Online Betting - Sports Betting Sites

Canada’s provincial governments are sponsoring a group of sports betting games known as ‘Sport Select’. The program has different names; for example, in Ontario and Atlantic Canada the program is known as Pro-Line, in French speaking Quebec it is known as Pari Sportif, while in British Columbia, it is called Sports Action. The rules for the games are similar in all provinces.

Initially created to offer betting mainly on the North American major professional sports leagues, Sport Select has expanded and is now offering betting on competitions such as the English Premier Soccer League and college sports.

Tickets for Sport Select - or the equivalent wherever you live - can be purchased at all lottery centers across Canada, creating one of the densest sports betting networks in the world. In addition, some provinces are now even accepting wagers over the Internet.

Sport Select games
Each province offers versions of these three games under rules similar to those described below:

Pro-Line
Known as Oddset in British Columbia and Mise-O-Jeu in Quebec, Pro-Line offers fixed-odds sports betting. This is the most popular of the Sport Select games. Betting is not offered on individual matches, because betting on a single sporting event is technically illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada. To overcome this, Pro-Line offers a parlay game where bettors wager on the outcome of anywhere from three to six of the matches offered by the lottery corporation. Decimal odds are quoted for individual matches and the odds for each selection are multiplied to calculate the potential payout of the ticket. All selections must be correct for the ticket to pay out.

Some provinces offer a ‘Combo Play’ which does not require all selections to be correct for a payout, but the Combo Play ticket is effectively nothing more than a number of similar, individual Pro-Line tickets rolled into one. Overtime is taken into account when determining results, but shootouts, both in ice hockey and in soccer are ignored.

Point spread
Point Spread is similar to those games offered by other bookmakers where bettors are wagering against a quoted point spread. Bettors can predict the outcomes of anything from two to twelve games, depending on the province. The payouts offered vary from one province to another.

Over/Under
Also known as Total in Quebec, Over/Under is similar to those games offered by other bookmakers where bettors wager that the total number of points scored in each match is over or under the quoted total. Bettors can predict the outcomes of between three and twelve games, depending on the province and again the payouts vary by province.

The Controversy

Odds
From the gambler’s point of view, Sport Select offers poor odds and in recent years it has come under increasingly heavy criticism from Canadian gamblers. Private bookmakers licensed in the United Kingdom or Nevada generally maintain an overround, or “vig” of about 110%, which means that the bookmaker can expect to pay out $100 for every $110 that is wagered.

In Canada, however, this overround for an individual match in Sport Select odds often exceeds 130%. Making matters even worse for the bettor, the parlay requirement compounds the overround and the actual vigorish is a minimum of 160% but can climb to well over 300% if six selections are made.

Most experts agree that the odds offered on Sport Select are such that even the sharpest punter has no chance of making a profit in the long term.

Ties
Even though draws or ties are common in soccer and used to be common in ice hockey, this is unlikely to be the case with most bookmakers. The rules of Sport Select provide for betting on “ties” in nearly every sport including football, basketball and in some provinces baseball, although a tied result is not possible in basketball or baseball and is rare in football.

Nevertheless, Sport Select directs that all games decided by five points or less in basketball, three points or less in football or one run in baseball is declared a “tie”. Moreover, when the NHL introduced shootouts in for the 2005-06 season the lottery corporations, in contrast to most bookmakers, quickly ruled that shootout results would not count, specifically so they could keep offering “ties” in hockey.

This tie rule is loathed by most Canadian gamblers because the size of the winning margin often means little to the teams on the field or court. Many bettors believe the rule’s sole purpose is to confuse gamblers and allow for larger vigs.

Canadian NHL teams
Because they do not receive a portion of the profits from NHL betting, Canada’s NHL teams, especially those in the smaller markets are becoming increasingly agitated. These clubs argue that the provinces are making millions of dollars on events for which they assume all responsibility, expense and risk and that those revenues would disappear if the clubs were to move or fold.

