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A Guide to the Rating Criteria of SportsCrew.com Sportsbook Reviews
A Process Based on Factual Research and Un-compromised Investigation
A Process Based on Factual Research and Un-compromised Investigation
By: Will Gatten, SportsCrew.com Senior Analyst
© 2005 All rights reserved
While online gambling continues to grow and expand as one of the industries with one of the most explosive growth rates in the financial history of the US ? some experts believe the industry generated a total amount of revenue close to the $100 Billion in year 2004- the industry itself remains mostly unregulated, as the large majority of online sportsbooks operate from outside the US. With the aid of the Internet and servers located mostly in Latin American countries, anybody can set shop and start an online bookmaking operation.
Some offshore jurisdictions are safer than others, but the bottom line still is that there are no concrete legal regulations in the offshore gambling industry. In this environment it's very difficult for a player to tell the difference between a professional, safe sportsbook and a scam operation. Many online bettors have suffered severe losses to the hands of unscrupulous conartists, who will run a 'sportsbook' with the only purpose of scamming customers out of their hard-earned cash. Little can be done to recuperate the lost money, once you have lost it to one of these scam sportsbooks. In an effort to help online bettors to make an educated decision, make the best of their gambling experience and avoid being stiffed, SportsCrew.com is looking forward to reviewing all the existing online sportsbooks based on a simple structure:
• Our Recommended Sponsors
• Other Reputable Gaming Sites,
• Additional Gaming Sites, Online Sportsbooks with Pending or Unresolved Processes and
• The Danger Zone: A Blacklist for SCAM Operations and a Listing of High Risk Operations
At the same time and as a direct response to players' complaints who have expressed their dissatisfaction on various issues, SportsCrew.com has classified all the reviewed sportsbooks in 3 main levels , depending on their targeted audiences. Some of these issues are complaints that as first-time players, bettors don't get all the personalized attention they would like to receive from their sportsbooks; that despite their sportsbook being a great safe company, they sometimes fail to fit their very expectations. Or that maybe they have found a great sportsbook with a great bonus offer and great original lines, but they soon found out that their limits per play were cut down after a short winning streak. Or maybe players that love to bet on a very specific type of bet, but whose current sportsbooks do not offer betting odds in those events. This has taught us that not every sportsbook offers the same type of service for the same audience. These are the 3 levels we have created to help players find the sportsbook that fits their needs the best:
• Level I; Targeted Audience: Recreational and Small Players.
• Level II; Targeted Audience: Recreational/Small Players and Intermediate Players.
• Level III; Targeted Audience: Recreational/Small Players, Intermediate Players and Advanced High Stakes/Professional Players.
SportsCrew.com will refrain from creating a rating system for online sportsbooks; instead, we will direct our efforts to create a research platform, based on the direct input of REAL players and factual investigation. We believe it?s the players who can provide us with the most factual information on the services offered by different sportsbooks, based on their experiences. This will be a project for and by the players. As our ultimate goal, SportsCrew.com will be looking forward to merely facilitating the means for players to interact with each other and create a consensus criteria that will help other players determine which books are trustworthy and professional about the way they run the operation and which are not. Furthermore, only extremely reputable sportsbooks deemed as the very best by the players will be taken into consideration for sponsorship in our web site.As a starting point, SportsCrew.com provides this guide to an up-to-date research process, that will generate the initial reviews and ratings of online sportsbooks. The results compiled by this research will be made available to the public and we hope this will the beginning of a project designed to meet the very needs of online gamblers.This is a behind the scenes guide to how SportsCrew.com selects a sponsor:
5 EVALUATION CATEGORIES
- Business Model and Bonus Structure
- Company's Operation Model
- Software Rating
- Financial Stability
- Players Review Section
The vast majority of bookmaking business models are based on the commission received by the sportsbook when writing the bets. This commission is usually referred to as JUICE. The following is a very basic scheme on how this commission is calculated in the American market:
How 'Juice' is Calculated
The bookmaker offers -110/-110 odds on Team A/Team B to win a specific sporting event. Gambler 1 bets $1,100 to win $1,000 on Team A, Gambler 2 bets $1,100 to win $1,000 on Team B. The bookmaker is hence holding $2,200; out of which he has to pay $2,100 to the winner ($1,100 stakes + $1,000 winnings). The bookmaker earns a commission of $100 out of every $2,200. That is a 4.54% theoretical percentage of hold.
