Sportsbooks Classification: Levels of Difficulty and Targeted Audiences

By: Will Gatten, SportsCrew.com Senior Analyst
© 2004 All rights reserved

Have you ever felt that as a first-time player you don't get all the personalized attention you would like to receive from your sportsbook? Have you often felt that despite your sportsbook being a great, safe company; they sometimes fail to meet your expectations? Or maybe you have found a great sportsbook with a great bonus offer and great original lines, but they decided to cut down your limits per play after you had a winning streak? Maybe you love to bet on a very specific type of bet, but your current sportsbook does not offer betting odds in those events? If you have ever felt this way, you're not alone. One of the most common complaints that SportsCrew.com has received from players is that the one sportsbook they signed up with, does not offer them the features they were looking for in the first place.

SportsCrew.com has initiated a process to review the most prominent sportsbook in the offshore wagering industry. We want to help the sports bettors find the sportsbooks that meet their specific needs in the best way. SportsCrew.com has analyzed the services offered by different sportsbooks, the way their marketing campaigns are planned their targeted audience and the feedback we have received from players like you and we have classified our advertisers and the most reputable sportsbooks in the industry in 3 main groups:

1. Beginners Level
2. Intermediate Level
3. Advanced Level

Who qualifies for being listed in these level scheme?

• Only honest, safe and legally operating sportsbooks
• Verified, financially stable sportsbooks
• Sportsbooks with the best specials and bonuses for new and existing players
• Reputable owners and knowledgeable management
• Sportsbooks with NO payout issues or misleading bonuses & promotions
• Located and licensed in a gambling friendly country
• SportsCrew.com advertisers, which all meet the above criteria

Each level is broken down further, in detail, to help you find the characteristics that will show you the perfect fit for your needs when you bet online.

Level I: Gaming Sites Ideal for Beginners

Sportsbooks in this level are operations that usually limit their players to very low limits and they might not be known for the strength or uniqueness of their betting lines. Since the exposure of their lines is jealously watched, they usually can afford to run larger and more extravagant marketing campaigns. The sportsbooks in this level will usually invite arbitrage players and big winners to not play with them. Sometimes they will be subtle about it and suggest sharp players that their action is not welcomed by cutting down their betting limits to very minimal amounts; some other times, their approach is more radical and sharper players might find themselves 'jumping through hoops' to receive a payout. Since their betting lines are not exposed to professional action they are usually not as sharp, offering sometimes great value to some players with an opinion. However, these betting lines are usually just to be taken advantage of by recreational and small bettors exclusively. Some argue that the very principles of the old fashioned bookmaking models are not being respected, but some of the operations that show impressive rates of growth apply this business model. In the end, SportsCrew.com sees this practice simply as an alternative marketing strategy.

Pros: given the fact that the exposure on their betting lines is reduced, these sportsbooks will usually be in a position to offer some of the most attractive and diverse packages of bonuses and promotions. This sportsbook is the perfect fit for the recreational player that looks to get the most amount of benefits in form of perks and kickbacks.

Cons: as explained before, these sportsbooks will not book to more experienced and sophisticated players and they will usually cut down betting limits to amounts in the range of $50 and $100 per bet. If you like to spend a long time doing research on the games you bet and you look to maximize your chances of winning, this type of sportsbook is not for you.

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Level II: Gaming Sites Ideal for Intermediate Players

The sportsbooks included in this level have most likely reached a more mature stage in their bookmaking models and marketing approaches. While they target recreational and small bettors as their main focus group, they also cater to a more experienced group of players; as long as these players don't bet 'steam'. The word 'steam' refers to the manipulation of the odds on a gaming event by large betting syndicates. Most of the time, these sportsbooks will not cut down your limits if you're an opinionated and seasoned bettor that wins based on your handicapping abilities, but they will be prompt to show you the door if they consider you to be a 'steam chaser'.

Pros: these sportsbooks usually offer an attractive bonus package and occasional promotions and contests, while at the same time providing their players with a very attractive set of betting lines. Winning players should have no concerns that their limits are being but down, as long as they are not chasing 'steam'. This is the perfect book for the opinionated handicapper and for those players compromised with the betting process at a higher level than the recreational.

Cons: given the fact that these sportsbooks have a higher exposure on their betting lines, their bonus packages might not be as diversified or outrageous as the ones offered by the sportsbooks in Level I. And if you're a professional player, you might find out that your action is not welcomed before soon.

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Level III: Gaming Sites Ideal for Advanced Players

There are very few sportsbooks that can successfully run an operation following the premises required to be included in this group. These sportsbooks are usually long-established operation with extremely large customer bases. They welcome all types of betting from the recreational players to the professional bettors , as they are in the position to offset this professional sharp action to their more recreational bettors. These sportsbooks are frequently the ones that set the opening numbers for the market, as they receive the input of all kinds of professional betting syndicates. As a result, their lines are usually anything but mediocre and the 'helms' (the section of a sportsbook where the line managers and odds makers operate from) are usually run by some of the most respected and legendary bookmakers in the industry. These sportsbooks are the 'big players' of the industry and they are the perfect fit for the professional player and the 'steam chaser' as well.

Pros: the sportsbooks in this group are usually regarded as the financially most solid operations and they're referred to as 'clearing houses'. Most of them offer the most attractive betting lines in the market and a player can win as much as he possibly can, without having ever to be concerned about his limits being cut down.

Cons: given the fact that these are the places where the professional play, the betting lines of these sportsbooks might be a little too sharp for the inexperienced bettor; hence, decreasing significantly their probabilities of winning. Furthermore, these operations are commonly not known for attractive bonus offers. They usually offer very few and little perks for the recreational player.

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Sportsbooks 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 at will@sportscrew.com