NBA Betting: The Weekend After Christmas Takes On New Drama

The sportsbook experts found the results in the Christmas Day games to be very interesting. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in a rematch of last year’s finals, but some people are not putting a lot of stock in that loss. The best online betting sites are saying that the average fan does not understand the adjustments players go through for Christmas Day games. The fact that the Thunder was the visiting team made things a lot worse for the team.

But there were some games that had interesting results which could not be explained away by Christmas Day blues. The Brooklyn Nets were beaten badly by a Boston Celtics team that has been struggling as of late. The Lakers beat the Knicks in New York and the Houston Rockets destroyed the Chicago Bulls. All of those games make the weekend games much more interesting.

Saturday – Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors

The one thing the price per head bookie experts were impressed with about the Celtics on Christmas Day was the ferocious brand of defense Boston played throughout the game. The Celtics is hoping that the win on Christmas Day can be a stepping stone to finally making a small move in the Eastern Conference standings. But the Warriors play an excellent outside shooting game that is going to give the Celtics all kinds of problems all night long.

Pick: Golden State Warriors

Saturday – Washington Wizards @ Chicago Bulls

The 120-97 score the Bulls suffered at the hands of the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day tells only part of the story. The sportsbook review experts keep hearing about the return of Derrick Rose as though it were something that could happen at any moment. The psyche of the entire team is fragile from the emotional roller coaster ride that Rose has put it through and the pressure of winning without its superstar. The Washington Wizards is just what the Bulls need to pull itself out of its funk.

Pick: Chicago Bulls

Saturday – Cleveland Cavaliers @ Brooklyn Nets

The last time these two teams met, the Nets won 114-101. But the fact that the Cavaliers was able to put down 101 points offers a lot of promise for Cleveland heading into this game. For Brooklyn, the honeymoon is definitely wearing off and the team’s old problems are starting to come back. The Nets is having a hard time playing defense and cannot create offensive pressure late in a game. That will make this game close, but Brooklyn should come away with the win in this game.

Pick: Brooklyn Nets

Sunday – San Antonio Spurs @ Dallas Mavericks

NCAA Football Weekend Preview: Three Games To Keep An Eye On

The eleventh weekend of the college football season brings opportunities and pressures for three teams, among others: Louisville, Stanford, and Fresno State.

2012 NCAA College Football – Week Eleven Preview

When venturing into the realm of sport betting online, you're going to find it hard to bet against the star quarterback of the Big East Conference this weekend. At noon Eastern time, unbeaten Louisville plays Syracuse. 
The Cardinals will try to beat the Orange and, in the process, remain on track for the Orange Bowl in January. Various bookies in the United States will like the Cardinals because of their offensive leader. UL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater might be a Heisman Trophy candidate next season, when Louisville has a chance to garner a lot more national attention in an improved Big East Conference. Bridgewater has already made a large statement this season, showing tremendous poise and presence in the pocket while riddling opposing secondaries. Bridgewater has responded so well to pressure, not just to defensive heat, but to game situations in which his team had to score on a given drive. As long as Bridgewater continues to do what he's been doing all season long, the Cardinals will be in great shape.

Recent Gambling Advisor blog reviews have reason to value the Cardinals in that game, and they have a strong case to make in support of the Cardinal – the Stanford Cardinal – on Saturday as well. In a 3 p.m. Eastern kickoff, Stanford should be able to outmuscle and overpower Oregon State on both sides of the ball. Stanford has not achieved as much as Oregon State this season, but the Cardinal do have more talent at most positions. They should be able to gain leverage at the line of scrimmage and win battles at the point of attack. Moreover, Oregon State quarterback Cody Vaz – despite leading his team to victory last week against Arizona State – has not protected the ball well. He has been plagued by turnovers, as has the Oregon State offense in general over the past few weeks. Stanford, if it can merely display airtight ball security, doesn't have to ring up big offensive numbers. It can focus on shutting down Oregon State, playing for field position, and wearing down the Beavers in the fourth quarter.

A college football season, with just 12 games, is like online poker. Uncertainty is part of the mix, and this will be true for the remainder of the Mountain West Conference season. The Fresno State Bulldogs and Nevada Wolf Pack were given new life this past weekend. The Boise State Broncos, the leaders of the Mountain West Conference, lost to San Diego State to fall into a tie for first place. Nevada, with two conference losses, now has a chance to tie for the conference championship. Fresno State, which lost to Boise State earlier in the year, also has a renewed chance of getting a piece of Mountain West hardware. Therefore, when Fresno State and Nevada play at 10:35 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday, the stakes will be high. The sense here is that Fresno State's offensive line can control this game. Nevada's defense is just too thin to hold up against the power of the Bulldogs.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants Odds Week 9

The New York Giants managed to salvage a sixth big win of the NFL season this past Sunday and will look to take an even wider lead in the NFC East when they hit the ground against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9. Coming off a title at Super Bowl XLVI, New York’s NFL odds are once again some of the most intriguing in football.

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With Eli Manning serving admirably as the two-time champion quarterback he is, and the rest of his stacked Giants carrying the remainder of the load, few opponents have had what it takes to really threaten the reigning Super Bowl winners when push comes to shove.

Bovada sportsbook currently have the Giants listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Steelers, while the game's total is sitting at 47.

With wins over San Francisco, Washington and now Dallas already this season, the looming date with Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers is far from imposing. Although Pittsburgh has won two straight of their own, they’re caught up in a competitive AFC North with strong competition for the top spot.

According to Bovada’s oddsmakers, not all is lost for the Steelers, they hold surprising 16/1 odds of winning the Super Bowl. The Giants, with the XLVI success and their 2012 division lead and all, sit just slightly higher at 7/1.

Weigh in on the critical Week 9 showdown today.

Get your NFL odds and Super Bowl futures at Bovada.

Raise Your Game.

Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Kansas State Wildcats Odds

Dominant K-State Leaps to Forefront on College Football Moneyline

Let’s get a round of applause here for a little consistency. The Kansas State Wildcats have not only done an admirable job of coming up big when asked to on the college football betting line, they’ve thoroughly and meticulously handled every hurdle thrown their way. Bet on the No. 2 ranked contender in time for Week 10 today.