The 2004-05 NHL lockout, which cost the provinces more than $100 million in lost revenues reinforced these arguments. But most provinces have rejected the request outright - although the British Columbia Lottery Corporation agreed to license the Vancouver Canucks’ name and logo for a fee while the government of Alberta agreed to allow the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers to conduct a separate, joint lottery.

The different NHL teams in Canada are the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, the Vancouver Canucks, the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.
Ontario and the NBA
Meantime, in Ontario, wagering on NBA games nearly cost Toronto an NBA franchise due to the strict league rules prohibiting gambling. Only after the provincial lottery corporation agreed to stop offering these wagers did the Toronto Raptors begin to play in the league. Up to 2004, the Raptors were still being forced to pay millions of dollars each year into a charitable fund and to the provincial lottery corporation to compensate it for the ‘perceived’ loss of revenue. If the NBA decides to put a team in Las Vegas the same could easily happen. 

College and youth sports
Provinces have started offering odds on college basketball and college football, much to the annoyance of the NCAA and others who would like to keep gambling out of amateur sport. At the start of the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Loto-Qu?bec caused a major uproar when they attempted to offer odds on QMJHL games in order to compensate for lost revenue. Players in this major junior league are aged 16 to 20 and make about $30 per week in pocket money. Faced with this intense opposition, wagering on QMJHL games was quietly abandoned.

Responses
Many Canadian gamblers have taken advantage of the Internet and are starting to do business with reputable offshore bookmakers or betting exchanges in response to what is perceived as extreme arrogance and a lack of respect from ‘the state bookmaker’.

The exchanges can offer odds that are up to 50% better than what would be offered for an individual match on Sport Select. Moreover, both traditional bookmakers and exchanges offer single sports betting, thus greatly increasing a bettor’s chances of winning.

Some analysts claim that the provincial lottery corporations are already losing more revenue to the offshore firms than they make by tilting the rules and odds in their favor. There are only very rough estimates of the amounts of money the provinces are losing to offshore competition, but the sums are believed to run to millions.

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Traditional forms of gambling have long been a favorite pastime for many, given the amount of luck, risk and the chance to win big they are associated with. Today, online gambling has become a popular hobby for millions around the globe, with more and more visiting online sports betting sites and online casinos than ever before.
An undeniable advantage of online gambling is the fact that you can play wherever you have an internet connection. This has made gambling more accessible to millions of new fans and has resulted in the rapid growth of the online gambling industry and the record profits many operators are reaping in. The number of online casinos on the internet has exploded, and online poker has given the world of online gambling a major boost with celebrities and high profile tournaments responsible for bringing the game to new audiences.
One of the most successful stories in the online gambling world is the rise of sports betting. Sports fans have traditionally enjoyed betting on soccer, football, baseball, hockey and horse racing, but now with the ability to do so online, sports betting has soared in popularity. Today, a huge variety of sporting events can be wagered on, encouraging more and more diverse forms of online gambling.

As with all larger businesses, smaller ones have developed as a result of the surge of popularity. One of the most unique businesses to develop in the online casino world is affiliate marketing. Comprising of a simple advertising plan, affiliate marketing consists of the distribution of wealth from large online sports betting firms down to standard internet users. It also helps companies grow and maintains healthy competition in the online gambling world.
Affiliate marketing offers a reward scheme for websites that run advertisement on behalf of online sports betting sites. When a player joins an online gambling site via an affiliate site, the affiliate is awarded a percentage of the player’s wagers generated for the site. Therefore it is in the best interest of the affiliate to generate as many new customers as possible for the sports betting site. As a result, affiliate marketing has become a highly profitable and successful strategy for marketing in many industries, but none more so than in the world of online sports betting.

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While online gambling and sports betting continues to win thousands of new fans every day, NFL Betting is undeniably one of the most popular forms of gambling during the U.S. football season. NFL betting sites the world over offer football enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy real time betting on live matches and the procedure in doing so is often much more simple than betting with traditional bookmakers.

