Thursday 19 May 2016
NBA final to be decided at the charity stripe!
Millions of kids around the world every day pick up a basketball and spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get the round ball in the basket and some become very good at it. Most kids however find shooting to be boring and would rather try all those fancy dribbles and spectacular dunks that bring the crowd to their feet.
Millions of kids around the world every day pick up a basketball and spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get the round ball in the basket and some become very good at it. Most kids however find shooting to be boring and would rather try all those fancy dribbles and spectacular dunks that bring the crowd to their feet.
Game 4 of the NBA finals will be contested in South Beach tonight and on the court will be several millionaires applying their trade. Seven foot giants like O’Neal, Nowitzkie, Mourning and Dampier can slam the ball into the hoop without dropping a bead of sweat, yet put them on the foul line and with the exception of Nowitzkie, the chances of them making even 1 of 2 is not very good!
In Game 1 when the Mavericks won 90-80 the Miami Heat were just 7-19 (36.8) from the foul line and only O’Neal and Wade attempted any shots, while the Mav’s were 20-26 (76.9) and Dirk was 6-6. The margin of victory was 10 points and the Mavericks outscored the Heat 20-7 (13 points) from the line.
In Game 2 the Mav’s won 99-85 and the Heat were 20-32 (62.5) while the Mavericks were 23-28 (.82.1) and O’Neal 1-7 while Dirk was 10-11. Even though the Mavericks only outscored the Heat by 3 at the line, their percentage made was far higher 82% to 62% and it had a huge affect on the outcome.
Game 3 which was the first victory of the series for the Heat saw the Mavericks have for them, an atrocious night at the free throw line. Dallas was 18-26 (69.2) and Dirk was 10-12, but one of those misses cost them a chance at overtime. Meanwhile the Heat shot just 58% but actually outscored the Maverick 20-18 at the line and those 2 points were the margin of victory.
While the experts all try and explain how the Mavericks Eric Dampier is doing a great job controlling O’Neal, the fact of the matter is he was 4-6 from the free throw line, including 2-2 in the dying moments when the game was on the line.
The point spread yesterday opened on most betting shops at Miami -4-3.5 and was quickly hammered down to Miami -2. When a line moves that much 36 hours before a game, it is a fair assumption that the money being wagered is sharp money by professional bettors. As game time nears the public or recreational bettor will get involved and many bet with their heart not their head.
With so many close finishes in this years playoffs, don’t be surprised if this game comes down to the wire again. Just look at who makes the most free throw and that will give you the ultimate winner!
Wednesday 18 May 2016
Basketball Sports Gambling Strategy
Basketball sports’ gambling is a game of skill and relies on a great deal of strategy, which must be used in order to win. The challenge is to gather and analyze as much information as you can about a game, weigh the probabilities of each team winning, and subsequently compare your opinion to the odds makers. Make the right judgment and you win.
Basketball sports’ gambling is a game of skill and relies on a great deal of strategy, which must be used in order to win. The challenge is to gather and analyze as much information as you can about a game, weigh the probabilities of each team winning, and subsequently compare your opinion to the odds makers. Make the right judgment and you win. To keep the sports gambling simple and fun I am only going to cover straight bets. When gambling on a basketball game, there are two ways to place a straight bet within that same game. You can either bet the line also known to as the side, or how many points will be scored in the basketball game also known as the total. The Straight Bet is betting in its most basic form, which allows you to bet at given odds, upon a winner. The Point Spread can bet on one of two selections that have been equated through the allocation of suitable points. In the Point Spread the number of allocated points are shown with a + sign for the favorable side and a - sign for the underdog. In order that the better wins, the favored team must win by more than the Point Spread. On the flip side, if a bet has been placed on the underdog, that team has to lose by less than the Point Spread for the better to win.
Example:
Detroit
-8.0
Seattle
196
In this example, Seattle is the favored team to win the basketball game by at least 8 points. The underdog team is Detroit, where the listed total for the contest is placed at 196. If you take a straight bet on Seattle, you are betting that Seattle will win by at least by 8 points. Conversely, if you bet on Detroit, you are betting that even if they do not win the game, Seattle will not win by as many as 8.0 points. Say the final score was:
Seattle 100
Detroit 98
If you bet on Seattle, you would have lost, because they did not win by at least 8 points. All of these sports gambling sites offer some sort of bonus for you to do your betting online with them. They are not the outrageous bonuses that you may hear about, but are adequate to start you out. You have to be careful about sportsbooks that offer the unbelievable bonus deals because they may not be able to stay around for the long haul. In most of the sports gambling sites, if you wagered $100 on Seattle, your loss would be $100. On the other hand, if you wagered on Detroit, you would have risked the same $110 to win $100. In other words you are laying 11 to win 10. The odds in the sportsbooks are listed in this manner: 10/11. The left-hand side of the backslash is what you stand to win and the right-hand side is the number you risk losing.
In this basketball game, there was a total of 198 points scored. This exceeded the total of 196 that was predicted by the lines makers, so the game went Over. If less than 196 combined points was scored in the game, the game will have gone Under. On total points at most sportsbooks, once again, the odds are 11/10.
The loser pays more than the sportsbook pays to the winner is the net profit that the sportsbook would make. This is called the juice. When looking for a sports gambling site you should look for a small juice.
A line movement in any direction indicates which team that the people are betting more on. Sports gambling sites will move the line in either direction to try and entice a bettor to bet on the side that is needed to even out the amount wagered on both sides of the game. This is way the sportsbook makes its money on the juice and do not let movements in the line influence your betting. You do not want to place your wagers with a sportsbook that does not move its line, because you would then be dealing with a sportsbook that is gambling and that is poor money management by that sportsbook. The sports gambling sites at SportsGambling4Fun.com are some of the best sports gambling sites to place a basketball bet with.
Monday 9 May 2016
Sunday 8 May 2016
NBA playoff scores 2016: Warriors vs. Trail Blazers live stream, live score updates Game 3
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| Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket during the first half of Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ezra Shaw, Getty Images via AP, Pool) |
The Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers continue their NBA playoffs second-round series on Tuesday, with Game 3 at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
ABC will broadcast the game beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, 7:30 p.m. Central. Live streaming is available via Watch ESPN.
Golden State leads the best-of-7 series 2-0.
Preview
Golden State superstar Stephen Curry zipped around the court bouncing from spot to spot during his typical extensive post-practice shooting routine, driving to the basket past his regular practice coach Bruce Fraser.
Curry looked much like his healthy self except for a brace covering his injured right knee.
