JoeFerguson Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I read this thread the other day and became inspired. I have never really been a gambler, but there are so many threads on this board talking about betting on games, it's really sparked my curiosity. I really would like to know if any of you actually have a net gain in winnings over the course of a month/year/gambling period. Is it true that you never hear about the big losses, only about the big wins? I'm tempted to become a professional sports gambler, but I don't want to end up like this guy I know who was embezzling money from a Youth Basketball League to support his habit. He eventually was caught and his life was ruined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Becoming a professional gambler is, without a doubt, the dumbest thing you can do. They live day-by-day, and like anything else, when it's good it's good, but when it's bad, it's !@#$king miserable. I've been gambling for as long as I can remember because it's recreation for me, not a source of income. I set a certain amount aside for gambling, and when it's gone, it's gone and I never go chasing my losses. Plus, once I became a father, the idea of betting big numbers became immediately moronic, so these days I'll take a game or two each Sunday, put no more than $50 on it, and in the end, I'm giving up the vig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I have gambled a lot over my life, won decently, lost decently, came back to even, now am up a bit. For me, it was never anything more than beer money (except in college, it was for tuition). If I lose, I have no money to go out. Big deal. To do it professionally, pretty bad. I knew a guy once, lose over 100k to a Wall Street bookie (its a significant sum, but this guy had guys into him for over 1 mil). Ended up doing some things he really regretted to get back to even. I'd advise against it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Ended up doing some things he really regretted to get back to even. Worse than Robert Downey Jr. in "Less Than Zero" ?? It would be hard to imagine a more stressful and less rewarding career than being a professional gambler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinandjokin Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I bet only football, pro and college, and have been doing so for about 7 or 8 years. Like others in the thread mentioned, it is strictly recreational, and I really do enjoy it. I play the spread and also over/unders. A typical weekend, I'll bet three or four NCAA games on Saturday, and two or three NFL games on Sunday, and usually the Monday nighter. I typically roll $50 on the okay games, $100 and the feel-good games, and occasionally more (up to maybe $200-250) on a 'lock.' When you win, you win what you bet. When you lose, you lose what you bet plus 10% (the vig.) The most I've won in a football season is ~$3500, and the most I've lost is ~$2000. I'm probably down for my career. I like betting football because it's a limited season, and teams only play once a week. I have friends who are in deep and once you start getting sucked into hoops, it's dangerous. Between NBA and NCAA, there are 10 games on everyday. DANGER! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 The casinos in Indiana have pulled something like seven billion dollars from the IN-OH-KY area since they started up 10 or so years ago. There was an article in the local paper a number of months ago - one of the casinos saying that their place experiences the "80/20" rule...80% of their business comes from 20% of the customers. Local losers. I call it "negative tourism" - money that could be spent on local goods and services, flying away. They publish their monthly takes. This February, one of them made 30 million. This area isn't exactly a tourist mecca - least of all in February In today's "Weekend" insert in the Cincy Enquirer, there is a special "offer" from the Grand Victoria casino located in Rising Sun, IN.: "Grand Victoria is offering a 50% refund to rated slot players. To qualify, you must be a new Players Advantage member or one who hasn't played at Grand Vic since June 30th. Now through 12/30/06 we'll give you 50% of your rated slot loss in a future mailer based on your first return gaming day of play. $40 minimum loss required. Maximum total refund is $1,000.". I don't know what "rated" means, but this ad looks to me to be analagous to a fisherman re-setting the hook... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 I read this thread the other day and became inspired. I have never really been a gambler, but there are so many threads on this board talking about betting on games, it's really sparked my curiosity. I really would like to know if any of you actually have a net gain in winnings over the course of a month/year/gambling period. Is it true that you never hear about the big losses, only about the big wins? I'm tempted to become a professional sports gambler, but I don't want to end up like this guy I know who was embezzling money from a Youth Basketball League to support his habit. He eventually was caught and his life was ruined. 831716[/snapback] I'm guuna say something completely differant, I'd say go for it , but with some conditions. #1) You must be responcible for yourself, and yourself only. If you are supporting others with your income today, you cannot quit your job or risk their future by losing it gambling. In other words, no hitting the college fund, no underfunding the life insurance/LTD policies etc. Now if your single/ no dependants , none of those worries. Maybe you are married with kids but condition #2 applies 2) Wife/significant other has a job that allows the above mentioned responcibilities to be covered, and is PERFECTLY FINE with you attempting this career move. #3) You have to start with a bankroll and timeline. Figure out what you would be comfortable losing, and what income level you would need to be at in order to continue in your lifestyle now at the very least, and by what date you need to earning that. This is where most guys who try to make this move fail. They take 50K out of savings, say heres my bankroll, and I'll give it six months. They have some good weeks, many more bad, and six months later their bankroll is down to 5K, yet they think things will change. So they waste more time, usually hit another source of funds to increase their bankroll, and it just leads to them becoming 100% flat out broke. BTW, making fake bets and seeing how you will do and trying to make a decsion from there DOES NOT work. Like playing poker with play money, just a whole nother level when your income is on the line. If you meet these conditions, I say god bless ya and go for it. Lord knows, I can't