Some offshore and Internet sports books are more hype than substance, but not Grande.
This book is in every professional's top-five list. With Grande, it's not about marketing, giving out excessive bonuses and putting out off-the-wall low limit 'props.'
The bookmakers at Grande earn their money the old-fashion way - they gamble for it. They've been doing it since 1989. Within the last year, Grande also started doing post-up business at BetGrande.com, its Internet site.
Skip, Grande’s owner, set up BetGrande.com to accommodate gamblers from around the world because recreational bettors had heard about Grande and wanted to wager there.
Unlike many books, Grande isn't afraid to deal to 'wise' guys, or to have high limits.
"They're more than welcome," Skip said.
Skip isn't being cocky here. If anything, Grande is much too low key. Grande isn't fancy. Yes, a standard 10 percent bonus is offered on the Web site to new bettors who aren't professionals. But what Grande is all about is big limits, fast payouts and not being afraid to book to anyone. In other words, the company offers real bookmaking.
"We welcome all comers," Skip said. "We move the numbers accordingly and take action on both sides of the game. That's our philosophy."
However, some say a sports book can’t win in the long run by continuing to take high-limit wagers from the top professionals and syndicates.
"That's not true at all," Skip said. "You can't book to all recreational players and just a couple of 'wise' guys because the 'wise' guys will swallow up all the profits.
"But if you welcome all of them and move your number, you will get action both ways to a game. You can get them fighting each other, and it becomes a nice business. It works well for me."
This isn't as easy as it sounds. Skip has been in the business a long time. You really have to know what you're doing. It helps having a serious gambling background. Many places want nothing to do with sharp bettors, preferring only to deal with a non-sophisticated customer base.
According to Skip, it doesn't have to be this way.
"You have these guys playing both sides," he said of 'middlers.' "But if you move the numbers, you'll find some 'wise' guys on one side and some 'wise' guys on the other side. You're looking just to be the middleman and collect the juice. That's what it's all about."
Normally, Grande will take up to $20,000 on a football side.
"If people need more they're certainly welcome to ask for more," Skip said. "If we can use it, we'll take it."
This book is in every professional's top-five list. With Grande, it's not about marketing, giving out excessive bonuses and putting out off-the-wall low limit 'props.'
The bookmakers at Grande earn their money the old-fashion way - they gamble for it. They've been doing it since 1989. Within the last year, Grande also started doing post-up business at BetGrande.com, its Internet site.
Skip, Grande’s owner, set up BetGrande.com to accommodate gamblers from around the world because recreational bettors had heard about Grande and wanted to wager there.
Unlike many books, Grande isn't afraid to deal to 'wise' guys, or to have high limits.
"They're more than welcome," Skip said.
Skip isn't being cocky here. If anything, Grande is much too low key. Grande isn't fancy. Yes, a standard 10 percent bonus is offered on the Web site to new bettors who aren't professionals. But what Grande is all about is big limits, fast payouts and not being afraid to book to anyone. In other words, the company offers real bookmaking.
"We welcome all comers," Skip said. "We move the numbers accordingly and take action on both sides of the game. That's our philosophy."
However, some say a sports book can’t win in the long run by continuing to take high-limit wagers from the top professionals and syndicates.
"That's not true at all," Skip said. "You can't book to all recreational players and just a couple of 'wise' guys because the 'wise' guys will swallow up all the profits.
"But if you welcome all of them and move your number, you will get action both ways to a game. You can get them fighting each other, and it becomes a nice business. It works well for me."
This isn't as easy as it sounds. Skip has been in the business a long time. You really have to know what you're doing. It helps having a serious gambling background. Many places want nothing to do with sharp bettors, preferring only to deal with a non-sophisticated customer base.
According to Skip, it doesn't have to be this way.
"You have these guys playing both sides," he said of 'middlers.' "But if you move the numbers, you'll find some 'wise' guys on one side and some 'wise' guys on the other side. You're looking just to be the middleman and collect the juice. That's what it's all about."
Normally, Grande will take up to $20,000 on a football side.
"If people need more they're certainly welcome to ask for more," Skip said. "If we can use it, we'll take it."