He returned to practice Friday to test his sprained knee and was strong in his lateral movement though the team didn't scrimmage at all. And the Warriors still considered him doubtful to play in Saturday's Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Portland.
Coach Steve Kerr reiterated Friday that Curry was unlikely to play despite going through part of practice. Kerr was surprised to see reports of Curry being ruled out based on a radio interview he had given earlier in the day on the "Dan Patrick Show." Kerr said he should have been clearer that he meant "probably" out.
"Today was by far the best he looked," Kerr said. "He's made progress each day. He took part on the court in a practice today. We didn't scrimmage but we did a lot of defensive work, five-on-oh, full-court shooting stuff. He took part in all of it and he looked much, much better than he did even two days ago. It's a great sign, but we still want to see him in a three-on-three, a five-on-five. I don't think that will happen by tomorrow at 5:30 Portland time. ... I don't see him playing tomorrow."
Curry and the Warriors practiced in the Bay Area before an afternoon flight to Oregon. Kerr had said a day earlier that the reigning MVP was unlikely to play because he hadn't yet practiced or done any scrimmaging to test the knee — so scrimmaging is the next, perhaps final step before Curry's return.
Kerr said Curry would be part of any conversations when it's time for a decision to be made for him to get back in a game.
"Whatever we end up doing with him will be through his consultation, with his agreement, and we'll figure it out together," Kerr said.
The defending champion Warriors lead the best-of-seven series against Portland 2-0. Curry also is considered doubtful for Monday night's Game 4.
"It kind of takes some pressure off Steph and his rehab in a way where he's not like, 'Shoot, we're down 2-0, or it's 1-1, I need to come back and play,'" center Andrew Bogut said. "It buys us a little bit more time if anything."
Curry returned from an ankle injury only to injure his knee April 24 when he slipped on a wet spot just before halftime of a Game 4 win at Houston in the first round of the playoffs. He sustained a Grade 1 sprain to the MCL in his knee.
"For Steph, he has to think about his future. He has to think about his rhythm. When I say future, I'm talking about beyond this year," Kerr said. "How long will it take him to feel 100 percent? While he's going through that, what's his body going to feel like? And we have to think about what's he going to look like, what's he going to do to our rotation? Ironically enough, you don't think about that usually with the MVP. But it's the playoffs, it's the highest level of basketball on earth. Throw a guy out there at 75 percent, it changes everything. So there's all kinds of factors here and dynamics. The great thing with Steph, he's smart, he's easy to talk to and reason with."
While the Warriors miss his league-leading 30.1 points per game, remarkable range and playmaking ability, they have dominated without their superstar point guard despite needing a fourth-quarter rally in Tuesday's Game 2 at Oracle Arena.
Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts was still skeptical.
"We'll see if he doesn't play tomorrow," Stotts said laughing. "We'll see."
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Saturday 7 May 2016
Wednesday 4 May 2016
NCAA March Madness
It is the time of year when conference championships are almost upon us and there are several keys that should be looked at when handicapping and filliing out your brackets for the tournaments during March Madness.
How to handicap College Hoops NCAA March Madness Tournament Edition
It is the time of year when conference championships are almost upon us and there are several keys that should be looked at when handicapping the tournaments during March Madness.
Experience pays off:
One has to look at teams that have played in championships to get back to the championship round. In the last five years teams that have won the championship has made it back to the big game 63% of the time. This has to do with being able to handle the pressure of the big game.
Depth:
Depth is a must for the championship tournament as it will always give an edge to a team when it comes to late in the tournament when teams have played several games over several days. Teams that are strong in depth allow players to be fresher longer and eat up precious time as well as fouls at any given time.
Rebounding:
This one is rather obvious has teams that rebound the ball well get a second chance at missed shots and will often control the tempo of the game for the most part. The teams in conference that have had the rebounding edge has gone to the championship round more often than not.
Free Throws:
Another obvious one is free throws. Teams that can shoot free throws will win games down the stretch and in conference tournaments they are invaluable. With the basics of picking a winner in the conference tournaments out of the way let’s look at some of the intangibles that will make you money ATS.
Ride the Streak:
Hot teams coming into the tournament are always a play in my book. These teams usually get all the bounces, play the game the hardest and take advantage of teams playing out the string. However a note here is if the team is undefeated in conference play when they enter the tournament I suggest a play against them SU and ATS.
Stay away from the last team to make the tournament:
The #8 seed is a dangerous go of things in conference tournaments. They have played the #1 seed before (often twice) and so the #1 seed knows exactly what to expect and is not surprised by the play or the temp unlike March Madness when the lower seeds surprise more often. The #8 seed is not a money maker ATS either as they are just 51% ATS in conference tournaments.
Your upsets will be from the middle of the pack:
This makes sense as the teams ranked #4-#6 are often playing opposition with equal talent or close to it. This is where the dog will become more valuable than not and will have an easier path to getting to the conference championship and often cashing as an underdog along the way.
The conference tournaments to me are very valuable when considering the big dance in March. The reason is simple. When you play close attention to the conference tournaments you are watching teams that will make the Big Dance and you will get insight on how to play them when March Madness starts. For up to date information on March Madness stop by Bang The Book Sports Handicapping Forum at http://www.bangthebook.com
Saturday 30 April 2016
Chances for Winning by the Losers
It is a catastrophe that in professional sports, a non-winning record can set the table for a legitimate shot at a world title.
In baseball, it has come close (see 2005 San Diego Padres, 1973 NY Mets). In the NFL, only two .500 teams have made the playoffs since 1991 (1991 NYJ, 2004 STL). In the NBA, however, it has been the norm to find teams with a losing record compete in late April and into May.
Below, a table of the number of .500 win percentage teams, the number of first round games they have won, and the number of series they have gone on to win.
First Round Playoff Stats Last 10 Years
Year Teams at .500 or under Total first round games won Series Won
1996 2 2 0
1997 3 2 0
1998 1 2 0
1999 1 1 0
2000 0 0 0
2001 1 1 0
2002 0 0 0
2003 0 0 0
2004 4 4 0
2005 0 0 0
2006 3
Courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com
Parody just hasn’t existed in the NBA playoffs. These 15 teams in the last 10 years have combined to win just 12 playoff games and have never advanced. In 2004, four teams in the East had the shot and surely one could pull off the upset? Not even the four vs. five could do it.
The last time a team with a losing record entered the playoffs and won a Series was 1988. Then, the Seattle Supersonics boasted a 39-43 record as the 7-seed and made it all the way to the conference finals. They upset both Dallas and Houston, before being swept by Pat Riley’s Los Angeles Lakers. Since Seattle, a total of 31 teams have entered the playoffs with a record at or below .500. And these teams are 0-31 in playoff series.
