Sunday, November 25, 2018

My Eight Favorite Baseball Hitters of All Time

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My Eight Favorite Baseball Hitters of All Time

Being an MLB purist, many different kinds of hitters have piqued my interest through the years. Whether I am watching a current player or researching a player that played before my time, there are always a few that stand out for me.

When compiling my list of my favorite MLB hitters, I felt like it was important to touch on all eras. The game of baseball has changed a lot over time.

In my view, it’s not necessarily about who hit the most home runs or who had the highest average. I have always felt that the greatest teams of all time had a combination of both power hitters and players that hit for average.

Even though the saying is “Chicks dig the long ball,” it is sometimes the guy that works a walk after going down no balls and two strikes that ends up being the difference in the final score.

So, below are my eight favorite baseball hitters from across all eras of the MLB.

I could make a top 100, but to save boring you to death, I have cut it down to who I consider are the players that changed hitting in the MLB during their playing years.

These hitters had to be game-planned for. Many of these players set the pace for coveted MLB hitting records, and some still hold many of the top hitting records today.

Herman “Babe” Ruth

The Great Bambino, the Sultan of Swat, or just plain Babe – whatever you want to call him, he was one of my favorites.

If you are a baseball fan, you have been told a Babe Ruth story. Whether it was when he pointed his bat out to center field to call his shot and then hit a home run or the curse of the Bambino, we have all heard a Babe Ruth story.

The man started out as a pitcher and then went on to only hit 714 home runs and have a career batting average of .342. Just to give you an idea of how dominant a hitter Babe was, he hit 54 home runs in 1920. The amazing part about that is that he single-handedly hit more home runs than every other team in the American League.

Herman “Babe” Ruth
Herman “Babe” Ruth

Think about that for a second. One man hit more home runs in one season than entire teams.

Oh, you thought that’s all. How about how he did it again in 1927 when he hit 60 home runs? Two different seasons, Babe hit more home runs by himself than all other teams with 15 hitters on their rosters.

In the end, Babe Ruth was a winner. He finished his career with seven World Series titles, but his hitting statistics were just as impressive. Some of Babe Ruth’s final numbers were 714 home runs, 2,214 runs batted in, and 2,873 hits.

Ted Williams

You can’t quite have a list of favorite hitters and not include Ted Williams. He is arguably the greatest hitter of all time. He was known to approach hitting as a science. Clearly, he knew what he was doing, finishing with a .344 batting average.

The most famous story of Ted Williams is how he hit .406 during a season. The astonishing part about that historic season was that he entered the last games with an average of .39995.

Boston was scheduled to finish their season with a double-header. Williams could have not played in both games, and his batting average would have been rounded up to .400.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams

Well, that didn’t quite sit well with Teddy, so instead of sitting out, he played both games and went a combined 6 for 8 at the plate, raising his average to .406.

If he was going to be a .400 hitter, he was going to go out there and earn it. That’s something everyone can admire even if you are a diehard New York Yankees fan.

Throw in six batting titles, two Triple Crowns (league leader in home runs, runs batted in, and runs scored in a single season), 19 All Star appearances, and finally two Most Valuable Player awards, it is easy to see why he is one of my favorite hitters of all time.

Hank Aaron

There can’t be any list that involves hitting that doesn’t include Hammerin’ Hank.

Hank Aaron was the model of consistency. To many, he is still considered the home run champ with 755 home runs.

He had eight seasons of 40 or more home runs but never hit more than 47 home runs in a single season. Hank Aaron was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1982, but his trip getting to that point was not easy.

The fact that Hank Aaron was able to consistently hit year in and year out during the time period is a feat in its own.

Hank was chasing one of the most coveted sports records, the home run champ. The problem for Hank was that he was an African American trying to break the record of one of the most admired players in America at the time, Babe Ruth.

Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron

Death threats were a constant for Hank Aaron throughout this time. None of it bothered him, though. He just went about his business and kept hitting his home runs.

When Hank decided to hang up his cleats, the stats he left behind were beyond impressive. He finished with 3,771 hits, 755 home runs, and 2,297 runs batted in.

In a day and age where some of the best baseball hitters today strike out 200 times, one has to admire Hank Aaron’s average strikeouts per season. He averaged 69 strikeouts per season and NEVER struck out more than 100 times in a single season!

If a hitter of this caliber existed today, he would be the biggest Major Leaguer in the world. The number of strikeouts compared to the rest of the league would be such an outlier that he would change the way the game is played today.

Barry Bonds

Even with the PED controversy, Barry Bonds makes the list of my favorite hitters. He was one of the most feared hitters of all time. To give you an idea of how great he was, let’s go over some career stats.

The man not only was one of the best hitters in the game, but he also won eight Gold Gloves throughout his career, proving he was a two-way player. He finished his career with 762 home runs, 2,935 hits, and an astonishing 2,558 walks.

To just touch on how ridiculous this man was treated by pitchers, let’s dive into some of his stats compared to other hitters throughout MLB history.

First, he was walked 2,558 times, which was 368 more walks than the player with the second-most walks in MLB history, Rickey Henderson.

The most astonishing stat, though, is that he was intentionally walked 688 times! That’s 392 more free passes than Albert Pujols, who is second on the list.

Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds

Hell, the man was walked intentionally when the bases were loaded and with two outs! Let me say that again. He was intentionally walked WITH THE BASES LOADED!

That means the opposing team felt it was more beneficial to walk in one run than let Barry have an at bat. If that doesn’t prove the fear pitchers and managers felt when Barry came to the plate, I don’t know what else will.

Not only did Barry Bonds set the records for the most coveted hitting records, but he also finished his career a seven-time MVP, fourteen-time All-Star, and with two batting titles and twelve Silver Slugger awards.

Say what you want about the steroid era, but Barry Bonds was one of the greatest hitters of all time and quite possibly the most feared hitter in MLB history.

Tony Gwynn

Now, when it comes to just pure hitting, this next player might be my favorite. Tony Gwynn was the closest player to a modern-day Ted Williams as it got.

There are levels to hitting. Understanding hitting. Understanding what the pitcher is trying to do and how to counteract that. Tony Gwynn was ahead of everyone in this aspect.

He studied more than any other hitter to play the game. If you watch the game today, players preach about studying film on pitchers and how opponents approach getting them out. With today’s analytics and technology, you can easily see how beneficial it would be to a player.

Tony Gwynn did all this well before the invention of iPads or even the internet as we know it today. He did his studying by popping in VHS tape after VHS tape.

If you can think for a second how long a process like that would take, then you can see how he was always a step ahead of the pitcher when it came to his hitting.

It gets me excited watching a hitter hit the ball where the pitch dictates. Tony Gwynn’s goal at the plate was to take what the pitchers gave him.

If they pitched him outside, he would not do too much and slap that ball to the opposite field for a base hit. If the pitcher threw inside, Tony was ready to turn on it and either hit a home run or a double that hugged the line.

It wasn’t only his approach that makes Tony Gwynn one of my favorite hitters of all time. His stats also proved he was on another level than the rest of the league. So let’s take a look at some of his career stats.

Tony Gwynn ended his career with 3,141 hits, 135 home runs, and a career batting average of .338. In today’s game where a .275 batting average gets you a $200 million contract, it’s amazing what Tony Gwynn was able to accomplish.

Now it’s time to take it to another level with Tony’s hitting.

Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn

In the strike-shortened season of 1994, Tony Gwynn batted .394 for the year. He was batting .423 in the second half of that year, which is absurd. He was the only player since Ted William’s season of batting .406 to come anywhere near the iconic .400 batting average.

Another amazing stat of Gwynn’s was that he only struck out three times in a game ONCE! By comparison, Bryce Harper has had 47 games where he struck out three times.

Tony Gwynn also averaged 21.7 strikeouts per season. There were almost 30 players in 2018 that struck out 150 times or more.

Let’s also throw in there that Tony Gwynn batted .300 in a record 19 straight seasons. The only season that Tony didn’t hit .300 was in his rookie year. Currently, no other player has a streak of three or more. That should show you how great of a hitter Tony Gwynn was.

He is one of my favorites because he approached every at bat with a plan. He knew how the pitcher was going to approach getting him out, but he was already a step ahead.

I want a hitter on my team that is willing to slap an outside pitch to the opposite field to keep the inning going. He wouldn’t go up to any at bat trying to hit a home run like most hitters try to do today, produce an out, and end the inning.

Ichiro Suzuki

Similar to Tony Gwynn, Ichiro Suzuki was born to hit a baseball. He was raised to repeat his swing day in and day out for his entire life. It’s no wonder that he became one of the greatest hitters of all time and one of my favorite hitters.

Ichiro’s career wasn’t like every other MLB player. He didn’t come over to the United States until 2001 after playing nine seasons in the Japan Pacific League. It is safe to say that Ichiro was ready to compete against the best baseball players in the world.

