Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
Just wondered how many people would be interested in a sort of "free betting" website.... exactly the same as any online sportsbook, but with virtual money and the possibility of monthly prizes/leaderboards etc...
I haven't really gave it much thought as far as the details, but think it could be a decent idea. I know how to build websites, so it's something I could have a go at alone, or could work with fellow mobsters, or maybe even with BRM and have it hosted on this site (with possible mob point betting)...
Like I said, not gave it too much thought yet, and I'm open to all ideas and suggestions (and criticisms), so please... let me have it.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
....I think it would be fun. It would be something to do. And there would be some money making opportunities from it too....
------------ It would be interesting to hear from admin, what obstacles are delaying the betting thing planned on here - and whether me attempting something like this would be treading on their toes, or whether I could help in any way to help it work... help run it etc etc etc........
Joined: Aug '12
Location: Romania
Age: 30 (M)
Posts: 269
Posted by yout85: ....I think it would be fun. It would be something to do. And there would be some money making opportunities from it too....
------------ It would be interesting to hear from admin, what obstacles are delaying the betting thing planned on here - and whether me attempting something like this would be treading on their toes, or whether I could help in any way to help it work... help run it etc etc etc........
Some time ago was a site like this,you can place bets on nearly every game football,baschet,volley etc. and earn prizes,everyday if you go under 1k points in 24 hours you have again 1k. And there was alot of prizes like LCD-s,hats,shirts,consoles,and other things.But from most than an year this site was closed because they can't afford to give prizes anymore.
Joined: Mar '11
Location: Canada
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 1490
Posted by yout85: Just wondered how many people would be interested in a sort of "free betting" website.... exactly the same as any online sportsbook, but with virtual money and the possibility of monthly prizes/leaderboards etc...
I haven't really gave it much thought as far as the details, but think it could be a decent idea. I know how to build websites, so it's something I could have a go at alone, or could work with fellow mobsters, or maybe even with BRM and have it hosted on this site (with possible mob point betting)...
Like I said, not gave it too much thought yet, and I'm open to all ideas and suggestions (and criticisms), so please... let me have it.
Thanks, Yout
I'm currently working on a site of my own (none poker related) http://www.amazinglyamusing.com if you want to check it out. Anyways, if you need hosting and/or might want help developing, I might be interested, if you're using WP as the platform.
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
All great businesses start with an idea, then brainstorming and figuring out the details. Most turn out to be unworkable but some go on to a trial stage and a lot of time, effort and investment later, they are proven not to work, but if no one ever tried then we'd be without all the great inventions of the modern world. If you are taking this seriously and really want to come up with a great money-making scheme I suggest the following considerations
1. Why would people want to bet on sports without the risk or reward? To win theoretical prizes that you may never be able to offer? To offer good prizes that attract users you need financial backing before you find your membership or receive any income, for which you'll need a strong business plan. Maybe some people enjoy betting on sports enough to play a free game although I suspect that a competitive edge and bragging rights might provide more motivation, so linking to social networking is an idea. But I don't know if there are people who brag about their sports knowledge to their friends (personally I wouldn't be interested in this kind of game) and if you thought you had any skill for this why wouldn't you bet real money?
2. How would you create a sports betting platform, where would you get the algorithms to keep the betting options up to date? You want to offer betting on several sports but for that surely you need stats and knowledge on the sports and a way of producing plausible odds. Or maybe you could produce some way for users to bet against each other, offer their own odds or a similar game to mob betting? Games where you pick your fantasy team are very popular right now.
3. How would you monetise your site? The only way I can see to make money is advertising but I don't see how ads can generate enough revenue to offer attractive prizes when the more visitors you get the less chance there is of players winning and so anyone only in it for prizes will get bored. You can't even offer appropriate ads for gambling sites since you'd be sending your users to competitors or alternative ways to bet on sports. I look forward to seeing if anyone can provide any decent solutions.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
Awood... Great post - lots of interesting points, and lots for me to think about.
So... Some early thoughts.
Each day a player logs in, they are credited with a certain amount of in game currency. Members have the option of purchasing extra in game currency with real cash. When reaching certain milestones, points can be redeemed for real cash. Cash may also be awarded to high rankers on a leaderboard.
Odds would be based on other offered odds on other sites... And would have to be monitered and updated frequently.
Some kind of achievement system could be used (like playstation trophies)... So bronze trophies, easy things like "win a football bet" etc through to gold trophies "win a bet with odds of 100-1 or greater" etc etc.. prizes could be awarded for completing all bronzr, all silver, all gold, all football related, all boxing.... And so on. Members would have profiles showing achievements.....
