Pinnacle, by itself, is not enough

[RaceIsClosed]

They're a great book, but the serious horseplayer should also keep an account with Bris and/or Phonebet just in case.

Why?

1. What's my name? Pinnacle will often close a race long before the track does (long = up to two minutes). In that case you can dart over to BRIS.

2. Payout limits. Like four longshots in the super at a small track? Your $27,000 payoff could be cut to $5,000.

3. "Couldn't establish connection." Sometimes Pinnacle has connection problems at the worst times.

4. $15 for a withdrawal (though usually justified by the rebates).

5. They don't offer every track every day, and no supers or pick-3s at Philadelhpia Park (too easy for them to get burned due to small pools).

6. Slow grading. If you're a recreational player, your money might not be up in time.

7. Video privileges/free PPs. With BRIS, if you bet over a certain handle over time they give you free video for the entire country, as well as free PPs for any track you place at least one bet at with them.

They are great with the rebates, but a backup is a must. Don't learn this the hard way.

[chuck]

I agree 100%. These have been my frustrations with Pinnacle for a long time. I keep both a ehorse and brisbet account open for these reasons. My question is why cant they fix these problems. I personally have identified the problems to them, and Im sure others have too.

[Nicole]

Absolutely! Have had days where they close 2-3 mtp. Use brisbet as my alternative.

What can you do? Complain to a book who's giving you a 7 percent rebate.

[Nickle]

Pinnacle is lousy book. If your a serious player you are playing onshore and not offshore.

[RaceIsClosed]

Pinnacle is lousy book. If your a serious player you are playing onshore and not offshore.

I would hardly call Pinnacle lousy. If you think Pinnacle is lousy, try Olympic sometime. They cap win at 20-1 and show at 4-1! Their rebates are amazing. If you get off to a hot start, you can sometimes guarantee yourself a rebate equal to or greater than your initial bankroll. Even if you go broke one day, you get a little "degenerate money" for the next, and if you're up and have rebates, you have a "free play" like in football when the QB knows the defense is going to be called for off-sides. Even on bets paying $2.10 or $2.20 to place or show with no rebate, you get a rebate if the bet loses, so your payoff ther is still greater, as you're putting up $1.86 to win $2.10 on a bridgejump, which is a lot more than 5 percent. The other main advantage at Pinnacle is that you can bet $1 on anything, which is not always the case at the track.

My point here is that if you are a serious player, it's too easy to overlook the hassles, which is why one needs two accounts or more.

[Blackgold]

I'm very happy with the YouBet preferred player program.

Only knock is it doesn't have the NYRA or CA tracks, but so what.

Last nite I'm on EVD and both the win and exotic rebates together avg. about 10%.

Plus, YouBet has the best video and software out there.

Sooner or later others (BrisBet) will have to copy.

I've actually increased my weekly play because, for once, I'm playing with a significant advantage.

Even before I started using software (pre 2002), I often would have a year where I only lost 5c on the dollar.

With the rebates now. . . well, I'm eating, sleeping and (you know the drill) horseracing.

You've got to jump on advantages while you have them.

YouBet told the Oregon commission that governs them that by offering rebates, the handle would go up (duh).

As soon as others see that handle does indeed go up, you will see others offering it.

I only use my BrisBet account for small win bets now, so I get the PPs free.

You gotta love YouBet and a progressive state like Oregon where you can grow your own pot and invite Jack Kervokian to your last supper.

Good luck everyone!

[RaceIsClosed]

I'm very happy with the YouBet preferred player program.

Only knock is it doesn't have the NYRA or CA tracks, but so what.

Last nite I'm on EVD and both the win and exotic rebates together avg. about 10%.

Plus, YouBet has the best video and software out there.

Sooner or later others (BrisBet) will have to copy.

I've actually increased my weekly play because, for once, I'm playing with a significant advantage.

Even before I started using software (pre 2002), I often would have a year where I only lost 5c on the dollar.

With the rebates now. . . well, I'm eating, sleeping and (you know the drill) horseracing.

You've got to jump on advantages while you have them.

YouBet told the Oregon commission that governs them that by offering rebates, the handle would go up (duh).

As soon as others see that handle does indeed go up, you will see others offering it.

I only use my BrisBet account for small win bets now, so I get the PPs free.

You gotta love YouBet and a progressive state like Oregon where you can grow your own pot and invite Jack Kervokian to your last supper.

Good luck everyone!

How does the YouBet rebate work?

[Blackgold]

It shows up immediately after prices are official.

Now here's a tip. . . just like the casinos will offer you free rooms, airfare, etc. if you put certain amounts in action. . . well, that's what YouBet is looking for, punters that can dramatically increase their handle.

So, expect to be seriously wagering to get their attention. What is serious money to them? I don't know. But I would suspect it would be a couple grand a week and probably more.

And of course, with the rebates. . . one can wager more.

It's like some governments have learned the hard way, the more they increase taxes, the less likely the economy is to grow, because there is less money to invest. Have less taxes and more taxable revenue is generated from a growing economy.

[RaceIsClosed]

It shows up immediately after prices are official.

Now here's a tip. . . just like the casinos will offer you free rooms, airfare, etc. if you put certain amounts in action. . . well, that's what YouBet is looking for, punters that can dramatically increase their handle.

So, expect to be seriously wagering to get their attention. What is serious money to them? I don't know. But I would suspect it would be a couple grand a week and probably more.

And of course, with the rebates. . . one can wager more.

It's like some governments have learned the hard way, the more they increase taxes, the less likely the economy is to grow, because there is less money to invest. Have less taxes and more taxable revenue is generated from a growing economy.

Like with the Laffer Curve (which shows the theoretical ideal tax rate), the ideal rebate would be one that allows the losers to churn what used to be the OTB's share of the pool in a greater amount than would be removed from the pools by players who win because of the rebates (and spend the money elsewhere, thus removing it from the pools).

[mikekk]

Just a tip; I tend to bet races fairly early, so I don't run into this as a problem very often.

BUT...if you find that the race you want to bet shows as closed, try clicking open the next race. When it opens, click back to the race you want to bet.
9 times out of 10 this opens the race for me...but I do tend to make my bets at the 5-minute mark.

And, yes, it's always a good idea to have a backup book.

Mikekk

[hurrikane]

Pinnacle is lousy book. If your a serious player you are playing onshore and not offshore.

PA really need to start a weekly award program where we all vote on the stupidest post of the week. We're all pretty thick skinned, we can take it.

I vote this one for last week.


I had an automatic betting software (ATR) that had problems getting bets into pinnacle and kept coming back as race closed. It was the server timing out under load at pinnacle as it turned out.

I think pinnacles site is responding that way if the server times out on your request. I have been able to get the bets in right up to post by reposting the bet. I have no problem with pinnacle at all.

guess I'm not serious.