In 2001, not only did Ichiro become the first Japanese position player in Major League Baseball history, but he also leads all of baseball in hits with 242 and stolen bases with 56.

These stats lead him to winning the American League hitting title, the American League Rookie of the Year Award, as well as the American League Most Valuable Player.

Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro remains the only player in Major League Baseball history to win all three awards in their first season. It’s safe to say he started his Major League Baseball career with a bang.

He also holds the top two single-season hit totals with 262 hits in 2004 and 242 hits in 2001, his ROOKIE season! Hitting the 200 hit mark in a season was quite common for Ichiro, though.

Not only did he reach the 200-hit plateau in ten seasons, but he did it in his first ten seasons. He is the only hitter in MLB history to have 200 hits in ten consecutive years.

This type of consistency is what my favorite hitters are usually made of.

Sure, we all go crazy for home runs, but I admire a player that can year in and year out produce at a high level, not just hit 50 home runs one season and then hit 19 home runs the next season.

Derek Jeter

I am all about players that hit for average versus players that are power hitters. To me, players that hit for average have entirely different approaches when at the plate compared to the hitters that are trying to hit a home run.

What I mean by this is that power hitters are constantly looking for one pitch that they can hit a mile. For a player that hits for average, they are never looking for one pitch. They react to the pitch that is coming and hit the ball to the part of the field according to where the placement of the pitch is.

Similar to Tony Gwynn and Ichiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter was a nightmare at the plate.

Derek Jeter’s inside-out swing just drove pitchers crazy. All thought pounding him inside would counteract his inside-out swing, but somehow Derek would not do too much and just slap that inside pitch to the opposite field.

Now let’s get into some stats. Derek Jeter played his entire career under the New York Yankees spotlight, which can break most players. Let’s see how Derek fared.

Throughout his 20-year career, Derek finished with 3,465 hits. No Yankees player has more hits than Jeter. He finished his career with eight 200-hit seasons and 17 consecutive seasons of 150 hits.

The only other player to hit that many consecutive 150-hit seasons is a man already on this list. Hammerin’ Hank Aaron.

Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter

Another amazing hitting statistic for Derek is that he is one of two players to have 3,000 hits, 250 home runs, 300 stolen bases, and 1,200 runs batted in club. The other player in this club is someone you may have heard of: Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

Another hitting club that Derek Jeter is a part of is even more special than the previous one he shared with only Willie Mays. This club only has one member, and that’s Derek Jeter.

No one else has had 11 seasons where their batting average was over .300 and they finished with double-digit home runs and steals. The closest player to almost join this club was Barry Bonds, but he finished with eight seasons.

If those last two hitting stats don’t convince you of Derek Jeter’s hitting greatness, I’m not quite sure I can come up with any other hitting stats that prove this former Yankees great deserves to be on this list.

Mike Trout

Let’s finish off with who many consider to be the best hitter in the game today – Mike Trout.

This two-time Most Valuable Player has already put in another MVP-quality season in 2018 and was one of the three finalists to win again, although Mookie Betts claimed the 2018 award in the end.

Besides the two AL MVP awards, Mike Trout has two All Star Game MVP awards, he has appeared in eight All Star Games, was the Rookie of the Year, and finally has seven Silver Slugger awards.

Mike Trout
Mike Trout

Trout’s current career batting average sits at .307, which in today’s game of not many players hitting above .300 is always impressive. He currently has 240 home runs, 624 runs batted in, and 793 runs scored.

Trout is another player that managers will always have a game plan for. He is the one player that you can’t let beat you, and he still comes up with his game-changing plays.

As long as Trout can continue to stay healthy, he will put up the numbers that rival any of the retired hitters on this list.

Recap

There are all types of hitters that make it to the majors. You have your power hitters and your hitters that hit for average. Then there are players that are on a whole other level.

When putting my list of favorite hitters together, I tried to cover both ends of the spectrum.

If I had to pick one as my favorite, I would tend to lean towards the players that outsmart the pitchers – the type of hitter that hits the ball where the pitch dictates, not some juiced-up meathead trying to hit a grand slam with one guy on base.

Sometimes a walk is as good as a single, or a single is as productive as a double in the gap or as a home run.

Hitting is a mental game between the hitter and the pitcher, and it takes a special kind of player to be able to be a step ahead of their opponents.

However, whichever way you look at it, there are great power hitters and great players that hit for average. Hopefully, after reading my list, you can see that even though “Chicks dig the long ball,” some of the best hitters in the game quickly realize that’s not what it’s all hyped up to be.

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Why Casinos Exclude Certain Slots from Bonuses and How You Can Bypass This Problem

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Why Casinos Exclude Certain Slots from Bonuses and How You Can Bypass This Problem

Online casinos offer bonuses as promotional tools designed to attract more players. They also use bonuses to encourage more play from existing customers.

Online gamblers benefit greatly from these bonuses as well. They pick up additional money while enjoying fun casino games.

Of course, the key thing to understand is that online casino bonuses aren’t technically “free.” You must satisfy terms and conditions in order to earn the bonus funds.

Most players understand this aspect, because casinos can’t just hand out free money without getting something in return. But gamblers become less understanding when their favorite slots are excluded from unlocking bonuses.

Why do internet casinos exclude certain slots from meeting wagering requirements?

I’m going to answer this question while covering the specifics behind game restrictions. I’ll also discuss how to get around game exclusions and maximize the value of online casino bonuses.

What Types of Bonuses Do Casinos Offer?

Internet casinos offer several types of bonuses to new and existing players. These include match deposit bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, freeplay, free spins, and cashback.

A match deposit bonus uses a match percentage of your deposit amount to determine the bonus value. Here’s an example.

An online casino is offering a 100% match bonus You deposit $200 You’re now eligible to earn a $200 bonus

A no-deposit bonus sees you receive a reward just for signing up at an online casino. You might receive a $10 no-deposit bonus, for example, after completing registration.

Freeplay is a bonus that’s given strictly for wagering purposes. While you can’t cash out the actual bonus value, you can withdraw the winnings generated from your bonus.

Free spins allow you to spin the slots reels for free. Online casinos commonly give players anywhere between 10 and 100 free games during promotions.

Cashback sees you receive a percentage of your losses back. For example, an online casino might return 10% of your losses from the previous week.

You can see that these bonuses have obvious differences between each other. But one commonality that they share is the potential for slots restrictions.

For the purposes of this discussion, I’m mainly covering how game restrictions apply to match deposit bonuses. But note that this topic pertains to all of the bonus types in some way or another.

Terms and Conditions on Online Casino Bonuses

All online casino bonuses come with terms and conditions. These stipulations are used to ensure that casinos aren’t simply giving away free money.

Just as players want the chance to earn free funds, casinos also want something out of the deal. These wants include players trying their casino and/or wagering a certain amount.

Terms and conditions vary based on the gaming site. But you’ll find some general terms on most types of bonuses.

Here are some examples.

Wagering requirements (playthrough) — You must bet a certain multiple of the bonus (i.e., 40x) before withdrawing your funds Time limit — You normally have to meet playthrough within a specific time frame, such as 30 days or 90 days Game restrictions — Certain slots and table games may be restricted from meeting wagering requirements Max cashout — Some freeplay bonuses put a cap on the amount of winnings you can withdraw Country restrictions — Most casinos restrict certain countries from playing at the site due to legal reasons

One key term that you want to pay attention to is wagering requirements. Playthrough indicates how much you must wager before bonus funds are actually yours.

Here’s an example.

Wagering requirements are 35x the bonus You deposit $200 under a 150% match bonus deal You’re eligible for a $300 bonus 35 x 300 = $10,500 to unlock the reward

The reason why I highlight wagering requirements is because this also ties into game restrictions. Furthermore, it’s just good to know the playthrough so that you can calculate a bonus deal’s value.

Here’s an example of wagering requirements and how you can use them to figure out bonus value.

You deposit $100 under a 100% match bonus deal This makes you eligible for a $100 bonus Wagering requirements are 40x the bonus 100 x 400 = $4,000 to unlock the reward You play a slot with a 4% house edge 4,000 x 0.04 = $160 in theoretical losses 160 – 100 = $60 loss while meeting playthrough

You obviously want to examine other requirements, such as country restrictions, the time limit, and max winnings (if applicable). But playthrough and game restrictions are the keys to this discussion.

Why Do Certain Online Slots Not Count Towards Bonuses?

I mentioned earlier that casinos use terms and conditions to ensure that they’re not creating a bad deal for themselves. Game restrictions are part of this because sites want to prevent players from relying on the most favorable games to earn a bonus.

Some online casinos exclude their highest-paying slots from meeting playthrough. It’s especially common for NetEnt slots to be excluded from bonuses because some of them offer over 98% payback.

Here’s an example of how high-paying slots can lead to losses for the casino.