For the online sportsbooks with reduced juice programs, this theoretical percentage of hold is significantly decreased for the bookmaker. Following the same premises as above, the theoretical percentages of hold for:
• A 14 cent line (-107/-107) is 3.27%
• A 10 cent line (-105/-105) is 2.38%
How can these online sportsbooks offer these discount prices?
Just like Wal-Mart stores, they make money by dealing in a higher volume based on the lower prices. Traditionally, reduced juice sportsbooks do not offer large bonuses and never offer re-deposit bonuses; they rarely offer any promotions and they will likely reduce the cost of their operational overhead costs by offering online wagering and customer service by e-mail only. These sportsbooks are geared for active players that understand the great advantages of paying less commission or juice. Betting at reduced juice means an instant discount for the player; for example:
• At -110 odds, player A bets $110 to win $100. Full 'juice' price.
• At -107 odds, player A bets $107 to win $100. 'Juice' Discount: 30%
• At -105 odds, player A bets $105 to win $100. 'Juice' Discount: 50%
Players should also be aware of what seems to be a common practice in the reduced juice market: Juice Manipulation. It's true that a 10 cent line means less commission for the book overall, but it does not always mean a better price for the player for each event. This can be better explained with the following examples:
• 10 cent line (-105/-105) + Juice Manipulation = -124/+114
• 14 cent line (-107/-107) + Juice Manipulation = -124/+110
As explained above, a typical line for any given match-up at a sportsbook offering standard -110 odds could look like this:
• Team A: -7 -110,
• Team B: +7 -110
After price manipulation applied by the reduced juice sportsbooks, the same match-up will end up looking like this, at a 10 cent line:
• Team A: -7 -124 , instead of -110 and
• Team B: +7 +114 , instead of -110
Or, like this at a 14 cent line:
• Team A: -7 -124 , instead of -110 and
• Team B: +7 +110 , instead of -110
It's important for players to be aware of the fundamental differences between the traditional bookmaking models (-110) and the price manipulation in the reduced juice market. While this type of deal might at times offer great value (Team B: +7 +114 or +110), it's also possible that an unaware player gets caught up paying more than required on the other side of that same match-up (Team A: -7 -124, if compared with Team A: -7 -110). Reduced Juice can be a very useful tool for the player that likes to do value shopping, but players must pay close attention to the above mentioned juice manipulation.
Group 1; the sportsbooks that welcome all types of action . This type of sportsbooks caters to recreational and professional players all the same. However, their bonus programs and promotions are not intended for the professional bettor. Successfully catering to all types of audiences requires of a large infrastructure and a lot of man power. In this day and time, there are very few books that are currently following this model.
Group 2; Sportsbooks that limit professional syndicated action and arbitrage players: This business model is based on catering exclusively to recreational and/or small players. This business model allows the sportsbook operators to handle minimum exposure on their lines, which results in greater amounts of money being invested on marketing and retention campaigns, hence offering a better environment for the amateur and small gambler.
Group 3; the sportsbooks that offer reduced juice. These sportsbooks offer discount prices and very unique lines most of the times. They strive by attracting a larger amount of players based on lower prices, but hence aiming to have a much larger volume of action. This type of sportsbook is usually regarded as the 'Wal-Mart' of the online betting industry. Since the theoretical percentage of hold is significantly decreased for these books , the reduced juice sportsbooks do not offer a cash sign-up bonus larger than 10% (if they offer one at all) and they do not offer any form of re-load bonuses or other perks.
Group 4; the sportsbooks that offer extremely sharp lines exclusively. This business model offers little or no bonuses at all, but it gives players the highest limits in the industry. This type of book is a perfect fit for professional players with large stakes.
Group 5; scam sportsbooks: This is hardly a business model, but a sad reality in this industry. There are many "sportsbooks" out there, that are run by unscrupulous operators whose only intention is to lure the players into depositing funds that will never be seen again. Learn more about this type of rogue operation by visiting our Danger Zone
How can you tell between a profitable business model and a risky business model?
Since the amount of factors is infinite, the simple answer is to stick with sportsbooks that are long-established operations. The established sportsbook has been in business a minimum of 2 VERIFIABLE years. Or in the case of a new sportsbook, stick with sportsbooks that are financially backed-up by a major, long-established sportsbook.
How 'Juice' is Calculated
The bookmaker offers -110/-110 odds on Team A/Team B to win a specific sporting event. Gambler 1 bets $1,100 to win $1,000 on Team A, Gambler 2 bets $1,100 to win $1,000 on Team B. The bookmaker is hence holding $2,200; out of which he has to pay $2,100 to the winner ($1,100 stakes + $1,000 winnings). The bookmaker earns a commission of $100 out of every $2,200. That is a 4.54% theoretical percentage of hold.
