I am just curious how others have been effected by gambling. Either positive, like you won the down payment for your house and are living happily ever after, or maybe you lost your house to gambling and are now in chase mode for the rest of your life.. I would like to know if anyone has hit big and then just quit forever.
When did you start gambling and why? I started when I was 18, and basically it started as a social thing to do with friends.. It turned into betting games and enjoying them with friends, or, when we lose, sitting in complete silence as we wonder why the hell we bet on something we can't control, but then bet again the next week. To then turning into we don't even tell eachother our picks anymore because we don't want the other to know how we are feeling
For me it's very stressfull and am always contemplating it.. Very curious to hear other stories
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To remove first post, remove entire topic.
I am just curious how others have been effected by gambling. Either positive, like you won the down payment for your house and are living happily ever after, or maybe you lost your house to gambling and are now in chase mode for the rest of your life.. I would like to know if anyone has hit big and then just quit forever.
When did you start gambling and why? I started when I was 18, and basically it started as a social thing to do with friends.. It turned into betting games and enjoying them with friends, or, when we lose, sitting in complete silence as we wonder why the hell we bet on something we can't control, but then bet again the next week. To then turning into we don't even tell eachother our picks anymore because we don't want the other to know how we are feeling
For me it's very stressfull and am always contemplating it.. Very curious to hear other stories
For me it is a tool to reach financial independence and freedom from working a 9-5 corporate gig.
Studying how to gamble the best way possible - like any profession - will open many doors for you.
Financial Independence sounds good.. You must be someone who wins.. So you gamble to avoid the 9-5, whereas many people work 9-5 so they can have money to gamble..
If I were to be a hand doctor, I would study all about hands and previous results
If I were to be a math teacher, I would study math and how to teach it.
If I were to be a gambler.. What do I study??
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Quote Originally Posted by vanzack:
For me it is a tool to reach financial independence and freedom from working a 9-5 corporate gig.
Studying how to gamble the best way possible - like any profession - will open many doors for you.
Financial Independence sounds good.. You must be someone who wins.. So you gamble to avoid the 9-5, whereas many people work 9-5 so they can have money to gamble..
If I were to be a hand doctor, I would study all about hands and previous results
If I were to be a math teacher, I would study math and how to teach it.
I have fun with gambling but its gotten to a point that I don't enjoy watching games that I don't have action on. Granted if its one of my teams then I can go without betting but for a random televised game I like to have some action to watch.
This doesn't discount the fact that studying is essential in my world. I believe that any game can be capped to a point where you have a good idea on the outcome. For me capping games is like the daily crosswords for others, even if I have no intention of betting I like to know who is good, bad, overrated...etc.....
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I have fun with gambling but its gotten to a point that I don't enjoy watching games that I don't have action on. Granted if its one of my teams then I can go without betting but for a random televised game I like to have some action to watch.
This doesn't discount the fact that studying is essential in my world. I believe that any game can be capped to a point where you have a good idea on the outcome. For me capping games is like the daily crosswords for others, even if I have no intention of betting I like to know who is good, bad, overrated...etc.....
Financial Independence sounds good.. You must be someone who wins.. So you gamble to avoid the 9-5, whereas many people work 9-5 so they can have money to gamble..
If I were to be a hand doctor, I would study all about hands and previous results
If I were to be a math teacher, I would study math and how to teach it.
If I were to be a gambler.. What do I study??
You are exactly right. If you wanted to be a doctor, you would go to school for 7 years. Lawyer, similar.
People just proclaim "I want to gamble" because they see poker on ESPN or win a parlay one sunday. The truth is that it takes an academic approach, and you get better with experience.
Since you ask - you should start by having a very good grasp on mathematics. Go take some probability courses at your community college. It is incredible how 99% (and Im not exaggerating) of gamblers have no idea how to calculate probability. Read everything you can about gambling. Study results - gamblers never want to look backward - they only look to next week but the answers are in the history.
The most important thing you can do is develop everything you can to make the impact of handicapping minimized. I have said this over and over. Money management, juice reduction strategies, probability analysis, wager amounts that are calculated, and an unemotional approach that resembles a business are what will make you profitable. Its pretty simple - if your breakeven point on handicapping is close to 50% instead of 54%, you are going to make a lot more profit.
So my advice is forget handicapping for now. Go out and learn math. Analyze your situation and come up with a plan. Implement your plan and stick to it.
All of this said - if you are gambling for entertainment or some fun - what I post above is not for you. I think you were asking how to be profitable and although this is at a very summary level - I practice what I preach - and it works.
Support your local animal shelter. I am on twitter.