You’re playing for a $200 bonus with 35x wagering requirements 35 x 200 = $7,000 to unlock the bonus You use Blood Suckers slot (98% payback; 2% house edge) to meet playthrough 7,000 x 0.02 = $140 in theoretical losses 200 – 140 = $60 profit

You can see the problems a casino would face if every player took advantage of this deal. One thousand players would cause the casino to lose $60,000 (1,000 x 60) under these conditions.

Internet casinos aren’t in the business of losing money to gamblers. Therefore, they restrict any high-paying game that gives players an edge.

Online casinos sometimes allow these high-paying slots. But they’ll reduce the percentage that the games contribute towards wagering requirements.

A game such as Blood Suckers may only contribute 20% towards playthrough, while other slots contribute the full 100%.

Here’s an example to illustrate the difference.

You’re playing for a $100 deposit bonus Wagering requirements are 30x the bonus Betsoft’s Good Girl Bad Girl slot offers 97.8% payback (2.2% house edge) This game only contributes 20% towards playthrough (i.e., wagering requirements are now 150x) 100 bonus x 150x playthrough x 0.022 house edge = $330 in theoretical losses Betsoft’s Alkemor’s Tower features 94.96% payback (5.04% house edge) This slot contributes 100% towards playthrough 100 x 30 x 0.0504 = $151.20 in theoretical losses

You can see that it’s definitely worth playing Alkemor’s Tower over Good Girl Bad Girl in this case. After all, your theoretical losses will be almost $180 less with Alkemor’s Tower.

This example highlights the importance of understanding game restrictions and how they impact your bonus-earning efforts.

Sometimes a high-paying slot seems like the best way to unlock your bonus. But the math can tell an entirely different story.

What You Can Do to Bypass Bonus Game Restrictions

Most bonus deals either exclude the best-paying slots or reduce their playthrough contributions. Therefore, you must find a different route to maximize the value of your deposit bonus.

A great way to do this is by finding other slots with high payback that still contribute 100% towards wagering requirements.

A 98% payback slot may only contribute 20% to playthrough requirements. But a 96% slot contributes the full amount.

Finding a slot with just 2%-3% less payback but a 100% contribution rate can actually give you more bonus value.

Here’s an example.

You’re eligible for a $150 bonus Wagering requirements are 40x You play a slot with 98% payback and 20% contribution (i.e., 200x playthrough) 150 x 200 x 0.02 = $600 in theoretical losses You play a slot with 95% payback and full contribution 150 x 40 x 0.05 = $300 in theoretical losses

Clearly, the 95% payback slot offers the best deal here.

The biggest aspects to watch for include the payout percentage and bonus contribution rate. Any high-paying slot with low contribution usually results in a worse deal when unlocking your bonus.

But there are also times when a high-paying slot is better, namely when the playthrough contribution is still fair.

You can see this in the example below.

You’re playing for a $100 bonus Playthrough is 40x One slot offers 98% payback with 50% contribution (i.e., 80x playthrough) 100 x 80 x 0.02 = $160 in theoretical losses One slot offers 95% payback with full contribution 100 x 40 x 0.05 = $200 in theoretical losses

The 98% payback slot is the top deal here, even with the increased wagering requirements.

How to Find Online Slots Payback to Maximize Your Bonuses

As the examples above illustrate, knowing payout percentages is crucial to determining a good bonus offer. But how do you find online slots payback (a.k.a. return to player or “RTP)?

The simplest way is to look at a game’s help screen and see if the RTP is listed there. Many game developers offer payback somewhere in the help/info section.

Unfortunately, there are still many slots games that don’t list RTP on the help screen. Therefore, you need to run Google searches to find relevant websites.

It helps to know the exact game provider that you’re dealing with when doing so. Websites commonly group slots from an individual provider together when listing payback.

You’ll often find the company behind a slot through the help screen. You can then include their name in a Google search, such as “Rival Gaming slots payback.”

Searching by provider makes it easy for you to quickly look at a large group of games.

Another method involves searching RTP for individual games. You can look up a game’s name followed by “payback or RTP.”

Assume that I’m playing Microgaming’s Great Griffin slot. I can google “Great Griffin slot RTP” and quickly see that it offers 96.5% payback.

It’s not difficult to find RTP for different online slots games. An alternative to Googling is to check our comprehensive selection of slot game reviews. Where the information is available, we include the RTP information in there.

The only problem is when you’re dealing with a provider that doesn’t offer payback details.

One example is Arrow’s Edge, which doesn’t publish details on their payout percentages. You’re left in the dark regarding RTP in these cases.

Even still, you can generally expect these providers to offer competitive payback. Most gaming companies want players to win a reasonable amount of the time so that they don’t become frustrated and quit.

Slots Volatility Also Weighs into Earning Bonuses

Using payback and playthrough contributions gives you a mathematical idea of what you must spend to earn a bonus. But these factors don’t tell the entire story.

Slot machines are among the most volatile casino games, meaning your short-term results will vary greatly from the average payback.

This high volatility can really mess up the math on your theoretical wins and losses.

I may perform careful calculations that’ll show me only losing $50 on the path to a $100 bonus. But slots volatility could see me lose $500 or win $300 by the time I release the bonus.

This unpredictability is part of what makes slot machines so fun in the first place. Otherwise, most people wouldn’t even bother with the bonus if they were guaranteed to lose $100 or more in the process.

You also have to look at the negative side of volatility, namely that you can lose much more than the math shows. This fact is especially true when dealing with jackpot slots.

Big progressive jackpot slots must make up for the huge prize at the top. After all, casinos seed the initial value with a large amount to draw more players.

An example is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah, which is seeded with $1 million. Microgaming needs to earn this amount back at some point, which is why Mega Moolah doesn’t pay as frequently as other games.

If you don’t want to deal with volatile slots when unlocking a bonus, then I suggest avoiding games with huge jackpots. The chances of you losing more money in the short run increase when a big jackpot is involved.

Conclusion

Online casinos don’t offer bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts. Instead, these are tools designed to attract gamblers who’ll hopefully bet real money.

Game restrictions involving slots are designed to help casinos retain their edge — or at least avoid losing long-term money through bonuses. Gaming sites don’t usually allow slots with 98% payback or higher to contribute 100% to playthrough.

You should comb over a casino site’s terms and conditions to spot games that don’t contribute the full amount. In some cases, these slots don’t count towards the bonus at all.

Sometimes you’re better off playing slots that offer less payback but fully count towards the bonus. I recommend that you run the math on bonus deals and different slots to see what offers the most favorable deal.

Of course, many players just like to play their favorite games without worrying about the top deal. And this is fine if the bonus is a distant second to slots enjoyment.

But those who do want to maximize their bonus value should spend time figuring out the best slots for attacking the offer. Using a combination of wagering requirements, payback, and playthrough contribution will help you do this.

The post Why Casinos Exclude Certain Slots from Bonuses and How You Can Bypass This Problem appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Why You Need to Use Multiple Betting Sites for Your Soccer Betting

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Why You Need to Use Multiple Betting Sites for Your Soccer Betting

Most people that bet on soccer have a favorite betting site and stick to it.

This is largely because they find it really comfortable and easy to concentrate all of their action in one place. They don’t have to remember multiple passwords, constantly move their bankroll, or get used to several different betting platforms.

The problem with this approach is that will ultimately cost you money. A lot of money.

Ask any successful soccer bettor out there which site they are using, and they will list AT LEAST two or three different sites.

There are many reasons for that, so I decided to dedicate this post to the reasons why you need to use more than one soccer betting site.

By the time you complete this article, you will understand exactly how much of a difference it makes to your long-term results.

Please note that I’ve based this post on soccer primarily because that’s my favorite sport to bet on. It’s also the world’s most popular sport for betting on. However, most, if not all, of the reasons for using multiple betting sites apply to betting on any sport.

Getting Higher Odds

This is the most obvious example of why you should use more than one soccer betting site.

While the prices at most online bookmakers will be close most of the time, they won’t often be exactly the same. By shopping around, you can make sure you get the best possible price for each and every one of your wagers.

Even getting odds just a fraction higher can be the difference between winning and losing money in the long run.

Getting the best odds is especially important when betting on the most popular soccer leagues and tournaments.

It’s hard to win big betting on competitions such as the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League. Even the most successful bettors rarely have more than a 5% return on investment (ROI) from completions of this caliber, so every extra bit of value really counts.

These bettors would likely break even or even be behind if they used only one soccer betting site and didn’t always take the best prices on the market.

If the expert bettors out there are in such a position, imagine what a difference it makes to the more recreational bettors.

The bottom line is that you really should be using more than one gambling site, and you should be spending a couple minutes checking for the highest price each time you bet. It’s too important (and valuable) to neglect.

Getting More Promotions

The second major benefit of using multiple gambling sites for soccer betting is that you can get a lot of extra value through promotions.

