Where do I place bets?

UPDATE: I'm not terribly pissed about this, because the reduced juice option at 5 Dimes isn't bad, but I just found out you need to rollover your bankroll once (bet the amount you deposited) before you can do an interbook transfer. At the end of the day, it will probably cost me a few units in the first three weeks of the season, but it is still better than paying -110 juice.

Offshore sportsbooks are the best way for gamblers to place bets in this day and age. The U.S. government cracked down in 2006 on some of the offshore books and it has become a little bit more difficult to get posted. But not terribly difficult. I put down over a dime in about an hour this afternoon. First, you need to know which books are good books.

Most sportsbooks are scams. They will not pay winning players, they will not allow winning players to place bets, they will renege on bonuses. These books are the scum of the gambling industry. However, it is really easy to find out if a sportsbook is reputable or not. Just go the Sports Book Review. This is a non-profit site that essentially acts as a policeman on the gambling industry. If a sportsbook does not have an A rating from SBR, frankly you should worry if you will ever see your money again.

There are other options to consider when choosing a book. For example, are you looking for bonuses with small rollovers? Or are you a reduced juice player (you should be)? I am currently posted at two books, they are both rated A books by SBR and have plenty of reduced juice options.

The first is 5 Dimes. This is a standard sports book that offers -105 pricing on games 24 hours before they are scheduled to start. On top of that, if you are going to play obscure sides or futures, this book has decent (though not the best) prices. This will be my first season playing with 5 Dimes, but they come highly recommended from friends that I have that gamble. I've been gambling for a while now, so their layout is straightforward to me. However, if you have questions about, I can answer them quickly.

The second book you should be posted at is Matchbook. This book is absolutely a must have for any serious gambler. You will find your best prices at Matchbook, particularly as a contrarian gambler. This is because Matchbook isn't a real book, but instead a market based gambling option, where you are betting against other real people, rather than against the book. You will be on the less popular side of games, so as money goes down in the hours leading up to kickoff, the price you receive gets better and better. MB makes money by charging a 2% commission on all winning bets. So, when you are doing you calculations, realize that if you place a bet at -103 juice, you are actually paying -105.

The set up at Matchbook is a little confusing. For beginners, you should just click on the spread and juice you want and enter the amount you want to bet. Even this can be confusing. I recommend playing with their interface for a half hour or so before you actually make a bet. As you understand the webpage better, you will be able to make an offer for someone else to take. Again, I will answer questions in the comments for those in need of assistance.

Lastly, getting money into these books is relatively simple. Both 5 Dimes and Matchbook accept moneygram cash transfers (which can be done at any Wal-Mart). This is the easiest way to deposit money in this day and age. Currently, Matchbook's ability to accept moneygrams is down, but 5 Dimes is still working and that's where I deposited today. Then, you can do an interbook transfer to get posted at both books.

Once you go to 5 Dimes, talk to their Live Support. They will give you instructions to whom and to which Eastern European country to send the money. Today, I went to my local Wal-Mart and endured the strange looks of the counter worker when I was explaining that my Bulgarian friend I met in a hostel in France needed money. Whatever. I'm not really concerned if the Customer Service Representative at Wal-Mart is judging me.

One last thing, after your money is deposited into 5 Dimes, make sure you ask the Live Support numerous times to sign you up for the Reduced Juice Option. It's not something they are really excited about advertising, but they will give it to you.

That's it. Make good use of the book's Live Support. They are very helpful and will answer any question you ask. Sometime this week, I'll put together a glossary of gambling terms. Then, next week, we actually get to start talking about games.