So, how good of a chance do Milwaukee (40-42), Chicago (41-41) and Indiana (41-41) have this year? I’m not going to say “none,” because that’s why they play the game—but let’s delve into these match-ups.
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Milwaukee
One-seeds haven’t lost since 1999. But there was a technicality about that year: First, 1999 was the NBA lockout year, and only 50 regular season games were played. Second, three other teams had the same 33-17 record, but Miami won by a tiebreaker.
In a full 82-game season, it was the 1994 Denver Nuggets who upset the top-seeded Supersonics to advance to the second round.
With Flip Saunders at the helm, we’ve seen the Pistons play looser offensively, but still maintaining impressive defense—leading them to their best regular season record ever (64-18). Don’t worry about the nonsense concerning Ben Wallace not getting along with Flip: This team is focused when it comes to the playoffs.
Having said this, Milwaukee has their hands full. Let’s just look at player vs. player matchups.
Detroit Milwaukee Advantage
PG Billups Ford Detroit
SG Hamilton Redd Detroit
SF Prince Simmons Detroit
PF R. Wallace Bogut Detroit
C B. Wallace Magloire Detroit
Billups will substitute size for speed and can dominate Ford. Hamilton is a workhorse. Prince is undoubtedly better than Simmons. And I’ll just point out the experience from the front court to suffice my argument for the Wallaces.
To make matters worse, the only type of success they had against Detroit was when they played Toni Kukoc at the three. Kukoc is already banged up and will miss the first game, so his health will be a definite factor.
Prediction: Pistons in a sweep
(2) Miami vs. (7) Chicago
Chicago is the hottest of the East’s bottom-3, finishing 12-2 in their final 14 to slip into the show. They had a similar run in the final month of the season last year, winning 15 of their last 19 games. The Bulls’ only win against the Heat in the regular season came back on April 15 when the Heat rested most of their stars.
In the playoffs, it comes down to defense and though the “Baby Bulls” are young, they do buckle down, leading the NBA for the second straight season in defensive field-goal percentage (.426).
Offensively, the Bulls’ patented “drive-and-kick” out game has given opposing teams a hard time. Ben Gordon ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference, hitting 43.9-percent from 3-point land, and point-guard Kirk Hinrich has shot 42.9-percent from behind the arc in his last five games.
Although the Heat have been locked into the No. 2 spot since basically January, I don’t see them having trouble kicking into high gear. Even when the Bulls shut down Wade in their meetings this year (12.3 ppg), the Heat have found a way to win.
The Bulls have no answer for Shaq, who had 14 points and 6 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action on April 15.
Prediction: Heat in 5
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) Indiana
This might very well be the best shot for a team at the .500 mark in the regular season to win a Series. The Nets came from the weak Atlantic Division that sent no other teams beside themselves to the playoffs. The two teams have similar defensive work ethics, as they are 5th and 6th in points allowed, respectively, in the NBA. The interesting thing about this series is the way they view each other: New Jersey players have said the Pacers are a good transition and look to slow it down, while Indiana players have said the exact same thing about the Nets! Wow, this should be a fun series to watch!
Jermaine O’Neal looks to be healthy into the playoffs, having played 30-plus minutes in his final 11 regular season games, but I don’t foresee him being the difference. The difference must come from the defense side of the ball, in particular, the ability to stop Vince Carter.
Peja Stojakovic and Stephen Jackson must play top-notch to pull the upset.
I have a feeling this series will go seven. The Nets were 29-12 at home, fourth-best home record in the Eastern conference, so that’s the way I lean.
Prediction: Nets in 7
Bet the NBA Playoffs @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook
http://www.wagerweb.com/sportsbook
In baseball, it has come close (see 2005 San Diego Padres, 1973 NY Mets). In the NFL, only two .500 teams have made the playoffs since 1991 (1991 NYJ, 2004 STL). In the NBA, however, it has been the norm to find teams with a losing record compete in late April and into May.
Below, a table of the number of .500 win percentage teams, the number of first round games they have won, and the number of series they have gone on to win.
First Round Playoff Stats Last 10 Years
Year Teams at .500 or under Total first round games won Series Won
1996 2 2 0
1997 3 2 0
1998 1 2 0
1999 1 1 0
2000 0 0 0
2001 1 1 0
2002 0 0 0
2003 0 0 0
2004 4 4 0
2005 0 0 0
2006 3
Courtesy: Basketball-Reference.com
Parody just hasn’t existed in the NBA playoffs. These 15 teams in the last 10 years have combined to win just 12 playoff games and have never advanced. In 2004, four teams in the East had the shot and surely one could pull off the upset? Not even the four vs. five could do it.
The last time a team with a losing record entered the playoffs and won a Series was 1988. Then, the Seattle Supersonics boasted a 39-43 record as the 7-seed and made it all the way to the conference finals. They upset both Dallas and Houston, before being swept by Pat Riley’s Los Angeles Lakers. Since Seattle, a total of 31 teams have entered the playoffs with a record at or below .500. And these teams are 0-31 in playoff series.
So, how good of a chance do Milwaukee (40-42), Chicago (41-41) and Indiana (41-41) have this year? I’m not going to say “none,” because that’s why they play the game—but let’s delve into these match-ups.
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Milwaukee
One-seeds haven’t lost since 1999. But there was a technicality about that year: First, 1999 was the NBA lockout year, and only 50 regular season games were played. Second, three other teams had the same 33-17 record, but Miami won by a tiebreaker.
In a full 82-game season, it was the 1994 Denver Nuggets who upset the top-seeded Supersonics to advance to the second round.
With Flip Saunders at the helm, we’ve seen the Pistons play looser offensively, but still maintaining impressive defense—leading them to their best regular season record ever (64-18). Don’t worry about the nonsense concerning Ben Wallace not getting along with Flip: This team is focused when it comes to the playoffs.
Having said this, Milwaukee has their hands full. Let’s just look at player vs. player matchups.
Detroit Milwaukee Advantage
PG Billups Ford Detroit
SG Hamilton Redd Detroit
SF Prince Simmons Detroit
PF R. Wallace Bogut Detroit
C B. Wallace Magloire Detroit
Billups will substitute size for speed and can dominate Ford. Hamilton is a workhorse. Prince is undoubtedly better than Simmons. And I’ll just point out the experience from the front court to suffice my argument for the Wallaces.
To make matters worse, the only type of success they had against Detroit was when they played Toni Kukoc at the three. Kukoc is already banged up and will miss the first game, so his health will be a definite factor.
