Because I know books get unfairly flamed sometimes, I am going to keep this post as anonymous as I can.
I tried to make a wager ten minutes before game time. When I went to confim the wager, I received a message stating that the line had moved 1/2 point against me (ex. from +2 to +1.5). I cancelled the wager, went back and refreshed the lines, only to find that the board displayed the old line (+2, using my previous example). Assuming that the line must have moved again (while also understanding that there might be a software error), I tried to place the wager again. This time, the wager went through. When I checked my open bets afterwards, the "new" line (+1.5) showed up. Keep in mind, on the board and in the confirmation screen, the old line (+2) showed up. I never selected or confirmed a bet on the new line (+1.5).
I immediately called customer service, since there were still about 5 minutes before game time. Unfortunately, it was outside of normal customer service hours, so I couldn't speak to anybody with the power to check the software for an error. To avoid controversy, I asked them to either cancel the bet or give me the old line (+2). They told me that the bet would stand with the new line (+1.5), and then in the morning I could call to correct the problem.
The bet ended up losing by more than the new number (+1.5) or the old number (+2).
The next morning I called and a customer service rep told me they would talk with the software people. They said since the bet would have lost at either line, the bet will stand, but that they will find out if there was, in fact a software error while I placed my bet.
Some time later I was sent an email telling me that there was, in fact, a software error. They offered me some money for my troubles (significantly less than the amount of my wager), but did not offer to refund the bet and call it no action.
Like most books, they have a written rule about refunding bets and calling them no action on a "bad line" or a "mistake line". Though I know the difference was only 1/2 point, I am somewhat skeptical that they would have ruled in my favor had the line move resulted in a losing wager being turned into a winner. It was their software error that caused me to confirm a bet at a number they were unwilling to offer before game time. In my opinion, that fits the definition of a "bad line".
Their point of view, from what I gather, is that this equates to a mistaken read back. If a teller read me back +2 when the line was actually +1.5, for example, we would have checked the tape and the bet would have stood at +2. There would have been no cancelling of the bet, even if I had called before game time because we would have been able to look at the evidence before the game ever started. My problem with that theory is that they were not able to look at the evidence before the game started, so we'll never know if they actually would have given me the old line (+2) or if they would have called that a bad line and cancelled the wager.
I am very ambivalent towards this book right now. I know they are at least offering me some compensation for my trouble, but I can't shake the feeling that they would have not done the same thing had the bad line made it a win or a push with the old line (+2) but a loss with the new line (+1.5).
I am looking for opinions on this. I told them straight up before game time on the phone that I did not want action if I had the new line (+1.5), and they could not guarantee me that my wager would be on the old line. I specifically stated that I wanted to cancel the wager if I wasn't given the old line (+2). On the other hand, I understand their point of view that if the wager would have worked out in my favor, my reaction would be different. I will say again that I specifically asked that they either cancel the bet or offer my the old line (+2) BEFORE the game started.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
I tried to make a wager ten minutes before game time. When I went to confim the wager, I received a message stating that the line had moved 1/2 point against me (ex. from +2 to +1.5). I cancelled the wager, went back and refreshed the lines, only to find that the board displayed the old line (+2, using my previous example). Assuming that the line must have moved again (while also understanding that there might be a software error), I tried to place the wager again. This time, the wager went through. When I checked my open bets afterwards, the "new" line (+1.5) showed up. Keep in mind, on the board and in the confirmation screen, the old line (+2) showed up. I never selected or confirmed a bet on the new line (+1.5).
I immediately called customer service, since there were still about 5 minutes before game time. Unfortunately, it was outside of normal customer service hours, so I couldn't speak to anybody with the power to check the software for an error. To avoid controversy, I asked them to either cancel the bet or give me the old line (+2). They told me that the bet would stand with the new line (+1.5), and then in the morning I could call to correct the problem.
The bet ended up losing by more than the new number (+1.5) or the old number (+2).
The next morning I called and a customer service rep told me they would talk with the software people. They said since the bet would have lost at either line, the bet will stand, but that they will find out if there was, in fact a software error while I placed my bet.
Some time later I was sent an email telling me that there was, in fact, a software error. They offered me some money for my troubles (significantly less than the amount of my wager), but did not offer to refund the bet and call it no action.
Like most books, they have a written rule about refunding bets and calling them no action on a "bad line" or a "mistake line". Though I know the difference was only 1/2 point, I am somewhat skeptical that they would have ruled in my favor had the line move resulted in a losing wager being turned into a winner. It was their software error that caused me to confirm a bet at a number they were unwilling to offer before game time. In my opinion, that fits the definition of a "bad line".
Their point of view, from what I gather, is that this equates to a mistaken read back. If a teller read me back +2 when the line was actually +1.5, for example, we would have checked the tape and the bet would have stood at +2. There would have been no cancelling of the bet, even if I had called before game time because we would have been able to look at the evidence before the game ever started. My problem with that theory is that they were not able to look at the evidence before the game started, so we'll never know if they actually would have given me the old line (+2) or if they would have called that a bad line and cancelled the wager.
I am very ambivalent towards this book right now. I know they are at least offering me some compensation for my trouble, but I can't shake the feeling that they would have not done the same thing had the bad line made it a win or a push with the old line (+2) but a loss with the new line (+1.5).
I am looking for opinions on this. I told them straight up before game time on the phone that I did not want action if I had the new line (+1.5), and they could not guarantee me that my wager would be on the old line. I specifically stated that I wanted to cancel the wager if I wasn't given the old line (+2). On the other hand, I understand their point of view that if the wager would have worked out in my favor, my reaction would be different. I will say again that I specifically asked that they either cancel the bet or offer my the old line (+2) BEFORE the game started.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