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Having already downed the likes of No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 13 West Virginia and No. 14 Texas Tech this season, Kansas State’s Saturday showing against No. 24 Oklahoma State is far from an intimidating one. Still, the Cowboys are capable of dealing damage of their own and won’t be underestimated by Bill Snyder’s crew come the weekend.

Bovada currently have the Wildcats listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Cowboys in the college football odds, while the game's total is sitting at 66.

Although the Wildcats have 7/2 odds of winning the BCS this season, they didn’t get there by taking opponents lightly.

Led by standout quarterback Collin Klein whose 12 passing touchdowns are topped only by his very own 16 rushing touchdowns, the sky is the limit for the Big 12 threat. Considering that preseason favorites Oklahoma has been exposed on several occasions thus far this season, the Wildcats have emerged as the de facto team to beat.

Don’t let the Sooners’ struggles, however, take away from Kansas State’s impressive success. They deserve every step they take up the college football moneyline, the nation’s confidence in them growing with every top-ranked opponent they knock off.

Bet on the Oklahoma State Cowboys if you think they can be the first to stop them short.
Get your NCAA football odds and BCS futures at Bovada.

Raise Your Game.

An Introduction to Sports Betting

Sports betting has a mixed reputation worldwide, and it’s important to figure out where your country stands before you try to become an online bookmaker. In the United States, bookmaking is illegal. Betting on sports still happens, of course, but you can’tlegally accept wagers in the US. 

In European nations the rules vary, but in general bookmaking is regulated instead of regarded as an illegal activity. In the UK for example it’s pretty common to find bookmaking agencies operating in brick-and mortar establishments, and betting face to face can be easy and convenient. In some locales bookmakers are less common but still allowed to operate—for people in these areas it may be more convenient to bet on the internet.

Online bookmakers and their online bookie software must operate in countries where it’s legal to provide the service, though bookies may offer their services to clients all around the world. Becoming an online bookie is an increasingly trendy start-up business for entrepreneurs in countries where it is legal to do so. The role of a bookmaker, or “bookie,” in sports betting is to act as a market maker for wagers on sports games and races.

In the past, sports wagers were pretty simple. They were binary in nature, since most of them were simply on whether a team was going to win or lose. With the aid of online bookie software, however, bookies now have the capability to take on more mathematically complicated bets. So a gambler may also choose to bet on how many goals a team will score for example, or how many fouls will be called. There are numerous different variations on sports bets depending on the sport or race in question. Bookmakers profit when bettors lose, but may also profit or break even when bettors win if the spread they have charged is enough to compensate for the loss. Since it is typical to receive bets on different outcomes for the same event from various bettors, the spread is a key element in bookmaking success.

It is estimated that bookies typically hold an advantage of 11-10 over their clients. This means the odds are in the bookie’s favor, although not be a huge amount. As such, the bookie is poised for success, but only with the application of good bookkeeping and budgeting. It is easy to see why charging the appropriate spread is so important when the margins of success based on wins and losses alone are so slim. Since the bookie is technically betting as well by accepting wagers, the spread or fees which are charged are the only sure profits in the business. Customers who are searching for a new bookie will look for one which charges low spreads and fees, and makes them clear to the client. Bookies who offer sports betting online have the challenge of meeting client expectations for affordability while still drawing a profit.

The spread in online betting is different from the spread which a broker charges a trader in a market. It’s important not to confuse the two, although their goal is the same. Just as the spread is a major part of how a broker profits from traders, the spread is a major part of how a bookie profits from clients. Let’s say in a game between team A and team B, team B is perceived as a the underdog. Most bettors are going to want to put their money on team A, but as a bookie you know you’re obviously more likely to profit if they put their money on team B since that team is most likely to lose.

If you’re the bookie in this situation, you can offer a spread or line for each team whichhandicaps them. If your spread is: team A: -4 and team B: +4, that means that when the final outcome is calculated after the game is over, you will subtract 4 points from team A’s score and add 4 points to team B’s score. You will then determine whether a bettor won or lost based off of the calculation with the spread. In order to be profitable, you have to set sports betting lines which favor the team which is likely to lose enough to induce people to bet on that team, but not enough to actually make it likely that the bettors will win and you will lose. You also may decide to charge fees in association with bets in order to collect more money.

These days it is increasingly popular to bet online because of the convenience it offers as well as the wide variety of games which are available. That’s why it’s a good time to think of becoming an online sports bookmaker. There are a ton of potential clients out there, both in your local area and around the world!

Rory McIlroy Leads World Rankings

Rory McIlroy leads one more week winning to the worldwide roster of golf followed by Tiger Woods and Luke Donald.

The most significant change in the ranking is produced by rising South African Branden Grace, who climbs twelve places and stands at No. 37 after his victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links.

Sergio Garcia is still the leading Spanish and is ranked No. 19 in the standings, while Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño keeps the thirty-sixth and Rafael Cabrera lost a position and drops to No. 48.

World Rankings:
  0.1. Rory McIlroy (IRN) 12,397
  Two. Tiger Woods (USA) 9474
  0.3. Luke Donald (ENG) 9095
  4. Lee Westwood (ENG) 6984
  5. Justin Rose (ENG) 6350
  6. Adam Scott (AUS) 6267
  7. Bubba Watson (USA) 6117
  8. Webb Simpson (USA) 5974
  0.9. Brandt Snedeker (USA) 5883
  10. Jason Dufner (USA) 5841
  ------------------
  19. Sergio Garcia (ESP) 4698
  36. Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 3316
  48. Rafael Cabrera (ESP) 2503.

MLB Betting: Yankees, Orioles Battle For AL East Supremacy In Weekend Series

It took just over a month for the 10-game cushion the New York Yankees had in the American League East to completely disappear, a 19-26 stretch that has left them tied with the Baltimore Orioles for top spot and less than two games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees’ struggles have completely changed the complexion of the AL playoff race, setting up an interesting sports betting weekend of baseball with three key matchups that will have major playoff implications.