For the online sportsbooks with reduced juice programs, this theoretical percentage of hold is significantly decreased for the bookmaker. Following the same premises as above, the theoretical percentages of hold for:
• A 14 cent line (-107/-107) is 3.27%
• A 10 cent line (-105/-105) is 2.38%
How can these online sportsbooks offer these discount prices?
Just like Wal-Mart stores, they make money by dealing in a higher volume based on the lower prices. Traditionally, reduced juice sportsbooks do not offer large bonuses and never offer re-deposit bonuses; they rarely offer any promotions and they will likely reduce the cost of their operational overhead costs by offering online wagering and customer service by e-mail only. These sportsbooks are geared for active players that understand the great advantages of paying less commission or juice. Betting at reduced juice means an instant discount for the player; for example:
• At -110 odds, player A bets $110 to win $100. Full 'juice' price.
• At -107 odds, player A bets $107 to win $100. 'Juice' Discount: 30%
• At -105 odds, player A bets $105 to win $100. 'Juice' Discount: 50%
Players should also be aware of what seems to be a common practice in the reduced juice market: Juice Manipulation. It's true that a 10 cent line means less commission for the book overall, but it does not always mean a better price for the player for each event. This can be better explained with the following examples:
• 10 cent line (-105/-105) + Juice Manipulation = -124/+114
• 14 cent line (-107/-107) + Juice Manipulation = -124/+110
As explained above, a typical line for any given match-up at a sportsbook offering standard -110 odds could look like this:
• Team A: -7 -110,
• Team B: +7 -110
After price manipulation applied by the reduced juice sportsbooks, the same match-up will end up looking like this, at a 10 cent line:
• Team A: -7 -124 , instead of -110 and
• Team B: +7 +114 , instead of -110
Or, like this at a 14 cent line:
• Team A: -7 -124 , instead of -110 and
• Team B: +7 +110 , instead of -110
It's important for players to be aware of the fundamental differences between the traditional bookmaking models (-110) and the price manipulation in the reduced juice market. While this type of deal might at times offer great value (Team B: +7 +114 or +110), it's also possible that an unaware player gets caught up paying more than required on the other side of that same match-up (Team A: -7 -124, if compared with Team A: -7 -110). Reduced Juice can be a very useful tool for the player that likes to do value shopping, but players must pay close attention to the above mentioned juice manipulation.
BUSINESS MODELS
Having reviewed how revenue is generated in theory, there are generally 5 different groups of business models applied in this industry:Group 1; the sportsbooks that welcome all types of action . This type of sportsbooks caters to recreational and professional players all the same. However, their bonus programs and promotions are not intended for the professional bettor. Successfully catering to all types of audiences requires of a large infrastructure and a lot of man power. In this day and time, there are very few books that are currently following this model.
Group 2; Sportsbooks that limit professional syndicated action and arbitrage players: This business model is based on catering exclusively to recreational and/or small players. This business model allows the sportsbook operators to handle minimum exposure on their lines, which results in greater amounts of money being invested on marketing and retention campaigns, hence offering a better environment for the amateur and small gambler.
Group 3; the sportsbooks that offer reduced juice. These sportsbooks offer discount prices and very unique lines most of the times. They strive by attracting a larger amount of players based on lower prices, but hence aiming to have a much larger volume of action. This type of sportsbook is usually regarded as the 'Wal-Mart' of the online betting industry. Since the theoretical percentage of hold is significantly decreased for these books , the reduced juice sportsbooks do not offer a cash sign-up bonus larger than 10% (if they offer one at all) and they do not offer any form of re-load bonuses or other perks.
Group 4; the sportsbooks that offer extremely sharp lines exclusively. This business model offers little or no bonuses at all, but it gives players the highest limits in the industry. This type of book is a perfect fit for professional players with large stakes.
Group 5; scam sportsbooks: This is hardly a business model, but a sad reality in this industry. There are many "sportsbooks" out there, that are run by unscrupulous operators whose only intention is to lure the players into depositing funds that will never be seen again. Learn more about this type of rogue operation by visiting our Danger Zone
How can you tell between a profitable business model and a risky business model?
Since the amount of factors is infinite, the simple answer is to stick with sportsbooks that are long-established operations. The established sportsbook has been in business a minimum of 2 VERIFIABLE years. Or in the case of a new sportsbook, stick with sportsbooks that are financially backed-up by a major, long-established sportsbook.
