After seeing the success of Yandek's riveting interview with Pat " He may go all the way, he has.........Touchdown" Summerall I thought how hard can this interviewing game be. So on hearing that Pinnacle's Simon Noble was in Paddyland for a few Days, I arranged a get together with my old Friend Graham Sharp of William Hill, who basically does the same Job. After what seemed more like a Dentist pulling Teeth I used all my interviewing prowess to extract what I wanted, I plied them both with Drink and the Tougnues started to loosen. Just finishing off and checking with the Lawyers that it can go to print
First off a drink Lads, and I’ll start by asking each of you what you consider your Role in your respective Companies to be?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>
Simon: At Pinnacle its paramount that our customers get the best service possible and that includes being informed of situations at every level. My Job is one of teaching and relaying information to the Clients so that they are in position to make the best call on their wagers. We show them how to work out odds, the finer points of betting, where the weight of Money is coming from and generally how to succeed in Sports Wagering.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Oh Yes, no doubt about it, the Clients welfare is essential and we do everything we can to give them an enjoyable experience.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
OK, another drink Guys!! Graham, you were basically a PR Man to start with but the Job evolved, can you tell us something about that?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: That’s right, it was only to get everyone on the same page and one statement coming out but it rolled over to the sponsorship and entertaining side of the business, rewarding Clients and hosting corporate functions. Can I help myself to another? One for you Simon.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon, had you ever heard of Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Of course, Graham was legendary in the Trade and was the inspiration behind all the energy I put into thinking up new tricks. This beer’s good, I’ll have another.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
New tricks, how do you mean Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Well he started it didn’t he, it opened my eyes when he offered 500/1 in January that Martians would land on Earth before Christmas and he took £10,000 in Bets. Before then I didn’t think Punters could be that stupid.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Would you like to elaborate Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: That even took me by surprise but that’s Wildebeest for you.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Sorry, can you explain, Wildebeest?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: If you’ve ever seen that documentary where the Wildebeest cross the River then that’s the exact same as the Punters in a Game. They all wait till one takes his chances and if he’s OK then everyone jumps, halfway across they realise the deep shit their in and panic. Some turn back (just like betting at H/T) making it a free for all for the Crocks, some make it safely to the other side and blissfully forget the bloodbath that’s just happened until next time, all the while the smarter ones are crossing further up River in complete safety.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: HAHAHA your too much graham, have another drink, Boy this stuffs good.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
So when did things change from PR man to Tricks man?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Look, Punters are like Viruses, their always mutating and you have to be ahead of the game, feed them full of propaganda and the dirty pieces of Shit, sorry Betting Public will respond. You take the early morning price guarantee, We wanted to know where the cash was going so we could wipe a couple of points off it later when most of the cash was coming in. So we said that if the SP was bigger than the price they took, we would give them SP, well they came in their droves. The truth was the only Punters that beat the price were the ones that were doing it anyways but this shored up our Books.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Did you try any of this stuff at Pinnacle Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Sure, only not in the same context, we offer early spreads to catch out the Dopes, shelling Peas really. Whats important for us is to plant a seed of doubt in the low-lives, sorry Punters, make them feel that unless their playing certain markets and doing certain things, their not sharp. That’s our biggest weapon, making the bettor feel like he should know more. We’ve pushed middling and Scalping big time, both has paid great dividends for us.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
But punters do win Scalping and Middling don’t they?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Of course, there are winners in every Market, as long as it sucks in enough Greenhorns that haven’t a clue what their doing then everythings cushty. The sports forums are great for plugging this shit, saves us a fortune in advertising the fact.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Your right there Simon my Boy, I remember One poster had a thread called Coconut Shy Plays, which he had our prices made out to be just like knocking a coconut of the stand, what a Joker, these morons never for one minute thought it was us who was pulling the Strings and middling them HAHAHA.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
So really you’re to your Books what Goebbels was to the Nazi Party.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Wow that’s a compliment, joking apart though, Graham has proved time and time again how the mugs, sorry I mean Bettors can be manipulated from a psychological angle. The comparison to Viruses is a good one as it matters not how much the bettor advances in skill, technology and common sense, the basic forces of early betting life is still there, the money for nothing Gene.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Do you subscribe to this Money for nothing theory Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Are you kidding, its what the Bookmaking Empire is now built on. It wasn’t me it was a Cleaner in Paddy Power’s Head Office that invented the money back deal after seeing yet another 0-0 Draw she said to the main Controller, you should give people back their money when it finishes 0-0, the game was bad enough. Bingo, if the game finishes 0-0 we will reimburse your losses. Little did the sheep know that we would pick our prop which made only a 6% difference to our Book, later we got greedy by shortening the main prices to make up for the loss of percentage and they still took a worse price for the sake of getting the money back gaurantee,HAHAHA