Prediction: Pistons in a sweep
(2) Miami vs. (7) Chicago
Chicago is the hottest of the East’s bottom-3, finishing 12-2 in their final 14 to slip into the show. They had a similar run in the final month of the season last year, winning 15 of their last 19 games. The Bulls’ only win against the Heat in the regular season came back on April 15 when the Heat rested most of their stars.
In the playoffs, it comes down to defense and though the “Baby Bulls” are young, they do buckle down, leading the NBA for the second straight season in defensive field-goal percentage (.426).
Offensively, the Bulls’ patented “drive-and-kick” out game has given opposing teams a hard time. Ben Gordon ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference, hitting 43.9-percent from 3-point land, and point-guard Kirk Hinrich has shot 42.9-percent from behind the arc in his last five games.
Although the Heat have been locked into the No. 2 spot since basically January, I don’t see them having trouble kicking into high gear. Even when the Bulls shut down Wade in their meetings this year (12.3 ppg), the Heat have found a way to win.
The Bulls have no answer for Shaq, who had 14 points and 6 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action on April 15.
Prediction: Heat in 5
(3) New Jersey vs. (6) Indiana
This might very well be the best shot for a team at the .500 mark in the regular season to win a Series. The Nets came from the weak Atlantic Division that sent no other teams beside themselves to the playoffs. The two teams have similar defensive work ethics, as they are 5th and 6th in points allowed, respectively, in the NBA. The interesting thing about this series is the way they view each other: New Jersey players have said the Pacers are a good transition and look to slow it down, while Indiana players have said the exact same thing about the Nets! Wow, this should be a fun series to watch!
Jermaine O’Neal looks to be healthy into the playoffs, having played 30-plus minutes in his final 11 regular season games, but I don’t foresee him being the difference. The difference must come from the defense side of the ball, in particular, the ability to stop Vince Carter.
Peja Stojakovic and Stephen Jackson must play top-notch to pull the upset.
I have a feeling this series will go seven. The Nets were 29-12 at home, fourth-best home record in the Eastern conference, so that’s the way I lean.
Prediction: Nets in 7
Bet the NBA Playoffs @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook
http://www.wagerweb.com/sportsbook
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Why Online Gambling Is So Popular
In the last few years we have witnessed a revolution in online gambling. Online gambling was once considered a shady operation in which unscrupulous web site operators simply vanished with their customers' money. But things have changed a lot since those days.
As the number of online gamblers has increased, and the amounts of money being wagered have sky-rocketed, like all other ecommerce businesses, online gambling has become an established, credible alternative.
These days, online gambling is so popular and so well organized that no legitimate operator of an online gambling enterprise would risk the future of his business by ripping of his customers. As in any business, the credibility of the operation is critical to its success. This is especially the case with online businesses, where bad news travels very quickly. Every serious online gambling establishment makes it a top priority to deal with customers openly, honestly and fairly.
** The appeal of online gambling
We take for granted that millions of people around the world like to gamble. The reasons and motivations for this are the same whether they gamble in casinos, at physical venues like race tracks or betting shops, or whether they gamble online.
Land-based casinos obviously have some features that you cannot get from an online casino. There is an important social component that is not there with online gambling. The glitz and flash of the casino atmosphere draws many people in and encourages them to get involved. People are drawn in by the excitement and the immediacy of the activity around them.
But setting aside the "entertainment" value of spending a night at the casino, from the wagering perspective, doing your gambling online has far fewer distractions, is more efficient, and lets you more easily focus on the task at hand. It's all gambling all the time. Which means that you can spend hours -- or minutes. You can place your wager and move on to something else.
** Convenience is very important
In other words, online gambling is much more convenient. There is no need to drive an hour or two to spend an entire (expensive) evening eating, drinking, and wagering. When you gamble online you do it from the comfort of your own home. You can do it online at any time -- in the middle of the day, or in the middle of the night.
You can also do it at your own pace. If you are a newbie to the world of online wagering, most sites will have tutorials and demos that show you how things work. They will explain the rules and the terminology. And there is no pressure to play games or place wagers before you know what you are doing.
** Practise and play for free
In fact, with online gambling you can get your feet wet without risking any money at all. There are many games where you can play for free. You can even "test run" many actual games to see how they work and how you might have fared if you had been wagering real money. This is a great way to learn how the system works and to get a feel for what interests you most. Once you feel you have sufficiently mastered the techniques you can open a small account and start placing actual wagers.
** Play a greater variety of games
There is now a multitude of established casinos and wagering websites, and most of them have a wide variety of games to choose from. For instance many have a complete selection of casino games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Keno, Poker, Roulette and Craps.
But that is only part of the action. There is often a complete Sportsbook betting facility where you can place wagers on virtually any major sporting activity taking place in the world. That includes NFL Football, NCAA Football, NBA Basketball, NCAA Basketball, WNBA Basketball, Major League Baseball, NHL Hockey, PGA Golf, Pro Tennis, Auto Racing, Professional Soccer, Professional Boxing, Olympic Sports, and much more.
** Security issues
Most people are concerned about the safety and security of online commerce, and this is especially the case with online gambling. The fact is that any successful online business must protect its reputation and guard its integrity, or it will be out of business very quickly. This is even more true for online gambling sites.
That is why you should check the legitimacy of any online business you are thinking of dealing with. Search for reviews of the site in online forums where users comment on their experiences with the site. You should also search for special review sites where online gambling sites are reviewed. Bear in mind that these reviews may not be objective and are often out-of-date, but they can serve as a useful guide.
Once you decide on a site, build a relationship gradually with small amounts of money. That will give you a chance to see how the system works, and to see how the online gambling site you have chosen treats its customers.
As the number of online gamblers has increased, and the amounts of money being wagered have sky-rocketed, like all other ecommerce businesses, online gambling has become an established, credible alternative.
These days, online gambling is so popular and so well organized that no legitimate operator of an online gambling enterprise would risk the future of his business by ripping of his customers. As in any business, the credibility of the operation is critical to its success. This is especially the case with online businesses, where bad news travels very quickly. Every serious online gambling establishment makes it a top priority to deal with customers openly, honestly and fairly.
** The appeal of online gambling
We take for granted that millions of people around the world like to gamble. The reasons and motivations for this are the same whether they gamble in casinos, at physical venues like race tracks or betting shops, or whether they gamble online.
Land-based casinos obviously have some features that you cannot get from an online casino. There is an important social component that is not there with online gambling. The glitz and flash of the casino atmosphere draws many people in and encourages them to get involved. People are drawn in by the excitement and the immediacy of the activity around them.