New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles
Saturday, 7:05 PM ET

The Yankees’ offense took a couple of big hits with injuries to both Alex Rodriguez and more recently Mark Teixeira, but with A-Rod back there is little room left for error. New York can take back control of the AL East with a successful three-game set against the Orioles this 5Dimes weekend, and should feel very comfortable with a pitching matchup that pits CC Sabathia against Joe Saunders. Sabathia is 13-4 with a 3.42 ERA on the year, and the Yankees’ offense should have no problem at all against Saunders, who has allowed at least five earned runs in three-straight starts before shutting down a depleted Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup in his last outing.

MLB Betting Pick: New York Yankees

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
Saturday, 7:10 PM ET

While the Orioles are the focus now in a tie for first place, the Rays are right there with them after four-straight wins earlier in the online sportsbook week. The best scenario for Tampa Bay would be for neither the Yankees or the Orioles to be swept, which would allow them in to a tie for the Wild Card or first place in the division with a sweep of the Rangers. While there are a lot of ‘ifs’ in that situation the Rays do have David Price to lean on Saturday opposite Yu Darvish. Price struggled in his last start against Texas, but has bounced back well after rough outings in the past. Darvish on the other hand has been solid in his past two outings, which could mean he is due for a Bodog loss.

MLB Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Rays

Detroit Tigers @ Los Angeles Angels
Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

While the Yankees, Orioles, and Rays battle for supremacy over in the AL East, it’s the Tigers chasing the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central with the deficit down to a single game. Detroit will be in tough this weekend as they head to the west coast to play a Los Angeles team that is fighting just to remain in the hunt. Saturday’s matchup will feature a battle of Cy Young award candidates as Justin Verlander battles Jared Weaver, and while both pitchers are capable of shutting the other team down, Weaver has the more desperate offense behind him. For all of the latest AL matchup odds, make sure to check out the best sports betting sites.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Angels

Optimizing your Golf Bag

Many of us all over the world truly fell in love with the game of golf which is baffling at times, but also can be very rewarding. The biggest downside to the game, many of us love and enjoy, is we are all our own biggest competition.  Nobody can take us out of the game quicker than ourselves; one terrible shot can through us off our axis for the rest of the days, trying to get back to the state of mind we were at teeing off from the first tee box.

This is a tough feat to achieve when we have no confidence in our equipment that we are using. Many of us try to figure out what the best set of irons to use, which driver will give me the max distance, which putter will give me the best spin. I don’t know about you, but I am plagued by these questions, I don’t only enjoy golf, I obsess over it.

I have found when my confidence is broke my faith that my golf clubs are the top of the line and best for me usually gets me back to a level headed state. It took a lot of work on my part to prepare my psyche like that, first things first is I had to find the Men's Golf Club Set which I thought was the best for me. I opted for the Adams a12 OS for the reason of it is a very forgiving iron, something I can trust to get me out of trouble when I’m in it thick.

Now that I have the Men's Golf Club Sets I am comfortable with I have to go to my local shop where I can get the necessary work done. I went down to my local shop Vegas Golf and I spoke with the manager, took a few swings on the lie bored, got my measurements done and they promptly adjusted my irons lie and adjusted the length. I am fairly tall at 6’03 so we had to add some extensions to get the length of the club perfectly optimized for myself.

Now I got my Irons set I needed a putter, I don’t care who you are, if your short game up to par you can’t make birdies. I have met very few people who got the ball to go in the hole from 50 feet out; unless your Tiger Woods get yourself a decent putter.

With so many putters to choose from how are we supposed to know which one is best for us? Well, you can go the way many amateurs have with the belly putter. Although if you go that route with the belly putter you may be disappointed in 2014, when the UPGA might vote to ban the belly putter. My best suggestion is to go and get you a 33”, 34” or 35” blade putter and start practicing. Odyssey has just released a new putter called the flip face putter, giving you the option of having either a white ice insert or the option for the new metal x technology. Giving you the best shot on having a winning round of golf depending on whether the greens are fast or slow.

I have no suggestions when it comes to purchasing a driver. I am afraid it really all comes down to personal opinion. Maybe add a few extra inches in length, but other than that you are on your own.

Online Casinos: Use and advantages

The online casinos let you enjoy all the games available and allow you to accumulate winnings.

You can play at any casino online using your desktop computer or a mobile and in most of the cases the player need to join a network to have access to any casino game with various interfaces.

Many casinos offer a free download for the player to participate in various games, and all the advantages, at Top Betting Lines you can find all the Top Casino and sportsbooks brands.

Real Games Opportunity for Free:

You can often play for free on all the online casinos compared to conventional casinos, having fun without spending a penny.
The casino online have many benefits like a very attractive welcome bonus, free plays.

Advantage of the Online Casinos:

Many years ago to play your favorites casino games like Keno, Blackjack, Roulette, or Video Poker you had to travel to Las Vegas, or Atlantic City, or any other casino but those days are long since gone.
The Online casinos are here and you can take advantage of the great bonuses and great games.

Petra Kvitova Great Debut against Akgul Amanmuradova

It was not until the second day of competition to see in action the current defending champion, Petra Kvitova, which was low to high on his debut against Akgul Amanmuradova for details. For the rest of the day just were no surprises and the other reached the second round favorite.

Although I signed Wimbledon semifinals in 2011, Petra Kvitova stunned the world by winning in London last year after winning the final, and authoritative manner, to Maria Sharapova. The Czech, who no longer go unnoticed by the media spotlight, debuted at this year with a win against the Uzbek Akgul Amanmuradova by a score of 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and twenty minutes of play in the match that opened the day on Center Court at the All England Tennis Club. It took pluck Kvitova, whose parents (Jiri and Pavla) Authorities Stand chaired the track.