Since soccer is one of the most popular sports out there, most gambling sites are pushing hard to acquire new users and retain them. As a result, you’ll find a lot of special deals on offer from the moment you sign up.

For a start, you’ll almost always be able to boost your bankroll by clearing the first-deposit bonuses and/or using the free bets that are typically given away to new customers.

New customer offers tend to be the most generous promotions, so signing up with multiple sites is an excellent (and relatively easy) way to get some instant extra value.

It’s not only about welcome deals, though. Many online sportsbooks and bookmakers have various promos for existing customers. There are loyalty programs, exclusive offers for big games, and loads of other ways to earn extra cash.

If you have access to a few different sites, you can easily follow what’s on the table and take full advantage of those bonuses. The additional income you can earn will have a great impact on your long-term results.

No Issue with Limits

This one is a bit specific, as it mostly concerns long-term winners and people who bet on minor soccer leagues that are not that popular.

Even if you are not in the second group, you surely want to become part of the first one, so I recommend you consider what I’m about to say.

For various reasons, you may be limited by your bookmaker when it comes to the maximum stakes you can place. You could be a proven winner, which many gambling sites don’t like, or simply work with leagues and markets that a site is reluctant to accept large sums of money for.

The point is, you might struggle to bet as much as you would want to. Obviously, this is a much bigger deal if you are only using one site.

Once you are limited at that site, you can’t really do much. Although there are a few preventative measures you can take, when the limits have been set, you’re pretty much powerless.

You can try speaking to a trader to get your limits increased, but you’ll need to make a very strong case for why that should happen.

A much easier solution is simply to make sure you have accounts at a few different sites. Then, if you do get limited at one site, you’ll still have other options for getting your bets on.

No Dependence on One Company

There are many reasons why you might like a certain betting site one day and get disappointed on the next one.

The management might change, for example, and you may no longer feel quite so comfortable using the site. Or maybe the user interface gets updated to a version that doesn’t fit your needs. Maybe the odds start getting worse, or the promotions become less valuable.

If you are using only one online bookmaker, this means you have to start researching alternative options, open a new account, and go through all the boring procedures related to the pursuit of the right gambling site again.

That can be time-consuming, and there’s always a risk that you might make a mistake and pick an option that’s unreliable or doesn’t fit your needs, especially if you’re in a hurry to join a new site to get a specific wager on.

This is not a big deal if you have a couple of ready options, though. Your betting routine won’t be disrupted, as it won’t depend solely on one website that might close or change overnight. You’ll simply go to the other bookmakers you already use, and then it’s business as usual.

How to Pick Your Soccer Betting Sites

There are tons of online bookmakers out there, and most of them offer soccer.

It can be a bit tricky to find the best options for your needs, but our team of experts has prepared a list of recommended soccer betting sites that are of exceptional quality. Take a closer look at them here.

You will not only find a bunch of reliable bookies but also a detailed explanation of the process used to select them. This includes a step-by-step evaluation of multiple important criteria such as reliability, odds and betting markets, promotions, and many more.

I encourage you to take a look so that you can rest assured that you will be picking from some of the best betting platforms in the industry.

Additional Advice for Managing Multiple Accounts

By this point in, you probably understand why using more than one bookmaker to bet on soccer is pretty much essential. It offers many advantages and is a great way to help maximize the value you get when betting.

I’ve also pointed you in the direction of the best sites you can join, so you are almost ready to start signing up at multiple sites and enhancing your betting experience.

However, there are a couple of tips and tricks that will make your life easier. They will help you manage your accounts efficiently without wasting time and money.

Login Credentials

People have different strategies here, and many actually use the same email, username, and password for each soccer betting site. I wouldn’t recommend doing this. If someone steals your login information, ALL of your accounts will be compromised.

This is why it’s a good idea to use different and secure passwords. If you are like me and can’t remember stuff like that, you could create a password-protected file on your computer. This way, you will only have to remember one password that will give you access to the rest.

Of course, you could use software for password management as well. There are many different options online.

When it comes to the username, there’s no harm in selecting the same one everywhere, and it’s much more convenient that way. The same applies to the email address you use, but I would recommend you create a separate one for your betting needs for a couple of reasons.

First of all, the chance of someone stealing your credentials is much lower.

Second, online betting sites tend to send various promotional emails with details of special offers and bonuses you may be entitled to. Having an email account that is dedicated solely for use at betting sites will make it easier to keep track of these communications and prevent you from missing out on more extra value.

Bankroll

One of the most important things about using multiple sites is related to the way you move your money. You never know which sites will have the best odds for your chosen wagers, which will offer the markets you want to bet on, and which will have the most attractive offers and promotions.

With this in mind, it’s important to be prepared for all eventualities. My advice to you is to have at least some funds at each site. Ideally enough to cover a few bets at your normal stakes, and more at any site that you use frequently.

The rest of your money should be kept aside and ready to deposit wherever you may need it. I would recommend that you pick an e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill, as you can keep the majority of your bankroll there and separate from your day-to-day money.

E-wallets also allow for quick deposits and withdrawals at betting sites, and you can also easily transfer funds to and from your bank account whenever you need to.

Our list of recommended soccer betting sites includes bookmakers that support the leading e-wallets. Please be aware, however, that not all e-wallets are available in all regions. This means you may have to rely on other payment methods.

For this reason, it’s important to check the range of banking options when choosing which gambling sites to join. You should ensure that there’s at least one option that will enable you to make deposits and withdrawals quickly and painlessly.

Betting Routine

Finally, I’ll share my simple but efficient routine. I check the odds on one site first so that I can see the general picture. Once I’m done with my analysis and have found the value in the odds, I move on to the next step.

I already know all the ongoing promotions that are offered on the sites I use, so I instantly have an idea of if I can get some additional value. You probably won’t be in such a position at the start, so make sure to visit the promo page of your bookie and take a quick look to see if a bonus is available.

The last step of my process is to check the prices at every single site. As soon as I know what the odds are and if there are any potential bonuses, free bets, or other deals, I go for the best option.

This is not rocket science, and it works well.

Final Words

If you consider yourself a recreational player and simply want to place a bet every now and then, it’s not the end of the world to stick with a single bookmaker.

However, if you want to have a chance to make some money, you should definitely sign up for at least a couple of reliable soccer betting sites. The benefits are too good to miss.

The post Why You Need to Use Multiple Betting Sites for Your Soccer Betting appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the New Release

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Gwent: The Witcher Card Game – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the New Release

Just a few weeks ago, I’m sure many of you familiar with Gwent were anxiously awaiting the full release of Gwent: The Witcher Card Game out of beta mode.

I know I was, and I even wrote a post about whether the game had the potential to surpass Hearthstone. So, has the full release met expectations?

Many people have gotten the chance to dig their heels into the game by now and really get a good sense of the mechanics, designs, and playthrough of the new full version of the game.

However, if you’re like me, you’re finding the full version of the game leaves something to be desired – especially having been a player on a PS4 console!

A few days ahead of the launch, I had gotten myself cozy for what I thought would be one of the last rounds of the beta version of Gwent I could enjoy, just to get an error message when I tried to sign into the Gwent platform using my PlayStation.

The error message said something along the lines of the beta version of the game being in a temporary maintenance state ahead of the full launch, and I was unable to sign in, view my cards, or anything. No access whatsoever.

It got even more frustrating because I had followed the news of the full release of the game closely and knew there would be no support for non-PC players until at least early December.

At this point, I knew I was going to be out of luck to play Gwent for a few days ahead of the full release, so I sat back, found a book, updated my tablet in hopes that it would be able to support the PC version of Gwent, and waited.

I was already a little annoyed, as very little had been communicated by CD Projekt Red in terms of what would happen regarding the switch. I didn’t know whether my cards I had earned and crafted in beta mode would be ported through.

Nor did I know if the game would go into beta mode on PS4 and other consoles while waiting until December for the console release.

Ultimately, it left me baffled and at the whim of the developer’s mercy while waiting, waiting, and waiting some more for the release and with no other realistic options but to either wait for the PS4 release or go ahead and switch onto the PC platform.

Ahead of the release, I decided that when the updated console version was available, I would switch over to PS4, but in the meantime, I would get a feel for the game on PC.

I ended up none too impressed, as you’ll see from my initial review below.

The Good

Before I dig deeper and spill the beans on what I don’t like about the release, let me list out some of the positives.

Thronebreaker is available and gives some options for expanded gameplay. You have the option to buy introductory card keys at a discount to start building a decent deck.

There are new cards and some new segments of audio included to freshen up gameplay. Korean and a few other languages have been added, so international players can have better options for play.

The new animation sequences and interactive fraction leaders are also interesting but could use some serious refinement.

Let me say this, though. The look and feel of the game has changed considerably, and there ARE some positives. Overall, though, the good is far outweighed by the bad and the downright ugly.