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Anything like that on your side Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Not really as we have tighter margins but we do have the Deposit Bonus, which is on the same sort of lines. The sheep as Graham calls them think their getting something for nothing but all were giving them in reality is a vig Bonus Bet, once you factor in the Roll-over its peanuts in the great scheme of things.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
So what do you think has been the biggest earner for the Books in recent Years?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Without doubt the steamer, it’s still working after 25 Years. Once again you’re playing on the Herd mentality where everyone wants to be on the live shot. Its so easy to push a price nowadays without leaving yourself open, the sharper players just sit back disgusted at the price while the Mugs bite. Great stuff.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: It’s a bit different for us as we are mainly two-way betting but buying points has been the biggest earner for us. Graham talked about a forum thread and my favourite one was where a poster went on about 80% of Games the spread didn’t matter and then went on to buy the hook in a 7 pointer HAHAHA. Seriously though I still find it incredible that even so-called smart Punters will shop for the best vig and just stop at –105 or so where the really smart move is selling to plus, but that’s sheep for you.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
How are all these Exchanges going to affect your business?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: No problem, as I said earlier, this is an evolving game and anything that puts more confusion into the Sheep is better for us.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Agree, we already manipulate whats happening, the Exchanges only help us achieve our Goals of middling Games. Maybe we will look at Props more judging by the success the Brits have had.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
OK, finally what do you think of the RX Sports Forum?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: Not bad probably sharper than most.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Simon: Sorry, never heard of them, is it a British forum?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Graham: I just thought Winny, how come I’ve never seen you on the Front Page of the RX?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
Well its probably pressure of traffic, every time Feelsic farts in Vegas its headline stuff, then they got some geezer called supa Nova or something constantly stating the obvious there’s not much room for someone to tell people how their getting screwed by the Books. Thank you gentlemen for being so candid, there’s plenty of drink left help yourselves and Merry Xmas to all.:drink:
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o></o>
First off a drink Lads, and I’ll start by asking each of you what you consider your Role in your respective Companies to be?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: At Pinnacle its paramount that our customers get the best service possible and that includes being informed of situations at every level. My Job is one of teaching and relaying information to the Clients so that they are in position to make the best call on their wagers. We show them how to work out odds, the finer points of betting, where the weight of Money is coming from and generally how to succeed in Sports Wagering.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Oh Yes, no doubt about it, the Clients welfare is essential and we do everything we can to give them an enjoyable experience.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>OK, another drink Guys!! Graham, you were basically a PR Man to start with but the Job evolved, can you tell us something about that?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: That’s right, it was only to get everyone on the same page and one statement coming out but it rolled over to the sponsorship and entertaining side of the business, rewarding Clients and hosting corporate functions. Can I help myself to another? One for you Simon.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon, had you ever heard of Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Of course, Graham was legendary in the Trade and was the inspiration behind all the energy I put into thinking up new tricks. This beer’s good, I’ll have another.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>New tricks, how do you mean Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Well he started it didn’t he, it opened my eyes when he offered 500/1 in January that Martians would land on Earth before Christmas and he took £10,000 in Bets. Before then I didn’t think Punters could be that stupid.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Would you like to elaborate Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: That even took me by surprise but that’s Wildebeest for you.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Sorry, can you explain, Wildebeest?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: If you’ve ever seen that documentary where the Wildebeest cross the River then that’s the exact same as the Punters in a Game. They all wait till one takes his chances and if he’s OK then everyone jumps, halfway across they realise the deep shit their in and panic. Some turn back (just like betting at H/T) making it a free for all for the Crocks, some make it safely to the other side and blissfully forget the bloodbath that’s just happened until next time, all the while the smarter ones are crossing further up River in complete safety.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: HAHAHA your too much graham, have another drink, Boy this stuffs good.