The Czech had to save up to three balls to be 0-4 and pull against, when he reacted. He pulled his left brightness, improved service rates, began opening angles and took advantage of the surface to finish turning the marker and take the first set. Amanmuradova, who believed in the surprise early in the odds games, it took advantage of the numerous errors of the Czech Republic in the second act and ended up giving the ticket to the second round. Before the end of the match had to stop because of the rain, which stopped play for 25 minutes. Approved hurdle debut, Petra will face the winner now before the crash that faces the British and Italian Elena Baltacha Karin Knapp.

For the rest of the day's victories include the Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak to Russian Vera Dushevina (6-2, 7-5); of Kiki Bertens Dutch to Czech Lucie Safarova (6-3, 6-0) ; of Vera Zvonareva at the German Mona Barthel (2-6, 7-6, 6-4); Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan to South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers (7-6, 7-6); of Italy Francesca Schiavone Britain's Laura Robson at (2-6, 6-4, 6-4), Zheng Jie of China to the Canadian Stephanie Dubois (4-6, 6-4, 6-3), the Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before the Swedish Sofia Arvidsson (6-1, 6-2); of American Christina McHale before the British Johanna Konta (6-7, 6-2, 10-8); of American Serena Williams at the Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (6 -2, 6-4), the Czech Kristyna Pliskova to the Slovenian Polona Hercog (6-2, 6-2), Croatian Mirjana Lucic of the Russian Alexandra Panova before (4-6, 6-3, 6-4 ), of France's Marion Bartoli at the Australian Casey Dellacqua (6-2, 6-4), and Italy's Romina Oprandi to the Romanian Camelia Begu Irina (7-6, 6-4).

Online Gambling Sites

For those of who enjoy playing casino games and betting on sports then you probably do most of your wagering over the Internet. These days, unless you are in Las Vegas, nobody really wants to look to land-based casinos for gambling and that is why online gambling sites are all the rage these days, especially with younger gamblers that really just enjoy the convenience of gambling from home online. 

Whether you are looking to play casino games or bet on sports, it is usually a safe bet that you will be doing it online. If you live up North, then just like American gamblers, players from Canada are also increasingly starting to gamble online at Canadian online gambling sites ever since the new laws came into place about playing casino game online and betting on sports over the Internet.

Getting Started with Online Gaming

Online gaming covers a huge array of games you can play online – which makes it an exciting and daunting prospect. With so much choice, it almost becomes impossible knowing where to start. Which are the best games to play? What about security issues? Do you have to pay to play or can you get your gaming kicks for free?

So welcome to your first steps towards online gaming. There’s a huge variety of online games out there – it’s all about finding the right style for you, and the best places to play.

Let’s start with the real basics, and give you a quick run through of the main types of online games you can encounter:

Massively Multiplayer and Roleplaying Games
Often considered the domain of real internet gamers, Massively Multiplayer games (also known as MMPORGs) are absorbing, immersive games that invite you to role-play as a character in an imaginary, online world. World of Warcraft is perhaps the best known, but it’s not always dungeons and dragons.

Strategy and Team Games
Be it sport style games or controlling your own empire, the main difference with online strategy games is that you generally control more than one avatar, giving you more options for playing. Think of Sim City or even Farmville and you can see the variation you can get with strategy-based games. With sport style games, it’s all about winning, whether you choose to compete on the track or on the field.

Hidden Object Games
Remember the fun you used to have playing I-Spy on long car journeys? Well, Hidden Object games are almost like a pimped up version you can play online. Often featuring great themes and some interesting sub plots and riddles to solve, hidden object games are increasing in popularity, sharpening your mind as well as providing entertainment. 

Casual Graphic Games
Be it match up games, simple tile pattern games or puzzles, casual games are one of the fastest growing sections of online gaming world, responsible for getting people of all ages. Think of Bejewelled Blitz and you get the idea – simple, easy to play, hard to complete and therefore guaranteed to keep you coming back for more. To play, all you need is your web browser and a few plug ins (ideally Java and Flash) that will show the graphics. Often you can play these for free – although they will come with advertising. Paying to download will result in better graphics as well as rid you of those ads.

Gaming and Gambling
An interesting area of growth is amongst poker sites, casinos and online bingo style games, particularly with women. Instant wins, slot style games – there’s a fine line between gaming and gambling, and it’s a line that is often blurred as well. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but often these sites come with the same social features you’d expect from other gaming communities.

Paying to play?
There are plenty of free online games out there and there is no reason you have to pay. Sometimes you may have to stump up cash for subscription games, sometimes you won’t. But don’t feel pressured to pay – there are stlll plenty of free resources, including social network based versions of the game.

Don’t forget though that you will be compromising a little on your experience – be it through advertising during your games, or potentially swapping your email address for gameplay. In this case, try setting up a separate web account, so you can keep on top of any spam that may come your way.

Security Issues
Make sure you stay safe online. Be sure to check the security of sites – particularly if they are asking for payment details or personal details. And be sure to stay on top of your spam – avoid signing up to too many extra offers and your inbox will thank you later.

Where should I look for games?
Normally, it’s a great idea to start out with the big name games. You’ll find plenty of gaming portals that will review the best timewasting treats in all shapes and sizes, or try hitting up web forums for the inside scoop. You won’t have too much trouble finding a game – it’s more about whether you want to play it!
A few top tips when playing

• If there’s chat involved, remember to keep it nice. Online communities can sometimes bring out the worst in certain people – rise above it, and you’ll enjoy the experience a lot more.
  
  
• Teamwork is always important if you are working with others online. Stick it out when things get a little tough and you’ll find yourself
• To cheat or not to cheat?! Well, if you need to win that badly, you’ll find plenty of online gaming cheat websites to help you get ahead. But a cheated win will never feel as good as the real thing. 

Author: Charlie is a guest contributor from www.onlinebingofinder.co.uk, a bingo site with a difference! Online Bingo Finder is where you can search 1000′s of live Bingo Rooms, find trusted Bingo Reviews, and Bingo offers that are updated daily.