The Bad

It has become IMPOSSIBLE to actually build a quality deck and get enjoyment out of the game without shelling out some serious money.

I prefer to play on PS4, so if I make the investment into the game on PC, I am going to be out of luck if I ever do try to migrate my account back to the PS4/Sony platform.

Not only does this leave me in the lurch in the immediate term until December, but it also makes me question if I’m going to continue with this game.

Honestly, after my immediate impression of the full version, I seriously doubt if I can justify spending over a hundred bucks for what essentially amounts to loot boxes without any guarantee of getting gold, rare, or powerful cards.

The Ugly

Dude. The deck of cards you start with here absolutely stinks, so the chances of you matching up against an opponent and winning to earn new card keys without shelling out cash are abysmal.

Gameplay on the Surface tablet has also been poor.

The initial start screen at the beginning of a match lags horrifically and displays unfinished developer’s strings – how the heck did the developers give the okay to release a game this raw?

Another big issue is that the power and point balance against high-ranking gold cards and average silver or bronze cards here is INSANE.

The handful of bronze cards you have to start with here just doesn’t stand a chance. It doesn’t matter how good your skills are because you will be crushed simply on point/power overkill from virtually any opponent.

I had not played the PC version previously, but I have heard rumors that people who had played the beta version may be able to port their old cards over to the new version and mill them, so there may be some hope for these players yet.

For some players, I am sure the new features have added more value to their experience, but I have not yet played Thronebreaker, as I can’t justify spending the 30 USD on it after my experience playing Homecoming.

Honestly, the entire gameplay leaves me scratching my head, wondering just how the game was released in such a rough state.

I have no problems spending money on a beta version of a game, knowing it is in beta mode, but when a game is presented as being the full version and is still so rough, there’s just no way.

At this point, I’m disappointed enough that I have given up playing Gwent on the PC version entirely for now.

When the PS4 version is released, I’m planning on signing in and seeing if I can potentially port my unopened kegs, scrap, and meteorite powder over – if I can actually get some traction with these, I might start playing again. Might.

With another month of development time for Xbox One and PS4 development, some of the animations and transitions may be smoothed out to give the game a more polished look. But if things are the same then as they are now for PC, I won’t even bother reinvesting time or money into the game.

Unfortunately, it looks like the old Gwent is gone for good, and if you were a player like me, we definitely got left holding the short end of the stick.

Final Thoughts

My recommendation: Red Dead Redemption 2, anyone?

But seriously, if you are really in the mood for another card game, Hearthstone looks to remain as the largest competitor in the esports arena and has support for iPhone or Android users to play from their mobile devices.

At this time, it does not seem as if the developers have mobile play in mind for Gwent, so you’d better get comfy – ‘cause you won’t be moving far away from the TV or PC if you go the Gwent route.

In short, I’m really disappointed since the avenue for expanding Gwent into a major esport would have been there with mobile device support, more polishing, and smoother transitions from public beta to full release for seasoned players.

But as it stands now, your best bet might be to look at other options.

Gwent definitely had the potential to become a popular esport, and maybe it still does.

Even if that never happens, though, I can at least console myself by playing other major esports, watching the big tournaments, and using my favorite esports betting sites to try to make some money.

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Friday, November 23, 2018

Five Up-and-Coming MMA Fighters to Keep an Eye On

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Five Up-and-Coming MMA Fighters to Keep an Eye On

Mixed martial arts is bigger than it’s ever been. Fighters from all types of backgrounds always have one goal in mind: to be one of the best, if not the very greatest, to ever step foot into an octagon.

Not anybody can just step into the cage and call themselves a fighter. It takes mindset, patience, and toughness to survive in this kind of environment.

We’ve seen mega stars like Anderson Silva and Ronda Rousey stand at the top of the mountain with everybody looking up at them. They had that one horrific knockout that sent their careers in a different direction.

In this post, in no particular order, I’m going to give my top five fighters that I believe are destined for stardom. Fight fans are always clamoring for the next big fight, and I will be serving up plenty of dates for upcoming showdowns, as well as breakdowns of these men and women.

Angela Lee

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Lee was destined to be a fighter since she was a child. Her Chinese-Singaporean father and Korean mom had her competing since the age of 6.

Angela “Unstoppable” Lee is one of the hottest young talents in the sport today. At age 22, Lee has already been featured in some heated battles. If you haven’t seen the young lioness in the octagon, I suggest you start looking up her fights in the ONE MMA promotion immediately.

Lee is 12-0 overall, but 9-0 as a pro. In the atomweight division, she’s been wiping everybody out. Each time Lee steps foot into the cage, the outcome only creates a bigger buzz about the 22-year-old. Her most memorable moments have been with Mei Yamaguchi.

In 2016, the older Yamaguchi was hopeful that she’d make easy work of Lee. However, Lee was ready to take the world by surprise.

The atomweight division was put on notice when she defeated Yamaguchi. Lee became the atomweight champion by unanimous decision. In May of this year, Lee went on to meet Yamaguchi once again for the title, and in the end, it was the same result.

Lee stood victorious by unanimous decision. That victory also capped off three successful title defenses.

She comes from an athletic family that loves to compete. Both her parents were fighters, and her dad hasn’t drifted too far away from the action, because he’s Lee’s only coach.

Her younger brother, Christian Lee, is the ONE featherweight champion. In the Asian countries, Angela is already a superstar. She’s flying a bit under the radar in other parts of the world, but it won’t be much longer before she’s an international star.

Lee isn’t the type to stand in front of her opponents and put herself into harm’s way. Although she’s found herself in those situations, that’s not necessarily her go-to game. Lee’s wrestling and takedown ability is what has driven her to be undefeated.

The 22-year-old black belt has no problem wearing down her opponents by taking them to the ground and choking them out. Most notably, her signature arm bar has gotten her compared to Ronda Rousey.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu star, making history will have to wait. On November 9th, Angela Lee was supposed to move up weight classes to the strawweight (125 pounds) division to take on Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE strawweight championship.

Lee was pulled from the card because of a herniated disc. Although she injured her back during training, doctors think it could be a result of the near-death experience that she survived a few months ago when her car flipped over several times on the highway.

To prove how tough she is, she was willing to still step into the octagon to face Jing Nan. But just like any promotion, protecting your athletes and superstars is the number-one priority.

Kenneth Bergh

This 29-year-old tattooed warrior is quickly shaping himself up to be one of the most talked-about fighters. His style and look, for one, is an attention getter. But his actions in the cage speak louder than words.

Bergh is 6-0 as a pro, and the man is a highlight reel to watch. This 6’2” Norwegian fighter has anchors for hands. If it’s not his heavy hands that he’s swinging at his foes, it’s Bergh’s ability to finish them on the ground.

The last time we saw Bergh was in the octagon at Cage Warriors 84. He and Norman Paraisy were throwing bombs for the most part.

From watching this fight, it could’ve gone either way. But Bergh was quick on his toes to get out of any bad situations in the fight. The type of quick thinking that Bergh displayed is what separates great fighters from good fighters.

It was an exciting fight, and people who watched the event proclaimed it as “fight of the night.”

I do worry in situations like this when the fight turns into a slug fest. It’s fun to watch, but at the same time, the momentum can swing into any fighter’s favor.

During Bergh’s performance with Paraisy, we did learn that he has a strong chin. Just about any other man would’ve gone down after some of those blows, but Bergh was able to power through and win the fight.

Another skill that separates Bergh from some of the fighters on people’s watch list is his striking. Bergh isn’t a traditional “points” kind of fighter. Every time he steps into the octagon, he comes in with one goal. That is to shut the lights out on somebody.

Some fighters have learned the hard way that standing up and trading blows might be their best chance at snagging a victory. Most of Bergh’s wins are actually by submission. Bergh has made the guillotine choke hold his signature move.

His ground game will also wear just about anybody out in the lightweight division. I do believe that Bergh will find himself inking a UFC contract in the future, but first, standing in his way is Jorge Gonzalez. These two will co-headline the upcoming Ortiz vs. Liddell three-card on November 24th.

Ben Askren

If you haven’t heard by now, Ben Askren was involved in a huge trade deal with the UFC. Demetrious Johnson was sent to the ONE MMA promotion. In return, ONE sent over welterweight Ben Askren.

The entire welterweight division is in for a ride. Ben is already all over Twitter calling out everybody in the division from Darren Till, Robert Covington, and even the Diaz brothers.

Heck, Askren joined the ESPN crew after UFC 230 and took the trash talking to another level, pleading that somebody step up and fight him in early 2019.

Ben is a former Bellator and ONE champion. Some of his notable opponents were Andrey Koreshkov and Douglas Lima. They’re two of the best fighters in the world, and Askren just ran through them.

His wrestling and takedown ability is on another level. There have been plenty of good wrestlers in the sport, and there always will be. But Askren provides the kind of skills that are truly one of a kind.