To reap the benefits of betting with NFL betting sites, all you need to do initially is open an account with a reputable online gambling site. An example of one of these is BetUS.com, which has over 12 years experience and is heavily endorsed by Jesse Ventura, ex-WWF superstar and former Governor. The site also offers its members the chance to win prizes in free contests, plus a generous bonus scheme and a $5 million dollar parlay.
After you’ve opened an account, you need to find information on the odds offered by your site. NFL betting sites typically display these betting odds prominently, along with instructions on how to use your account for depositing funds and withdrawing funds.

Understanding basic rules on how NFL betting sites work is useful when it comes to placing successful bets on your favorite teams. One of the most popular types of bet to emerge in recent years is referred to as a combination or parlay wager, which helps a fan boost his chances of winning. The bet is placed over a series of several games, increasing the likelihood that you will win back your initial wager and more. Another type of bet is known as a Point Spread Bet. These are used on NFL betting sites to make the betting between two teams more competitive. For example if a strong team is scheduled to play a much weaker team, chances are the majority of bets will be placed on the stronger winning. Point Spread Bets level the playing field by awarding the team commonly expected to lose with extra points. An equal number of points are then deducted from the stronger team. NFL enthusiasts that choose the right point spread number, win.

Point spread bets require a lot of research and attention as NFL betting sites need to factor in many different components before awarding the point spread, including player injuries and weather forecasts. Sometimes the betting spreadsheet still features a disproportionate number of bets that favor the stronger team. When this occurs, NFL betting sites increase the odds for the team expected to lose. Betting activities on both teams are represented online by a positive number and a negative number. If the team awarded the positive number loses by the positive number, the gambler wins.

Likewise if the less favored team wins by a number greater than the negative number on the spreadsheet, the gambler wins.

An example of this is a point spread listing for The Raiders (+4) and The Jets (-4). If you choose to wager on the Jets and they win the game by more than four points, you will win back your original bet and more. However, if they lose, you lose your original wager.
Most NFL sites make approximately ten percent profit on point spread bets.

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Empire Online, one of the world’s best known online casinos, has announced its intention to acquire an online sports betting business.
The company announced a 2005 profit of $41 million in online gambling profits, an increase of 15 million on the previous year. Online sports betting has proven a lucrative business in recent years. Industry analysts have predicted for some time that Empire Online would look to further its involvement in the online gambling industry by purchasing any number of sports betting sites.
Amongst the online sports betting’s major players are British firm Ladbrokes, William Hill and Sportingbet. Noam Lanir, chief executive of Empire Online, spoke enthusiastically about the firm’s flexible attitude in relation to online sports betting acquisitions and general merger activity in the marketplace. The owner of more than 20 per cent of Empire Online’s stock was quoted by various sources as saying. “Our focus is to extend the range of products that we can offer our customers, including a sports book.”
The online gambling firm reportedly attracted 450 new players at its online casinos each day during the month of March. The majority of these came from outside the U.S., a fact that no doubt has proved pleasing for Empire Online’s management. The firm has followed the lead of others in the online casinos industry seeking to reduce dependence on online sports betting and casino fans from the States.
In other news, online sports betting firms are keeping a close eye on developments in the U.S., where some lawmakers are seeking to impose outright bans on sports betting and casino websites. Following yesterday’s announcement of imminent acquisitions activity, Empire Online shares rose six pence to 152 pence.