BONUS STRUCTURE
A responsible approach is a fundamental component to running a profitable business model. Every perk given to the players will lower the margin of profits of an operation. This is why SportsCrew.com pays special attention to risky and irresponsible bonus structures.
A RESPONSIBLE AND PROFITABLE CASH BONUS STRUCTURE
• His balance now is $1,200 and he is supposed to roll that amount 5 times over, before he can request a payout without losing the bonus money.
• The total turn-over amount is $6,000 and the book perceives a theoretical percentage of hold of 5% ( =5X roll-over).
• The theoretical percentage of hold on this scheme, will allow the book to keep a 5% of $6,000; for a total of $300Since this percentage of hold ($300) is still greater than the initial bonus ($200); hence, there is a gross profit for the sportsbook of 50%
• And in case Gambler X was to hit a lucky streak, he'd still have to overcome the 30 day hold requirement
This type of structure would allow a reputable, well-funded book to offer a very attractive bonus and still make a minimum profit off it. Some very large operations will require the players to roll the total amount of bonus + deposit only 3 times over and still offer a 20% bonus. But in most of the cases, the bonus cap is much lower; occasionally as low as $200 or $300, in which case the promotion is designed to attract only small players.
THE MATCH-PLAY BONUS - This type of offer is commonly used by various sportsbooks and it usually involves bonuses of up to 50% MP Bonus. The fundamental difference between the cash bonus and the match play bonus, is that the latter will only allow you to keep the winnings and not the bonus itself. The theoretical percentage of hold on this type of bonus is very difficult to calculate and it's believed that no definite value can be assigned to this type of bonus. For sake of simplicity when it comes to this type of perk, stick with operations that present the following characteristics:
• A verifiable financial history of at least 2 years.
• Some reputable operations prefer to offer a higher MP bonus over a cash bonus
• Rules and regulations must be clearly posted on the main website of the online sportsbook
• There must no gray areas in their rules and regulations
A PERCENT REBATE ON NET LOSSES - This type of offer represents a significant concession by the sportsbook, as it is directly subtracted from their gross profit. That is the reason why very few sportsbooks offer this type of perk. Those that do, offer them under very strict conditions. Most of the time, the rebates are not to be combined with any other bonus, promotion or perk. This being said, only a select few sportsbooks are in the financial position to offer this perk while still running a profitable business.
Since a sportsbook that offers a rebate program on net losses still needs to pay winners, cover overhead expenses and operation costs, only sportsbooks that handle a high volume or deal to a large number of non-professional players can safely offer this type of perk. This perk is most definitely one of the best deals for the small player in the offshore industry.
A well-designed, SAFE rebate program consists of the following characteristics:
• It must be a well-established sportsbook with a long track record or in the case of newer books, they have been vouched for by an industry giant
• The rebate programs offered by solid sportsbooks are not to be combined with any other bonuses or promotions
• If they are combined, then the bonus offered cannot exceed a 10%
• The funds product of the rebate programs are subject to rules and restrictions
LOYALTY PROGRAMS - This type of program rewards customers based on how much action they give their sportsbooks. As the name suggests, the main objective of these programs is to reward loyalty. A well-run loyalty program can become a great advantage for the player and provide a client with tangible benefits. Offering an attractive loyalty program usually requires a very well-designed infrastructure to support it.
A Loyalty Program offers " loyalty points " for a specific amount on any given transaction. In this industry, these " loyalty points " are accrued over time and in exchange for the "action" given to the sportsbook. More specifically:
• A Loyalty Program rewards the player with points every time he/she places a wager
• These points accumulate in the player's account until he/she decides to exchange them for the offered prizes
• New customers are usually enrolled automatically, if the sportsbook offers this program
• Loyalty Programs are usually meant for the small players and not for the professional gambler.
• The sportsbooks offering legitimate loyalty programs post the rules/restrictions and benefits of the program on their web site, as a contractual agreement.
A RISKY AND IRRESPONSIBLE BONUS AND PERKS STRUCTURE
• A cash bonus larger than 25% in combination with a roll-over lower than 5 times
• A cash bonus larger than 15% in combination with permanent reduced juice offerings
• A cash bonus larger than 15% in combination with 10% losses rebate (or higher)
• A cash bonus larger than 30%. Scam operations and sportsbooks in financial distress are known to offer these types of outrageous offers.
