cash in your Canbet account.

How do I enter?
You’ll need an account at Canbet and then to register to participate in this promo enter the promo code on the Canbet web site before 24 August 2008 (The Code is OLYMPICS) and then you earn entries to the prize draws as you bet -  it’s a lucky draw though - random - so even a single entry might just do the trick!

Earn an entry into the draw every time you:
- Bet £50 (€65) on Sports or Racing
- Bet £50 (€65) at Canbet Casino (Microgaming Casino so over 350 of the best casino games on the net)
- Play 50 Poker Raked Hands  (Microgaming Poker Network, so a busy and popular poker room)

(Here’s a list of the major events during July and August just to remind you of the tasty sports betting markets that await: Tour de France Cycling, British Open & PGA Championship Golf,  Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Tri-Nations Rugby and of course the 2008 Beijing Olympics) 

AND…
Canbet really got into the swing of stake-back betting during Euro2008 (bets with 3 possible outcomes; you could either win, lose or get your stake back. Cool.) They’re now running Olympics Second Chance Bets too. Here’s the first one:

Olympics Second Chance
Men’s 100m Sprint Final - Saturday 16 August, 2008
If your runner finishes without a medal in the Men’s 100m Final and the World Record is broken in the race, Canbet will refund your bet (win bets only) to £50 (or currency equivalent). To take advantage of this stake-back offer, enter the promotional code: SPRINT on the My Account page of the Canbet website at any time before the start of the race.

ABOUT CANBET
Canbet Limited is UK & Australian licenced and a subsidiary of International All Sports Ltd. Canbet specialises in large limits for US Sports bets. They’ve reasonably recently got into Live betting markets and we’ve personally made some great betting profits through our Canbet accounts!

Check out the latest detailed reviews on Canbet (links below) if you’re looking for a new online gambling site that’s a bit more agile than the traditional bookies & gaming sites (but is still run out of a “First World” country - mind you, with their water crisis I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to call Australia “First World” as the place is rapidly becoming uninhabitable! Snakes and bloody great spiders excluded of course!)

>>Canbet Sportsbook Review
>>Canbet Poker Room Review
>>Canbet Casino Review
(Sorry, no USA residents can be members at Canbet)