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The 2006 NFL Draft is fast approaching and NFL betting fans would do well to start preparing for the action. All through the world of online sportsbooks, the same questions are being asked – who will be this season’s top performers and which surprises are in store for the NFL betting world? In preparation for the April Draft, let us consider some of the teams and their stars headlining this year’s event.
Undoubtedly, the season’s major headlines have focused on the ongoing dispute between the Players Association and the owners regarding the labor contract agreement. With deadlines being delayed by three days to give parties further time for considering, fans are keeping a close eye on proceedings and eagerly anticipating a resolution.
As far as teams go, the Houston Texas are this season’s favorites at 2 to 14 odds. Following in second place is the New Orleans Saints, just ahead of the Tennessee Titans, who are hoping to rebuild their ranks after last year’s salary cap sent some well known faces packing. The New York Jets are in fifth spot as favorites, although several NFL betting enthusiasts have pointed out that the team needs to considerably improve their offensive tackling on last season’s efforts.
In terms of favorite players, USC’s popular all-rounder Reggie Bush is in first place for his returning, receiving and sprinting skills. Among the top six favorites are Vince Young from Texas, Virginia’s D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart from Southern California.

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Playing baccarat and blackjack in Australian land-based casinos may be a thing of the past if predictions are correct. Some of the world’s most experienced analysts are of the opinion that the most lucrative game in the country’s future will not be in the casinos but instead will involve on-line betting.
According to Paul Facey, an analyst with financial powerhouse Merrill Lynch, the major land-based casinos in Australia are hurriedly developing online businesses.  The reason is simple – they are all seeking to capitalize on the on-line betting and gambling craze that is predicted to yield $10 billion U.S. dollars by 2001. In Facey’s words, “the world-wide internet gambling market looks set to boom. Following the expected ban on Internet gambling in the United States, Australian gambling companies appear well positioned to become dominant players in the industry.”
Australia is one of the first countries to promote forms of online gambling, including online casinos and on-line betting. Its largest casino firm, Jupiter’s, has already announced plans to develop an on-line betting business, along with the country’s two largest casinos, Crown Casino and Star City. The firms are currently waiting for the state government to award them licenses.
Australia’s welcoming attitude toward the online gambling contrasts starkly with that of the U.S. where playing at online casinos and participating in on-line betting is considered a felony. In comparison, two Australian states – the Northern Territory and Queensland – have introduced legislation permitting allowing firms to operate online gambling ventures. Similar legislation is expected from the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
The first casino in Australian to develop an on-line betting firm is Lasseters, the country’s first regulated casino situated in Alice Springs.
One of Ord Minett’s analysts, Stuart Jackson, has predicted that the focus of on-line betting operators will be on the more lucrative international markets than those close to home at first. This is likely to be encouraged by the lower tax rates established by the federal government. Jackson also believes that although the scope of the on-line betting market will be huge, losses will still occur due to international marketing expenses.

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In order to wager successfully on NCAA action, it is imperative that you understand the basics on how NCAA betting works. The following is a list of common rules found at most sports book and online casino sites providing NCAA betting activity.
In NCAA betting, the final score is what separates the winners from the losers at the end of the game. The minimum duration of a game must be 43 minutes from NBA games and at least 35 minutes for all College and WNBA games.
The Golden Rules of NCCA Betting
1) If a game is suspended after the minimum time has elapsed and is unable to continue on the same day, the time at which it was halted constitutes the final result.
2) If a game is suspended before the minimum time has elapsed and is unable to continue on the same day, all bets made on the game are marked as ‘no action.’ All wagers are subsequently returned.
3) NCAA betting wagers on fourth quarters do not take into consideration scoring in overtime.
4) All games must be played on the scheduled day and date unless previously advertised before the game.
5) All bets on the game and those that are made during the second half include overtime scoring.
6) A “Double Double” means ten or more in Rebounds, Assists, Blocks, Steals and Points.
7) Each team must compete in all 82 games of its season.
NCAA betting rules numbered 3 to 7 apply to all professional and college basketball matches. In the event of situations occurring not covered by the above rules, Las Vegas wagering rules will apply.