FedEx St. Jude Classic Golf Tournament 2012

The first time the FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament debuted was back in the May of 1958, and back than the tournament was called the Memphis Open. Throughout the years the tournament has had a wide array of titles, including; the Danny Thomas Memphis classic in 1970, than in 2007 when Stanford Financial group took over the sponsorship role, changed the name of the tournament to Stanford St. Jude Championship. 

Than in 2009 dropped the Stanford and became just the St. Jude Classic and last year earned its latest title as the FedEx St. Jude Classic when FedEx emerged as the latest sponsor. This year in 2012, the total purse for the tournament was $5,600,000 with $1,008,000.00 going to the overall winner; a huge jump from a seemingly petty $500,000.00 from just two decades previous.

The winner this year for the 2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic is Dustin Johnson. Dustin gets a huge victory on his way to the top of the PGA standings after his short 2 week return from injury. Johnson won the tournament that was held in Memphis, Tennessee in dramatic fashion at 62 strokes, barley holding on to victory by a one stroke margin, narrowly ahead of John Merrick.

"Well, it feels really good, especially having so much time off," Johnson said.

The St. Jude Classic champion pulled a muscle in his lower back early march when enjoying time at home. Using lots of rest for his healing remedy, Johnson finally returned just last week at the Memorial Day Tournament, which was won by Tiger Woods, when Dustin finished in 19th place.

In the final round of the tournament, when Dustin Johnson was teeing off in the morning, he started his day off two strokes back from the lead. Throughout the day Johnson kept himself in contention of the lead. Late in the day on hole 16 and 17 Dustin sunk two birdies back to back launching him ahead of the completion and sole leader of the tournament.

"And you know, I did that," Johnson later said. "I had a lot of looks, lot of good looks and made a few putts coming down the stretch. Made great birdies at 16 and 17."

After the victory in Memphis Johnson now ranks 18th in the standings from the huge 500 point boost. Even though Dustin sunk two huge birdies in the two holes previous to the 18th, he was still being trailed, seperating himself with a single stroke, by a few of the best golfers in the world; Rory Mcllroy, Chad Campbell and Nick O’Hem. All three of those players striped their tee shots right to the rattle snake in the lake, eliminating them from having a shot of being crowned winner.

With Rory Mcllroy’s latest finish at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, he has lost his shot at number one on the FedEx Cup leaderboard. Now the question is will Rory still play with the same fire we are so used to seeing him play, will he still be as hungry for another win to join his win he earned previously in the year? Only time will tell if this loss is a season ending blow to Rory for the season.

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Can The Thunder Knock Off The Spurs And Create A Dynasty?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a team that fans both casual and diehard can get behind in their journey to the sports betting NBA title. After cruising through defending Champions the Dallas Mavericks in round one and the most recent dynasty the LA Lakers in round two, the Thunder found themselves in unfamiliar territory when they dropped the first two games against the Spurs. However, over the past three games, we’ve seen a renaissance in the Thunder, as they have ventured from a team seemingly one piece away, to a team that appears destined for a Championship. Today we wonder what would happen if the Thunder knock off the Spurs. 

For all intents and purposes, as the much better conference, we truly believe that the Western Conference will be the home of the NBA Champion for a third straight season. Many people, we included, feel that the current Oklahoma City Thunder v San Antonio Spurs series is the unofficial NBA title series, because it is the two best teams facing off. On the other hand, with the early exit of the Triple Crown betting favorites the Chicago Bulls, it seems as though the winner of the Miami Heat v Boston Celtics will be a heavy underdog. But if the Thunder beat the Spurs, should we automatically give them Championship rings? 

In theory, if there was one team that could beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was and still may be the San Antonio Spurs. Before facing the Thunder, the Spurs had won 20 of their last 28 games, including their first eight games of the playoffs. In their series with the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to indicate that the Spurs were the far superior team. Then in the first two games with Oklahoma City, fans and perhaps the Spurs themselves believed they were destined for another betting software sweep, as they won both games. But then in game three, the Thunder beat down the Spurs is one of the most ruthless games we’ve ever seen. At first glance, media were quick to chalk it up to a desperation victory to stay alive in the series. 

In Game four when the Thunder came away with the victory to tie the series, nobody believed they would win game five. The main reason, was because the Thunder had to do something nobody had done in nearly three months, beat the Spurs at home. As we saw Monday night, the Thunder were perfectly fine walking into San Antonio and coming away with the victory. Similar to the victories in Oklahoma City, the Thunder demonstrated the type of confidence, you see from eventual free NBA odds Championship winning franchises. 

Tonight is game six of the Western Conference Finals. If the Thunder can do the improbable and knock off the legendary San Antonio Spurs, it seems unlikely that either Eastern Conference team will defeat them. This year’s potential NBA Title victory has the opportunity to be the first of many Championships for a couple of reasons. On the one hand, the average age of the Thunder roster is 24, which tells us that they are going to be good for several years. Secondly, the Thunder has all of their core pieces locked up for at least the next four years. Meaning to say, the Thunder could become this generation’s Chicago Bulls teams, and win multiple Titles in consecutive fashion.

NHL Betting: Kings Look To Take Control Of Stanley Cup Finals Against New Jersey

NHL hockey news has been dominated by the Stanley Cup finals odds, and Los Angeles has been the biggest story as they sit two games away from the first Cup in their franchise history. The Kings return home to face New Jersey, who now has to play like a team with their backs against the wall, which is exactly what they are.

Devils vs. Kings Odds

Jeff Carter notched the winner 13:42 into overtime of a 2-1 win for the Kings on Saturday night and most BetOnline reviews would show that it was a much more even game than the first, which ended in the same scoreline and an overtime win for the Kings. Drew Doughty also scored for the Kings, who got a 32-save performance from Jonathan Quick and Los Angeles is now 10-0 on the road in the postseason. Most players that work with price per head sportsbook software will tell you that strong road play will always be a big part of a team’s playoff success, but the Kings have taken that and run with it, all the way to a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup finals.

