2021 HOT STOVE

@KeyElement

 Great news on the vaccine

I never bet futures, in any sports that I follow for that matter, but just to play devil's advocate here a little: is it worth tying up any amount of money, for 6 months in our current circumstances? Have any of you guys checked what the rules are for those future bets?

Out of the 3 big sporting leagues in the US, NFL, NBA and NHL, none of them managed avoid game postponements, due to Covid outbreaks, and looking at what happened the NFL did the best job, which was great given an NFL rooster is bigger than an NBA or NHL one. In the NHL they had multiple outbreaks, even though they reconfigured the conferences and the Canadian teams play between each other, while the US teams are split in geographical manner, so they don't have to travel from one coast to another fe. The NBA also had to postpone multiple games.

My point is I highly doubt there went be any Covid cases in the MLB and before making any future bets, you should check to see what plan does the MLB have, if any games will have to get postponed. From a betting standpoint I can see there might be value, in placing future bets, I just don't think this is the season to place them, without a proper check on what the rules are if a full schedule isn't completed...

@yaongingy

 I would say that is in the rules that you have to play a certain amount of games, really depends on the service you use, but they all have a list of rules and when you place the bet it gives you a quick shot at a rule or 2,

but Key and barney are rich and sac has always been working and the other rich guy that Key got banned does this for fun.

@KeyElement

 What sites do you use and do you take the bonus they offer, seems like they all have weird rules on cashing out winnings from bonus money which how do they know which bets are what funds?

Thanks for any help Mr Key, your Awesome.

@JEG53

 "Thanks for any help Mr Key, your Awesome. "

Perhaps the most facetious comment ever posted on Covers. A true classic. 

To answer your other question, I lean toward Heritage at the moment, but have acquired a number of locals I prefer. Sign up bonuses are a trap. They are used to entice a player with the concept of "free money" but force the player to roll it over enough times they are almost assured of getting that back plus the initial deposit. They normally also have higher odds and greater juice attached to the account. Twenty cent lines are common and very difficult to beat in the long run. When shopping for a book a player should be scared of big sign up bonuses and search the odds offered. He will be much better off in the long run.

That attitude will probably catch some flack, but frankly, I don't give a rat's patootie, mathematical fact is what it is.

@OneWayOut

 I have no faith in the Pirates one way or the other, but I am figuring on their pathetic division opponents and the rest of their non-divisional opponents to underachieve against them. Like relaxing your guard against a guy that (apparently) presents no threat, then getting sucker punched.

If you guys know the true nature of a bookie, I could see a scenario going something like this.

Scenario #1

You bet a team over rsw. That team gets covid and a few games get cancelled that can't be rescheduled. Bookie says, "sorry, tough luck, a bet is a bet"

Scenario #2

You bet a team under rsw. Games get cancelled. Bookie says, "sorry, the team didn't play the correct amount of allotted games, bet is voided"

@undermysac

 Cancellation policies are available when you anticipate or place the bet. Your choice. Normally they are understandable, just like they are for run lines and totals. Ignorance is no excuse.

Over 102.5
Regular season wins
Los Angeles Dodgers Markets 2021
-118

At least 160 games must be played by the team for bets to stand, unless an outcome has already been decided and no further play could produce a different outcome

That last statement is a little dodgy - "unless an outcome has already been decided and no further play could produce a different outcome"

does that mean that if the league stops at 158 games and LAD already won 119 that you get paid on the over and lose on the under?

but if they stop at 158 and you have over 102.5 and LAD has already won 102 so those last two games not being played means all bets are off for OV and UN? Those last three games could have produced a different outcome as the UN is currently winning but in those three last games the OV could come out.

Anyone a lawyer here?

Same thing with LAD winning 80 games out of 158 played, 3 games left so the UN is clearly the winner and if the league calls the season the UN wins using simple math.

I tihnk I'm on to something here. That's probably what this all means

@barneybeans

 Told you...shady. Even if there's written rules.

I would love to see someone bring in a lawyer vs a legalized book, just to see what happens.