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Quote Originally Posted by BarryDingle31:
Financial Independence sounds good.. You must be someone who wins.. So you gamble to avoid the 9-5, whereas many people work 9-5 so they can have money to gamble..
If I were to be a hand doctor, I would study all about hands and previous results
If I were to be a math teacher, I would study math and how to teach it.
If I were to be a gambler.. What do I study??
You are exactly right. If you wanted to be a doctor, you would go to school for 7 years. Lawyer, similar.
People just proclaim "I want to gamble" because they see poker on ESPN or win a parlay one sunday. The truth is that it takes an academic approach, and you get better with experience.
Since you ask - you should start by having a very good grasp on mathematics. Go take some probability courses at your community college. It is incredible how 99% (and Im not exaggerating) of gamblers have no idea how to calculate probability. Read everything you can about gambling. Study results - gamblers never want to look backward - they only look to next week but the answers are in the history.
The most important thing you can do is develop everything you can to make the impact of handicapping minimized. I have said this over and over. Money management, juice reduction strategies, probability analysis, wager amounts that are calculated, and an unemotional approach that resembles a business are what will make you profitable. Its pretty simple - if your breakeven point on handicapping is close to 50% instead of 54%, you are going to make a lot more profit.
So my advice is forget handicapping for now. Go out and learn math. Analyze your situation and come up with a plan. Implement your plan and stick to it.
All of this said - if you are gambling for entertainment or some fun - what I post above is not for you. I think you were asking how to be profitable and although this is at a very summary level - I practice what I preach - and it works.
To add to that, I am not "pick dependent". I dont live and die by my picks. I realize to many that sounds like a foreign concept - but it is true.
You see what happens when you post a thread like this. Most, if not all responses, will be how to pick your games better or handicap better. Wrong approach. Handicapping is not the key to longterm profitability in gambling.
The handicapping will come. First you need to understand and implement everything else.
Support your local animal shelter. I am on twitter.
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To add to that, I am not "pick dependent". I dont live and die by my picks. I realize to many that sounds like a foreign concept - but it is true.
You see what happens when you post a thread like this. Most, if not all responses, will be how to pick your games better or handicap better. Wrong approach. Handicapping is not the key to longterm profitability in gambling.
The handicapping will come. First you need to understand and implement everything else.
So true Mad Matt.. Its nice to find some honesty in here.. I've had the same experience as what you've described..
Vanzack: You are levels above me..I would never think of so much work and study being put into an uncertain world of sports gambling.. I suppose you really have to manage your money well and always be above 50% capping to stay alive.. It must be tough to gamble to pay your bills and have a little pocket money.. So much will-power involved you would have to have the mental strength of a Buddhist monk!
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So true Mad Matt.. Its nice to find some honesty in here.. I've had the same experience as what you've described..
Vanzack: You are levels above me..I would never think of so much work and study being put into an uncertain world of sports gambling.. I suppose you really have to manage your money well and always be above 50% capping to stay alive.. It must be tough to gamble to pay your bills and have a little pocket money.. So much will-power involved you would have to have the mental strength of a Buddhist monk!
Been gambling for 8 years now when I started college. It's been pretty much an up and down journey. Like most of you, I just can't enjoy games anymore if I don't have any money on them. That's the problem. I must have some incentive to watch a game and cheer for somebody.
I just consider it a thrilling hobby. One week, you win big, sit back and have a nice vacation. Then the next week, you gotta work more just to recoup the losses. I'm just glad that I haven't let this hobby affect me to the point where I would lose assets or even friends.
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Been gambling for 8 years now when I started college. It's been pretty much an up and down journey. Like most of you, I just can't enjoy games anymore if I don't have any money on them. That's the problem. I must have some incentive to watch a game and cheer for somebody.
I just consider it a thrilling hobby. One week, you win big, sit back and have a nice vacation. Then the next week, you gotta work more just to recoup the losses. I'm just glad that I haven't let this hobby affect me to the point where I would lose assets or even friends.
Trance: thanks for the response, it makes me think..When you gamble, are you only risking money, or is there more intangible things on the line that are not as obvious?
Thats good you haven't lost anything besides money.. However from your post, it still sound as if your gambling results dictate your immediate future.. I know it does for me, there ain't no way I'm goin to a bar on Monday Night if i'm on the loser
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Trance: thanks for the response, it makes me think..When you gamble, are you only risking money, or is there more intangible things on the line that are not as obvious?
Thats good you haven't lost anything besides money.. However from your post, it still sound as if your gambling results dictate your immediate future.. I know it does for me, there ain't no way I'm goin to a bar on Monday Night if i'm on the loser
Starting off it affected me in a negative way b/c I didn't know what I was doing and lost money. 50 - 100 bucks a game.
