Ethical gambling question

[Nick Douglas]

At a sportsbook that I use they have clearly made an error in their lines for the German and French soccer matches being played Saturday morning. When I saw the error earlier this week I emailed them about it because I wanted correct lines so that I could place my wagers without worrying about them being cancelled because of a line error.

Well, we are about 12 hours from kickoff on some of these games and they still have not adjusted the lines. Many of them are absolutely ludicrous. Since the lines are switched, we have championship contending teams playing doormats at home with +700 odds instead of -300 odds.

It seems that the book is not going to correct the lines so my question is: Would it be a breach of gambling ethics to wager on these lines which are obviously mistakes? Is it O.K. to do it and just figure that it's the book's job to watch their own lines? Or does the fact that I know full well that these are not true lines mean that I should just let the games go? Any input is appreciated. Good luck.

 

[michaeljbird]

Nick , I know some here may not agree, but I for one would call the wager center, ask them the line on the game,and place my wager to a live person. I feel it's the book's responsibilty to put up the line properly. We have all heard that "A fool and his money are soon parted". Well, I would be more than happy to take it off their hand's, especially after you have called and reported the error's hour's ago.

 

[kickserv]

hmmmmmmmmm....tough one.......but if you let them know and they still didn't change it....then what more can ya do......if you don't play em.....ya know somebody else will.....just a thought :shrug:


be interesting to see what other madjackers say :shrug:

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

be careful Nick.....

it depends on how they grade the error when they find it.....

will they void your bet when they find out or try to stiff you because of their error?

gl.

 

[Nick Douglas]

Thank for the replies so far. I am still interesting in what others have to say.

Maybe that is a good idea to just call them when they open their customer service tomorrow morning and ask for a line and place the bet. Just to make this clear, I've emailed them about the bad line, but not called.

I am thinking of just kind of pretending I never saw the bad line and stick to betting draws tomorrow morning . Good luck, all.

 

[dr. freeze]

no way you get paid

 

[timbo]

Call them, report it, get a small comp.

 

[just cover]

Nick-

My local has had some real weird lines and I have told him about . Sometimes he gives me a free play when he changes the number, but there has been a few rare occasions where he has said that is line and bet it or not. Most times when that happens I am on the losing end, like he knew something. You have emailed them so I think it is safe to say they know about the line. I would call and place the bet over the phone. The only thing I see that might happen is that they void the bet if you win or grade the bet as a loss if by chance you lose. I doubt that you play at a bad book but how reputable is the book is it a MJ sponsor?

good luck

just cover

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Nick This is how I handle bad lines.
I bet my standard wager $50(don't load it up) and then report it and let them know I have no prob with then canceling wager.
Many times they will correct error but let my wager stand as reward. A couple books have done this consistantly.
However I think the meager amount of wager has a lot to do with it.

 

[cisco]

I think they won't pay off if you win but let us know how you made out.
How about you let beantownjim in on the bookmaker?

 

[Goiing Gone]

You Know Kickserve would jump on it

 

[Grama]

bet it, their mistake, don't think for a minute they don't look for the advantage against us

 

[MadJack]

don't bet it because they won't pay anyway. AND, if you lose, they might keep your bet. YOU are in a 'no win' situation on this one. just don't do it.

the right thing to do is call them and tell them. then if they will take the bet, fine, but make sure you're not talking to some idiot clerk. talk to a manager.

just my opinion

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Dogs:

Nice way to try and take care of number 1, then screw whoever else wants to take advantage of the error. Provides a real nice insight into your personality and moral fibre. Your being exposed by your own ignorance. Keep on takin care of number one at everyone elses expense. Knew this about you all along.

What a loser.

Eddie

 

[MadJack]

Dogs:

Nice way to try and take care of number 1, then screw whoever else wants to take advantage of the error.
Eddie

you can't "take advantage of an error" because the error WILL be found and they won't PAY, period. AND, they might not find the error for a couple of weeks and THEN take it out of your account. DTB the loser? I don't think so.

Eddie, if your're in the 7-11 and the cashier gives you change back for a twenty when you gave her a ten, would you keep the change on the error she made? :nono:

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Jack:

I completely disagree. DTB is trying to take advantage of the error for himself by reporting the error to the book. He's hoping his bet with the erroneous line will be allowed as a "reward" for tattletaleing the line to the book. I consider that self serving to the disadvantage of the other gamblers. I stand by the comment.

With reference to your example, of course I would return the extra $10. 7-11's have cameras.

Ed

 

[MadJack]

Jack:

I completely disagree. DTB is trying to take advantage of the error for himself by reporting the error to the book. He's hoping his bet with the erroneous line will be allowed as a "reward" for tattletaleing the line to the book. I consider that self serving to the disadvantage of the other gamblers. I stand by the comment.

With reference to your example, of course I would return the extra $10. 7-11's have cameras.

Ed

ok, so we disagree but i'd hardly call him a "loser" geez
plus, doing what he does probably helps the player more because the player is NOT going to get paid on a line error. it ain't happnin.

lmao at the 7-11 camera answer

 

[Eddie Haskell]

Jack:

As you know, Dogs and I have, shall we say, slight differences of opinon on many of the topics of the day. As a matter of fact, I think the only thing Wayne and I have in common is that our feet are on the same planet (even that I'm not too sure about).

Based on some of our earliers discussions, either one of us calling the other a loser is somewhat of a compliment. By the way, your 7-11 analogy reminded me of an ethical dilema, similar in nature, a fellow attorney faced not too long ago.

He charged an 85 year old woman $100 for a will. When she paid him, the bill was new and there actually was another hundred dollar bill stuck to it. She had already left the office and there he was sitting with 2 100 dollar bills.

He called the Cincinnati Bar Association to get an ethical opinion on what he should do with the extra $100 bill. After getting the opionion he decided to do the right thing....................................... he shared it with his partner.

Ed

 

[redsfann]

Not sure if this is the same thing that you are refering to, Nick, but this happened to me a few weeks ago at one of my books.
I was looking at the overnight lines and saw a total of 12 posted at this book while every other book that had a line on the game had a total of 9 posted.
I bet the under, thinking that the wager would not be honored-- I returned to the site a few hours later to see that they had corrected the number to 9. The total ended up way under 9 for the game, and I was credited with a win. I don't feel as I did anything wrong, as I feel its the books responsibility to post the correct lines. I also will continue to place wagers at this book because they honored my wager even though I bet into a wrong number. Anyone have any thoughts about a matter like this?

 

[ferdville]

That was funny, Eddie!