No matter how hard opponents attempt to get up from the mat, they always find themselves struggling to fight off a barrage of punches or submission attempts.

Ben’s wrestling skills have come a long way. He’s a four-time NCAA Division I finalist, including two National Championships.

Ben competed in the 2008 Olympic Games. He finished sixth before he carried over his talents into the MMA world.

The hardcore fight followers will know that a guy like Askren should not be on any kind of “up-and-coming” list, but he’s not a mainstream name, either.

Ben’s awareness in the octagon is superior. The move for Ben did come as a surprise for most people. There was a lot of tension between Dana White and Askren in the past, but all of that’s been put aside.

On November 5th, we finally found out Askren’s first opponent in the UFC: Robbie Lawler. Fight fans don’t have to wait much longer, either. This fight is already being inked by both fighters and is aimed for UFC 233 in January.

Stepping into the octagon with a guy like Lawler is no joke, but unfortunately for Lawler, he’s seen better days.

It doesn’t mean that Askren will walk all over him. Lawler will have the first crack at knocking out the “new kid on the block.” But a dominant victory over Lawler will also have Dana White lining up guys for Askren if nobody is willing to answer his challenges.

“Bringing Ben to the UFC was a great deal for me,” Dana said. Give Ben a fight or two to put his name out there, and it won’t be long until we see him headlining Fight Night events and eventually challenging for the welterweight championship.

Tatiana Suarez

When thinking of the well-known female fighters in the UFC, names like Rose Namajunas, Amanda Nunes, and Cris Cyborg immediately come to mind. Tatiana Suarez will soon be added to that list.

Suarez comes from an incredible background and has a fascinating story.

Growing up, Suarez knew that wrestling was what she wanted to do. When Suarez would go with her mom to see her family compete or to watch local fights, it only added fuel to that desire, and soon she began training.

“Girls don’t wrestle,” Suarez said during an interview when asked about her journey to the MMA world. Those were the words her mom would tell her as a child. “She didn’t want me competing in this violent sport.”

It’s a different world now, and Suarez is the ninth-ranked strawweight in the world. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 23 is storming through her division one fight at a time.

Tatiana also had Olympic aspirations, but leading up to the 2012 Olympics, Suarez suffered a horrible neck injury that derailed any hopes of her competing in the Olympics.

That wasn’t the only bad news that Suarez would be given during rehab. An MRI and CAT scan revealed that there was a cancerous growth on her thyroid.

While this was an emotional time for Suarez and her family, just like any true warrior, Suarez went on to beat cancer and rehab her neck. Not much longer after that, Tatiana went on to debut for the Millennial MMA promotion.

After dominating the weight class in Millennial, Tatiana made the jump over to the UFC.

Suarez is in for a big year in 2019. Currently, she’s 7-0 as a pro. She’s always coming up with unique ways to end a fight.

Four of those wins were first-round finishes. Tatiana likely won’t step into the octagon again until around springtime. Her latest victory was at UFC 228 over Carla Esparza.

Whether it’s grappling and wrestling women until they tap or standing toe-to-toe with her opponents and trading shots, Suarez should be on everyone’s watch list.

Tatiana doesn’t take anything for granted, and the way she fights shows it. After what she’s been through, there’s not much that would stop her from making her way as a top five strawweight.

Suarez fights with so much passion and emotion that it will likely be in 2019 that we see her climb up the ranks and possibly find herself in a title shot opportunity.

Tim Barnett

The vegan MMA star still has a ways to go, but he’s trending as one of my top five fighters to keep an eye on going forward into 2019.

Liverpool’s lightweight got off to a hot start in his pro career. 5-0, to be exact. In February 2017, Barnett fought twice in the month and suffered a heartbreaking loss to Rhys McKee (punches).

Hoping for a bounce-back win at Cage Warriors 96, Tim Barnett and Matthew Bonner would go on to have a draw.

Both fighters knew they could’ve easily performed better. From following Tim Barnett on social media and having watched all his fights, I’m rooting for a turnaround.

He’s a likable guy. When you turn on the news or get on Twitter for MMA headlines, you don’t have to worry about seeing that Barnett has gotten into any kind of trouble.

The guy lives a true, clean lifestyle. He takes his training seriously, and just like Nate Diaz and Alex Caceres, his commitment to staying fit and healthy gives him an edge in the ring.

It’s a funny story when you look at the motives that led Barnett into the octagon.

When he first stepped into a gym, his ultimate goal was to get into shape so that he could chase girls. After getting tossed around and smacked around a few times, Barnett started to take the sport more seriously.

“I came home with a lot of bloody noses. I got to where I was coming home crying, I was so upset. But something just kept drawing me back there.”

Once Barnett was able to get his footwork in shape and conditioning down as a boxer, Barnett made the move over to MMA.

Putting his last two performances aside, I believe that Barnett will sit down with his coaches and family and go back to the fighting style that quickly took him to a 5-0 start.

Now at 6-1-1, Barnett has his eyes set on Alex Lohore for a showdown on December eighth. Not only are fans hoping that Barnett can mop up his sloppiness, but fans also want to see a rematch with Matthew Bonner that will give us a winner this time around.

Of course, if Barnett comes into his next fight overlooking Lohore, the rematch may not even happen, and the tune for any turnaround in his MMA career may come to a brief halt.

Summary

This was a tough list to put together. There are tons of men and women fighters that could’ve easily made this list. I broke it down by some of the biggest names that I believe we will be talking about the most in 2019.

It’s not only fighting skills but also the stories and struggles that these men and women went through to get to where they’re at that play a huge factor. Each fighter knows that nothing will be handed to them on the road to becoming a mixed martial arts champion in their respected companies.

What makes this list unique is that some of these fighters have their backs against the wall. It puts pressure on them going into their next fight. That alone makes great entertainment for everybody involved and watching.

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Resorts Casino Unveils New Permanent DraftKings Sportsbook In Atlantic City

Resorts Casino Unveils New Permanent DraftKings Sportsbook In Atlantic City
draftkings sportsbook at resorts

The king of NJ online sports betting, DraftKings Sportsbook, opened up a new permanent retail sportsbook location inside Resorts Casino in Atlantic City.

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Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea Betting Preview – Odds and Pick for 24th November

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Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea Betting Preview – Odds and Pick for 24th November

The season has been interesting for both Tottenham and Chelsea so far. Spurs have started exceptionally well in terms of results in the English Premier League, but they struggle with their new stadium and are far from impressive in the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea has their own problems, as the new manager, Maurizio Sarri, is doing great so far, but there are signs of slowing down. I have a strong feeling that the honeymoon for the Italian will be over very soon, but more on that later.

It’s always exciting when two of the leading teams meet each other, but the match between Spurs and Chelsea could have a much bigger importance than many people suggest.

I will be watching the game for sure, but most importantly, I will be looking to find some good value. For that purpose, I decided to check what the leading EPL betting sites have in mind and share my betting pick and prediction for this match.

Tottenham – Chelsea Betting Odds

Naturally, let’s take a look at the main betting markets first.

Tottenham to Win2.71
Draw3.20
Chelsea to Win2.59
Over 2.75 Goals1.94
Under 2.75 Goals1.87

The bookies see this one as a close game, and I can certainly agree.

Chelsea is probably slightly better, and Spurs don’t have that big of a home advantage, as they play at the Wembley stadium. Their own venue is behind schedule, and even some of the players admit that this is difficult for them.

As a result, the game is at more like a neutral stadium to an extent, which explains why the prices are so close. I must say I certainly agree with the evaluation of the match result market, and I’m not quite sure if there is any value there.

What I find way more interesting is the over/under goals option. I honestly don’t understand the line offered by BetOnline. Both teams rely on a solid defense and had some problems finding the net against solid defensive teams.

I really think that the line should be 2.5 goals, not 2.75, so I have a strong instinct that this is the market that represents a lot of value.

Of course, I prefer to run a deeper analysis of both sides before sharing my final free pick, just in case I missed something.

Tottenham Hotspur

I struggle to understand what exactly is going on with Tottenham. The season so far has been a mixed bag of positives and negatives.

At first glance, this is another excellent year for Mauricio Pochettino, as the team is playing well in the English Premier League.

Spurs have 27 points from 12 games, which is a strong start that would usually indicate that the side has the potential to fight for the title.

If you dig deeper, though, you will see a bunch of problems all over the place.

Pochettino expressed sadness over the performances a couple of times, and he leaves the impression of a man who is somewhat desperate. He is certainly proud of his work so far, he feels appreciated, but he probably knows that he will never win the Champions League or the English Premier League with Spurs.

Since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, the competition is insane, and Spurs simply can’t compete with the resources available to some of the biggest clubs in England and Europe.

On top of that, the team has not been at its best since the start of the season. The lack of a home ground and their struggles in the Champions League are somewhat disguised by their solid number of points in the EPL, but the problems are obvious.