Stay away from offerings by new sportsbooks with any of the following possible scenarios:
• A MP Bonus of 25% or more
• An outrageously high MP Bonus (over 50%), only if you deposit via Western Union
An outrageously high MP Bonus (over 50%), offered to professional players or middlers/scalpers.
Stay away from rebate programs by any sportsbooks that consist of any of the following scenarios:
• A rebate program offering kick-backs larger than 20% of net losses
• A rebate program in combination with permanent reduced juice offerings
• A rebate program offering kick-backs larger than 20% of net losses, in combination with a cash bonus larger than 10%
• A rebate program offering kick-backs larger than 30% of net losses. Scam operations are known to offer this type of outrageous offers
Stay away from loyalty programs that include any of the following possible scenarios:
• The rules/restrictions and benefits of the loyalty program are not posted on the web site
• A Loyalty Program is offered in combination with outrageous sign-up and re-load bonuses (25% or more cash bonus and/or 30% or more MP bonus)
• A Loyalty Program is offered in combination with permanent reduced juice offerings
• A Loyalty Program is offered by a sportsbook that lacks the structure and financial stability to optimize the operation for the programMost of these bonus and promotions discussed above are usually NOT OFFERED to professional gamblers. (Back to top)
RESEARCH AREA #2: OPERATION MODELS
This is the one area that seems to matter the most to a large majority of the players, as it is the very bases of the service provided by an online sportsbook. SportsCrew.com has divided this research area in the following 4 sub-categories, in order to make it easier for the players to submit their feedback:
1) CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATIONS.
This category is divided in the following sub-categories:
• Rules Simplicity and Accuracy
• Quality of the E-mail Service
• Quality of Phone Service
• Quality of Online Chat
• Assistance Hours of Operation
• Promptness of PayoutsRules Simplicity and Accuracy.
Rules Simplicity and Accuracy:
• A well-run operation should offer clear and straight-forward betting rules for every league or sport where betting odds are offered.
• All possible scenarios should be contemplated and addressed by these rules in a simple and accurate manner.
• There should be no room for interpretation of these betting rules.
• The same is also optimum for the rules and restrictions of every bonus and promotion.
Quality of E-mail Service: SportsCrew.com has launched a research that tests the ability of different sportsbook to provide a premium e-mail service. The e-mail services provided by any sportsbook are primarily based on the following measurable factors:
• Promptness of ResponseQuality and Accuracy of the Response
• The Professionalism and Courtesy of the CS Representative when Addressing the IssuesSportsCrew.com has provided the following basic guidelines for this e-mail test research:
• Initial response times: SportsCrew.com would suggest sportsbooks should respond immediately with an email auto responder. In an environment where sportsbooks have experienced considerable downtime due to DoS attacks, an auto responder would let the client know that his email has been received
• Initial Response: During typical business hours sportsbooks should provide an initial response to a general question within 30 minutes
• Follow-up Response: If a client requests information from departments such as bookmaking, accounting, etc. a detailed reply should be sent in less than 90 minutes during normal business hours
• Overnight email responses: Top operations with 24 hour support should be able to reply to a general question within an hour
Read more on the results of SportsCrew.com's E-mail Services Research by visiting this page: SportsCrew.com Email Response Test - Results Page
Quality of Phone Service: The sportsbook representatives in the Customer Service Department should comply with the following requirements :
• They need to read, write and speak the native language of the client. In the case of the American market they should speak fluent English
• They must remain courteous and professional, even when the customer is irate on the phone
• They must be perceptive and well-informed in all the areas of the service provided by their company.
• They should be able to successfully address any questions about the different types of wager offered by the sportsbook, the banking procedures, payment methods, promotions being offered, etc.
• They need to address every issue brought up by a customer in a prompt and professional manner
• A successful CS Department will have "closers", people in charge of signing up new customers efficiently and swiftly and make this customers feel secure and welcomed
• The Customer Service department of top rated books should be available to their clients 24/7. SportsCrew.com is aware some sportsbooks do not offer phone support, but SportsCrew.com believes a prompt and efficient e-mail service is a good alternative.
Read more on the results of SportsCrew.com's Phone Services Research by visiting this page: SportsCrew.com Phone Service Test - Results Page
Quality of Online Chat Assistance: SportsCrew.com believes this is a very convenient feature for the offshore internet bettor, as it provides a platform of service that is both, helpful and cost-effective for all parts involved. Top tier online sportsbooks should provide this feature, and the service should be based on the following premises:
• The representatives in charge of offering this service should have full domain of the English language.