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One of the most pressing concerns for sports betting fans is the safety, security and general reliability of the online betting sites they frequent. Their concerns are fueled by widely publicized reports of fraudulent online betting sites set up purely to generate profits and never pay out.
However, there are a few tips on ensuring the online gambling site or online casino you use is reputable, and likewise some tips to indicate that they may be less so. Firstly, reputable sites usually always display their own toll free 1-800 number prominently, along with a phone number for their 24 hour customer service operations. Online sports betting sites generally operate out of countries where labor is relatively cheap, so there is no excuse for reputable sites not to offer round the clock support.
Shady online betting sites can usually be recognized by the limited options they offer for customers to make deposits. Fees may be charged to deposit money by credit card, a sure sign that these sites do not receive much business. Top online gambling and online casino sites are more than willing to pick up the 3 % credit card fees in order to attract your business.
On less than reputable sites, information is often out of date. Betting odds may seem out of synch and differ drastically from those of other online betting sites.
A final sure sign that you are not playing at the best online betting sites is when you have to email the site to request your deposit bonus. This is generally awarded automatically by more reputable online gambling sites.

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The National Basketball Association of the United States and Canada (NBA), is the premier professional basketball league in North America. Many of the world’s best players appear in the NBA and as a result, the standard of the competition is considered higher than any other professional competition in the world.
With the NBA playoffs drawing steadily closer as the business end of the season comes into view, basketball teams are now pulling out star performances in a last ditch effort to make the playoffs. This is an intensely exciting team for NBA betting fans who can expect non-stop action in these final games. Rumors circulating include which team will coast through to the final and which will fight tooth and nail to make the final few?
To capitalize on all this excitement, hundreds of reputable online casinos and sportsbooks are offering a range of exciting basketball odds and NBA betting lines to attract fans.

NBA Playoffs Lines
NBA betting playoff lines are relatively simple to learn. One team is generally considered the favorite with a spread or line that they have to achieve in order for you to win a bet. The other team or underdog will have a set amount of points that they can lose by in order for you to win. NBA betting lines are available for every professional game. Basketball fans can bet on favorites or underdogs or even the money line.

NBA Playoff Gambling
Gambling on the NBA at a variety of sportsbooks and online gambling site brings the excitement of the game alive and gives the fan a heightened and more personal interest in the results. Those than enjoy wagering on NBA betting lines can experience the thrill of NBA playoffs while watching the games on television and simultaneously betting online at any stage of the game. All you need to do is select your team and place your bets accordingly.

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Online sportsbooks have changed the face of internet betting in recent years. Now instead of frequenting traditional bricks and mortar betting agencies, sports fans can place bets on all their favorite sports, including soccer, baseball, golf, racing, tennis, cricket and football, at online sportsbooks.
Every sports betting fan needs to be aware of a few simple rules on how online sportsbooks operate. Winners of events are generally determined at the conclusion of the event and no action can be recorded on the site if the event is postponed by up to 12 hours. The bets submitted by gambling fans can be viewed in the list of Pending Wagers that allow them to participate in the event.
All reputable online casinos and online sportsbooks offer their members a variety of convenient methods of transaction. Most allow for the withdrawal and deposit of funds using various money transfer services, such as Citadel, Neteller and Firepay, along with credit and debit cards.
However, as fun as wagering at online sportsbook sites can be, there are still precautions one should take to avoid playing at disreputable sites. When choosing an online sportsbook, it is important to verify whether the site operates under a government or state license. The age of an online sportsbook is also a useful way of finding out how reputable the site is. The opinions of other online gambling fans and gaming portals should also be taken into consideration, as experience is useful in this arena.
Some of the things to avoid when choosing an online sportsbook are sites that offer high bonuses. Sign-up bonuses at reputable sites usually range from between 10% to 25%. Higher offers than this may be viewed dubiously.  It also pays to check with every online sportsbook for its address and its 24 hour customer service contact details, which should include an email address, live chat functionality and a toll-free telephone number.
Another worthwhile consideration is to check the legality of online sportsbook gambling in your state before you begin to gamble online. In some states, the placing of bets online is considered a felony, therefore you should ensure you are not breaking the law by frequenting online sportsbook sites.

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