Vs offshore, forget it. You are at the their mercy

JEG and Key are talking bookmakers and I agree that Heritage is great and locals having decent virtual offices will have dime lines on MLB and better overall lines than say DraftKings or Fanduel which offer .20 cent lines.

My Vote is to have all of them and shop around for lines. Just because Fanduel has a -110 point spread line they may still have a better line than your local or offshore.

You will always get paid from Fanduel/DK so if you are making a stoopid Parlay that pays $45,000 you will get paid from FD/DK but probably not from  Costa Rica.

If you play soccer the disparity on what's available and what the lines are is huge between books.

Having a few outlets for certain types of wagers just makes sense.

Lastly as Key explained going with any bonus is just an obstacle and noise that affects your account forever. Go with the lowest juice option you can - Heritage offers three options, I forget what each one is called. Leave the bonus to the bozos.

YAO:

Points well taken. For futures bets the season/team has to go all 161 games. That is usually the only rule, just like any other OV UN you need the event to go the distance - for the most part, there are exceptions...

IMHO Futures bets are worth the money depending on the circumstances and what type of bettor you are.

Sac made a good point about SD and it applies to LAD as well in that there is about an 80% chance either both teams win the division or make it to the play offs. If you play this angle yes you are tying up money and the odds are not that great considering the house hold on futures are the worst in all of betting but a few units at +210 on SD to win a division means you have action every SD game and you'll be pretty much alive in September. That's a lot of action and entertainment for only a few units. Lastly Sac brought up another good point that SD and LAD will be heavy favs all season long. A futures bet would give you some interest in rooting for your team when they are -250 without you having to lay the $.

It's a stretch, I know and not for everybody. A lot of futures betting has to do with the bettor "being right" and making such a bold prediction before the season started. Does anyone really do this to make money?

@KeyElement

 Glad to hear you have the appointments set up for the vaccinations. Good news

@barneybeans

 I think you have the Disclaimer figured out perfect, .

Next time you talk to Key tell him if when he goes for vaccine and the Doctor tells him to drop his pants he is in the wrong place,thanks.   .

@barneybeans

"Does anyone really do this to make money?"

 It is nice to make money but compared to the full season action it is a pittance. No-one could do this to make a living. 

Now, a couple other things, one of them already addressed. Stop arguing or discussing winning/losing a wager after any other outcome is mathematically impossible. When the bet became a mathematical certainty IT closed, and gets paid or collected. It DOES NOT wait for the conclusion of the season. Only games cancelled when a mathematical probability exists BOTH ways are affected, and the usual procedure is to cancel those wagers. It ain't rocket science and some of the accepted practices have been around longer than some of you guys have been on the planet. Believe it or not, some of the accepted rules have been around longer than I have. Oddsmaking and bookmaking have been around thousands of years. Sports gambling was not invented on the day you were born or offshore books appeared on the scene. It was a time honored profession from Ireland to China before Columbus departed Spain. 

Question: Since a couple guys toss it out now and then, is the season only 161 games this year? 

@JEG53

"Next time you talk to Key tell him if when he goes for vaccine and the Doctor tells him to drop his pants he is in the wrong place, thanks.   "

Little do you know, pinhead. She was a 30 year old blonde that resembled Christie Brinkley in her prime. I did as I was told. The rest is none of your business.

Just called the front office and we're going with 162 games this season. More of a reason to take UN LAD RSW

@barneybeans

 Glad you straightened that out. As you know JEG is concerned about my advanced dementia. 

When he got back to Spain the ticket was voided due to the barcode was too faded to be read by the scanner, so it was obvious Columbus had an expired ticket. 

He went to complain to Queen Isabella but there was nothing she could do. So he went back to Italy where he got rated as a player over at....

Cesars Palace

@barneybeans

  .

AND, it was a Friday night so they had crab legs on the buffet. As usual Marc Antony got drunk and made a fool of himself. Guy never could handle his Falernian. 

@barneybeans

 That was good,

I saw the 161 you wrote and knew it was a mis-print so as a friend I just let it go, guess not everyone feels that way.