can you make a living off gambling?

[bohawk]

Gambling to me is like a contest :"Beating the MAN". As Nolan said, "People out their watching sporting events and not having money on the outcome (non-gamblers)are wasting their lives away. WHAT`S THE POINT???" It`s an interesting challenge and adds excitement to the "chase". I`ve been gambling 30 years but I`ve always kept the wagers in perspective to my income & family. I`ve seen too many destroyed by trying to "get rich" by going above their means.
I don`t post my selections on the main board because I don`t think I`m as adroit as the serious and able "cappers"we have on this : The best site going. So I guess I "Lurk" ,Give my opinions,give plaudits,and for me realize that Gambling is like life: It`s why we have "Real Jobs".

 

[bohawk]

forgot this

------------------
"Quick Watson,the Game`s afoot!" bohawk

 

[buddy]

"Quick Watson, be adroit! The game's afoot!

 

[Gatorbait]

Too much of a gamble for me

......

My REAL job guarantees to cover my losses when I lose. When I win, well it's just money in the bank. Think I'll always feel the same.

 

[bohawk]

Buddy, thank`s for the correction on my profile signature from Mr Doyle`s great works. It` funny that I used the same word "adroit" in my post. I guess I`m stuck with my paraphrase of his words. Sure enjoyed all those great "Adventures"
Thanks again, bohawk.

------------------
"Quick Watson,the Game`s afoot!" bohawk

 

[pepin46]

nolan

thanks for the input. we certainly appreciate your honesty.

i do agree with you on cars especially. i can't for the life of me, see myself spending 60-70thou over the next 7 years to pay for that ovepriced 4x4 or whatever, only to end up with a miser 6-7thou at the end.

i would much rather blow it on whatever, including gambling, which i enjoy more than showing my neighbors that i am (or pretend to be) a big shot.

i do realize some people actually need to keep up with the joneses due to a variety of reasons, and some actually need to have a very reliable car, especially in the cold states.

again, your input is extremely valuable, and it expanded on the point i was trying to bring up. hopefully it will make some people think twice before jumping head on.


pep

 

[pepin46]

deleting-duplicate post. how did that happen?

pep

[This message has been edited by pepin46 (edited 07-23-2001).]

 

[Subagoto]

Originally posted by Nolan Dalla:
People out there watching sporting events and not having money on the outcome (non-gamblers) are wasting their lives away, in my view. Spend 20 hours a week in front of the TV with no money on the games? WHAT'S THE POINT??? Why not take that knowledge and experience, work a bit and make a few extra hundred a month? That's my belief. WHY MORE PEOPLE DO NOT GAMBLE is a complete mystery to me. It's baffling!

This is exactly why I started gambling. Well said. Making a couple of hundred extra dollars every month has made it a bit easier to justify watching sports all the time to my wife.

 

[scrubbo]

Its hard enough to be an average handicapper in one sport then to even dream about being a pro all year round.

 

[nole47]

Great commentary. I have been wagering unlike an idiot for about 2 maybe 3 years now where i play high %'s over a season, know about half points, dime lines, not firing in late bets to get even, betting the MAC instead of the Big 10 (or 11), and betting more $$$ in less games. I am very small time with a unit of $50 and usually play around 5-10 a day. I always was just a football guy and did college bball this year for the 1st time and did very well(again mostly on the obscure games like Wisc-Green Bay and Akron. I thought I would try baseball again after no success in the past and started betting toatls 80% of the time and here I am at +103.5 units for the season a little over half the way through. Im actually going to hate it once baseball is over and i cant play every day and obviously not as much to choose from cause the books can really hone in on the one game on ESPN .
Anyway, I have a nice cushy job that has me a little less than 100k working 20 hrs a week and the time i need to study and do what i like. The extra $5-15k a year is nice but i couldnt imagine doing it all the time cause it wears on ya. Wife and I just had our first kid and my easy job, her job, and an extra 1-2k per month is nice.

 

[Kevin]

The key to making a living gambling is the ability to pass on a game.

I will add on a personal note that the fewer games you play, hammering only a line where you have the edge, will provide profits over the course of a years time. Whether you can live off it or not depends on your necessary income and your personal overhead.

 

[ctownguy]

Nolan Dalla,

Don't know who you are, but you couldn't be more right on. I must be older than you as my gambling days go back to 1970 and I can tell all of you from personal experience ND has it exactly right, it just seems it got it alot quicker than I did.

Been bankrupt once due to gambling 25 years ago and still didn't find the right formula until mid 80's. Got married for a 2nd time, now going on 17 years, 2 adopted girls, my wife's from a previous marriage, one married last year and another getting married in October, guess how we paid for the weddings?

Gambling winnings you say, right! But believe me it was a struggle to get where I am today.

I have another job, it is directly related to the gaming industry and I make a pretty good living. As a football bettor and blackjack player I make just about the same as my career job.

So when I read your posts ND, I felt like I was reading something I would have written.

For the sake of not repeating everything ND said, his posts should be a guidline to becoming a "professional part-time gambler". I only know a habdfull of guys who do it full time for a living and it can take a hell of a toll on you, because you are going to have ups & downs no matter how good you are or how good you think you are and if you can't handle the down times you will be doomed both finacially and emotionally.

So take it slow, keep your day job, and DON'T CHASE A LOSING STREAK. At first it's hard to keep from doing, but if you don't have the discipline not to, you will be doomed and bankrupt in no time. I know, been there done that.

I can see why you write for a living ND, you have the gift to communicate.

Will be looking for more of your insight in the future.

Best of luck,
ctownguy

[This message has been edited by ctownguy (edited 08-07-2001).]

 

[Duncan]

Nolan, why would someone as good as you at poker bother with sports betting and all the work that entails? Wouldn't it be more profitable for you to spend your time in the 20-40 Hold-Em game??

Also, when is your book on Ungar coming out?? I'm sure many people are very interested in reading it.

Thanks, Duncan

 

[buddy]

ctownguy,

Read in your post that you're a blackjack player...

Would love to read your thoughts on a blackjack betting strategy (strategies??).

Thanks

 

[Duncan]

Buddy:

Go to the Casino forum, some very interesting thoughts on progressive betting.

 

[ctownguy]

buddy,

Used many over the years, but just went back to a conservative basic strategy and incorporated a money management or betting scheme that I bought from someone believe it or not. But I tried it out and it made real sense. Since I started using it I have had great success and a lot less stress as the system dictates exactly what to wager when to increase or decrease and when to leave the table.

It sure has made my BJ playing a lot more fun and rewarding. I would try and explain it but it is a little complicated but not if you can sit down and see it on paper.