bet two games correct in a week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 George Bush doesn't let me gamble anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 i like to do scratch offs 5, 10 20 dollar tickets . i have spent way more than i have won . I NEED TO STOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 i like to do scratch offs 5, 10 20 dollar tickets . i have spent way more than i have won . I NEED TO STOP 831784[/snapback] Pennsylvania had decent ones, back when I lived in Pgh. Lots of 10, 20, 50 buck winners, to keep you coming back for more. Ohio scratch offs are useless - you are happy if you win one or two bucks early on; it's almost always that or zilch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinandjokin Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Pennsylvania had decent ones, back when I lived in Pgh. Lots of 10, 20, 50 buck winners, to keep you coming back for more. Ohio scratch offs are useless - you are happy if you win one or two bucks early on; it's almost always that or zilch. 831794[/snapback] State lotteries- Taxes on people who are bad at math Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 (edited) State lotteries- Taxes on people who are bad at math 831797[/snapback] Could be. I spring for about 20 bucks worth a year - they have a $2 "bingo" card that prolongs the enevitable for five minutes or so. EDIT: I put a dollar on the Mega million twice a week, too. So my losses are capped at about $124 a year. Edited November 10, 2006 by stuckincincy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 State lotteries- Taxes on people who are bad at math 831797[/snapback] Gambling controlled by state= good Private Gambling= morally corrupt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFerguson Posted November 10, 2006 Author Share Posted November 10, 2006 First of all, I was being sarcastic about becoming a professional gambler. The most I've won in a football season is ~$3500, This is what tempts me to start. and the most I've lost is ~$2000. I'm probably down for my career. This is what scares me away. I like betting football because it's a limited season, and teams only play once a week. I have friends who are in deep and once you start getting sucked into hoops, it's dangerous. Between NBA and NCAA, there are 10 games on everyday. DANGER! I think there was a series of episodes on Beverly Hills 90210 where Brandon Walsh became addicted to betting on the Lakers. In most cases, I feel like life is just one big gamble. You gamble when you select a career, you gamble when you pick a spouse, you gamble every time you get in a car. Most of the risks I take are low risks, which I guess makes me a grinder and not a rounder. But I really have been thinking that it's stupid to blow money on entertainment (movies, dinner, drinks, etc.) when I could just use that same money and perhaps make something back on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 There's only one system that has ever worked for me, but I have a few thousand invested into it. Identify a few teams who you are certain will win *at least* 3 out of 5 games. Wager enough to win $100 per game. If it's a loss, in the next game, wager enough to win $200 per game. When a losing streak ends, return to $100 a game. Following this system (which I initiated early 2005 after YEARS of losing money) you won't break the bank, but you'll win 200-400 a month. I've been exclusively betting on the Colts and Sabres this calendar year and am up about $3000. Last year I rode several teams and finished ahead $4000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Worse than Robert Downey Jr. in "Less Than Zero" ?? You got the idea, plus stealing $$ from his parents, g/f, g/f's parents etc. Between NBA and NCAA, there are 10 games on everyday. DANGER! Nothing is more dangerous than MLB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Most I've lost in one week is a few hundred, and that's 'chump change' to serious gamblers. It can get out of hand so quickly - you lose, you make another bet to try and recoup your losses, and before you know it, you're deep in the hole. Parlays, teases, action bets - those are the biggest sucker bets. I stopped years ago - now my wagers of the 'friendly' nature, usually for drinks, dinners, etc. If I'm gonna blow a few hundred that frivolously, I'd rather do it on good wine, good food, and good friends. Don't do it - nothing sucks worse than paying the bagman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 Most I've lost in one week is a few hundred, and that's 'chump change' to serious gamblers. It can get out of hand so quickly - you lose, you make another bet to try and recoup your losses, and before you know it, you're deep in the hole. Parlays, teases, action bets - those are the biggest sucker bets. Oh man............................................................ Probably at least 70% of my gambling losses (I'm probably down 15-20 thousand in my life) have been doing just that. You lose a bet, and in the next bet you bet enough to recoup your losses. It's not a double or nothing mentality, it's more like a quadruple or nothing mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwight Drane Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 The key to being a true "professional gambler" is to have inside information and a good support team around you. They are usually one in the same. You may be able to grind out a small profit over time if you are using your own picking techniques, but the only way to make a living is to have a sniff of what is going on behind the scenes. Your best friend would be the team doctor. A good story I have.....a few years ago there was an MLB pitcher who was having "relations" with a very seductive and gorgeous girl. This went on for a few weeks until the girl got enough of what she wanted and told the guy to bug off. In this short amount of time he had become 100% addicted an obsessed with her. So obsessed that he was locked up in his hotel room, crying on the phone to her the morning he was going to pitch a game. I learned of this minutes after the phone call and the sweet devil in me went to work. I called every guy I know who likes to put a few dollars down on a game and told them the story. I myself, a hobbiest in the wagering department, turned professional gambler for one night. The result: IP: 1.1 H:5 BB:4 ER:7 If you are privy to about 20 of those kind of stories a year.....be a professional gambler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daquixers_is_back Posted November 10, 2006 Share Posted November 10, 2006 It usually evens out for me ... week to week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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