But setting aside the "entertainment" value of spending a night at the casino, from the wagering perspective, doing your gambling online has far fewer distractions, is more efficient, and lets you more easily focus on the task at hand. It's all gambling all the time. Which means that you can spend hours -- or minutes. You can place your wager and move on to something else.
** Convenience is very important
In other words, online gambling is much more convenient. There is no need to drive an hour or two to spend an entire (expensive) evening eating, drinking, and wagering. When you gamble online you do it from the comfort of your own home. You can do it online at any time -- in the middle of the day, or in the middle of the night.
You can also do it at your own pace. If you are a newbie to the world of online wagering, most sites will have tutorials and demos that show you how things work. They will explain the rules and the terminology. And there is no pressure to play games or place wagers before you know what you are doing.
** Practise and play for free
In fact, with online gambling you can get your feet wet without risking any money at all. There are many games where you can play for free. You can even "test run" many actual games to see how they work and how you might have fared if you had been wagering real money. This is a great way to learn how the system works and to get a feel for what interests you most. Once you feel you have sufficiently mastered the techniques you can open a small account and start placing actual wagers.
** Play a greater variety of games
There is now a multitude of established casinos and wagering websites, and most of them have a wide variety of games to choose from. For instance many have a complete selection of casino games such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Keno, Poker, Roulette and Craps.
But that is only part of the action. There is often a complete Sportsbook betting facility where you can place wagers on virtually any major sporting activity taking place in the world. That includes NFL Football, NCAA Football, NBA Basketball, NCAA Basketball, WNBA Basketball, Major League Baseball, NHL Hockey, PGA Golf, Pro Tennis, Auto Racing, Professional Soccer, Professional Boxing, Olympic Sports, and much more.
** Security issues
Most people are concerned about the safety and security of online commerce, and this is especially the case with online gambling. The fact is that any successful online business must protect its reputation and guard its integrity, or it will be out of business very quickly. This is even more true for online gambling sites.
That is why you should check the legitimacy of any online business you are thinking of dealing with. Search for reviews of the site in online forums where users comment on their experiences with the site. You should also search for special review sites where online gambling sites are reviewed. Bear in mind that these reviews may not be objective and are often out-of-date, but they can serve as a useful guide.
Once you decide on a site, build a relationship gradually with small amounts of money. That will give you a chance to see how the system works, and to see how the online gambling site you have chosen treats its customers.
Monday 18 April 2016
Tuesday 12 April 2016
NBA Playoff Betting: Is the Zigzag Theory Valid or Poppycock?
It’s NBA playoff time and one of the oldest betting theories is the so-called "zigzag" angle. Its critics are as emphatic as the supporters. So who is right? Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy answers.
About this time two years ago, I watched as on one of the fine betting sites there was a not-so-subtle back and forth of the validity of the so-called zigzag NBA playoff system.
The method simply says go with the team off of a loss. A critic came back after the first week or so gleaming over the fact the technique zagged and sagged more than it zigged. It lost money. Then as the playoffs went on, the proponent got the last laugh while the cynic wrote articles on other topics telling you he is smarter than everyone else.
Having been in the industry since the 1980s and having been a supporter of computer systems since prominent statistician Dr. Mike Orkin wrote his Pointspread Analyzer software, where does Center of the Handicapping Universe stand?
We agree with the theory, but less so the etched-in-stone considerations. First of all, let us give a quick refresher of the difference. A system can be measured objectively because the parameters are concrete. The zigzag is an example. Going with a double digit favorite off a single digit loss would be another hypothetical.
Of course there can be modest variances depending on when and where a database gathers lines, but over any statistically significant period it does not make a huge difference.
A theory is much like a system but does not have objective parameters. Our theory is the better the team is that the zigzag system favors and the bigger the margin the loss was, the more compelling it is to "go with the team off a loss."
True one could come up with a system to measure our upgrading of the methodology. An example would be going with a team with a winning percentage of .575 or higher off a loss of eight or more. The problem is we believe a mental sliding scale combining and most importantly, weighing the two factors works best. It allows for a mixing and matching of the two parameters.
For example, this year as in most years, it would not apply or would only be weighed slightly if we are talking about the bottom three seeds in each conference off a loss. There is a reason they are called "mismatches".
No. 4 versus five and the next three rounds of the playoffs (barring huge first round upsets), it is weighed much heavier. Remember we told you the mocker grew conspicuously quieter as the postseason went on. Now you know why.
It’s one of those theories that almost make too much sense. During the regular season of every sport we remind you of the Golden Rule to not merely go with the "team that needs it more" if said team is fighting just to make the playoffs.
We call attention to the fact if a team were proficient at winning "must win" games they would not be playing in must-win games late in the year.
Conversely, a one through five seed, especially as the playoffs go deeper, has shown the ability to rebound from adversity and respond when their backs are to the wall.
To the handicapper there is a titanic difference between desperate elite teams and equally desperate inferior teams playing in a crucial contest. It’s like the difference between seeing Jennifer Lopez and Rosie O’Donnell in a string bikini.
Okay, I don’t follow the analogy myself, but the exemplification of the distinction is infallible. From a handicapping standpoint one can’t measure the success of the zigzag if Phoenix coming off a loss is given the same weight (no pun intended Rosie) as Washington or Golden State following a setback.
Likewise, the margin of the loss is applicable for at least two obvious reasons. As we have said many times, nothing affects public perception more than the last game they have seen. It’s not uncommon for a blowout in the previous game to influence an opening line by 2-3 points and more times than not, the closing line by more.
Plus, no matter how motivated and well-coached a squad is, it defies human nature to approach a game with as much vengeance off a 22-point win as it is for the team off the huge setback.
So to friends and foes alike of zigzag, a .700 or better team off a loss is not even close to being the same as the below .520 teams zigging. Nor is mindset the same for a team that lost a game that went down to the wire the same as one that got humiliated on national television.
Sunday 10 April 2016
How are Betting Lines Made
Typically there are 4-5 oddsmakers assigned to make lines for each of the major sports (college and pro football and basketball; MLB, NHL, boxing and golf). Each oddmakers bring unique opinions, strengths and weaknesses into the process.
What Is the Line Trying to Accomplish?
Commonly, people are under the misconception that point spreads represent the oddmakers prediction of how many points the favorite will win the game by. This is not the case – their intent is not to evenly split the ATS result between teams. But rather their goal is to attract equal betting on both team sides. In other words, they want to create a line that is attractive to people betting one way and also people betting the other way (known as dividing the action).
