Head of Sportsbook Q&A Transcript

Head of Sportsbook Q&A Transcript

By Gary Wise Jan 29, 2014

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The second Pinnacle Sports Head of Sportsbook Q&A, hosted on @PinnacleSports on January 28th, proved to be hugely successful. We revealed $1,000,000 limits for the World Cup final, reiterated why we Welcome Winners and underlined improvements to NHL live to name but a few responses. Read on for the full transcript.

Firstly Pinnacle Sports – and the Head of Sportsbook (HoS) – would like to thank everyone for posting their thought-provoking questions and allowing us the opportunity to interact with our customers. Given the level of interest we received a huge number of questions, in advance and during the actual QA session, so our HoS was only able to answer a fraction. We intend to respond to all questions in time.

Below is the actual Twitter Q&A Transcript for the duration of the hour-long session (Click here to read the transcript of the first HoS transcript in August 2013).

The Twitter Q&A 2 Transcript

Q1. From an email: I am an Affiliate. Why you do not offer live betting products for hockey? #Pinnacle

HoS: We’re offering live NHL intermission hockey now and if the interest is there, we’ll offer it for the top European Leagues #Pinnacle

We’re offering live NHL intermission hockey now

Q2. From @PhantomPunter: Are there plans to increase in play soccer content? The only area I consider you to be behind your rivals. #Pinnacle

HoS: We’ve made big strides in our soccer live product, but realise we’re behind where we want to be and will continue to improve the depth of the product. We’ll continue to improve in the next year. #Pinnacle

 

Q3. From @allin1sbr: Is #pinnacle concerned about clients choosing matchbook because of the better odds? #SBRreview

HoS: No, we’re not worried about them. We offer the knowledge you’ll get the best odds as well as guaranteed liquidity. #Pinnacle

 

Q4. From @loving_the_punt: Are you looking at expanding both limits & markets available for the Australian Football League this year? #Pinnacle

HoS: We’re having internal discussions right now about Australian sports – AFL and rugby. We’re hopeful, but can’t commit to them yet. #Pinnacle

 

Q5. From @JSchouwerwou: As sabermetrics/analytics become more mainstream in sports, have there been increases in market efficiencies? #Pinnacle

Hos: Clearly, market’s become more efficient over the last 25 years. Still enough for the educated punter to take advantage of though. #Pinnacle

You can bet what you want at any time. We’re built around volume

Q6. From @RichardMrNice: Is it good or bad for business if someone keeps re-betting the limits on the same line. Like a Syndicate, who can bet up to a million? #Pinnacle

HoS: Anyone can bet whatever they like at any time. We’re built around volume, so volume is good. #Pinnacle

 

Q7. From @tenzing312: Do you foresee a time when you will accept deposits and make payments in bitcoins? #SBRreview

HoS: I am a close follower of Bitcoin, but we won’t accept BTC until legal aspects of the currency have been clarified. #Pinnacle

Q8. From @h103efa: Why do you not care about people that arb, and why do other bookies not like it? #Pinnacle

HoS: Our model is based on accepting bets whatever the motivation; our competitors are more focused on what’s most profitable. #Pinnacle

We will offer a limit of $1,000,000 for the World Cup final

Q9. From GreekWay_: What are your plans for the coming World Cup? #AskPinnacle

HoS: We will offer a straight up betting limit of $1,000,000 for the final. Of course, if that is not enough you can re-bet. I predict that it will be the biggest betting event we have yet had. #Pinnacle

 

Q10. From @TheJobber: If there was to be a movie made about @pinnaclesports which actor would you want to play you and why? #Pinnacle

HoS: Can only be the @TheRock, if you smell what the HoS is cooking. #Pinnacle

 

Q11. From @JMackie4: Hi HoS. How big would you say your tennis product is in terms of liquidity and in sports betting? i.e. is it 2nd behind soccer?

HoS: We are the no.1 tennis sportsbook. Having said that our tennis volume is still growing extremely fast, especially live. Challenger, future events & qualifiers have proved particularly popular. We’re very excited about Challengers.  #Pinnacle

 

Q12. From GreekWay_: Have you thought of making lay betting available in order to tackle Betfair’s monopoly and attract traders? #AskPinnacle

HoS: Betfair’s monopoly? Aren’t they tackling that themselves?

