New player - greatodds.com

Found this web-site from a banner at Sportingweb - www.greatodds.com/

They seem to be the real deal, particularly for sportsbetting fans like myself. They have many markets, a professional web site, far better than anything locally, and are licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, so you can bet in good old ZAR. Daily limits of R3mill for horseracing and R300k for most other sports. Seems almost too good to be true. Anyone have any inside info?

Found a news blurb at www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rugby/Super14/...tOdds_launches_in_SA

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Cape Town - Sports betting is a $600 billion global industry, attracting both avid punters and recreational sports fans alike.

However, until now, South Africans were largely forced to make use of international bookmaking websites, channelling their passion for the game through global online sportsbooks.

This month sees the launch of the country’s largest sports betting website, GreatOdds, finally enabling sports-mad South Africans to make use of a local, world-class sports betting service.

GreatOdds aims to combine the country’s innate passion and fervour for sports with their knowledge of gaming odds and statistics. The site, which is partnered with the world’s largest and most prominent bookmaker, Sportingbet, will also offer the local user a number of unique added features, previously unavailable in the South African marketplace.

Visitors to the site will be able to access live streaming of over 2 500 events throughout the year, and also be offered a number of real-time, in-running bet options allowing them to bet on 'next goal scorer', 'next red card' and other possible wagers – another South African first.

"Sports betting in South Africa is still in its infancy," comments GreatOdds Operations Head, Tyrone Dobbin. "GreatOdds aims to grow and strengthen this burgeoning industry, while allowing SA sports fans the opportunity to enhance their sporting experience and make use of a comprehensive, professional and secure service."

With more than 50 traders working on the trading floor, GreatOdds will provide a plethora of new bets, multiples and bet options. Track the odds as the Chiefs/Pirates game progresses, place a wager on the next game in the Australian Open or pick your winning team for the 2009 Super 14 – South African sports mania now has a home.

For further information or to place your bets, visit www.greatodds.com

Hi Superbet,

I have actually just moved on from Sportingweb as the site is taking on a different direction but I have an account with Great Odds and early experience has been positive. Their range of markets is really impressive.

Cheers

Brent

Great site...........great odds though...not sure about that, cannot compete with Betfair for prices. Am i comparing apples with pears ??

Not really. Betfair is in a league of it's own, I guess, but there are other well documented complexities that come with using Betfair (exchange control etc).

The advantage of greatodds.com i.m.o. is that it is ZAR based, has a lot more markets than any other local sites, and has better odds than anything local. The fact that you have a user-friendly, professional web-site, and live streaming of many events, helps with the overall experience.

Better odds than anything local?
Their % on sport is like an extra zero on a roulette wheel - about 2.5 to 4% worse than the local sites, and when I checked the racing yesterday they had "blower" prises on local racing.

This site make Hollywood's prices look like a bargain - on rugby handicap 9/10 each of two and 14/1 the draw!

Is there an official connection between this bookmaker and WWW.SPORTINGBET.COM ? Their websites seem awefully similar to me.

southpaw Wrote:

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> Is there an official connection between this
> bookmaker and WWW.SPORTINGBET.COM ? Their websites
> seem awefully similar to me.

Yes.See first post. It's the local partner of sportingbet.com.

ah right, missed that, thanks. Presume others will possibly now follow, wouldn't be surprised to see a UK bookmaker like Victor Chandler partner with a local operation.

While at Sportingweb I published an online interview with Victor Chandler - they were set to come in but last i have heard it is on hold.

One thing that is important is that they are more than just a white label of the overseas site. Take Sportsspread for example - unless a S14 game is being shown live in the UK they don't bet in running and this applies to all local sports.

Also trying to bet on a game before say 09h00 our time always fails as there are no traders available to confirm the bet.

I have said it before SA is not a bad place to bet despite no Betfair - our prices are very competitive

Brent, you hinted in last week's email distribution that a new bookmaker was about to start operating. Any updates?