Linked ads could be to sports related games - soccermanager for example - avoiding rival sites.
These are a few of my early thoughts.
Comments, as always, most welcome.
------------ ...also maybe some kind of connection with BRM might be an idea. With the option of buying in game currency with mob points.
------------ Anyone in the know on gambling regulations know if buying currency to bet with would bypass gambling licences etc? .....that's another major issue.
Joined: Sep '12
Location: Romania
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 1052
Wow that will be awesome for all mobsters who want to bet their mobpoints or why not some free money to bet daily all amount on only one match and win daily :d a lot of money
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
hey yout- i like when one makes ideas a reality, so whatever u do, big for that (like nike say: just do it), but i believe there are similar sites, that do offer a free bankroll to bet with & in the end of month if you are in paid places in the leaderboard- u walk away with some cash. some time ago i won 5 pounds , have a look @this site: OLBG
Joined: Mar '09
Location: Greece
Age: 47 (F)
Posts: 14136
I dont think it will worth your time. I have seen a couple of sites like that in the past, but they are gone now. They attract a few people at first which they are losing interest way too fast. A site with good "pro" tips about betting will have more luck on this. If you try it, i hope it wont be like this. gl with it.
Joined: May '12
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 2064
Thanks for all your comments... Mober, I know getting anything like this off the ground is tough, but I think I can make it work.
You have two ways (without sheer luck) of getting sites up and running. 1) Be the only site offering what you do... or 2) Be better than the other sites.
I'm aiming for option 2.
I'm thinking it would be cool to do this as a joint BRM Mobsters effort, with a few guys and girls helping out in different ways. I'm gonna start messing around with a few things - basically trying out ideas that don't require money yet, and see what I can come up with.
Joined: May '12
Location: Belgium
Age: 32 (M)
Posts: 275
The problem is you are not the only one who thinks they can be option 2. Everyone is trying their best when they open a site, other wise they would not have spended time and effort.
I am with Mober on this one. Try to find a unique idea. It can be poker related and sports related and even betting related but figure something new and persuasive. Less competition... GREEIITT SUCCESSS! (Borat)
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
I think it's possible to make a successful website in this area but it really depends on how good you are at website coding. You'll need more than a bit of knowledge to make a site that can track people's bets and calculate points. You also need something fresh and good ideas cos even if you offer a better version customers are unlikely to depart from the popular, tried and tested, stable well-experienced alternative.
I think you can discount any partnership with BRM or relation with mob points since BRM would have to send you the money and what's in it for them? Very little I should think. Although I'm sure members of the forum will be happy to get on board.
I also think you should put the idea of prizes way out of the equation for now. Although prizes will be a good motivation for members, they also require financial investment and in typical cart before the horse fashion you don't have the money-making bit sorted yet. And if you do offer prizes then when your user-base increases you need to offer more/better prizes to keep your original sign-ups interested but when your user base becomes disinterested and starts to decrease you can't lower the prizes since that will escalate the disinterest. In short, prizes alone cannot keep up interest so it is better to find another hook that doesn't involve risk.
I would also reconsider stealing odds from other sites, for one thing it just becomes advertising or a trail run for that site. But also it will be time consuming typing in odds copied from another site along with all the details of the game. And of course it will be delayed as you won't be checking the odds 24-7. But I have been thinking a little about this. If you don't convert points to money then you don't have to worry about accurate odds, the members only compete with each other so the challenge is for them to find the best odds you offer.
So for example, you could simply program the site to use the last five results (W, L or D) plus the current standing in the league to work out a team's price. When you "buy" a team you risk the price of that team and stand to win the price of the team it beats. You (the site admin) don't need to enter odds, you simply enter game results as you get them and the coding does the rest. Of course the odds will not be accurate, they will not consider actual scores or the form of players or match importance but that's the fun of it, looking out for the best deals that you don't get on paid betting sites. From here, you could create a facebook app allowing members to post to their walls "ANDY has just bought LIVERPOOL in PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING on YOUBET.COM" followed by a list of prices for other teams, which draws in new users and introduces the competitive edge. Lots of people play viral apps and even pay for new levels so you could potentially start with football and hockey, and ask people to pay a one off price for access to basketball betting or other sports. Which gives them more options to bet on and earn points quicker, rise up the leaderboard faster.
I think I've done more thinking on this than you have lol
for that (like nike say: just do it), but i believe there are similar sites, that do offer a free bankroll to bet with & in the end of month if you are in paid places in the 
, have a look @this site: OLBG
