My Little World10

My gambling review

+01:00

So it’s international weekend and I’m bored waiting for an England game, I thought I’d sort out my old online gambling accounts – I had let some old ones slide when I went to uni and had nothing to play with and thought I’d check what I had. Pleasantly I found £2.50 in one I didn’t know about, but otherwise I was sensible enough to clear the rest.

But what I did find was that PremierBet, an old one, had disappeared completely – apparently they had basically done a runner in 2007 – I’m fine, I’ve had no money in there for years but certainly other people seem to have lost out. This got me thinking how likely is this to happen, especially in our current financial crisis? Well, I don’t want to cause a run on the sites because obviously a mass exodus from them as people struggle to pay bills and such would undoubtedly be what brings them down, but I wonder how likely it is.

Firstly let me point out – PremBet was one gambling site out of a few dozen main ones and is the only one to have done this, and some quick checking of any site should reassure punters of who is safe. Most sites will simply be absorbed into larger ones if they go under – as happened with totalbet going into Skybet and sporting odds into sportingbet – in which case accounts are simply transferred. As a safety note – current legislation does not protect winnings, but it does protect deposits – so as a tip if you make a fair bit of profit be sure to withdraw (which obviously you should do to actually make a return), you can even deposit the same amount back in, but then it’s secure as a deposit – *this is an incredibly cautious move and is highly unlikely to actually happen, but it’s worth knowing*

So who should you go with?

Well the largest bookies in the land are Coral (also part of Gala – the bingo people), Ladbrokes and William Hill – all big recognisable high street names, and there is also Betfair – the largest online bookmakers and very reputable. These guys aren’t going anywhere soon.

However I have my issues with the big high street chains – safe and reputable, yes, but when it comes to online gambling there are better sites out there. Ok firstly I’ve never used Coral, so all I can say is the odds aren’t anything special (hence why I’ve never bothered). Likewise Laddies and Will Hill – the odds are distinctly average, but I also dislike their sites – Ladbroke’s in particular is hard to navigate, and William Hill is only a bit better, the menus are confusing. Also they offer little in offers and because they are high street brands, can rely on that to bring in the cash – so frankly, whilst they are perfectly reputable I would look elsewhere.

Betfair meanwhile, is one of the best sites out there, it’s the largest online bookie, and you will probably have seen its national adverts and sports sponsorships – and it’s hated by the old order because it is a betting exchange (which coincidently offers much better returns than them). They’re a very safe and respected gambling site who offer something very different to usual bookies – it’s an exchange, like a stockmarket (yeah, not a great thing to say right now I guess – but there’s no short-selling, hedging or speculation) – basically punters lay the bets as well as back them, i.e. you bet on what won’t happen, it can be a little confusing for the inexperienced gambler (they do give you lots of simplistic video tutorials) but once you get the hang of it it’s very lucrative – and of course you can just back bets as you would normally. As a result Betfair make their money off a 5% commission rather than you losing, but because they don’t want you to lose and you set the odds you will pretty much always find the best odds on there, so you do win more than at other sites. Their offers are also very good – lots of new member deals, and in my experience the customer service is excellent. One thing I’ve always wondered is how they get people to lay on every market (every market, like slovakia vs finland or something) – but I guess a million customers helps. They also have some great gambling games as well as poker and a casino, operate in Australia and have nothing to do with the damn U.S gambling restrictions (the enormous British gambling trade makes me very proud).

So what about the rest? They’re not all tin-pot organisations; I’ve merely listed the ‘big three’ high street brands and the rather unique Betfair.

There’s always the Tote – the original government run bookies, not any more since Labour, you know, the socialist party, started privatising them - but anyway, a safe and well known brand who are likely to be run by another reputable brand pretty soon. Can’t say I’ve ever used them, but certainly safe.

Then there’s the privateers – Betfred and Victor Chandler – basically two blokes who’ve set up their own bookies and made a fortune – again two well respected bookies. Betfred have 700 shops, mostly up north – safe hands, they also sponsor lots of little entrepreneurs in the gambling world, which I personally like. They are still a bit small on the net tho, they don’t get a lot of action and the odds are a bit crummy. VC on the other hand are far more internet inclined, another well-respected old bookie who are now almost solely net based and are one of my favourites. They offer great odds, although I’d advise waiting til the 24hours before a match to get the odds (which is true of most admittedly) – and also a lot of competitions, playing ‘Beat Victor’ is basically free money. They have a reputation as innovative and friendly, helped by the constant involvement of Victor himself, even if the man did inherit the business he’s been pretty successful – and is responsible for forcing the UK to drop gambling taxation by moving to Gibraltar a decade ago, which we should all be thankful to him for. Also the site is very user friendly, one of the essentials of internet gambling.

Another user-friendly site is Bet365 – it’s probably the most pleasant to use out there, and has very good odds on football (my main area, they may well be good in other areas). They’re an old bookies who moved into online gambling, hence the better service online (see a pattern here?) – they come highly recommended. If you want some accountability they are owned by the chairman of Stoke City FC.