Ryan Carter responded for the Devils, who came out with far more energy than they did in Game 1 and they outshot the Kings 11-6 in the opening 20 minutes, but still found themselves with a 1-0 deficit going into the locker room. Martin Brodeur made 30 saves for the Devils, who now have an uphill battle to climb. Only four teams in the history of the Stanley Cup finals have come back from a 2-0 series deficit, which would mean that online betting odds aren’t going to favor the Devils, but that is why you play the games and New Jersey has enough experienced players that they won’t get down on themselves. 

The Kings are favored at -155 on Monday night in Los Angeles, where they have dropped three of their last five against the Devils, with two games going under the posted total, along with a push. The Kings are 4-2 in their six playoff games at home, and now all the pressure is off the Devils because teams are expected to protect their home ice, although this Kings team has really thrown everyone for a loop. New Jersey has to find a way to make things more difficult for Quick, who is seeing the puck too easily and even though they improved on that in Game 2, they need to step it up even further in Game 3 and they should be able to make a series out of it. Take the Devils on the road on Monday in your online sportsbook reviews.

New Jersey taking Online Gambling very Serious

Legalized sportsbetting in New Jersey just might be a reality after all. Governor Christie is taking this goal he has proposed in a very serious way. The Governor will not hesitate to defend his point of view and he very well showed that to the public in the controversial news conference that took place yesterday. Without hesitation he was outspoken on his plans and did not even worry about the fact that he was sitting next to potential legal opposition.

In this conference, Governor Christie said, “If someone wants to stop us, and then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse racing industry to get it implemented. Am I expecting there may be legal action taken against us to try to prevent it? Yes. But I have every confidence we're going to be successful. “Christie went ahead discussing his plan even if the current federal law will only allow sportsbetting in four states. Without considering Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana; the Amateur Sports Protection prohibits this sort of entertainment in the United States. Land based casinos can be found in New Jersey but at this moment is does not offer sportbetting online.

Along with looking to have sports betting as an option in its casinos, New Jersey also wants to turn into the first state that will offer online sports wagering, online casino action and poker gambling online. At this moment it looks like Nevada might come first in line to do this. In recent polls conducted in New Jersey, it was determined that 74% of the population will support this legalization.

Back in 2011 governor Christie did have some concerns on internet gambling and even claimed that there were a lot of regulatory concerns. He even got as far as putting a veto on an internet gambling bill in March of 2011. However, realizing that the state of New Jersey could have gotten $210 million in revenue, his position is now a more intelligent one towards the matter. His declarations on yesterday’s conference showed how much he believes in this cause and made it seem that he will truly make it a reality.

The Mighty Pinnacle Sports

Pinnacle Sports was founded in 1998. Ever since their beginner days they have worked on transforming the company into one with an outstanding reputation. Their efforts have placed them in an important spot and have made them one of most important and reliable online betting sites in the industry. Pinnacles´ client database is consisted of players from more than 100 countries and ensures each and every one of them with a safe environment for online betting to take place. Pinnacle offers the best odds and the highest online limits. This gives players a higher opportunity for winning. 

Last May21st the news that Pinnacle Sports was given a full Category 1 B2C e-Gaming license from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission came out. Pinnacle is rated as an A+ sportsbook in the SportsBookReview rating guide. The reasons why it has kept that position for some time now are also the reasons why it was granted this license. The company had been working on a strategy to expand its operations in Europe. This hard work resulted in making the attainment of this license a reality. 

In a press release, Aly Lalani, Marketing Director for Pinnacle says the following: "Since our establishment in 1998, we have enjoyed an unrivaled player reputation for honesty and transparency. Gaining a licensing from an authority at the forefront of e-gaming regulation further endorses our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our players. It also provides a perfect spring board from which to continue to grow our European player base ahead of a crucial summer of European focused sports featuring the Euro 2012 Championships and the Summer Olympics. We anticipate accelerated acquisition of players attracted by the best odds and highest limits online - and reassured by the additional credibility our Alderney e-gambling licence provides."

The Director of eCommerce Development for the Government of Alderney commented on the growth that they have experienced in the past months and the fact that Pinnacle is the latest company awarded with the Alderney eGambling Licence. He applauded the quality of their operations and said that the grant was well deserved. He also stated that the license is a reflection of the growth and the maturity they have acquired throughout all these years of experience.

Schleswig-Holstein licenses BetAtHome, Bet365, Tipico and Bwin

There is some good news reporting that Schleswig-Holstein has licensed Bwin, Bet365, Tipico and BetAtHome. The license given to these sportsbooks will be good for six years. It was in the beginning of May when SportsBookReview had mentioned that three companies, Jaxx, Betfair and Nordwest Lotto were the first three to be granted with this license.

There are over a dozen licenses pending at the Ministry of Interior. Players and fans of sportsbetting are showing full support of the iGaming licenses in Schlewswig-Holstein as they believe in personal liberties. However there is always fear that the Christian Democrats state election loss could enforce the ones who oppose to online betting.

This gaming license works by taxing companies 20% of gross gaming profit. The company that holds the lowest rating and that is to be licensed in Schlewswig-Holstein is BetAtHome with a SportsBookReview rating of C-. There have been several complains all through last year against this company. BetAtHome has not been willing to open up the communication channel in regards to many of these disputes claiming that by doing so they are protecting their data. For this reason Sportsbook Review has advised players with outstanding complaint or with complaints to come to take it all the way to the Lotteries Gaming Authority of Malta (LGA).

Doxxbet upgraded at SportsBookReview

It looks like business is going good for Doxxbet lately. The company´s headquarters are located in Malta where the company operates under a LGA gaming license. It was back in September 2007 that the company took an online bet for the first time ever. Their servers are located in Malta where they are based and in Slovakia. The marketing campaigns for the company are also run in both places. Doxxbet had opened up to SportsBookReview and has been clear on their position in wanting to allow mediation and be transparent with how player disputes are handled. 

For the reasons mentioned above and for wanting to make things right with the customers DoxxBet has been moved to a better position in the SportsBookReview rating guide. SBR has upgraded DoxxBet to a C+. Another reason why the company is getting a better position is because the feedback that SportsBookReview has received form players that bet with them. Most of the feedback has been positive. Customers are also happy about the recently launched wireless betting platform the DoxxBet offers. The company has been working on getting more options of live odds in different markets.