• They should be able to type English at a very accelerated pace and SportsCrew.com would recommend that these representatives always keep a Word Document open and ready, in order to check the spelling of every message to be written.
• These representatives must remain courteous and professional, while always being as concise as possible SportsCrew.com does not recommend the sharing of sensitive information via online chat assistance, such as Money Transfer Control Numbers, Bank Wire ID Numbers, NT Account Numbers or any type of password.
Read more on the results of SportsCrew.com's Chat Services Research by visiting this page: SportsCrew.com Online Chat Assistance Test- Results Page
Hours of Operation: SportsCrew.com believes top tier online sportsbooks should offer customer assistance 24/7. Ideally, this assistance should be provided via phone, e-mail and live chat online; but given the different business models and the different methods of operation, SportsCrew.com believes that a top rated book can choose one of these methods and be proficient at it. The attention at the late hours of the night should have the same quality standards than the attention provided during the day.
Promptness of Payouts: A prompt and hassle-free payout is with no doubt one of the most important features provided by a high-quality sportsbooks. In the post-up industry, players' funds should be readily available to them 24/7. If a player has abided by the rules and regulations established by the sportsbook and he/she requests a payout, a top rated sportsbook should provide him with a swift, convenient and easy way to receive those funds. There should never be any type of negotiation or hassle when it comes to issuing pay-outs. This is one of the areas where SportsCrew.com holds sportsbooks to a drastically higher standard. It is also very important that a top rated sportsbook has never had an unresolved slow- or no-pay complaint. Read more on the results of SportsCrew.com's Payout Promptness Research by visiting this page: SportsCrew.com Payout Promptness Test - Results Page
2)
WAGERING DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS
This category is divided in the following sub-categories: • Head Linesman Reputation and His Knowledge of the Business
• Quality of Phone Service
• Availability of Wagering Odds
• Quality, Precision and Accuracy of Betting Lines
Head Linesman Reputation and Knowledge of the Business: This is one of the most important aspects to be evaluated in an onlien sportsbook. The betting odds is the ultimate product offered by a sportsbook and one of the main reasons why a player joins a company. A well run sportsbook must have a responsible approach towards its betting lines. Ideally, they must be handled in such a way that no matter what action is being written, the theoretical percentage of hold should be maximized. The most reputable operations in the offshore wagering industry have delegated this tremendous responsibility to extremely experienced and reputable Lines Headsmen. A seasoned Lines Headman is in very general terms characterized by the following things:
• He possesses a vast experience and in-depth knowledge of this industry
• He understands the importance of handling different types of action and has the ability to use the information delivered to him by the bets of sharper players
• He knows his customers and knows what type of odds to cater to each of them
• He possess the ability to lead a pack of line managers and line supervisors
• He has access to a network of people with inside information on key games, at least
• Even though most of the leads in the nowadays market are set by the mass production and uniformity of the betting odds dictated by the Don Best screen, a skillful Lines Headman must possess the ability to create an original line for each game. These original lines are most commonly based on compiled information, a handicapping process and instinct.
A sportsbook that lacks a man like this is usually cloning lines from the Don Best screen and offers absolutely no value other than scalpable lines and flawed bonus structures, hence decreasing their margin of profitability.
Quality of Phone Service. The ticket-writers in this department should comply with the following requirements:
• They need to read, write and speak the native language of the client. In the case of the American market they should speak fluent English
• They must know the city and the team names of all the leagues in which the sportsbook is offering betting odds
• They must be able to find specific rotation numbers in their betting screens in a quick and professional manner
• During the MLB season, they must be aware of any Pitcher Changes and they must be able to pronounce the name of a team's pitcher correctly
• They must possess the ability to write any specific type of wager offered by the sportsbook in a quick and professional manner
• When requested by the customer, they should be capable of providing a clear, precise and accurate "run-down" (description of the odds being offered by the sportsbook)
• They must have the ability to speak up and give a clear and precise readback on every written ticket, without being distracted by the noise in the room during hours of high traffic
• They must be aware of any line changes and be prompt to notify the customer if the line on his/her unconfirmed wager has changed
• Customers that call in with sharper action should be handled by the most experienced and best trained ticket-writers
Availability of Wagering Odds. A top rated online sportsbook should offer:
• Overnight lines for all the leagues that are currently active and that are being offered as a betting possibility
• If these overnight lines are being offered as "circled" events (meaning they cannot be included in parlays or teasers and that they have a lower limit than usual), they should be clearly identified as such
• It should also be indicated from which time until which time will these odds be "circled"
• Ideally, a sportsbook should offer a wide variety of betting odds at reasonable prices. This would include proposition wagers
• In NFL: The betting odds for the coming week should be posted as soon as the Monday Night Football game is graded, at the latest
• In NCAAF: The betting odds for the coming week should be posted every Tuesday morning at the latest
• In every other league, overnight lines should be posted as soon as the last game of the day is graded
• Dynamically adjusted betting lines should be offered on future odds and total wins over/under odds for those leagues where these betting options are offered
• Odds should be promptly offered for special events such as NCAA Bowl Games, NHL Stanley Cup, NFL Super Bowl, etc.