Then, I started to figure some things out after about 2 years of mostly losing.
I became a bookie.
Very lucrative. Took family on vacations, bought a lot of cool stuff, gave a lot to charities, things of that nature. But, it took a lot of time away from my wife and it was very stressful.
Quit being a book and went back to gambling. Made some good money in MLB and played mostly even on the rest. Again it took a lot of time from the wife. Almost never going to bed at the same time as her b/c I was watching the west coast games. Getting down and throwing a boat of money at the next game to recoup losses. I was literally betting every night.
Then I had a daughter, quit gambling cold. I did not want to have something like that taking away my time from my baby girl. I still play in a college football pool every year and also in March Madness pools, but no more bookies or offshore accounts. I do miss gambling some but the pools and fantasy sports fill that gap and allow me to spend all the time I want with my family.
I know other people on here have families also and juggle it perfectly, but I couldn't, and that's is why I quit.
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Starting off it affected me in a negative way b/c I didn't know what I was doing and lost money. 50 - 100 bucks a game.
Then, I started to figure some things out after about 2 years of mostly losing.
I became a bookie.
Very lucrative. Took family on vacations, bought a lot of cool stuff, gave a lot to charities, things of that nature. But, it took a lot of time away from my wife and it was very stressful.
Quit being a book and went back to gambling. Made some good money in MLB and played mostly even on the rest. Again it took a lot of time from the wife. Almost never going to bed at the same time as her b/c I was watching the west coast games. Getting down and throwing a boat of money at the next game to recoup losses. I was literally betting every night.
Then I had a daughter, quit gambling cold. I did not want to have something like that taking away my time from my baby girl. I still play in a college football pool every year and also in March Madness pools, but no more bookies or offshore accounts. I do miss gambling some but the pools and fantasy sports fill that gap and allow me to spend all the time I want with my family.
I know other people on here have families also and juggle it perfectly, but I couldn't, and that's is why I quit.
I have slowly progressed from playing nickel dime poker with friends since I was 17-18 to having $100-200 in play in various forms nearly every night. I am lucky enough to have the financial resources to pay if I lose. Today, I consider my bankroll to be $1k - so I feel I should be playing $50-100 per event. But, honestly, I don't keep my bankroll separate like I should. I have been lucky enough to take home around $1500-2k in the last few weeks form my locals. But, somehow - in my mind - this is free money, money I did nothing more to get than place a phone call. Therefore, I spend that money freely. If I am out with friends, I pick up the check. I buy a round of shots for people I have just met. I enjoy doing this. However, I know it's just a matter of time before I go 2-10 one week and have to bum $200 from a friend to make it until payday. This is not smart. I need to change my thinking and change my actions.
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I have slowly progressed from playing nickel dime poker with friends since I was 17-18 to having $100-200 in play in various forms nearly every night. I am lucky enough to have the financial resources to pay if I lose. Today, I consider my bankroll to be $1k - so I feel I should be playing $50-100 per event. But, honestly, I don't keep my bankroll separate like I should. I have been lucky enough to take home around $1500-2k in the last few weeks form my locals. But, somehow - in my mind - this is free money, money I did nothing more to get than place a phone call. Therefore, I spend that money freely. If I am out with friends, I pick up the check. I buy a round of shots for people I have just met. I enjoy doing this. However, I know it's just a matter of time before I go 2-10 one week and have to bum $200 from a friend to make it until payday. This is not smart. I need to change my thinking and change my actions.
Win or lose gambling's a horrible affliction. It effects your moods, personality, temperament, relationships and your overall physical well being. Anybody that's involved with it on a daiy basis over the long haul claiming otherwise is either in total denial or completely full of mule dung.
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Win or lose gambling's a horrible affliction. It effects your moods, personality, temperament, relationships and your overall physical well being. Anybody that's involved with it on a daiy basis over the long haul claiming otherwise is either in total denial or completely full of mule dung.
Husker: Thats nice to know your daughter saved you from all that... It's stories like that, that give me a good feeling inside, to know Family is still #1 in some peoples lives. I have a question for you, did you ever feel wrong about being a bookie, or have you felt bad taking money from degenerate people who just couldnt win?
Searchwarrant: So true my man.. Everything you described, i've been affected by in one way or another
Wendysrocks: Poker is what got me started too.. I remember thinking 20$ buy in was HUGE!! lol, then i started getting used to it and before you know it a few years later I am playing $20-$40 limit buying in for 2k.. Oh and I have hit that spot you mentioned, its not pretty, but if you can over-come it, you become a lot stronger of a person, at least I know I have
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Husker: Thats nice to know your daughter saved you from all that... It's stories like that, that give me a good feeling inside, to know Family is still #1 in some peoples lives. I have a question for you, did you ever feel wrong about being a bookie, or have you felt bad taking money from degenerate people who just couldnt win?
