Mirroring

[kneifl]

Is it true that certain sportsbooks look at your plays and betting history and your wagering history and see which way you like to play, screw with the line and the odds in their favor?

I have heard that some sportsbooks do this (not sure which ones do) at a few different forums.

This would make me want to use a few different outs during the year. However, I was wondering if their is any truth to this??

kneifl

 

[NySportsfan]

Kosar and I actually had this conversation the other night when I asked the same thing...It probably depends on how big you play, on a 25-50 dollar player I wouldnt get worried they are going to deal you another line, if you're betting a dime a game or even 500, they may, it's probably more the so called 'square' books like bodog, gameday, vip that would do that, I think Pinnacle, Olympic, WSEX have good enough linesmakers that they will take the bet at their line, and respect it enough to use it as a basis to move the line after, Id doubt they dealt 2 lines but one doesnt know, just use different books

 

[ferdville]

That is definitely something locals do on a regular basis.

 

[Blackman]

Saw this first hand in college on an Eagles vs Giants game. I logged into a site (which will remain nameless) and saw the Eagles -3.5. My roomate logged in on his computer, sitting right next to me, and his line was -3. We both logged in and out a few times to make sure the page was refreshed, and it remained unchanged. That's a key number to be getting the hook.

Since the Eagles have been very profitable over the past few years, my homer plays have been larger than normal. I guess the book took notice. I don't know if this is the norm for offshore books, but this particular out lost my business when I caught on.

 

[AR182]

when i was posting at a different forum...around 1998-1999....i mentioned to that board that i thought bowman's was giving me different lines than they were offering to others.

i was told by a few posters then...that bowman's does indeed give out different lines (don't know if they still do that).....for some reason they thought that i was sharp !!!

i thought that was laughable because i'm anything but......

i will never play at bowman's again...even if they are the last book in the world......i'd quit betting if that was the case.

 

[ferdville]

It shouldn't surprise anyone that this happens. After all, if that was your business, wouldn't maybe do the same?

 

[GM]

This definitely happens. I know someone who works at an offshore book, and he says that someone can get flagged as "sharp" over almost nothing...doesn't have to be a big player either. Bet a few dogs at some places and they'll flag you. However, according to him, it's not often someone gets un-flagged. So I figure fight fire with fire if you know you're dealing with a book like this. Bet a few dogs, get flagged, and then use that book to bet your favs at a better line.

Some books will even ask you during your sign-up process which teams are your favorites. I NEVER answer this question...think about it. The last thing you want is weaker lines on teams that you like. It's almost like they're asking how you can help them to screw you.

 

[THE HITMAN]

Just to verify the above.........YES, it happens for sure. A buddy & I share an online book where we are both fed different lines for football, alot of times they are off of 3 and 7. We check/use each others lines to our advantage on a regular basis. I love it, a thing of beauty in itself !! And, yeh, they ask what our fave teams are.......what a laugh, how stoopid do they think we are ??

 

[NySportsfan]

when i was posting at a different forum...around 1998-1999....i mentioned to that board that i thought bowman's was giving me different lines than they were offering to others.

i was told by a few posters then...that bowman's does indeed give out different lines (don't know if they still do that).....for some reason they thought that i was sharp !!!

i thought that was laughable because i'm anything but......

i will never play at bowman's again...even if they are the last book in the world......i'd quit betting if that was the case.

Yea, I've heard Bowmans does this too, really doesnt matter though, use it to your advantage and bet either favs/dogs whichever they slant it against you for, but this is a good topic

 

[bjfinste]

Gameday flat-out said they do this at a different forum a few years ago. The way I see it, it's just part of the game. This is why you should have multiple outs if you can afford it.

 

[LBTSDBTS]

Most reputable sports books will allow you to examine the lines without logging in. I am not going to say that I am high roller, but over the years I have made my share of larger wagers. I always surf the lines before I log in just becuz....

The house always trys to keep their edge...