Quality, Precision and Accuracy of Betting Lines. This field seems to be self-explanatory. In the offshore industry there is a rule used by almost every book, a rule that has raised quite a few questions among players and that has been the cause of various disputes: the Bad Line Rule. In short, this rule allows the sportsbook to void any bet taken on an obviously wrong line. SportsCrew.com understands the need of this rule, but also believes a top rated sportsbook will not need to make use of the Bad Line Rule too often.
3) AN INNOVATIVE AND WELL-STRUCTURED MARKETING DEPARTMENT
This category is divided in the following sub-categories:• Web Site Simplicity and Proficiency
• Well educated, prepared and knowledgeable marketing directors
• An ongoing search for new and efficient marketing venues
• A well-structured affiliate program
• A well-structured retention program
Web Site Simplicity and Proficiency: A well-designed web site should be simple and easy to read and navigate. It should take no longer than 8 seconds/DSL or 40 seconds/dial-up connection to fully load up. The sign-up links should be readily available and should occupy a prominent position on the home page. The company's name should be on top of the home page and one link to each of following sections should be provided from the home page:
• About-Us Section: Every reputable company takes pride on their work and likes to be held accountable for it. This section should include a history of how long the company has been in business, a short explanation on the essence of their business model, a physical address, a short description of the nature of the licenses they are holding and the names of the organizations that it's regulated by.
• Wagering Info and Rules
• Bonus Offers,
• Rules and Restrictions
• Banking Center
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Live Lines
• Online and Phone Wagering Limits
• Contact Information
Well educated, prepared and knowledgeable marketing director.
An ongoing search for new and efficient marketing venues.
Well-structured retention and outreach campaigns.
4) MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND AND ACCESABILITY
Every sportsbook is to be evaluated at least in the following 3 sub-categories:
• Well educated, prepared and knowledgeable department managers
• A well thought-out management structure
• Management promptness to establish open channels of communication with their customers
A well-educated and extremely knowledgeable management team makes a crucial difference in the way an operation is run. Being acquainted with the top managers of the largest and most professional sportsbooks, SportsCrew.com has found that the common denominator in the best run operations is deep quality management and bookmaking talent. SportsCrew.com affords high weighting to the efficiency of the management structure and their ability to establish effective communication channels within the operation and with their players. (Back to top)
• ASI/Extension
• Digital Gaming
• I-QL
• IGWUnified Gaming
• i-Net
• Other brands owned and developed in-house by different gaming sites
At the same time SportsCrew.com has also offered some general guidelines to determine the amount of traffic received by the different gaming web sites. While none of this guidelines should be taken at face value, they are somewhat of an indicators in this area. These guidelines are:
• Web site Ease-of-Use
• Estimated visitor sessions in the last 30 days according to MetricsMarket.com
• Alexa.com Ranking
• Google Page Rank
• Speed according to Alexa.com
• Other sites that link to the gaming site, as this might be an indicator of the amount of inbound links on a web site which at the same time helps boosting the google page rank of a website and its positioning in organic search engines
• Amount of Pop-ups, as these are very annoying for the online bettor
• Date on record when the web site was launched online
SportsCrew.com will enormously appreciate all forms of feedback in this area. If the software used by your sportsbook is not listed in this table, or if you would like to make a comment regarding any of the software providers mentioned above, please write us an e-mail to assistance@SportsCrew.com (Back to top)
A sportsbook or any other gaming web site should always have the players post-up funds and winnings readily available to them. When a sportsbook starts showing signs of slow-pay or no-pay at any level of their operation -providers and vendors included- that is usually the first sign of financial problems. As mentioned before under Profitable Business Models, the number of years a sportsbook has been in operation, or the backing of another long established sportsbook are major considerations. A new sportsbook can appear to be financially stable in the beginning, but the real answer comes over the test of time.