Dividing the action means the sportsbook is guaranteed a profit on the game because of the fee charged to the better (called juice).
How the Opening Line Is Made
Opening line is the first line created by the oddsmakers which is the sent out to all the sportsbooks. There is of course an entire method to the madness on how the opening line is created. It starts with each oddsmaker creating a line on each game that is based on their personal approach. This usually includes having current power ratings on each of the teams.
Power ratings are the oddmakers value of each team and they are used as a guide to calculate the preliminary point spreads on upcoming games. The power ratings are adjusted after each game a team plays. Non game factor examples that require adjustments to the team’s power ratings are key player injuries and key player trades.
When a games power rating pointspread is figured, the oddsmaker will make changes to that line after considering each teams most recent games and previous games played against the opponent. Adjustments are also made after reading each teams local newspaper to get a feel of what the players and coaches are thinking prior to going into the game.
The oddmakers ultimate goal is to equally divide the betting action, therefore public perception and betting patterns are taken into consideration. Example: the public might have heavy betting interest on a popular college football team. If an oddsmaker comes up with a preliminary line of -6 then an adjustment up to -6.5 or -7 would be made in response to the public’s expected bias.
The final step in the line making process for all oddmakers is taking one last look to determine if it feels right or not. This is where common sense and past experience with games with how games are bet enters into the picture.
A discussion amongst 4-5 oddsmakers involved in making the line for each sport is then conducted and a consensus line is decided upon by the Odds Director before it is released to the sportsbooks. Of the 4-5 oddsmakers, generally the 2 most respected opinions are weighed more heavily by the Odds Director before he decides on the final line.
What Is the Line Trying to Accomplish?
Commonly, people are under the misconception that point spreads represent the oddmakers prediction of how many points the favorite will win the game by. This is not the case – their intent is not to evenly split the ATS result between teams. But rather their goal is to attract equal betting on both team sides. In other words, they want to create a line that is attractive to people betting one way and also people betting the other way (known as dividing the action).
Dividing the action means the sportsbook is guaranteed a profit on the game because of the fee charged to the better (called juice).
How the Opening Line Is Made
Opening line is the first line created by the oddsmakers which is the sent out to all the sportsbooks. There is of course an entire method to the madness on how the opening line is created. It starts with each oddsmaker creating a line on each game that is based on their personal approach. This usually includes having current power ratings on each of the teams.
Power ratings are the oddmakers value of each team and they are used as a guide to calculate the preliminary point spreads on upcoming games. The power ratings are adjusted after each game a team plays. Non game factor examples that require adjustments to the team’s power ratings are key player injuries and key player trades.
When a games power rating pointspread is figured, the oddsmaker will make changes to that line after considering each teams most recent games and previous games played against the opponent. Adjustments are also made after reading each teams local newspaper to get a feel of what the players and coaches are thinking prior to going into the game.
The oddmakers ultimate goal is to equally divide the betting action, therefore public perception and betting patterns are taken into consideration. Example: the public might have heavy betting interest on a popular college football team. If an oddsmaker comes up with a preliminary line of -6 then an adjustment up to -6.5 or -7 would be made in response to the public’s expected bias.
The final step in the line making process for all oddmakers is taking one last look to determine if it feels right or not. This is where common sense and past experience with games with how games are bet enters into the picture.
A discussion amongst 4-5 oddsmakers involved in making the line for each sport is then conducted and a consensus line is decided upon by the Odds Director before it is released to the sportsbooks. Of the 4-5 oddsmakers, generally the 2 most respected opinions are weighed more heavily by the Odds Director before he decides on the final line.
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Wednesday 23 March 2016
Monday 14 March 2016
Thursday 3 March 2016
Sports Gambling Basics
Combine two of man's greatest interests and you've got something called "sports gambling." What could be more ingenious? Imagine a group of men cheering over their favorite team, and almost always, bets are placed along with the racket. Think about it. With every sport there are always certain highlighted games everyone's talking about; something that, according to sports buffs, will "Change the course of history." In order to get some of the action, spectators usually attempt to guess who will win in the upcoming games. This all turns into a friendly little "game" called sports gambling.
It might sound addicting, but sports gambling is really just for fun and a way to bond with your friends. You can bet a little amount of money and still have a good time. Sports gambling makes the outcome of a game more meaningful and the whole duration of the game more thrilling and exciting. Here are some basics to get you started on sports gambling.
To place a bet, all you have to do is go to a sportsbook, which is a place that accepts sports bets. In the United States, there are four states where you can do sports gambling legally, but illegally, you can do it anywhere so long as you can find a bookie AND you are of legal age (over 21). Many of the sports you can bet on are professional and college football and basketball, professional baseball, professional hockey, and horse and dog racing. You can bet on anything that involves sports, really, after all, it is sports gambling. You can bet on the overall combined score of a game, on what round will the opponent be knocked out, and even whether a coin toss in a game lands heads or tails. All you have to do is place your bet depending on the statistical odds (chances of winning/losing).
In sports gambling, bookies rely on statistics to help you decide which team you think will win. There is such a thing called a "spread," which is a point advantage given to a weaker team that is expected to lose
by X number of points. This is the odds maker's way of making even bets possible for a Sports Book. For example, if a person may bet on a team that is expected to lose, and still win the bet so long as the team loses by a given number of points.
You might be asked to bet a few notches higher than the money you may actually win. This is really just the bookie's way of making money.
In sports gambling, there are different kinds of bets. There are straight bets, parlays, teasers, and over/unders. In sports gambling the most common type of bet is the straight bet, where all you have to do is to pick the team which you think will lose or win. Over/under bets are wagers on the combined number of points scored in the game by both teams. Parlays are combined bets on several games. Teasers are similar to parlays, but you can add or subtract points from the spread to make your bets stronger. This is just to show you that sports gambling can be made more interesting and challenging by the bets that you place.
There you go - the basics of sports gambling. Why don't you give it a try, and have a lot of fun in the process. Just remember not to get too carried away and spend your entire 401K plan on a whim. You just might end up regretting it for life.
It might sound addicting, but sports gambling is really just for fun and a way to bond with your friends. You can bet a little amount of money and still have a good time. Sports gambling makes the outcome of a game more meaningful and the whole duration of the game more thrilling and exciting. Here are some basics to get you started on sports gambling.