Betway´s Haunted Business

One of the worst sportsbooks in the industry, according to SportsBookReview, has cheated one of its players on a new promotion. The player complaining is frustrated with his betting home, Betway, for not honoring a promotion they had going on Champions League. During the final, Betway advertized that they would promise“money back” prop bet promotion. The promotion stated that if Drogba marked a goal then all losing wagers on 1st and last goal scorers and also accurate score wagers would be refunded.

The player reported to SportsBookReview that he placed a proposition bet on eligible markets. Such prop bet was for €100 and he said it should have been refunded if the terms on the promotion were followed. The company refused to honor the promo and ended up offering the customer a credit back and a bonus of 100% that was tied to a 15 rollover. 

That is when the player got upset and decided to take the matter up to SportsBookReview who in turn told him that he should report the dispute at the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta (LGA). It is precisely this entity that issues Betway with its sporstbook license and SportsBookReview has noted that there are several scams happening in betting companies that just as Betway run with the same license. 

Another claim against Betway reported that the company decided to confiscate winnings from aplayer that added up to £464.50. The player broke a major rule with the company, which was betting in excess of 30% of his bonus amount. The company uses the rule cited below to get away with keeping winnings from customer: 

"Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. In the interests of fair gaming, equal, zero or low margin bets or hedge betting, shall all be considered irregular gaming for bonus play-through requirement purposes. Other examples of irregular game play include but are not limited to, placing single bets equal to or in excess of 30% or more of the value of the bonus credited to their account until such time as the wagering requirements for that bonus have been met. Should the Casino deem that irregular game play has occurred, the Casino reserves the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings."

Legal Online Gambling in the State of New Jersey? Maybe…

New Jersey betting fans have a new reason to smile. It is possible that there is a light at the end of the tunnel as the state has now become one of the states that are looking to legalize online gambling. It seems that New Jersey might be very close to offering online betting to residents plus a new update on casino and horse racing. 

It is President of the Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, who has introduced an act that would favor online gambling. It basically promotes a Division of Internet Gambling to be created and it would be controlled by the Department of the Illinois State Lottery. If the bill where to be passed, this division would turn into the sole entity to have authorization to carry on internet gambling in Illinois. 

According to a poll that recently took place and was conducted by National Research Incorporated, 74% of New Jersey´s residents want to gamble or at the very least support the idea of making online gaming legal. In an interview with Sportsbook Review, Senator Raymond Lesniak stated that New Jersey would “become the silicon valley of online gaming.” In last week´s State Assembly Gambling Committee meeting, Lesniak talked about the veto that Governor Christie had passed on a gambling act that would have made New Jersey the first state to offer online gaming. He stated that as a result, the state of New Jersey lost almost $210 million. 

Players that live in New Jersey can only sit tight and hope that this bill will be approved as it would make their entertainment on online gambling so much easier to enjoy.

WSEX from D- to F

Week after week SportsBookReview.com keeps getting payment complaints of players belonging to WSEX sportsbook. This blacklisted company has been downgraded to F in the rating guide at SBR. As of January 11th, 2011 the company had a D- rating however, after realizing that all the victims of the disputes would never see their share of the money that is adding up to $825,744 in total, they got the F.

As players sign up with the company they are not given the details of how hard it is to request payments. Another horror story that players don´t know is that in 2010 some were able to get paid as the company used other players´ deposits. Stuck in a major banking crisis, WSEX cannot find the way to get back on its feet. WSEX has stopped any type of communication with SportsBookReview.com as they know how bad the situation is and much rather not refer to it. It seems that the company is basically collecting deposits from customers but have no intention to pay them if they profit. 

They have managed to confuse their clients by telling them that there are delays due to the banking restrictions in the US or maybe even saying that they are having processor trouble. The excuses seem to get more creative day by day and they refuse to explain what really is happening. 

WSEX Sportsbook released this statement January 2012: "We acknowledge that in a previous conversation, either verbally or written, you were promised every effort to have your entire or part of your withdrawal shipped to you by ending of the year. While the lack of processing companies and US corresponding banks continue to be the dominant factors for our delayed processing, we will continue throughout the next few months to accomplish all the clients who were not addressed during the past couple of months. Every month commencing January 2012, a maximum value of checks as specified by our financial personnel, will be processed. Once a payment is completed for you, an email notification will be sent, allowing you sufficient time to make arrangements for the courier delivery. At this time, I wish to thank you for your continued correspondence and the patience you have extended throughout these challenging times. Our customer support will always be available to address any further queries. Again, I cannot apoloize enough for the continued delays and the grave inconvenience caused to you."

Betway’s “gotcha” rule does it Again!

SportsBookReview.com is urging players to avoid taking action at Betway due to scam like bizarre new rule that they have implemented. The company has taken the liberty to confiscate customers´ profits if they bet over 30% of their starting bonus. Seven complains have surfaced over the same issue. 

SportsBookReview has tried to communicate with Betway to get their point of view and to attempt to bend or change that rule however the company refuses to cooperate.

Here is an example of what´s been happening at Betway: On May 4th of this year a customer sign up with the company. He used his credit card to deposit $40 and got a $30 bonus in return for his initial deposit. From May 5th to May 10th the player performed ten bets and after complying with the rollover requirements of the bonus he had been given he decided to cash out with $285. At this moment Betway decided to cancel all the customer´s bets and cried out the “gotcha rule”. 

Stating that the player had gone over 30% of his bonus amount in bet totals they decided to annul his winnings. The player then got in contact with SportsBookReview and even provided screenshots showing his wagers and all the history since the moment he opened the account and made the deposit. 

The Betway “gotcha” rule states the following: "Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. In the interests of fair gaming, equal, zero or low margin bets or hedge betting, shall all be considered irregular gaming for bonus play-through requirement purposes. Other examples of irregular game play include but are not limited to, placing single bets equal to or in excess of 30% or more of the value of the bonus credited to their account until such time as the wagering requirements for that bonus have been met. Should the Casino deem that irregular game play has occurred, the Casino reserves the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings."

