by Buzz Daly
Friday 10th of September 1999
Earlier this summer, when we were at the Gambler's Book Shop stocking up on football pubs, we were a little shocked when we saw the Vegas Insider logo plastered across the cover of Jim Feist's college and pro football annuals.
We rationalized that the popular website was reaching out and adding a new stable of touts, as well as establishing a foothold in the print side of sports betting.
Apparently we were wrong as the four inside pages of promotion for Vegas Insider were as far as the relationship went.
But that doesn't mean Vegas Insider and its parent company, SportsLine, are standing pat.
We have learned that SportsLine is buying all the sports operations of Data Broadcasting Corp., which includes Las Vegas Sports Consultants, Computer Sports World, Sports Signal, Sports Trax and the DBC Sports website.
Officially, neither company has confirmed the sale since it has not been formally consummated.
The transaction, valued at $10 million, is contingent upon approval of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which is considered a formality.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants, founded by Roxy Roxborough, has been the premier oddsmaking company within the U.S. sports betting community for over two decades.
Roxy is no longer the president of LVSC but still keeps a watchful eye as a consultant. A source told Sports Book Scene that the sale was predicated on an attractive offer from SportsLine.
DBC's original plan to synergistically combine its primary sphere of operations, financial markets, with sports information didn't fulfill its promise, the source said.
It is believed by many in the Las Vegas office the sale will be beneficial because SportsLine can offer more in terms of support. Oddsmaker Scott Kaminsky could be the heir apparent to Roxy. Scott's strong experience in setting odds and his cordial relationships with casino operators weigh in his favor, we were advised.
Like so many other industries in the U.S., the number of separate companies in the sports betting world is diminishing as consolidation and acquisitions become the order of the day. The same trend is commonplace among the casinos.
Ideally, the melding of Vegas Insider and DBC Sports will produce a dynamic integrated company that will help this business get a voice. Roxy was a powerful spokesman for legal sports betting. Many mainstream Americans still think the activity is somehow tainted.
Free Picks. It's that time of the year, when everyone is busily searching for locks and slam-dunks. In many cases, that means paying a tout service. If that's your inclination, go for it. But Sports Book Scene prefers other ways to try to stomp our bookies.
We will pass along free football picks throughout the season from some of the nation's top handicappers. These are freebies with no strings attached, given with the intention of putting a crimp in your bookmaker's lifestyle.
Here are the picks from Jimmy Vaccaro, heard on The Winning Line - our live radio show broadcast Thursdays in Las Vegas from 8-9 PM over ESPN Sports Radio 920 AM. It's also rebroadcast on Friday nights from 9-10 PM over WALE 990 AM in Providence, R.I.
Jimmy's picks are made early in the week, before the lines have been hammered. He likes Clemson +6? at home vs. Virginia. The Tigers' pedestrian offense gets a boost with the return of running back Travis Zachary from a one-game suspension. Virginia couldn't do much offensively last week against a weak North Carolina club, and Clemson's D in Death Valley figures to be stiffer.
He also likes Iowa State -4 over Iowa, a team that he feels is very much into a lower talent level than in recent years. The talent disparity between the two state rivals is greater than four points, Jimmy believes.
Other plays include Tulsa +12 at Oklahoma State, and Ohio State -10 at UCLA. Even though he didn't get the optimal number on the Buckeyes, he still likes the play.
Internet Update. For those who have been requesting info on how to access the radio show, we expect to have it on the Internet within two weeks. It will be archived so that the handicapping coverage and interviews from earlier shows may be heard. The only dated material, the picks, is at the end of each show.
Value Players. Bettors who want to make plays of $1 may do so Tuesday through Thursday at The Big Book.
Due to the volume of action the book is limiting bets to a minimum of $20 from midnight Friday to midnight Monday, eastern time. However, by the end of September, The Big Book's Gary Kurtz says its Version 2 System will become effective, and customers will be able to make $1 plays 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Big Book is at www.thebigbook.com.
If you're making these plays, we assume - or hope - that you're taking a shot with parlays. The payoffs online are generally more generous than those offered by local bookies in bars.
Please send questions, comments, etc., to buzzdaly@aol.com.
