I know one thing I'll quit before I'll ever play w/a "local" again.
I've been "locals only" for about 3 years now and I'll quit gambling before I go back sending my money and personal information to some foreigner I've never met and then waiting 2 months for a check that may or may not clear, or waking up and finding my betting sites down and my money locked up and inaccessable.
I get 10 cent lines in bases, 11/10 on hockey totals, if I see a -3 -120 on the site and I want -3 -110, I just call them up personally and tell them and they almost always book it. Christmas gifts, free booze, cheap NFL, MLB and NHL tix all season, no fees, no checks, no waiting, no posting up, just my cash please and thank you.