To place a bet, all you have to do is go to a sportsbook, which is a place that accepts sports bets. In the United States, there are four states where you can do sports gambling legally, but illegally, you can do it anywhere so long as you can find a bookie AND you are of legal age (over 21). Many of the sports you can bet on are professional and college football and basketball, professional baseball, professional hockey, and horse and dog racing. You can bet on anything that involves sports, really, after all, it is sports gambling. You can bet on the overall combined score of a game, on what round will the opponent be knocked out, and even whether a coin toss in a game lands heads or tails. All you have to do is place your bet depending on the statistical odds (chances of winning/losing).
In sports gambling, bookies rely on statistics to help you decide which team you think will win. There is such a thing called a "spread," which is a point advantage given to a weaker team that is expected to lose
by X number of points. This is the odds maker's way of making even bets possible for a Sports Book. For example, if a person may bet on a team that is expected to lose, and still win the bet so long as the team loses by a given number of points.
You might be asked to bet a few notches higher than the money you may actually win. This is really just the bookie's way of making money.
In sports gambling, there are different kinds of bets. There are straight bets, parlays, teasers, and over/unders. In sports gambling the most common type of bet is the straight bet, where all you have to do is to pick the team which you think will lose or win. Over/under bets are wagers on the combined number of points scored in the game by both teams. Parlays are combined bets on several games. Teasers are similar to parlays, but you can add or subtract points from the spread to make your bets stronger. This is just to show you that sports gambling can be made more interesting and challenging by the bets that you place.
There you go - the basics of sports gambling. Why don't you give it a try, and have a lot of fun in the process. Just remember not to get too carried away and spend your entire 401K plan on a whim. You just might end up regretting it for life.
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Thursday 25 February 2016
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Tuesday 23 February 2016
My bet is on Dallas in game 6!
Last week I warned you that the <a href="http://www.sportsbook.com/basketball-betting.htm">NBA Finals</a> would be won at the charity stripe and that comment has been money in the bank. Especially in game 5 last night, when Dwayne Wade literally won the game with two foul shots in the last 1.9 seconds.
Last week I warned you that the NBA Finals would be won at the charity stripe and that comment has been money in the bank. Especially in game 5 last night, when Dwayne Wade literally won the game with two foul shots in the last 1.9 seconds.
As of this moment there have been 5 games and let’s take a look at the statistics! Game 1 was won by Dallas and they made 20-26 shots to Miami’s 7 of 19. In game 2 the Mavericks won again and the Mavs won and were 23-28 from the line while Miami was 20-32.
Game 3 was in Miami and the Heat won and were 20-34 while Dallas was 18-26 and in game 4 another Heat win, Miami was 23-36 and Cuban’s boys 21-27. Game 5 saw the Heat win as we mentioned and they were a whopping 32-49 while Dallas was 21-25, in fact Wade himself had as many attempts and makes as Dallas!
These finals are becoming like all the reality shows on television in that they are so removed from reality that it is humorous. The referees are clearly intimidated in the home building and the best proposition bet is that the home team will attempt more free throws. Furthermore the NBA czar David Stern also tilted the outcome in the direction of Miami last night by suspended Jerry Stackhouse for his bump of Shaq.
Now the scene shifts back to the Lone Star State and the Texans are ready for a lynching and Stern may want to watch this game from the comfort of his home. After last nights game billionaire owner Mark Cuban attacked the scorers table and stared down the commissioner, as well as screamed at official Joe DeRosa. Cuban should be looking at a huge penalty, but I’m not sure if Stern has the balls to incite the Dallas rioters any further.
The bottom line is that Dallas is 4 of 5 with the point spread in this series, gets the home court and another double digit is points with the return of Stackhouse. The line had already been established at Mavs -6 and that incidentally is the highest number hung in any game to date. The linemakers realize that Dallas is the better team, are at home and will get to the foul line more.
They need to get some two way action and they will with public money and recreational bettors, who figure another thrilling finish is about to take place. This will not occur!
Have you ever watch an old western movie where the bad guys go into the saloon and grab some innocent dude and tie him to rope hooked up to a horse drawn wagon. Then they proceed to take this guy for a disturbing and torturous journey.
This is akin to what will transpire in American Airlines West tomorrow as the Mavericks will deliver an old fashion beating and easily cover the spread!
Bob Acton
<a href="http://www.sportsbook.com">Online Sports Betting</a>
Last week I warned you that the NBA Finals would be won at the charity stripe and that comment has been money in the bank. Especially in game 5 last night, when Dwayne Wade literally won the game with two foul shots in the last 1.9 seconds.
As of this moment there have been 5 games and let’s take a look at the statistics! Game 1 was won by Dallas and they made 20-26 shots to Miami’s 7 of 19. In game 2 the Mavericks won again and the Mavs won and were 23-28 from the line while Miami was 20-32.
Game 3 was in Miami and the Heat won and were 20-34 while Dallas was 18-26 and in game 4 another Heat win, Miami was 23-36 and Cuban’s boys 21-27. Game 5 saw the Heat win as we mentioned and they were a whopping 32-49 while Dallas was 21-25, in fact Wade himself had as many attempts and makes as Dallas!
These finals are becoming like all the reality shows on television in that they are so removed from reality that it is humorous. The referees are clearly intimidated in the home building and the best proposition bet is that the home team will attempt more free throws. Furthermore the NBA czar David Stern also tilted the outcome in the direction of Miami last night by suspended Jerry Stackhouse for his bump of Shaq.
Now the scene shifts back to the Lone Star State and the Texans are ready for a lynching and Stern may want to watch this game from the comfort of his home. After last nights game billionaire owner Mark Cuban attacked the scorers table and stared down the commissioner, as well as screamed at official Joe DeRosa. Cuban should be looking at a huge penalty, but I’m not sure if Stern has the balls to incite the Dallas rioters any further.
The bottom line is that Dallas is 4 of 5 with the point spread in this series, gets the home court and another double digit is points with the return of Stackhouse. The line had already been established at Mavs -6 and that incidentally is the highest number hung in any game to date. The linemakers realize that Dallas is the better team, are at home and will get to the foul line more.
They need to get some two way action and they will with public money and recreational bettors, who figure another thrilling finish is about to take place. This will not occur!
Have you ever watch an old western movie where the bad guys go into the saloon and grab some innocent dude and tie him to rope hooked up to a horse drawn wagon. Then they proceed to take this guy for a disturbing and torturous journey.
This is akin to what will transpire in American Airlines West tomorrow as the Mavericks will deliver an old fashion beating and easily cover the spread!
Bob Acton
<a href="http://www.sportsbook.com">Online Sports Betting</a>
Sunday 14 February 2016
Sunday 17 January 2016
Friday 15 January 2016
Monday 11 January 2016
To Gamble or not to Gamble; That is the Question
We will never understand, and it’s just that simple.