The team lacks freshness, which can be related to the lack of transfers and the deep run of many key players in the summer World Cup. It seems that Spurs are still struggling to recover and hit top form.

They are in a position in which this could be fatal, as the fixture list from this game on is an absolute nightmare. Spurs will have to somehow try and keep winning in the EPL while fighting to survive in the Champions League.

Can a squad that already feels stretched and fatigued cope with that? I’m not exactly sure, and it depends on Pochettino’s decisions in the next month and a half or so. If the manager puts the English Premier League as a top priority in his rotations, Spurs could be in a great position come 2019.

The big question will be if the Argentinian feels like the team can fight on two fronts, despite the fact that qualifying for the UCL knockout stages seems like a mountain to climb right now.

I have a strong feeling that Pochettino will try to put his best team in both competitions, at least initially. Any mistake in the Champions League would force him to quit there and push domestically.

With all that said, I feel that Spurs will be very motivated to start the tough run ahead with a positive result against Chelsea. I expect them to patiently try and control the game without taking too many risks.

The defense could hold if it receives enough support from the middle of the park. A clean sheet would be massive for the team because there are enough players up front that can score at any given moment.

This is why I expect a rather conservative approach from Pochettino. He will be eager for his players to play it safe and hit hard when the opportunity arises.

The problem is that plenty of defensive players are either injured or doubtful for this match. Vertonghen is out, while both Trippier and Sanchez are not yet cleared for the match. Considering the upcoming schedule, Pochettino might be inclined to save them and not risk any complications.

Chelsea

Everyone is full of praise for Maurizio Sarri, as his life as a Chelsea manager is off to a strong start. The man deserves it so far, but I think we are going to see the team struggling in the near future.

There are two major issues I can recognize. The first one is obvious to many punters and experts. Chelsea doesn’t have a reliable striker that can score a bunch of goals.

If you want to fight for the title, you need someone that will find the net 20+ times in the English Premier League.

While both Morata and Giroud are great players, I don’t think either of them is capable of being the consistent goalscorer that Chelsea needs.

The Spaniard might be, as he is running hot lately, but he has been very inconsistent during his career. A recent miss on international duty shows how prone he is to going from world-class to a liability.

The second issue I see is deeper and could potentially ruin Chelsea’s season. I feel that Sarri is not rotating enough, and it is starting to show. There is a group of 7-8 players that starts almost every game, at least in the league.

This results in a rather predictable gameplan, and there are signs that the other EPL clubs are starting to figure it out. Stopping Hazard and blocking the wings works well, as Everton showed in the 0-0 draw before the international break.

Pochettino was certainly watching, and he will use the information from this game to help Spurs limit Chelsea as well.

On top of that, the Blues will struggle at some point physically. Some of the players will become tired, to an extent, so Sarri will have to rotate more. I’m not sure he trusts his squad enough, though.

Prediction and Betting Picks

I still think that the under 2.75 goals seems like the best option. Both teams will be reluctant to go for it from the first minute, and both will try to negate the opponent.

The biggest problem is that Spurs have some issue with injuries, but Pochettino will try to make up for that with more protection from the midfield.

Unless an early goal changes the gameplan of both managers, I feel we could easily see a very close game with few chances.

I don’t think there will be more than two goals, so the price of 1.87 for under 2.75 covers that and adds a bit of protection if the teams find the net three times.

PICKUnder 2.75 Goals1.87
Final Words

I can easily see a tough tactical battle here that probably won’t be too thrilling for the neutral fans of the EPL.

Do you agree with my assessment, or do you think that we might see a back-and-forth game with a lot of goals?

Feel free to share your opinion in the comments section below.

Good luck!

The post Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea Betting Preview – Odds and Pick for 24th November appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Early Betting Preview of the 2019 Oscars – Best Picture Contenders and Odds

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Early Betting Preview of the 2019 Oscars – Best Picture Contenders and Odds

I remember last year when early Oscars odds came out for Best Picture, and everyone was clamoring over Dunkirk. I saw Christopher Nolan’s war epic, and it was every bit as authentic and raw as you could have hoped or feared.

It just wasn’t the best movie going into the 2018 Oscars.

I don’t think the Academy got it right regardless (The Shape of Water won), but the point for bettors is to consider that the process between early odds being released and the actual winners being announced can be a rather fluid one.

Early signs for the 2019 Oscars point to A Star Is Born being the favorite.

My first inclination is to deny a film powered by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, but hey, I’ve been wrong before, and it’s surprisingly a fantastic story.

But should it be the top movie at such a prestigious film event?

I mean, this is the mother of all movie awards – an eternal landing place for legendary films like Spotlight, 12 Years a Slave, Argo, Slumdog Millionaire, A Beautiful Mind, and so many more.

Should it also include A Star Is Born? Vegas suggests it might.

Odds Disclaimer Box 1
2019 Oscars Odds for Best Picture

It’s only November, and things can change, but right now, the top entertainment betting sites – specifically SportsBetting.ag – seem to favor A Star Is Born.

For what it’s worth, this movie was superbly acted by Cooper and Gaga, so much so that you pretty much can’t recognize them if you dissect the characters they’re portraying.

Awesome acting aside, bettors need to wonder if this film can go the distance. Here’s how A Star Is Born stacks up with the other major Best Picture threats per SportsBetting.ag.

A Star Is Born+125
Roma+550
Black Panther+750
Green Book+800
First Man+1000
If Beale Street Could Talk+1200
BlacKkKlansman+1400
The Favourite+1800
Vice+1800
Widows+2500
The Rider+3300

There are admittedly some movies not included here that should be, but like past years, it’s possible the list and 2019 Oscars odds are both updated in the coming months.

Fans and bettors do have some time to prepare, after all, as the 2019 Oscars won’t actually see the red carpet rolled out until February 24th.

Still, if you can decisively work through the clutter, find some attractive odds, and nail the winning bet right now, why wouldn’t you?

A Star Is Born leads the way as the tentative favorite, but I like three movies in this group as potential upsets.

Green Book (+800)

Anytime you can get former Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and Lord of the Rings legend Viggo Mortensen in a movie, you have a chance at something special.

Combining these two powerful forces in an unlikely tale of banter and friendship just might deliver a home run in the feels department.

The acting makes this a winner, but Green Book also delivers a heartwarming story – one that happens to be mostly true.

It’s rare that movies can display the raw reality of racial prejudices and humanity at its finest, all in one onslaught of free-flowing cinema.

Green Book captures the culture of the early 1960s without sacrificing its core story involving two incredibly different personalities that couldn’t be more perfect together.

Is it enough to win an Oscar? The odds say no, but the heart says maybe.

First Man (+1000)

Ryan Gosling is known for his layered takes. Do yourself a favor and watch Drive, Half Nelson, Blade Runner 2049, and La La Land in succession, and you’ll find out in a hurry what he’s capable of.

Some felt he was biting off a bit more than he could chew in hotshot director Damien Chazelle’s First Man, but he finds a way to accurately capture Neil Armstrong’s heroism in a story that most of us shockingly know very little about.

Man’s first journey to the moon is laid out pretty simply for us all to see, but First Man peels the onion to allow us to discover so much more than a man just taking that “first step.”

Gosling and Chazelle have been recognized for their elite work in the very recent past, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be again.

If First Man doesn’t take Best Picture, it’s arguable Gosling at least deserves the Best Actor nod. However, the Academy loves these biopics when they’re done right, and Chazelle makes sure that’s the case.

BlacKkKlansman (+1400)

I’m all for a love story involving music and human relationships. A bonding journey between men of different races and a trip to the moon certainly tug at the heartstrings, too.

But a story about an African-American infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan with the help of a witty surrogate (Adam Driver) just might take the cake.

The power of this (gulp) true story makes for a riveting watch, while it is also barrier-breaking thanks to an African-American detective unearthing a nasty reality in the 1970s.

Is it the best movie of the year? It’s at least debatable. But the subject matter, performances, and delivery all wrap up into one gem of a film. At +1400, this is possibly the greatest Oscars value play of them all.

Which Movie Will Win Best Picture?

Like most years, there are plenty of viable options worth betting on.

While it might be a tad early in the process to bite down hard on any one pick, one thing is for sure: you’re going to want to watch more of these movies.

I didn’t even touch on the ground-breaking Black Panther, Christian Bale’s incredible transformation in Vice, or a sleeper not even listed – Beautiful Boy.

As things stand, I tend to agree with the Vegas pricing here that A Star Is Born is the leader.

Lady Gaga gives a pretty revealing and authentic performance, Bradley Cooper channels his inner Jeff Bridges, and this is one of those remakes that – dare I say it – just might be better than the originals that preceded it.

A Star Is Born is the safe play, but if you want value and upside, consider wagering on the three films I pointed out. Of that trio, I’m not sure any offer a better combination of betting value, acting, storytelling, direction, and hype than First Man.

