Is betting unethical for linesmakers?

[Illini]

I just thought of this, after watching the CSI re-run, where the head linesmaker in Vegas set a bad line and then middled the game using beards.

 

[TTinCO]

My first thought is no. In today's market, the volume & liquidity is much more than what was probably described in the CSI episode that you saw.

Maybe back in the old day, but today I think that there are very, very few people who could actually pull off the "post a bad line" trick.

 

[Horseshoe]

Not at all, besides more than not it appears only so many linemakers actually wager, and they often tend to play totals rather than sides when getting involved.

 

[Illini]

Why would it make a difference if they are playing sides or totals? My feeling is that something just doesn't quite feel right if the guys that are setting the lines are then betting into their own lines.

 

[scott]

If your employed exclusivley by someone and they put your numbers up as is and you bet into them thats wrong. If you are being paid for your numbers and they use other sources besides you and massage your work then it's ethical to bet into them.....Scotty

 

[nimue77]

I'm pretty sure i've seen olympic take advantage of posting a bad line on the occasional halftime and then changing it faster than the clones - posting a new line somewhere in between the bad line and the true line. Not saying the bad lines were intentional, just that they may have made a mistake and then taken advantage of clones. This may have been easier in years past then it would be today.

My first thought is no. In today's market, the volume & liquidity is much more than what was probably described in the CSI episode that you saw.

Maybe back in the old day, but today I think that there are very, very few people who could actually pull off the "post a bad line" trick.

 

[nimue77]

Wow, middling on a television show - never thought i'd see the day. When did that air? Did he hit the middle? Did he also scalp the moneyline?

I just thought of this, after watching the CSI re-run, where the head linesmaker in Vegas set a bad line and then middled the game using beards.

 

[JOddessa]

I'm pretty sure i've seen olympic take advantage of posting a bad line on the occasional halftime and then changing it faster than the clones - posting a new line somewhere in between the bad line and the true line. Not saying the bad lines were intentional, just that they may have made a mistake and then taken advantage of clones. This may have been easier in years past then it would be today.

And they should . Not saying they do, but more power to them. Cloning in this industry is often sickening. Olympic would make 1000's of props only to see them on every other site an hour later. I deal with the same thing on a weekly basis. At least give a book the decency to write a few bets before you have a $5 an hour copy and paste specialist steal their work.

If you are going to clone, be prepared to get turned upside down at some point in time. :howdy:

Your better off paying for the service than cloning long term. 1 dinger can cost you 10k+ a month. 10k a month on average is alot more than a few thousand a month and the integrity that comes with it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[scott]

Right on Oddessa !

 

[Illini]

Wow, middling on a television show - never thought i'd see the day. When did that air? Did he hit the middle? Did he also scalp the moneyline?

It was on earlier this year, and the re-run was on last night. It was funny, how one of the CSIs was explaining to a chick, Duke -15 and Louisville +23, etc. The girl was repeating back to him what +23 meant. It landed on 22. Not very realistic, but it was cool to see on CBS tv.

 

[scott]

Before the Internet other stores would paint our #s. The twits would wait till we got flattened out then put them up. Most #s would come back toward our openers meaning we had mostly two way action. The copy joints would have basically one sided business. Guess who won over the long haul. They would lose and have the balls to blame it on us to their bosses......Scotty

 

[Illini]

Scotty, I take it you worked at the Stardust? I think they still claim on their website to have the "opening line", even though it's no longer true.

 

[nimue77]

I would think olympic has opening lines more often than anyone else.

Scotty, I take it you worked at the Stardust? I think they still claim on their website to have the "opening line", even though it's no longer true.

 

[JOddessa]

Before the Internet other stores would paint our #s. The twits would wait till we got flattened out then put them up.

One of the BIGGEST shops in the industry has been doing this to me for months now. I have since been cut to 250.oo limits.

Just this morning I bet 250.oo on a side and it went from -175/+135 to -200/+160. On a 250.oo bet. You can bet your ass Its a bet I will cash though.

 

[scott]

Scotty, I take it you worked at the Stardust? I think they still claim on their website to have the "opening line", even though it's no longer true.

Illini, I ran the R&S book from 83'-'91'.

 

[queposkid]

THere is nothing more valuable than a good lines maker..There are good ones around, but the great ones are scarce..The software is like driving a car during the 24 hours of LeMans..You need to always watch for changes, the way the $$ is coming in, but you must also have a feel for the line..Like throwing dice in a way..Its funny, its hard to pick the winners when you wager, but easier to pick the losers..A great linesmen has a feel for the games and the changes as they come in..He can lead players by seeing and favoring a side, without wagering on the game..Some houses wait for certain players to wager, and then they follow that lead..A good linesmen watches the players, and the screen..Its a tough job, and on saturdays during FB..thankless..

In our industry a mistake can help the house, while also exposing it..The game of chance..With props and now first half baseball lines, the line managers job is evolving more and more into the heartbeat of many books..