Home Forums Chat with FREAK Talk to Freak what's the scoop???

hey freak, how come all your recent contests have required us as winners to post up cash to receive our prize...this was never the case before, and I think that this is definately going to affect you ability to compete with other sites....I frequent multiple ones, but yours is the first I've seen to require money...

Lokismayhem,<P>Some of the sportsbooks are taking a stance against what they call freeloaders. The result of people playing in contests and not posting up with the sportsbooks has left a sour taste.<P>Personally I have no problem with it, it is their business and they do what they feel fits. Also historically looking at contests, have you noticed 35-50 posts to a contest thread, but those same people rarely post anywhere in the forum. Well the books see that, they see they are putting up money and not getting a return on their investment.<P>My forum, runs contests by top notch books, not 3rd rate sportsbook that are here today gone tomorrow. Look who advertises here, the best sportsbook in the industry bar none. <P>There will be more in the near future. While other forums, list sportsbooks, to list them to look good or busy, or popular, I will not misrepresent that here. Other forums may have numerous contests, but there is an alterior motive behind that.<P>Forums shouldn't be built around contests to lure people to them. They should be built on knowlegde of people such as yourself. Built on handicapping and the love of sports.<P>Contests are a bonus. I haven't participated in a contest that I didn't post up with the sponsor. If I won, it was like a bonus on top of my money. If you really think about it, you deposit they give you the standard bonus, and your prize. So let's say they give you 10%. You have $20 for your $200, which is over 100% incentive. <P>If you are good enough to win a contest, then you can do damage with your money and roll it over 5x adn if you want your deposit back take it and play with the rest.<P>I won a contest 2 years ago, won $1000 via 4 different sportsbooks, I posted up equal to what I won, turned that into 5 figures. I took my money back and then some, and to this day still have winnings in those accounts.<P>Look at it as an investment, not a punishment. The book benefits by having customers and you benefit (hopefully) by making some money.<P>I hope this answers your question, be prepared to see a lot more of this in the future. It is the way the books are going.<P>FREAK<BR><p>[color:"#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial"][Edited 1 time by FREAK on 07-31-2001 at 01:37 AM]</font>

ok you say that it doesn't bother you, but I've noticed a HUGE drop off in # of people participating in your contests... the baseball one running now has like 15, but when I was in your last contest, I think there were over 50...now you have signups for a preseason football contest, and I only see about 8-9 entrants.....maybe its due to the posting up of money...I have yet to see this at other forums similar to this one, and every contest I enter has 60-200 people....explain that????<BR>p.s. I find it highly doubtful that these sports books demand that people put money from here up front.... they are profitting from the ads here anyway...I've personally looked at 6-8 books due to this site alone...bottom line, your forum was more popular before this putting up cash to win(contests are for winning money, not bonuses, which is what this site has become, disappointingly so)... and I enjoyed posting here regularly, but it's a lot easier and more enjoyable to post and play at sites that don't require their winners to put up cash up front...now you say all your books are top notch...but I've seen olympic sponsoring contests at 2 other sites...and olympic has probably the BEST track record as far as books go, and they are NOT asking for money up front from the winners...maybe in your rush to get your clientelle, you sold your customers, us the daily posters, short.....<P>oh, by the way, you said in the 2nd paragraph of your return post that it has to do with lack of posting at your site also... hey, it shouldn't matter how much others post here...as long as you get hits here...you get your endorsement dollars...right??? I'm sorry if I sound irritated, but your blow-me off answer wasn't good enough, and I'm not stupid, I know how you make money off this site...so... try honesty next time, and don't pin it on the books either, cuz the same books that make you post cash here, are doing larger contests on other sites for free!!!!!

Lok,<P>I have never said anyone has to post up front to get in the contests. The rules for the MVP contest came directly from them.<P>That was the stipulation from them. I have no problem with those stipulations if that is what they want to do. They advertise here, and they want to get their moneys worth.<P>I personally look at having contests as a bonus. I know many sports forums that don't run contests of any kind and they do just as well without them. That was my point.<P>As for Olympic they don't advertise here, so I can't speak for what they do elsewhere.<P>I am not sure where you come up with that I have "rushed to get clientelle and sold the forum posters short"<P>I have given away in contests over $25,000. I can't see how that is selling anyone short.<BR>Those same people that participated in those contests are nowhere to be found posting on the forum. I have built this site on handicapping, sports and information. <P>That's what this site is all about. I haven't built it around contests. Some forums choose to do that to get posters. But what good is a forum built around information, if the posters only post in contests???<P>I didn't give you a blow off answer, I gave you a straight forward answer to your post. If it wasn't good enough for you, I am not sure what answer you were looking for. I don't give answers to just give them. I am straight forward and tell it like it is.<P>Not at all contests here are going to require a post up if you win. So don't be discouraged. I have many things in store, I just choose not to hang them all out there at this time.<P>A little moderation does the mind good.<P>Thanks for your queries, and best of luck on the games.<P>FREAK<P><BR>

hi freak<P>i know my posts have been far and few between lately. i was supposed to be in florida right now on vacation, but it got cancelled due to personal/legal problems. i still don't know how much i can posts in the next week or so. <P>i tried getting into the preseason contest, but when i click on it, i am getting a blank screen. what is going on with that? please help me. i want to play, but cannot get in.<P>thanks,<P>mark

Mark,<P>No problems here, everything is fine. You may just need to clear out your cookies, or temp files.<P>If a problem persists let me know....<P>Good to see ya back, e-mail would you.....<P>FREAK