At a cool +1000 price, I’m game for aiming high before we even get to the month of December. Just keep in mind that as we approach more award shows (see: Golden Globes in January), the picture may start to clear up for a lot of the Oscar nominations.

For now, I’m digging First Man’s price tag.

PICKFirst Man+1000

The post Early Betting Preview of the 2019 Oscars – Best Picture Contenders and Odds appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

College Football Picks for Week 13 – Rivalry Week Betting Tips

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College Football Picks for Week 13 – Rivalry Week Betting Tips

A Thanksgiving meal followed by Rivalry Week in college football – what else could I ask for this weekend?

The festivities actually get underway today with a pair of cross-state rivals going to battle, and then it gets even better tomorrow.

Friday’s slate has several noteworthy matchups like Washington vs. Washington State and Oklahoma vs. West Virginia, but Saturday is when we’ll start seeing the rest of the chips fall where they may.

There are so many games taking place across the country this Saturday that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. The good news for you is that I’ve already dissected a whole bunch of them.

Allow me to get you going with a solid foundation.

I scoured the prices at the more reputable college football betting sites and found four games that I kept coming back to.

Take a look.

Marshall Thundering Herd at Florida International Golden Panthers

I’ll start by telling you that ESPN’s matchup predictor pegged Florida International to win this game 52.3% of the time. I’ll follow by telling you that this game will be played at FIU Stadium in Miami, Florida, and it kicks off at noon local time.

So, are you starting to get curious as to why Marshall is favored by a field goal?

The Thundering Herd is at 7-3 on the year and has won four of their last five contests. They actually have a game scheduled against Virginia Tech on December 1st, so they have plenty of football left during the calendar year.

I could tell you about QB Isaiah Green and how he had a career day last week against the Roadrunners of UTSA, but I doubt any of you honestly care about that.

But here’s something I almost guarantee will pique your interest if you are a serious bettor.

While Marshall has gone a “ho-hum” 4-6 against the spread (ATS) this season in college football, the Golden Panthers have torched the bookies so far and are 8-2 ATS!

Once again, here is Vegas disrespecting Florida International and making them a 3-point underdog when this game should be a “pick’em” at the very least!

I think FIU should be a 2 to 2.5-point favorite here, but I don’t get paid to set the lines. I just try to attack them when I think there are discrepancies.

Florida Int’l is coming off back-to-back road wins, and now they get to sleep in their own beds with a chance to clinch a spot in the Conference USA title game against UAB. Marshall has been eliminated and therefore may not be as amped up for this battle.

If you want another piece of data to help sort this out, know that last year when these two teams met, FIU won by 11. The year before, the Golden Panthers won by 17.

I think Florida International is the better team, they have more to play for, and they are at home.

And they are getting 3 points?

Sign me up pronto!

PICKFlorida International (+3)-104
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at USC Trojans

Here we go. It’s time to fade that recency bias!

Notre Dame blew out Syracuse at Yankee Stadium and is now one win away from stamping their ticket to the College Football Playoff.

The Trojans, who have been disappointing all season long, lost to a Bruins team that was 2-8 on the year and one of the laughing stocks in all of the west coast.

The natural reaction would be to assume that Notre Dame blows USC out of the water on Saturday evening, but I’m sensing a different outcome.

I think this game will be closely contested and be a lot tougher than the confident fans in South Bend are anticipating.

I get that the Fighting Irish don’t have an upcoming conference championship to worry about, so this is it for them.

Win, and they’re in.

Expecting Brian Kelly’s squad to come out anything less than gangbusters would be silly, so I am not questioning their desire to perform well in this matchup.

But let’s also look at what’s on the line for Clay Helton and his bunch.

For starters, Helton’s job security could be riding on what happens at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this Saturday.

I know that Southern Cal has extended him through 2023, but I also know that the athletic department and board of trustees didn’t expect to see their school at 5-6 and completely out of the PAC-12 South race.

USC last won against the putrid Oregon State Beavers on November 3rd, and before that, they hadn’t won since a victory at Colorado on October 13th.

Clearly, going 4-5 during PAC-12 play isn’t what they had in mind. Considering the money and efforts being poured into this program, it’s actually borderline unacceptable.

But conference play is behind them, and they have one more chance to secure bowl eligibility.

Can they get it done? Or will they get out-classed by the far superior team?

Or will it be something in between?

Notre Dame is the clear-cut better football squad, so Irish fans don’t have to worry about me calling for the major upset here.

But there should be enough reasons and good vibes brewing in the USC locker room for the Trojans to at least play this game somewhat close.

USC’s last three losses have come by a total of 11 points, and they should have enough firepower on offense to reach pay dirt a few times.

Based on all the turmoil (wildfire, shooting) that has gone on in southern California over the past few weeks, I think the crowd will be able to give the USC players and coaches the boost they need.

And you better shop your line here, or else you’re leaving way too much equity on the table.

While staples like SportsBetting.ag and Bovada.lv are making you lay -110 on USC at +11 and +11.5 respectively, check out what I found over at MyBookie.ag.

USC is lurking at +12, and the juice is reduced to -105!

That’s called value, baby!

PICKUSC (+12)-105
Illinois Fighting Illini at Northwestern Wildcats

Just 155 miles separate the two Illinois schools, but they happen to be sitting at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the Big Ten standings.

At 7-1 during conference play, the Wildcats are poised to play in a bowl game, and they have a chance to elevate their stock with a big win on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Illini are down at the bottom of the Big Ten West, sitting at 2-6 and a 4-7 record overall. What makes this even worse is that just last Saturday, Illinois suffered their worst loss in program history, and it happened on their home field.

That means that head coach Lovie Smith’s group is no longer in the running for a bowl game, which makes me question their motivation level heading into this contest.

I’m thinking that Illinois doesn’t have a whole lot to play for, while Northwestern will be eagerly trying to impress the voters and move up the food chain.

Northwestern went on the road and beat the same Iowa Hawkeyes team that just demolished the Fighting Illini by 63 points.

Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson hasn’t been great in 2018, but a struggling secondary on the other side is going to help out a lot. Plus the Wildcats are playing this game a mile away from their campus at Ryan Field in front of a packed house of dedicated fans.

The spread is sitting at 17 just about everywhere I looked, but I’m sensing that Northwestern pulls away rather quickly and runs away from the Fighting Illini bigtime.

Given that there’s so much more on the line for the Wildcats, I think they’ll maintain a sufficient lead and win this one quite convincingly.

PICKNorthwestern (-17)-110
BYU Cougars at Utah Utes

Talk about a game with storylines heading in. Where would you like me to start?

First and foremost, this is the 99th edition of the Holy War game between a pair of universities in the state of Utah who aren’t too fond of one another.

The game will be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, so expect a sea of red to be swarming in the stands. Utah has won this rivalry game in each of the past seven seasons, but all but one of those contests were decided by 7 points or less.

Already bowl eligible, the Cougars are trying to cement a winning record and end the Utes’ recent domination in the Holy War series.

Since losing in a dogfight at Boise State on November 3rd, Brigham Young has won two games in a row and has a freshman running back who scored four touchdowns last time out.

As for the Utes, they are in a great spot.

Not only are they bowl eligible, but they are also on their way to the PAC-12 Championship game next Friday to face the winner of the Washington-Washington State game. If they win that game, they’ll be on their way to the Rose Bowl for the first time ever.

Many may wonder if Kyle Whittingham is going to be resting players this Saturday considering the November 23rd date that is looming in Santa Clara, and rightfully so.

The Utah head coach has proclaimed that that won’t be the case, but only time will tell.

In a rivalry game like this with so much raw emotion flying around, it’s easy to get lost in the hoopla and forget to focus on the vital statistics and pieces of information that can help you lean toward one side or the other.

Well, try this data out for size.

Utah is 1-4 ATS during its last five home games against teams with a winning record on the road. Well, the Cougars are currently 3-2 as a visitor.

The last nine times that BYU has been a road underdog of 10.5 or more points, they have gone 7-2 ATS. And in the last five games that the Cougars have played against teams with winning home records on the road, they are 4-1 ATS.

Throw in the fact that it tends to go down to the wire when Utah and BYU clash. And don’t forget that Utah has an even bigger game forthcoming in less than one week’s time.

Too much here for me to not want to take the Cougars and the points.

PICKBYU (+12)-110
Enjoy Rivalry Week!

I hope you enjoy your Turkey Day, and I hope this blog helps you get excited for Saturday.

This weekend, I’m looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothing other than watching football, so you know I’ll have some wagers riding on the outcomes.

With so many intriguing games to choose from, you can go in a lot of different directions.

My goal was to simply tell you which routes I’ll be taking!

The post College Football Picks for Week 13 – Rivalry Week Betting Tips appeared first on GamblingSites.com.

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