While the New York Yankees are on top of the American League East division now and in line for the pennant, it may not be long before they fall behind again. Too many times this season the Yankees have swapped positions with the Boston Red Sox at the top, and the reason is simple. While the pinstripes boast a ton of talent, they do not have the depth to perform on a consistent enough basis to lock up the division, so just when they begin to pull away, you can bet that their fishing line will hit a snag.

Heading into the MLB betting week the Yankees have won five straight, and are beginning to build a little separation at the top. They had no trouble at home against the Toronto Blue Jays, and have carried that momentum into their series with the Baltimore Orioles, two teams that they absolutely have to beat. However, a nine-game road trip is right around the corner and while the Seattle Mariners and Blue Jays are part of that long trip, it does open with a Los Angeles Angels team that is battling to remain in contention. There are a ton of reasons to bank on the Yankees making the postseason, and possibly even locking up an AL pennant. But beware of the team’s inconsistent play, because New York could be due for a couple of sports betting surprises when they leave home later in the week.

Following a 4-1 loss to open their three-game MLB betting series against the Washington Nationals, the Arizona Diamondbacks were quickly approaching the low point of their season if not already there. Losers of six in a row, the Diamondbacks were barely hanging on to the top spot in the National League West, with a one-game lead over the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants. If not for so many injuries to their NL West-rivals the Giants may have already passed them for first place, but as it stands Arizona is still in the driver seat. That will be a key as the Diamondbacks look to turn things around in a major way over the next 10 days, as they enter one of the most crucial parts of their schedule.

Following the remainder of their series against Washington, the Diamondbacks will return home for consecutive series’ against two of the worst teams in their division. Arizona will host the struggling San Diego Padres for three-straight before taking on the Colorado Rockies, which will be their final tune up before heading to the Bay Area to take on the Giants in a series that could determine first place in the NL West. Things may have not gone well for Arizona over the past seven days, but look for them to turn things around and solidify their position at the top of the NL West over the next 10 sports betting days.

PayPerHead.com, an online sportsbook service provider for local agents, today unveiled a new campaign featuring Vince Curatola, Johnny Sack of The Sopranos fame.

The campaign leads with Vince asking “Five bucks per head, that’s what I wanna pay…” and the website, featuring video and voice overs by Vince, walks you through the product, the process and the competition.

“Five bucks a head is really an industry first given our level of service,” a spokesman from PayPerHead.com explained. “And we very carefully and in great detail delineate on the website exactly what you get and at what price level at PayPerHead versus the other serious players, such as ABC Per Head.”

You get a great deal of sports betting services, including not only the traditional online sportsbook but an optional casino, live poker, in game live betting, mobile betting, tools for managing players and their funds, layoff and scalp accounts, even a “sharp check.” “We have the sharpest lines out there and one of the most experienced stages anywhere offshore,” the spokesman said, “so if we start seeing sharp action from one of your players, we can give you a heads up. What you want to do with him is up to you.”

The choice of Vince Curatola was an interesting one. “We always liked Vince’s character on The Sopranos, as John “Johnny Sack” Sacramoni,” the PayPerHead spokesman said. “He had a certain style, classy, but not over the top; there’s a calmness and authority about him that we really admire.  He brings that serious business demeanor to PayPerHead.com, the first sportsbook-service to EVER feature any kind of celebrity in its marketing.”

With post-up books like BetUS, Sportsbook.com and SportsInteraction stopping taking US players, Bodog and others struggling with “Ecom” processing problems, the street scene is heating up and players are posting daily in forums looking for a “local out.” Most players want the huge selection of markets, including live in-game betting, and the convenience of anytime betting online or via a mobile device, but more and more, we hear players say “they want to bet online but want to settle in cash on Monday.”

Many in the industry think this is the future of online sports betting – and it very well could be. And with firms like PayPerHead.com investing in marketing in an unprecedented way (celebs, who’d have thunk it?!) and in product (they also offer live poker, casino and in-game betting), expect to see this sector grow significantly this season.

For more information, see PayPerHead.com.