2002-03 NHL Contest- Problems with Late Selections

JeffH · Mar 24, 2003

I would be open to suggestions on how to better address the problem of late selections for future contests.

The problem has two parts. First, it is possible to edit posts up to seven or eight minutes past the original posting without it appearing as an edit. Second, the time that is being stamped on posts appears to be later than the actual posting time or there is a non-trivial time lag between submitting a post and successfully posting.

One approach that may work is to allow posts a five minute grace period (up to the Vegas game time), provided that no goals are scored in the first two or three minutes of the game. For example, on a game that is listed at 7:00pm for the contest and at 7:05pm in Vegas, any post on that game made between 7:01pm and 7:05pm would be accepted if no goals were scored in the first two or three minutes of that game. Although this is a bit convoluted, I don't want players to have a free shot at looking at the first few minutes of the game by posting at 7:05pm and being able to edit without a trace until 7:10 or 7:12pm.

I really don't want to get into thread locking as a contest administration technique.

I am not really in a position to address the core technical causes of the problems, which would be the best way to address this situation. I think that this might help to let a significant proportion of what are currently being called past post plays to stand, but I am also open to suggestions on how others might address the problem.

Guest · Mar 24, 2003

I thank you for your open mindedness. I admit I am cutting it close almost daily but before the daily forum issues of recent memory I could post at exactly 7 PM & it would come up at 7PM.

I post now at lets say 6:58 & every clock I see says 6:58, the post will usually go through immediately but it says 7:01 & I never get it.

ScoobySnacks+ · Mar 25, 2003

JeffH,

Its fine the way it is IMO, I post my plays several hours before the deadlines as I have to work some wired hours. (Sucks sometimes LOL)

I also just changed my clock on my computer to match the Infopoop one just in case I'm running late one day, or its the weekend...does not really effect anything else.

Just my 2 cents

Oh yeah JeffH, are you going to be running a playoff contest if there is one?? Thanks again for all your work!!

GL

JeffH · Mar 25, 2003

Yes, if contest sponsorship can be put into place, I am willing to look after it.

I have had some preliminary discussions with NorthernIce about the structure of the playoff contest, which I hope will improve on what was done in the regular season contest. The key changes that were put on the table were about turning this into a handicapping and money managment contest, as opposed to a handicapping contest alone, and adding to the scope of selections that would be permitted. Hopefully, the changes will help to keep interest in the contest a bit more consistent over the entire playoffs and it will bring some well-respected posters or bring back some people who were doing well in the existing contest, but just disappeared.

When the playoffs get a bit closer, I will try to solicit additional opinions about the proposed changes from some of the more active and successful participants in the current contest.

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

Jeff

Personally, I don't have an offshore account. My bets are done with Las Vegas casinos.

My question Is for those who have an offshore account.

What are the time guidelines when placing a bet..??
Thank you

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

Vegasguy for example go to books like Pinnacle & Olympic & you will see if a game is scheduled for 7:00 it is listed as 7:05, 7:30 would be 7:35 etc.....

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

EGD
So, It's the same as Las Vegas then.

Thank you

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

If you guys feel bad here, imagine how people feel in the basketball contest, where if you miss the cutoff for the first game, you miss ALL of the days games.

Unfortunately, the time cutoff is an issue for any contest anywhere, and when we don't even control the clock, all you can do is post 5 minutes early to make sure.

Not a great solution, but posting as close as some people do is then just a risk they take.

And EGD, while I appreciate your plays, I think you could be honest about why you post so close, after all this is a contest and money is involved - late moves? paranoid about others copying your plays? what? Sorry, but when you KNOW it's 6:59, and are posting within a minute EVERY DAY, your "I try to post earlier but I'm busy" argument just clashes too strongly with my knowledge of probability and statistics. Not looking to start something, and I gave up on trying to be able to post a long time ago (maybe I should so people could fade me

), so again, I appreciate your plays, and if you don't want to answer, I can understand.

Good Luck,
Bart

ThreeUnits · Mar 25, 2003

I too am guilty of playing it too close to the wire. I forgot about the problem that allows undetected editing several minutes after posting.

Jeff, you are too busy a man to have to go see if any goals were scored in the early part of the first period. Thanks for the offer though.

No, unless they can set the InfoPoop clock to correct eastern standard time, EveryGamblersDream and I will just have to learn to post a couple of minutes earlier, that's all.