Finally, the promptness and availability of payouts as described under the Customer Service Operation is considered as the most important factor in these evaluations. As an unprecedented effort, SportsCrew.co has created an online form for players to submit their personal experiences with payouts. By the time a sportsbook starts to slow-pay customers, the sportsbook might already have major cash flow issues. Please help us maintain this initiative alive and take a minute to fill out the Payout Promptness form. (Back to top)
This is by far the most important component of our evaluation method. This section is based on the compiled information submitted by online bettors and real players. As stated before, SportsCrew.com is merely looking forward to facilitating the means for players to express their opinions and offer them a way to share their experiences with others. These reviews cover 5 fundamental areas of research:
Sportsbook operators may request a rating evaluation
Will Gatten: SportsCrew.com Senior Analyst and Project Manager
Once the Marketing Director of a major sportsbook, Will joined SportsCrew.com after having resigned to his General Manager position with Sportsbookreview.com. He now uses his knowledge of this industry and his understanding of business models to help players make an educated decision . Contact him: will@sportscrew.com
• Well educated, prepared and knowledgeable department managers
• A well thought-out management structure
• Management promptness to establish open channels of communication with their customers
A well-educated and extremely knowledgeable management team makes a crucial difference in the way an operation is run. Being acquainted with the top managers of the largest and most professional sportsbooks, SportsCrew.com has found that the common denominator in the best run operations is deep quality management and bookmaking talent. SportsCrew.com affords high weighting to the efficiency of the management structure and their ability to establish effective communication channels within the operation and with their players. (Back to top)
RESEARCH AREA #3: SOFTWARE RATING
• ASI/Extension
• Digital Gaming
• I-QL
• IGWUnified Gaming
• i-Net
• Other brands owned and developed in-house by different gaming sites
At the same time SportsCrew.com has also offered some general guidelines to determine the amount of traffic received by the different gaming web sites. While none of this guidelines should be taken at face value, they are somewhat of an indicators in this area. These guidelines are:
• Web site Ease-of-Use
• Estimated visitor sessions in the last 30 days according to MetricsMarket.com
• Alexa.com Ranking
• Google Page Rank
• Speed according to Alexa.com
• Other sites that link to the gaming site, as this might be an indicator of the amount of inbound links on a web site which at the same time helps boosting the google page rank of a website and its positioning in organic search engines
• Amount of Pop-ups, as these are very annoying for the online bettor
• Date on record when the web site was launched online
SportsCrew.com will enormously appreciate all forms of feedback in this area. If the software used by your sportsbook is not listed in this table, or if you would like to make a comment regarding any of the software providers mentioned above, please write us an e-mail to assistance@SportsCrew.com (Back to top)
RESEARCH AREA #4: FINANCIAL STABILITY
A sportsbook or any other gaming web site should always have the players post-up funds and winnings readily available to them. When a sportsbook starts showing signs of slow-pay or no-pay at any level of their operation -providers and vendors included- that is usually the first sign of financial problems. As mentioned before under Profitable Business Models, the number of years a sportsbook has been in operation, or the backing of another long established sportsbook are major considerations. A new sportsbook can appear to be financially stable in the beginning, but the real answer comes over the test of time.
Finally, the promptness and availability of payouts as described under the Customer Service Operation is considered as the most important factor in these evaluations. As an unprecedented effort, SportsCrew.co has created an online form for players to submit their personal experiences with payouts. By the time a sportsbook starts to slow-pay customers, the sportsbook might already have major cash flow issues. Please help us maintain this initiative alive and take a minute to fill out the Payout Promptness form. (Back to top)
RESEARCH AREA #5: PLAYERS' REVIEW
This is by far the most important component of our evaluation method. This section is based on the compiled information submitted by online bettors and real players. As stated before, SportsCrew.com is merely looking forward to facilitating the means for players to express their opinions and offer them a way to share their experiences with others. These reviews cover 5 fundamental areas of research:
- General Review
- E-mail Response Review
- Payment Promptness Review
- Phone Response Review
- Live Chat Response Review
Sportsbook operators may request a rating evaluation
Will Gatten: SportsCrew.com Senior Analyst and Project Manager
Once the Marketing Director of a major sportsbook, Will joined SportsCrew.com after having resigned to his General Manager position with Sportsbookreview.com. He now uses his knowledge of this industry and his understanding of business models to help players make an educated decision . Contact him: will@sportscrew.com
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