Difference Between Agents and Bookies
Many regular bettors have come across the terms PPH sportsbook agents and bookies. Yet, some of them think these terms refer to the same individuals or companies.
Agents link gamblers with sportsbooks, while bookies accept wagers from bettors. Listed below are five major differences between betting agents and bookies.
Making Money
Gambling agents get a commission whenever they bring traffic to sportsbooks. Generally, they don’t offer free services, and they charge bettors a small fee for each service. Some agents charge gamblers for each bet they place, while others have other types of charges.
You will pay for transaction costs while making bank transfers or withdrawals from your agent’s account. But, many sports gamblers believe that agents’ betting services are worth their hard-earned money as they provide many money-making opportunities.
Bookie operators have a cash reserve for settling won bets. They make a profit when the number of bettors who lose bets is more than those who won.
Bookmakers often have a bankroll that depends on the number of regular heavy-stakers they have attracted. Typically, casual players place fewer bets than professional gamblers. So, a bankroll of $5,000 is enough if you have several casual bettors, while you might have to increase it to $10,000 if you are targeting professional players.
A layoff account can increase your chances of making a profit. For instance, you can forget to create a particular regular player’s maximum betting limit, and they end up taking advantage of a Moneyline. This will result in a loss if you don’t use a layoff account.
Accessibility to Foreign Sportsbooks
Some bookies lack licenses to operate in certain countries. So, their bettors cannot access sporting markets from the affected nations. But bookmaking agents can access the betting options of different offshore bookies.
For instance, you can sign up with an agent and access Asian handicaps even if you live on a different continent. Yet, this wouldn’t have been possible if your bookie worked in a particular region alone.
Accounts Limitation
At times, operators limit gamblers’ accounts when they fail to pay debts or often place huge stakes and win regularly. The law allows them to limit a gambling account if they have a valid reason.
You won’t be able to log into your account to wager if the operator limits it. Even so, a bookmaking agent who has partnered with the bookie that limited your account will offer you all of its betting options, hence eliminating the need to appeal to the bookie to reinstate your account.
Betting Tools
Bookies use complex gambling software alone while agents need several tools, including the following:
- Reports: pay per head (PPH), agents offer different reports, including weekly balance reports and players’ reports.
- Gambling Alert Tool: it alerts an agent whenever a bettor wagers, and it helps agents take games off the board if their markets change drastically.
- Line Mover Tool: agents follow various sporting events keenly to notice changes in the market. They use this tool to adjust their lines and avoid incurring losses when other changes change their lines.
Payment Systems
Most bookies accept online payments. Some of them contract experienced financial service providers to manage payments, while agents have sophisticated payment systems that help sportsbooks make fast collections and payouts. They increase bookies’ cash flow, thus preventing them from depleting their cash reserves.
Each gambling investor aims at making a profit. Some entrepreneurs choose to be agents, while others set up bookies.
They offer gamblers different sports betting options to keep them hooked on their sites. Agents sign deals with several bookmakers, thus providing bettors with more gambling markets than bookies.