Online Sportsbooks vs. Locals: No Contest!

ElIguana · Mar 22, 2006

Let me preface this by stating that I am just a small-time action player, not a pro. (Obviously)

Had played through local for years until a few weeks back when he had to take a leave of absence, so I opened an account at Oly. Was always a little leery of sending my $$ offshore and leaving an electronic "papertrail."

I should have switched years ago.

Online is so much more convenient in dozens of ways; you can get better lines, shop around, place bets anytime and not just during "call times" where you often have to take whatever number is available then.

It has also helped with $$ management. It's an entirely different ballgame when you have to front the $$ as opposed to playing on credit for the week. Much easier not to chase, double-up, bail out, etc. After a loss, the $$ is gone. After a win, the $$ is in your account and you're not as tempted to "let it all ride" on Monday Night Football or something stupid like that.

I'm posting this in the Newbies Forum as well so maybe others can benefit from what I have learned.

golfingarkansas · Mar 22, 2006

el, i agree with you in a lot of ways, but my local does not "settle" for
under or over 1000 and has a lot of benefits. One good thing about a local
is a lot of times his numbers are stale........

ga

i use the internet as well!!! if the bill passes you will love your local again

Insiders · Mar 22, 2006

El Iguana.

Great points there and i am glad that you are doing this as well.
Both offshore and Locals have their place in todays sports world for sure.
I understand what you are saying about being able to play only dureing a set number of hours dureing the day.
Every football season i manage to pick up another Local or 2 from different parts of the country. Dureing last football season i has 12 locals and only one offshore joint on speed dial. I managed to beat the number of the offshore places most everytime.
The Az locals were not as privy to information as the OKC locals dureing the football season on the Big12 and vice versa about some of the things going on in the Pac-10.
Anyway i do believe that Both are needed to be a better shopper of numbers as the offshore places are merely painted and 1 full point in the offshore world is now un heard of.
Many times there would be 1-2 Full points difference in the Locals.

I am always on the lookout for More locals, that come highly recomended for someone that i have known for long time. Shoot many of the locals now days have 800 numbers.
If the bill passes, which i rather doubt that it will, you will wish you had a Bunch of locals on your speedial !
JMHO

ElIguana · Mar 22, 2006

golfing arkansas said:
el, i agree with you in a lot of ways, but my local does not "settle" for
under or over 1000 and has a lot of benefits. One good thing about a local
is a lot of times his numbers are stale........

ga

i use the internet as well!!! if the bill passes you will love your local again

Unfortunately for me, GA, my local's lines are dead on, as he's an internet guru himself. I'll keep his number handy, but I've been very happy with Olympic & Neteller. Thanks for chiming in, Bro.

ElIguana · Mar 22, 2006

Insiders said:
El Iguana.

Great points there and i am glad that you are doing this as well.
Both offshore and Locals have their place in todays sports world for sure.
I understand what you are saying about being able to play only dureing a set number of hours dureing the day.
Every football season i manage to pick up another Local or 2 from different parts of the country. Dureing last football season i has 12 locals and only one offshore joint on speed dial. I managed to beat the number of the offshore places most everytime.
The Az locals were not as privy to information as the OKC locals dureing the football season on the Big12 and vice versa about some of the things going on in the Pac-10.
Anyway i do believe that Both are needed to be a better shopper of numbers as the offshore places are merely painted and 1 full point in the offshore world is now un heard of.
Many times there would be 1-2 Full points difference in the Locals.

I am always on the lookout for More locals, that come highly recomended for someone that i have known for long time. Shoot many of the locals now days have 800 numbers.
If the bill passes, which i rather doubt that it will, you will wish you had a Bunch of locals on your speedial !
JMHO

Insiders, you just illustrated why you are a pro and I'm a hack! I obviously don't spend the time/effort you do in tracking down good lines and information, I just make some action plays on games that look like they have value to me....and our bank accounts would surely demonstrate this fact even further!

I started this thread so that others who may be like I used to be--that is, averse to online sportsbooks--may give them a try. I have been very happy with Olympic & Neteller thus far, and I already notice my $$ management improving. Thanks for your input.

NickPappagiorgio · Mar 22, 2006

I cant understand why anyone would want to use a local anymore. I agree with El Iguana, the ease of use with an offshore is amazing. Gone are "bookie rules", betting games 5 hours before it starts and trying to make back losses. I will never use a local ever again.

Insiders · Mar 22, 2006

tvwatchr said:
I cant understand why anyone would want to use a local anymore. I agree with El Iguana, the ease of use with an offshore is amazing. Gone are "bookie rules", betting games 5 hours before it starts and trying to make back losses. I will never use a local ever again.

The main reason is i BEAT the number through Locals almost Always.
Sometimes EASE is NOT always Good.
I DONT stroke either, as BOTH have their place.
BOTH want to get your money.

AlwaysKeen · Mar 23, 2006

El Iguana, to add to what you are saying I played with a local for a long time as well and hit him pretty good, for a little over 7 thousand...will finally be receiving my final $500 in a couple of weeks...what a headache it's been...

with pinnacle, matchbook, mansion, betcris and betjamaica I don't have to worry about getting paid...

SportSavant · Mar 23, 2006

wow, 6 or 7 years ago, playing locals against the internet was a dream come true....

now most locals are much sharper (& much fewer)

ElIguana · Mar 23, 2006

Thanks for your thought, Fellas (or ladies, if you are!).

I think what we can all glean from this thread is that one should remain open to other avenues of information-gaining and wagering. The Net works better for me in many ways, but having locals with lines consistently 1-2 points off like Insiders has could really pay dividends over time. I'm tempted to ask Insiders to hook me up with those locals, but I just weened myself from my own! Maybe next FB season. :thumbsup2:

buddym · Mar 23, 2006

Betting with a local

I think both can be helpful in many ways. The offshore offers you so many more options, however with a good local you don!t have to worry about how you are going to send him or receive the monies without a paper trail. Some of the large locals now almost stay open just as long ue to all the offshore competition. I wouldn!t give my locals up for anything, too easy to get down, and can settle in a few minutes,and don!t have to give social on paying or collecting.