As I stated earlier, there are TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, & THEN THERE'S THE TRUTH...
I just received a telephone call from WSEX'S STEVE. STEVE went into GREAT DETAIL to explain why WSEX sometimes delays a gambler's bet. I will do my best to summarize his position, but if some of you still have any questions regarding their practice, STEVE promised that he would be available by phone or on this thread to answer them.
What many of you may not realize is the number of gamblers who sit in front of the DON BEST screen, waiting to strike a sports book based on NEW INFORMATION they receive that will undoubtedly CHANGE the line on a game...
For example, if the MIAMI HEAT were favored by 5 over the Lakers, and an announcement comes out the SHAQUILLE O'NEAL isn't going to be playing, then obviously a downward adjustment of that line is warrented.
However, there will always be gamblers who immediately try and beat any sports book they can by betting against MIAMI before the sports book is able to adjust its new line. I personally find nothing at all wrong for a sports book to change its line under these conditions and to thereby STALL the gambler who is trying to beat them in this fashion...
Also, although WSEX is considered a "SQUARE" shop, they still have a number of wiseguys and movers that they allow to bet, but with REDUCED limits. I call this good bookmaking and an important step to take to prevent some bookmakers from going out of business...
Now these players, and I speak from experience here too, are quite familiar with the stalling drill and they hardly complain.
When a line moves from 5 to 7, WSEX is willing to take one or two HITS, but why on earth would they allow 20 beards, movers, and wiseguys to bet them at the old line? This is another sure-fire way for a sports book to go belly up...
To conclude, the examples I listed above are the ONLY times that WSEX will stall on the line that a gambler gets when trying to place a bet. Rather than intentionally trying to screw gamblers, WSEX is only attemting to protect the integrity of its book by not allowing themselves to be taken advantage of.
The majority of players NEVER complain of any line moving during the betting process, and in the cases they explained to me quite eloquently, I call this GOOD BOOKMAKING, rather than CHEATING...
THE SHRINK