How about Skybet? Yep, they are owned by Sky and are part of the empire – but as you can imagine that means you can trust them in as much that they can’t exactly pack up and run off with your cash. Again another internet based bookie – and again a lovely system to use, that’s my main draw to them – they also offer a lot of deals, ala sky TV – some are pretty good, and they are quite good with customer service – they like to bend over backwards to keep you happy, offering little insurance sweeteners such as protecting you from injured players and injury time winners, doesn’t cost a lot but it goes a long way. I guess if Betfair are the Google, Skybet are the Tesco. Skybet obviously keep me happy because I still use them even though I know their odds aren’t that great – their one drawback, which clearly has been outweighed by their ease and service in my mind. They also have a link with “Soccer Saturday super 6” – which is a free game you can play for money. So trustworthy and pleasant, but for big winnings not the best choice.

That’s most of the ones I use and trust – I am aware of Paddy Power, another big chain – they’re Irish…enough said. But seriously, a reputable brand and one that is renowned for its silliness in it’s marketing and offers – these are the people who paid out on Derby being relegated after about 6 weeks last year.

All these sites are well-respected and in my experience, safe – and depositing and withdrawing is painless as far as I’m aware. There are plenty of others out there, and I pass no judgement on them, but I merely champion these guys for your betting needs.

So I would recommend: Betfair, Bet365, VC, Skybet and also advocate Betfred, William Hill, Ladbroke’s and Totesport.*

One I would warn you from is Sportingbet – a large group who offer in my experience very poor service, and are quite slow to pay – I’ve never heard anything good about them, a shame because they absorbed sporting odds, who were pretty good back in the day.

*And of course I take no responsibility if you believe me and then lose money – you’re listening to some anonymous idiot on the net?

Credit Crunch? What Credit Crunch?

+01:00

Ok, so daft title probably but reading the news the world is ending - but when i walk out the door people are still going about their business, going to work, going to school, getting transport, buying groceries

but the FTSE has lost 20% in a week!!

So? i can still walk into a supermarket and buy what i want, and petrol prices seem to be finally settling, i can go on the internet, buy stuff, gamble - whatever

I admit i'm in a lucky position, i don't have a mortgage or loan and am 46 years away from a pension - but that's just it isn't it? everybody talks about the global financial crisis, and undoubtedly people have been hit - the building trade most obviously, and that's not good for them, it's hard times, but it solves the housing crisis for a bit and it was part of the bubble anyway - oh and of course bankers - can't quite see the unions coming out for them

ok admittedly if our councils lose all that cash in iceland that may be a problem - why were they placing taxes in high interest bank accounts anyway?? council tax is extortionate and they want 8% interest on it? is it not enough? or do we not get that return?

But on it rolls - and you know the stupidest thing about it? it's based on imaginary money and fear - unlike many economic crises this is not about a shortage (such as oil or food) - it's about our financial system basically inventing money which can't be paid back, it's daft because it's all high finance bringing itself down, the effect on the little person is on their banking system - and obviously if this daft market tumbling (which is built on fear! nothing else! that's why the government have to give them billions, to make them feel better) continues then no bank may be safe, earlier it was presumed once all the bad creditors had been paid out (building societies such as HBOS, Northern Rock, B&B) it would be ok for the safe banks like Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays - but maybe not

So what will happen? 1929 again? the great depression? probably not tbh (famous last words) - government's have far more power now and the welfare state will probably cripple itself to maintain the system even if it suffers for twenty years

I for one just want to see an end to this, either crash or buck up, and then we can work on picking up the pieces

Why I hate Ronaldo

+01:00

yup, as you can guess this is about football

so, do you want to know the real reason I hate Ronny?

...Fantasy football - that's right, fantasy football - the most irritating thing for me is that if you wanted to be a decent manager last season you had to have the 31-goal season diving wonder in your squad or you got hammered - (this is the official premier league fantasy game by the way) - with nearly 300 points he probably justifies his 14 million price tag this year - but at 3 million higher than the already expensive likes of lampard, gerrard and fabregas he completely dominates a team, you basically have to find an extra cheapie who may get points to balance him

there's not much I can do about it, if he was cheaper even more people would have him, and his score does pretty much warrant the pricetag - but I don't want to have to buy him and ruin the balance of my team(s) - I pride myself on sneakily buying the likes of Cahill, ashley young, arteta, zaki and rory delap - but none have the ridiculous consistency that ronaldo had last year, which meant without him you were always playing catch up and having to divert your funds to him, meaning tactics were watered down - i found the whole experience very annoying - "build your fantasy team of fifteen players, built in ronaldo for 14 million, required: 2 dirt cheap midfielders from fulham"

obviously there are popular players, but he had such consistency that everyone had to have him if they wanted to win - 31 goals in 38 games is ridiculous, especially considering forwards get less points than midfielders, so the expensive torres with 24 goals got proportionately less - so the european 'forward of the year' got extra points for being called a winger, while the winger* ashley young was classed as a forward and got less...strange huh?

and so that is why i am not happy about ronaldo's return, while i may dislike the diving little s**t and all the hype around him I particularly loathe the fact that he may well reduce the fun of fantasy football (how sad am i??) - i was so happy when he had surgery (what? don't look at me like that, he's not dying or anything) - no ronaldo at the start made the fun of finding players like wright philips and deco, or the failures of bentley, and the tottenham team in general (love it), much better

but now he has returned, i'm hoping he won't pay his way as much this year, which would give me a massive advantage over those novices who already bought him (leaving 14 million on the bench) and will snap him up this week - what with berbatov up front he may have to share his goal tally a bit because quite frankly i don't want to fork out 14 mil on this incredibly top heavy player - time will tell, and i'll get pasted...