Intertops's tennis vig has gotten even more ridiculous!

beetman · Apr 9, 2005

Intertops has always dealt a graduated 40 cent line on tennis, which always struck me as ridiculous, but apparently that wasn't enough vig for them because they've now switched to a 50 cent line!

In today's Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco, they were dealing -130/-120 on the Puerta v. Volandri match that just started, and for the Zib v Monaco match later, they are dealing -125/-125. It's an absolute disgrace that a book would charge that much juice.

Groucho · Apr 9, 2005

Their boxing numbers are just as absurd, if not moreso.

Personally I wouldn't call it a disgrace. If they are counting on a lot of volume, I would call it bad business but I doubt they have that expectation.

If they can find fish to actually play those numbers, why not put them up? What I don't understand is why there are books that have no tennis at all. Why not just put up some crazy numbers like that? If no one ever plays them, they're no further behind.

Books don't have a duty to make things as easy as possible for us at all times. I just look at it as a take-it-or-leave-it thing. I leave it.

beetman · Apr 9, 2005

Of course they have the right to offer whatever lines they want whenever they want, but this is a book that's highly rated by many people. Intertops was recently rated 13th best amongst offshore sportsbooks by readers of the RX.
I'm not sure exactly how many offshore sportsbooks there are, but SBR lists something in the 300-400 ballpark. Perhaps I should have said "it's a disgrace that so many people consider this book a good one."

royalfan · Apr 9, 2005

Used to be a great out, now not even worth funding.

Glaken · Apr 9, 2005

Beet, Bet and Win & Intertops are always my last two line shops for tennis. Infact I wouldn't be surprised if the same service(or guy) chalks both books. They are always 30-40 cents higher on tennis favs than 5 Dimes & Pinny. BUT every so often they screw up and you can find a beauty there, too....thats why I always quickly look at their numbers.

G

MGB45 · Apr 9, 2005

I've had an account with Intertops for years, but haven't funded it for the last 2 years. With Pinnacle, Olympic, and 5Dimes out there, why would anyone ever send cash to Intertops with such high vig.

MGB45

Aquatic · Apr 9, 2005

Many books are dumping tennis as a bookable sport so the ones that stay will offer whatever they want. When you have a sport that guys throw matches in the first round to get an appearance fee or are forced to show up under the point system then how can books offer such events? Then you have big favorites on the womens side who rarely lose and parlays are a killer.
This is why major books who still deal it also offer such dismal limits.

Look at Gamebookers if you want to see some really wide juice.

LEYKIS101 · Apr 9, 2005

True Intertops might have lousy tennis lines, but their lines on football and basketball arent so bad. Often times I find they have the best # on several games I might be betting in those sports. Obviously they don't want any tennis action and are just looking for recreational suckers for tennis handle.

TheGeneral+ · Apr 9, 2005

Bookmakers can get smacked pretty good on tennis, soccer, nascar, etc...Sports that are not heavy in volume for them.

They are doing what they need to stay at a comfortable level financially. It's better than seeing them take serious risk and making obvious bad decisions. Atleast there are other options available too.

beetman · Apr 9, 2005

That's a good point, General, and I agree that it's better they use very low limits and high vig than accept higher limits and use lower vig if the latter means the book could go belly up. But I would still consider them a mediocre book for doing that; certainly not a top-notch one.