Oh my god, I just had a scary thought, EGD, what will happen to us in a few weeks when the clocks get turned ahead for daylight saving time? Will we have to post at 5:55pm for 7 o'clock games?

And another YES vote to a playoff contest. I also support handicapping and money management as being variables, but obviously there has to be some "bankroll" limit, to stop some guy from loading up $10 million contest dollars on the last game of the Stanley Cup in order to snatch the contest laurels away from someone who has grounded it out day after day (like EGD has done this 2nd half - bravo EGD! - but there's still a few games left for us to catch you. We may have to run the table though.)

Best
Three Units

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

I do feel your pain QS in regards to the basketball contest. I hardly participate in that contest because of the setup as i don't find it to be fair to have them in so early.

I am not paranoid about people copying my plays as throughout the contest I've been the biggest dog player most likely out of everyone.

I cap games in advance & the day of the game I cap some more sometimes up until game time & then I have to put my bets in at different books, look for scalping opportunities etc so time is usually short on me not including the non gambling day to day activities I as well as others deal with.

I know you aren't trying to start something but I do try to post early but I usually lose that fight daily lol

GL2U as well with everything

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThreeUnits:
I too am guilty of playing it too close to the wire. I forgot about the problem that allows undetected editing several minutes after posting.

Jeff, you are too busy a man to have to go see if any goals were scored in the early part of the first period. Thanks for the offer though.

No, unless they can set the InfoPoop clock to correct eastern standard time, EveryGamblersDream and I will just have to learn to post a couple of minutes earlier, that's all.

Oh my god, I just had a scary thought, EGD, what will happen to us in a few weeks when the clocks get turned ahead for daylight saving time? Will we have to post at 5:55pm for 7 o'clock games?

And another YES vote to a playoff contest. I also support handicapping and money management as being variables, but obviously there has to be some "bankroll" limit, to stop some guy from loading up $10 million contest dollars on the last game of the Stanley Cup in order to snatch the contest laurels away from someone who has grounded it out day after day (like EGD has done this 2nd half - bravo EGD! - but there's still a few games left for us to catch you. We may have to run the table though.)

Best
Three Units<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

More like a day in advance LOL

Thanks for the words

ThreeUnits · Mar 25, 2003

It was a fair question Bart, and I think EGD answered it honestly, imo.

It would look more suspect if he was the one in the lead, but he's "just" in second. It's my man VegasGuy39 we're all trying to catch now (my last post of a few minutes ago may have mistakenly implied it was EGD at the very top).

If vegasguy39, or whoever is in the lead, just sat on his big lead, making minimal or no picks each day, THAT to me would not be sporting (but entirely legal). But vg39 has been dutifully throwing his hat into the ring each day too!

JeffH · Mar 25, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThreeUnits:
Jeff, you are too busy a man to have to go see if any goals were scored in the early part of the first period. Thanks for the offer though.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I guess I am pickign my own poison here- either I spend my time summarising 'Problem Posts' in the daily results thread or I check the games for early goals where I have late posts.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by ThreeUnits:
I also support handicapping and money management as being variables, but obviously there has to be some "bankroll" limit...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The ideas that have been put on the table involve a bankroll limit for exactly the reason that you suggest. The money management approach runs a bit deeper than as well.

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

I like the one unit setup as it is now, are you really serious on that changing?

I would like to see periods, period totals be available since they are bettable but at very places

I like the idea of checking for goals scored within the first few minutes since it is quite easy to tell by the boxscore but I totally would understand if you feel that is going overboard as far as contest administration is concerned.

I know the rules state otherwise but if you were able to add on if you see you past posted or list alternate plays immediately there after might be easier since you can immediately tell if you past posted.

Guest · Mar 25, 2003

ThreeUnits / EGD,

I'll accept the answer and let it go, not a biggie to me, and as I mentioned, I truly DO appreciate your folks plays, you have helped me make some money this hockey season. And, with trying to get the best last minute lines and middling, I can see how EGD could be tied up near posting time - I've missed more than a couple of days in the basketball contest due to caring more about getting my bets in and then realizing it was too late to post the contest selection.

Going to be tough to catch vegasguy39, and I agree that it is very sporting of him (and lucrative for all of us) for him to be still posting plays daily. I know of a lot of contests where the leader would just sit on the lead until someone gets close.

Good Luck,
Bart