Searchwarrant: So true my man.. Everything you described, i've been affected by in one way or another
Wendysrocks: Poker is what got me started too.. I remember thinking 20$ buy in was HUGE!! lol, then i started getting used to it and before you know it a few years later I am playing $20-$40 limit buying in for 2k.. Oh and I have hit that spot you mentioned, its not pretty, but if you can over-come it, you become a lot stronger of a person, at least I know I have
So it's true then, when you gamble theres more than just $$ on the line.. You are wagering your pride, your relationships, your emotions.. I guess for the guy who wants to gamble to win a house so he can live in style..when he loses, he loses his house and lives in opposite of what he would have had he won.. anyone agree?
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So it's true then, when you gamble theres more than just $$ on the line.. You are wagering your pride, your relationships, your emotions.. I guess for the guy who wants to gamble to win a house so he can live in style..when he loses, he loses his house and lives in opposite of what he would have had he won.. anyone agree?
So it's true then, when you gamble theres more than just $$ on the line.. You are wagering your pride, your relationships, your emotions.. I guess for the guy who wants to gamble to win a house so he can live in style..when he loses, he loses his house and lives in opposite of what he would have had he won.. anyone agree?
In order to be sucessful one must have very tight money management skills. However, it's almost like a catch 22 in that you have to not care about the money enough to wager it but at the same time you have to be smart enough to understand how to control a bankroll and stay disciplined. Now granted I don't really consider it gambling when I'm betting on games where I perceive an edge in the line but the fact remains you're involving yourself in a situation where you have no control over. A lot of people are too risk-adverse to be betting thousands of dollars on a game. Hence my next point.
One of the most important things one must learn is the ability to be completely and utterly desensitized to the value of money. If you're a dime bettor say and you lose a game at the end on a bad beat you can't look at it from the perspective of "oh that touchdown just cost me a new plasma tv fuck me". You have to learn to be immune to the swings and variance because inevitably you will go through rough patches. You just need to learn about the money not being important and just focus on process. People say "oh how does it feel when you win all this money it must be such a great feeling". You want to know the real answer, after a while it doesn't really do that much for me or change the way I feel.
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Quote Originally Posted by BarryDingle31:
So it's true then, when you gamble theres more than just $$ on the line.. You are wagering your pride, your relationships, your emotions.. I guess for the guy who wants to gamble to win a house so he can live in style..when he loses, he loses his house and lives in opposite of what he would have had he won.. anyone agree?
In order to be sucessful one must have very tight money management skills. However, it's almost like a catch 22 in that you have to not care about the money enough to wager it but at the same time you have to be smart enough to understand how to control a bankroll and stay disciplined. Now granted I don't really consider it gambling when I'm betting on games where I perceive an edge in the line but the fact remains you're involving yourself in a situation where you have no control over. A lot of people are too risk-adverse to be betting thousands of dollars on a game. Hence my next point.
One of the most important things one must learn is the ability to be completely and utterly desensitized to the value of money. If you're a dime bettor say and you lose a game at the end on a bad beat you can't look at it from the perspective of "oh that touchdown just cost me a new plasma tv fuck me". You have to learn to be immune to the swings and variance because inevitably you will go through rough patches. You just need to learn about the money not being important and just focus on process. People say "oh how does it feel when you win all this money it must be such a great feeling". You want to know the real answer, after a while it doesn't really do that much for me or change the way I feel.
Not to turn this into a nature vs. nurture debate but I think there is something to be said for the ability someone has to manage money properly that is simply inherent in them. Some people just aren't good with money, look at the massive amount of debt across the U.S. and consumer spending habits. How many books and authorities are there on this subject? And yet the problem is arguably only getting worse. Millions of people just don't know how to manage money. I'm not dismissing the notion of someone improving their money management skills because I have seen first hand people become better but some people just can't do it. I will thank my Scottish ancestry for partially leading to me becoming a cheap, frugal nit.
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Not to turn this into a nature vs. nurture debate but I think there is something to be said for the ability someone has to manage money properly that is simply inherent in them. Some people just aren't good with money, look at the massive amount of debt across the U.S. and consumer spending habits. How many books and authorities are there on this subject? And yet the problem is arguably only getting worse. Millions of people just don't know how to manage money. I'm not dismissing the notion of someone improving their money management skills because I have seen first hand people become better but some people just can't do it. I will thank my Scottish ancestry for partially leading to me becoming a cheap, frugal nit.
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