This message is for anyone who is unfamiliar with SIA and considering opening an account with SIA.
I don't recommend this book to my personal friends because the folks at SIA are rather unpredictable.
But, if insanity prevails, and you overcome all common sense (i.e., you open an account and send SIA your hard earned money), I would suggest these rules:
(1) Don't bet on propositions with SIA. SIA simply doesn't have the staff to set a proper line and maintain those lines. Then later, SIA will refuse to honor any wager (which you win) which does not have what SIA considers a good line. In other words, SIA evaluates the line after the event, and then refuses to honor anything they please.
(2) Don't bet on futures with SIA (same reason).
(3) Don't bet on boxing with SIA. SIA doesn't follow standard Las Vegas rules.
(4) Every time you enter a wager, place a check in the box where you request SIA to e-mail a receipt. Also, use Microsoft PAINT to copy and save a picture of the screen, so you have a record of the wager.
(5) Don't ever phone in your wager, because SIA does not record any phone calls.
(6) No wagers on European sports unless you completely understand the 3 ways that such a wager can be placed (and the 3 possible results).
(7) Stick to Baseball, Football, and Basketball. Even if you get a little better line with SIA, SIA will honor that wager.
Remember, SIA does not follow standard Las Vegas rules, so even if you adhere to my above guidelines, on occasion, SIA will do some bizarre things. This doesn't always work to your disadvantage (see how Wisconsin bettors fared at SIA in the Wisconsin-UNLV matchup in 2002 for an example - details in these forums).
(8) Now, rule eight. And this is the most important rule. When you begin to place your wager on the web site, take it slow. SIA has the very worst software in the industry. As an example of how they can screw you, SIA might offer you the Arizona Cardinals +7 +100 on the left, but when you click in the wager, the European style display of bet price on the right might say 1.91. This means, you are not getting even money. You are getting 11 to win 10. Remember, what you see on the left means nothing. SIA will update the odds on one computer (the computer that counts), but continue to display the old price on the web site. The old display can persist for hours (no kidding). It is only when you click in the wager, and just before you confirm the wager, you are offered the "real" price. Remember, the "real" odds are not displayed in the way that Las Vegas displays the odds; rather, the display is European. 1.91 = 11-to-win-10 = -110 (same thing, 3 different ways to express it). So pay attention. Don't forget to click the box for receiving a betting receipt via e-mail.
Remember, if you make a mistake entering the wager, your mistake will not be reversed at SIA. Normally, SIA will not correct or reverse a mistake you make on their web site. If you make a mistake, just bet against yourself to cancel most of the mistake. However, if SIA makes a mistake, they reserve the right to "correct" the mistake any time, even if that correction occurs six months after the event.
Thank You
Dweeb
[This message was edited by Dweeb on August 30, 2003 at 02:15 AM.]
