Same here -- to the point that I don't bother including commission costs in my spreadsheets. When MB was on the old structure, I knew it was only for "net-win" bets, so I would assume I will win a bet and simply do the formula for 2% (or 1%). At that time, it was as simple as this: {desired amount to win} / .98. That meant for $100, I was ready to put $102.04 as my amount to win ($100/.98). So if it was a +100 bet, I was risking $102.04 to win $102.04 knowing that if it wins, the 2% would be $2.04 and my net win is $100 as I wanted.
Then with the change in March 2009, I saw that I was much better off making all offers, period. If you allow yourself some time (not wait until last 15 minutes before a line is closed) and also monitor your offer for a few minutes, you will find a way to make an offer that gets matched.
Doug, you did ask much earlier about "what if both sides are already at 1-cent spread", I wanted to answer that. Say, I see a game at +103/-104.
I want the +103 side but if I create the +103 offer, it would immediately get matched as +103 is already there (making me pay commission). Instead, I intentionally offer +104, so it'll show up as -104 favorite even though it's already there. I am now simply in queue as MB matches amounts on first-come, first-serve basis. On a popular game, even $500 pending on both sides shouldn't stop you from making an offer anyway. Within a few minutes, even if it balloons to $800 pending, but you noticed that about $400 may have been taken from the favorite side, you know that you are almost being matched (maybe only $100 left before it's your offer's turn). It's like being "number 3 out of 10 in queue" or whatever.
That's how I can avoid paying commission and get commission instead.
* CalvinTy
I do the same Calvin, esp. since I recently started to examine this stuff closer.
Sometimes I have to go out or something, then I just accept. lines certainly can move late, I'd rather have a few cents worse, than no action.
A guy at SBR ( Nicky S) got me thinking about this.
I was pretty sure many here would be confused, also.
MB basically offers 5 cent spreads.
So, you agree with me now, Calvin ?
Sometimes I have to go out or something, then I just accept. lines certainly can move late, I'd rather have a few cents worse, than no action.
A guy at SBR ( Nicky S) got me thinking about this.
I was pretty sure many here would be confused, also.
MB basically offers 5 cent spreads.
So, you agree with me now, Calvin ?
Liquidity is very important that MB is trying to get more of (hoping that more people offer their money into all markets).
But I disagree, even on a slow MLB day, I can make offer that far (1 hour is far away) from game time and can get it matched within 15-30 minutes at worst case. Sometimes I have to watch to make sure the line doesn't run away from me (like +103 becoming +101, as favorite is now only -101) so my offer of +104 is no longer "at the front lines".
I'm sure FH would agree that the queue can get moving pretty quickly on football games, *especially* within 1 hour of start time.
* CalvinTy
that's all great if you have no intention to leave the computer screen.
another pitfall to the queue system is that the line can move against you. You are now stuck with NO BET whereas you could have accepted an offer earlier at a better price.
don't get me wrong, I also use the queue system, but its not perfect.
if im rushing out to dinner and want to place some bets, well its just not good enough for me to leave the house knowing if I have action or not.
MLB is a different animal than NFL (especially on Sunday)
another pitfall to the queue system is that the line can move against you. You are now stuck with NO BET whereas you could have accepted an offer earlier at a better price.
don't get me wrong, I also use the queue system, but its not perfect.
if im rushing out to dinner and want to place some bets, well its just not good enough for me to leave the house knowing if I have action or not.
MLB is a different animal than NFL (especially on Sunday)