A total of £6,050 in winnings has been seized by the company using the arguments of the rule mentioned above. Right now Betway, rated D-, is considered blacklisted by SportsBookReview.com for these complaints and for the lack of willingness they have to solve the situations. If they were to refund deposits and not confiscate winnings related to bonuses their rating would be adjusted to F.

Bet770 is set to Improve its Rating

There has been an update regarding a Bet770 payment complain that was submitted by a player back on March 15th. SportsBookReview.com had reported on the claims that the player had made relating a payout of £838 that he had requested back in April. According to the player, his funds were never received. New updates indicate that the player was finally paid after SportsBookReview did a follow up with the company. 

It was on March 15th that Sportsbook Review contacted Bet770 support. It was after this that they quickly got a response from an account manager from the company who explained and re-assured them that the customer in question had been paid. Although he was unable to give the specifics on why the company took so long to make the payment, he did confirm that the dispute had been settled. 

Bet770 is known to be very prompt and serious when it comes to addressing and fixing disputes presented by its customers and more so if the problem was surfaced through SportsBookReview. Perhaps for this reason the company´s rating upgraded to a C-. No company will want to have its reputation touched by an authority such as SportsBookReview that will bring every payment debate to light.

SBG has two complains less on their book!

One of SBRs blacklisted fellows is back on the headlines regarding payments being held, slowed down or denied. SBG Global, rated D- by SBR, has come forward about two payment complains. On the first one, a customer stated that he requested a payout for $5000. 

This request was done on March 23rd. Then a very similar case occurred on April 3rd when another client also requested to get paid $5000 and was also stalled about his payment. According to the follow-up done by SBR, both of these customers have been played. 

SBG Global has been known to call itself the World´s Most Respected Sportsbook, Online Casino and Horses. However many bettors that have experiences payment issues at SBG Global and those who have seen the reports on SBG do not believe it is that much of a respectable place to bet at. Others have been with SBG for many years now and state that they have never had issues in regards to payments and bets. SBG is considered one of the oldest sportsbook around however, with time, there have been countless complains on how SBG implements and procedures and ofcourse on payments and that is exactly why it is still holding on to that D- rate by SBR.

Bet33 vs. what is REALLY Fair

“After logging in to my account one day there was a note that said all past post WINNING plays will be deleted. Our account was debited $1,899. They deleted the WINNING plays but not the LOSING plays!! “ 

This is one of the many claims that SBR has been studying over the last few days. This frustrated bettor has no words to describe how cheated he feels after Bet 33, rated with a C- by SBR, allegedly deducted $1899 from his account balance. 

The player claims that after logging into his account, he found a note saying that all past-posted winning plays would be deleted. One would think that when they say “ALL” they really mean ALL plays, considering winning and losing plays. However as he took a deeper look at his past action he realized that they ONLY deleted past posted WINNING plays and left the LOSING plays valid to hurt the customer. This sent the customer, who immediately wrote to SBR, on a rampage. 

There is no expressed acknowledgement from the customer that he intentionally past-posted the bets, however he does that if that was the case, that the clerk over the phone should have said something to stop him from placing the wager. In the note sent to SBR, the customer explains his disconformities by saying ”Very scumbag-like thing to do and I am at a loss for words”. Towards the end he even refers to Bet33 as thieves!

SBR will do the follow up on this Bet33 sportsbook complaint and will keep us updated with the outcome of this particular case.

March Madness Betting: Underdog Teams Still Have Fighting Chance in Midwest Region

The NCAA Men’s Championship tournament has reached the Sweet 16, and while there is potential for the March Madness to provide some more upsets in both the South and West regions, the underdog spotlight is shining brightest on the Midwest region. The tournament’s two lowest remaining seeds each reside in the Midwest, where they will have to get through the highest two seeds in their bracket in order to extend their Cinderella runs.

(1) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. (13) Ohio Bobcats

Friday, 7:47 PM ET

The Tar Heels were among the March Madness betting favorites even before the year began as preseason No. 1’s, and leading up to the tournament were recognized as having the best chance at beating Kentucky should the two meet in New Orleans. North Carolina has lived up to that billing through its first two wins, beating Vermont and Creighton by a combined average of 16.5 points. The Tar Heels have been bumped down a notch after losing Kendall Marshall to a fractured wrist, but after undergoing successful wrist surgery on Monday, there is still a chance he can play in the tournament if they make it past the Sweet 16. Ohio is the first 13-seed to make it to the Sweet 16 since Bradley did it in 2006, and while they may not seem like a realistic pick to knock off UNC even if the Tar Heels don’t have Marshall, the Bobcats do deserve credit for getting this far. DJ Cooper and his boys overcame a South Florida defense that dominated Temple in the first round, and with nothing to lose they should give North Carolina a good run. Look for Ohio to keep this game close until the end, when the Tar Heels’ depth and skill will prove too much for the Bobcats to keep up with.

March Madness Betting Pick: North Carolina Tar Heels

(2) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (11) North Carolina State Wolfpack

Friday, 10:17 PM ET

One of the big-time bubble teams that barely made it in, the Wolfpack have played this tournament with a chip on their shoulder, and a burning desire to prove that they belong. With a per head chance to get a shot at state-rivals UNC in the Elite Eight, North Carolina State will be as hungry as ever when they step on the floor, with talented forward CJ Leslie leading the way. Whether or not Kansas has enough left in the tank to match that intensity following a close win over Purdue only time will tell. Thomas Robinson is one of the most talented players in the nation and despite their critics the Jayhawks just keep rolling, which makes it somewhat surprising that they are still considered an overrated team by some. Even with all their talent though, Kansas has already survived a close call, and if they struggle to match North Carolina State’s intensity early on, they will have a hard time pulling this one out late against a team capable of being this year’s sports betting Cinderella.

March Madness Betting Picks : North Carolina State Wolfpack