We will never understand, and it’s just that simple. We will never understand what it’s like to be so competitive and have the adrenaline rush of 50,000 fans screaming your name while you are knocking in the winning run or scoring the winning basket. This is a rush sitting at home and watching television just can’t replace. So, what do athletes do? They gamble. They get involved with sports betting.
The debate is out whether it is ok for athletes to gamble after the recent comments made by John Daly and Charles Barkley. Daly recently came out and said he has lost between an estimated $50 million and $60 million in the last twelve years due to out-of-control gambling. Barkley followed up by saying Wednesday on ESPN that he has lost "probably $10 million" gambling, adding, “It is a problem for me.”
“Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem, but I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It's just a stupid habit that I've got to get under control because it's just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years," Barkley said.
Embedded in this touchy subject are two issues of great importance. When athletes gamble, how much is too much and what is ok for them to gamble on?
I believe there is a fine line between recreational gambling and just utter craziness. In this situation, Daly is crazy, and Barkley is not. I truly believe it’s ok for a former athlete to call up their local sportsbook and place a small-to-medium wager on a ball club if that athlete feels like this bet will satisfy their need for an adrenaline fix. We, as fans, don’t know what it’s like to be in competition everyday on the greatest stage and then have it snapped away just like that. That transition can be brutal and can lead to depression--the reason most of our childhood heroes fall so far from grace. This is also why athletes stay in the game way too long after they should have retired years before they actually do. For Barkley, it is what it is--a habit that needs to be under control. Does he have to stop? Absolutely not.
On the flip side, we have John Daly. It’s one thing for an athlete to gamble a few million if they can afford it. Hey, it’s their money, and they can spend it how they please. We are not their parents or superiors, and let’s stop pretending we are. It’s another thing, however, to end up flat broke and put your family at risk. That is what a loss of $50 million will do. We all know gambling isn’t the only addiction Daly has gone through; he recently beat an addiction to alcohol. This connection leads us to believe Daly really has a problem, and Barkley does not.
Now, to the most important issue at hand. What sports are appropriate or inappropriate for athletes to gamble on? I have one steadfast rule on this. In no way shape or form should athletes now or ever gamble on their sport. Barkley has responded by saying he never bet on basketball, and I believe he is true to his word. However, if he ever did decide to take sports betting to that next level and gamble on the Kings vs. the Spurs on Friday night, for example, (Spurs -2), it would ruin his credibility as a player and, more importantly, as an analyst, and Barkley is a damn good analyst at that. This is what got Pete Rose banned from the game of baseball for life. We all know what an uphill battle that has been for Rose trying to regain his eligibility to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gambling on one’s own sport is a big no-no and will permanently ruin a career and reputation.
All in all, I don’t think it is a big deal when athletes gamble on sports or in casinos. I think we, the media, like to make a big case out of everything and blow everything out of proportion. I would much rather see Mr. Barkley put down a couple of thousand in a poker game than see an ESPN article covering his addiction to cocaine. I believe these athletes need a bridge between professional sports and retirement, and let’s give them this. Isn’t it every person’s right to sit back after a hard day at the office, grab a cold beer and watch the ball game that you just happen to have a little wager on? If you don’t think so, I’ll bet you a dollar it is.
We will never understand, and it’s just that simple. We will never understand what it’s like to be so competitive and have the adrenaline rush of 50,000 fans screaming your name while you are knocking in the winning run or scoring the winning basket. This is a rush sitting at home and watching television just can’t replace. So, what do athletes do? They gamble. They get involved with sports betting.
The debate is out whether it is ok for athletes to gamble after the recent comments made by John Daly and Charles Barkley. Daly recently came out and said he has lost between an estimated $50 million and $60 million in the last twelve years due to out-of-control gambling. Barkley followed up by saying Wednesday on ESPN that he has lost "probably $10 million" gambling, adding, “It is a problem for me.”
“Do I have a gambling problem? Yeah, I do have a gambling problem, but I don't consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble. It's just a stupid habit that I've got to get under control because it's just not a good thing to be broke after all of these years," Barkley said.
Embedded in this touchy subject are two issues of great importance. When athletes gamble, how much is too much and what is ok for them to gamble on?
I believe there is a fine line between recreational gambling and just utter craziness. In this situation, Daly is crazy, and Barkley is not. I truly believe it’s ok for a former athlete to call up their local sportsbook and place a small-to-medium wager on a ball club if that athlete feels like this bet will satisfy their need for an adrenaline fix. We, as fans, don’t know what it’s like to be in competition everyday on the greatest stage and then have it snapped away just like that. That transition can be brutal and can lead to depression--the reason most of our childhood heroes fall so far from grace. This is also why athletes stay in the game way too long after they should have retired years before they actually do. For Barkley, it is what it is--a habit that needs to be under control. Does he have to stop? Absolutely not.
On the flip side, we have John Daly. It’s one thing for an athlete to gamble a few million if they can afford it. Hey, it’s their money, and they can spend it how they please. We are not their parents or superiors, and let’s stop pretending we are. It’s another thing, however, to end up flat broke and put your family at risk. That is what a loss of $50 million will do. We all know gambling isn’t the only addiction Daly has gone through; he recently beat an addiction to alcohol. This connection leads us to believe Daly really has a problem, and Barkley does not.
Now, to the most important issue at hand. What sports are appropriate or inappropriate for athletes to gamble on? I have one steadfast rule on this. In no way shape or form should athletes now or ever gamble on their sport. Barkley has responded by saying he never bet on basketball, and I believe he is true to his word. However, if he ever did decide to take sports betting to that next level and gamble on the Kings vs. the Spurs on Friday night, for example, (Spurs -2), it would ruin his credibility as a player and, more importantly, as an analyst, and Barkley is a damn good analyst at that. This is what got Pete Rose banned from the game of baseball for life. We all know what an uphill battle that has been for Rose trying to regain his eligibility to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Gambling on one’s own sport is a big no-no and will permanently ruin a career and reputation.
All in all, I don’t think it is a big deal when athletes gamble on sports or in casinos. I think we, the media, like to make a big case out of everything and blow everything out of proportion. I would much rather see Mr. Barkley put down a couple of thousand in a poker game than see an ESPN article covering his addiction to cocaine. I believe these athletes need a bridge between professional sports and retirement, and let’s give them this. Isn’t it every person’s right to sit back after a hard day at the office, grab a cold beer and watch the ball game that you just happen to have a little wager on? If you don’t think so, I’ll bet you a dollar it is.
Tuesday 5 January 2016
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