Gary: Here’s a little something our graphics guys whipped up:

 

Gary: And for those who haven’t heard about Betfair commission changes, you should give this a look: http://forum.sbrforum.com/sportsbooks-industry/2783440-betfair-increasing-rates.html 

 

Q13. From @basiljh: Will mobile site more closely resemble the site? Right now there seem to be no/few bets on mobile compared to website.

HoS: I’m not the Internet guy. I’m the sportsbook guy. #pinnacle

Q14. From @Terrell_7: What differentiates Pinnacle from other bookies, by them never cutting a punters account, limiting all betting? #askpinnacle

HoS: “Volume is good” #Pinnacle

Q15. From @Terrell_7: how do you ensure the removal of bias from your compiler’s odds? #askpinnacle

HoS: When the Rock is looking over your shoulder, it removes the danger of bias. #Pinnacle

Q16. From @MrRoyalW: Why do Pinnacle Sports open the handicap lines options before Moneyline?

HoS: In soccer, it’s because the Handicap markets are much more meaningful. Volume on Handicap far exceeds volume of Moneylines. #Pinnacle

 

Q17. From @JeffreyHahn1: How relevant is market size when considering accuracy of the market?

HoS: Very correlated #Pinnacle

 

Q18. From @Loving_the_punt: Why do you offer less juice on parlay lines then standard lines? #pinnacle

HoS: Risk management on parlays is tough. Still, our parlay odds still offer better value than our competition’s #Pinnacle

 

Q19. From @JMackie4: Do you have many bettors making a living from this game, many making legendary incomes? Yet you still want them to play?

HoS: Yes we do but we stand by our credo of Winners Welcome. I mentioned last time that we have bettors making > $300K/month. Our credo of Winners Welcome is not just a sound-bite, we have many customers that are significant long-term winners. #Pinnacle

 

Q20. From @MrRoyalW: Do Pinnacle Sports has your own Traders to have their own lines on all American sports or they all comes from Vegas?

HoS: Vegas… wasn’t that the place where people placed wagers before the Internet? #Pinnacle

Niche markets are more likely to be under-developed than popular markets

Q21. From @RyanC9999: What markets would you suggest someone with a limited bankroll focus on? #Pinnacle

HoS: Niche markets are more likely to be under-developed than popular markets. You could probably start there. #pinnacle

Q22. From @CJH248: Your lines seem to come down about 5 minutes prior to tip-off (football, basketball). Any plans to extend the odds being up?

HoS: We try our best to keep markets up as long as possible. Recommend you not wait for very last second to place your wager. #Pinnacle

 

Q23. From @heavyZ63: Is there a reason that limits are much lower on Tennis Set betting than handicaps and match odds? #pinnacle

HoS: Market size is much smaller. If more people bet it, we increase it. We had 50k on several #AusOpen matches. #Pinnacle

 

Q24. From @JMackie4: How important is it to get your lines out early or first in the industry? Does this matter to the trading team?

HoS: The traders really try to give the best service to our customers, so getting lines up early is very important to us. #Pinnacle

 

Q25. From @dmmdhamer: What’s the bigger event for #Pinnacle, Superbowl or Champions League Final?

HoS: It is no secret, our limits indicate how big events are for us. We had #UCL games up for $500k USD this season. #Pinnacle

 

Q26. From @mkasslatter: Will you offer more skiing and cycling the future? #Pinnacle

HoS: It all depends on interest. If cycling and skiing become more popular we offer more events with higher limits. #Pinnacle

 

Q27. From @bookierating: Can bettors earn money for long time by betting on sport if relying only on analysis and luck (no arbitrage, etc.)?

HoS: It all depends on the punter. Discipline, focus and our odds are the key to winning #BestOdds #Pinnacle

Q28. From @coolmarker18:  Are you planning to offer game handicaps and totals for tennis Challenger earlier rounds in future?

HoS: It all comes down to product popularity. We’re excited about #Challengers, hope tennis bettors are too. #Pinnacle

Q29. From @PokerCollectif: If I want to take your job in future, what should I do? What are the requirements? #pinnacle

Gary: Careful… #Pinnacle pic.twitter.com/Zn4lUtJLCv

 

Q30. From @Terrell_7: What’s your line on tweets I need to send to earn a coveted pinnacle hoodie? 5.5? #Pinnacle

HoS: Opened at 5.5 but now more like 6.5…I love that number. #Pinnacle #Betfair

 

We will let @u_joshua have the final say “We put our marketing money into our odds” Got to love @PinnacleSports, trailblazing in the 21st century, humiliating UK bookmakers

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