Pinnacle Sports Review

This review is from: www.sportsbookreview.com

SBR Rating:	Sportsbook Review Overall Rating: A+ Financial Rating: A+ | Customer Service: B+ | Software Rating: A+ | Bonus Rating: B-
Comments:	Pinnacle Sportsbook operates on the lowest bookmaking margins in the business, which means the best possible pricing for bettors. Those that understand how important the smallest edge is to successful sports investing understand that they cannot afford to pass on Pinnacle. The sportsbook has become somewhat of a high-volume, high-value sports betting warehouse. When Pinnacle Sports, located in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, came online in 1998, most bookmakers were battling for business using bonuses as their main weapon. Pinnacle’s quick-moving low juice lines educated players on the value of line shopping; and it wasn’t long before Pinnacle began taking business from the competition. The growing customer base allowed Pinnacle more flexibility to safely book reduced juice at, what eventually became, the industry’s highest wagering limits. Pinnacle’s no-nonsense approach to bookmaking more closely resembled a stock trading website than the traditional online sportsbook. Pinnacle allowed the highest concentration of sharp players to shape its line, which in turn shaped the rest of the sports betting market. Today it is impossible to find an online bookmaker or a Las Vegas sportsbook that doesn’t pay attention to Pinnacle’s numbers. Pinnacle’s lines were so sharp that they became the first online sportsbook to move odds by pennies (odds changes equating to a fraction of what it would take to move the spread a half point). Pinnacle was able to reduce its margin even further on NFL spreads, cutting the cost from -105 to -104 style pricing. Pinnacle’s website and betting screens are as sophisticated as its bookmaking style. Many books use the ASI software platform; however Pinnacle’s is almost unrecognizable due to in-house enhancements. Modifications include a proprietary spread drop down option that allows bettors to buy and sell points, and an account history option that is unmatched by the best online banking websites. Pinnacle took sports betting 101 a step further by offering dynamic lines, which lets players watch the odds move live with color changes without the need to refresh the browser.  Customer service is handled almost exclusively by email, allowing Pinnacle to keep their operating costs low. The company’s efficiency means some players can go years without ever having to contact client support. On the rare occasion there is a book error or player dispute, the customer is addressed promptly and courteously. Overall, Pinnacle is a great book for the moderate to larger size internet bettor looking for the best betting odds for both American and European sports.
SBR on-site inspection?	Yes - 12/2002, 7/2003, 10/2003, 2/2004, 4/2004, 6/2004, 10/2004, 12/2005, 11/2006, 3/2007, 4/2008, 10/2010, 3/2011   Country Restrictions: U.S. residents not accepted (as of 1/11/2007) Hours of Operation: Customer service & wagering staff on duty 24 hours, 7 days, 365 days per year. Online wagering 24/7/365 Management: Director: Charles Bowman, GM: Samuel Bollia, Customer Service Manager: Bridgette, Head Lines Man: Henry Smith Reload Bonus: None Special Promotions: 5% rebate on all Win, Place and Show wagers, 7% rebate on exotic wagers. - 5% only on exotics at Saratoga, Belmont or Aqueduct - No rebates on match-up bets, fixed odds bets or propositions bets - Win, Place & Show bets that pay $2.10 for $2 or $2.20 for $2 do not qualify for rebates Reduced pricing on all major sports 8-cent pricing (-104 style) for NFL sides and MLB money lines Loyalty Program: None Most common Complaint: Lack of customer support by phone Customer Service: Although SBR rates Pinnacle average due to a lack of phone support, they are easily the most efficient and well run. They are so efficient that there are rarely customer service issues and when there are, they are incredibly effective and very fast responding through email. Live Chat: No Languages: English, Spanish, Norwegian, Italian, German, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese Simplified and Traditional, Finnish, Hebrew, Swedish, Thai