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>So when did things change from PR man to Tricks man?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Look, Punters are like Viruses, their always mutating and you have to be ahead of the game, feed them full of propaganda and the dirty pieces of Shit, sorry Betting Public will respond. You take the early morning price guarantee, We wanted to know where the cash was going so we could wipe a couple of points off it later when most of the cash was coming in. So we said that if the SP was bigger than the price they took, we would give them SP, well they came in their droves. The truth was the only Punters that beat the price were the ones that were doing it anyways but this shored up our Books.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Did you try any of this stuff at Pinnacle Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Sure, only not in the same context, we offer early spreads to catch out the Dopes, shelling Peas really. Whats important for us is to plant a seed of doubt in the low-lives, sorry Punters, make them feel that unless their playing certain markets and doing certain things, their not sharp. That’s our biggest weapon, making the bettor feel like he should know more. We’ve pushed middling and Scalping big time, both has paid great dividends for us.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>But punters do win Scalping and Middling don’t they?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Of course, there are winners in every Market, as long as it sucks in enough Greenhorns that haven’t a clue what their doing then everythings cushty. The sports forums are great for plugging this shit, saves us a fortune in advertising the fact.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Your right there Simon my Boy, I remember One poster had a thread called Coconut Shy Plays, which he had our prices made out to be just like knocking a coconut of the stand, what a Joker, these morons never for one minute thought it was us who was pulling the Strings and middling them HAHAHA.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>So really you’re to your Books what Goebbels was to the Nazi Party.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Wow that’s a compliment, joking apart though, Graham has proved time and time again how the mugs, sorry I mean Bettors can be manipulated from a psychological angle. The comparison to Viruses is a good one as it matters not how much the bettor advances in skill, technology and common sense, the basic forces of early betting life is still there, the money for nothing Gene.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Do you subscribe to this Money for nothing theory Graham?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Are you kidding, its what the Bookmaking Empire is now built on. It wasn’t me it was a Cleaner in Paddy Power’s Head Office that invented the money back deal after seeing yet another 0-0 Draw she said to the main Controller, you should give people back their money when it finishes 0-0, the game was bad enough. Bingo, if the game finishes 0-0 we will reimburse your losses. Little did the sheep know that we would pick our prop which made only a 6% difference to our Book, later we got greedy by shortening the main prices to make up for the loss of percentage and they still took a worse price for the sake of getting the money back gaurantee,HAHAHA
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Anything like that on your side Simon?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Not really as we have tighter margins but we do have the Deposit Bonus, which is on the same sort of lines. The sheep as Graham calls them think their getting something for nothing but all were giving them in reality is a vig Bonus Bet, once you factor in the Roll-over its peanuts in the great scheme of things.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>So what do you think has been the biggest earner for the Books in recent Years?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Without doubt the steamer, it’s still working after 25 Years. Once again you’re playing on the Herd mentality where everyone wants to be on the live shot. Its so easy to push a price nowadays without leaving yourself open, the sharper players just sit back disgusted at the price while the Mugs bite. Great stuff.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: It’s a bit different for us as we are mainly two-way betting but buying points has been the biggest earner for us. Graham talked about a forum thread and my favourite one was where a poster went on about 80% of Games the spread didn’t matter and then went on to buy the hook in a 7 pointer HAHAHA. Seriously though I still find it incredible that even so-called smart Punters will shop for the best vig and just stop at –105 or so where the really smart move is selling to plus, but that’s sheep for you.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>How are all these Exchanges going to affect your business?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: No problem, as I said earlier, this is an evolving game and anything that puts more confusion into the Sheep is better for us.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Agree, we already manipulate whats happening, the Exchanges only help us achieve our Goals of middling Games. Maybe we will look at Props more judging by the success the Brits have had.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>OK, finally what do you think of the RX Sports Forum?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: Not bad probably sharper than most.
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Simon: Sorry, never heard of them, is it a British forum?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Graham: I just thought Winny, how come I’ve never seen you on the Front Page of the RX?
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>Well its probably pressure of traffic, every time Feelsic farts in Vegas its headline stuff, then they got some geezer called supa Nova or something constantly stating the obvious there’s not much room for someone to tell people how their getting screwed by the Books. Thank you gentlemen for being so candid, there’s plenty of drink left help yourselves and Merry Xmas to all.:drink:
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o
></o>
:toast: 
