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I went out to Vegas about 5 years ago with my buddy for 4 days. We stayed at Planet Hollywood. Now, my buddy likes to bet big, and he also has a *slight* gambling problem. The second night we're sitting playing blackjack, and he's getting creamed. I'm basically breaking even, but I'm laughing my behind off as he's flipping out at the table, incredibly drunk. After losing two big 20's to a 4 card 21 he swipes the table and knocks his chips (about $1500 in green chips) all over the floor and starts yelling at strangers "Go on, take them! Grab them before the house does!"
He lost that $1500, and slammed the rest of his money down on the table, bills flying everywhere. I grabbed $100 and hid it from him so he'd have money to eat for the rest of the trip and went upstairs to sleep at around 5 AM. I woke up at about 4 PM and he's not up in the room. I get dressed and ready to go, and head downstairs for some food, then look for him in the casino. He's nowhere on the playing floor. At this point I try calling him and his cell is off. I start worrying about him a bit and call his sister to see if she had heard from him. She didn't answer so I left a message saying, "Hey, it's me. I...uhh...I think I lost your brother." I ended up finding him the next day. Apparently he had lost all of his money besides $20, put it on 3 at a roulette wheel, hit it, and then went walking around various casinos for a day and a half. As we're heading to the airport (both broke, and we stayed an extra night because our plane had engine trouble) he's in an awful mood because he went clean (about $5,000), and I'm laughing at him because when he gets in a bad mood he starts acting really funny. As we're walking by the slot machines I say to him, "Hey look, a progressive slot! You could put your last $7 in, hit the jackpot and still not be even for the trip!" We weren't friends for a few months after that trip. Thankfully now enough time has passed that we can laugh about it. |
hoku808pc | 168 |
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Quote Originally Posted by Jayvegas420: You might be right but the luck factor is huge no matter what game you play. I have been playing holdem since '97. There are pros everywhere in Vegas, hard to avoid them. I don't work out but I suppose that could be a good tact! Dumping $1,500.00 at the WSOP is not a good idea either but, I can't seem to get it aff my mind. I agree the BR is small but some of us can'r head to the money tree in the backyard and pick off $15,000.00! I hear you about the money tree; I'd sure love one of those! That's why I suggest working hard and saving up more first. Yes, there is luck involved in every game, but you're working on a small roll, and if you want to make a go of it you need to increase your bankroll size quickly. Honestly, the odds that you succeed are quite small, but you seem to understand that as well. Would you rather suffer for 8 months and then go clean, or go clean quickly? I'm not suggesting a WSOP visit, because the house take there is bigger and so is the variance. The biggest advantages a cash game has over a tournament are that there's a smaller take, there's no blind pressure, and you can LEAVE when you're up. If you buy into a tournament and build your stack from 10,000 to 30,000 you still have to sit and play. Build your stack from 1,000 to 3,000 at a cash table and you can take that 2 grand and take care of bills for a month or so.
If you're determined to do so, best of luck to you! I don't root for anyone to fail ever. Keep posting, let us know how it goes, and remember to tip your dealer! |
Jayvegas420 | 235 |
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Quote Originally Posted by Jayvegas420: I think that's a sound money management strategy. The $2,700 would be after flight & cabs. 15% of that is $105. I need to make $22.50 per day to have my $700 at the end of the month. Picking at %58 - %57 would be a good start & playing the lowest limit poker, like a $2-$6 flex game & beating the game %50-%51, would get there monthly. This'll never get you anywhere besides St. Vincent's. Do you really want to play a low-stakes game against grinders, both of the professional and non-professional variety? Pros will know the game too well, non-pros won't gamble enough to get you any money. The only way a poker player makes a profit is by playing against weaker players that don't mind gambling. Wait until the weekend, hit a poker room and play $1-2, with the intention of getting up to $2-5 ASAP (rake/time is a smaller % of chips in play at $2-5). Stay completely sober, buy in for $200 and pound on the tourists at nighttime as hard as you can. Build your stack up to $500 and LEAVE. You're playing for a living, so you don't need to get involved in massive pots with top 2 pair against some drunk's flush draw. Go to a gym and work out in between sessions, and if you absolutely must keep playing go to another table or another card room altogether. Avoid private games like the plague. The rake is higher, the players will be stronger, and it's not as safe. Yes, long-term you could learn the player's habits and get an advantage, but they're learning yours at the same time.
You really shouldn't try this with such a small bankroll. I've had friends take their shot with 5 grand and go clean in a month. Get up between $10-20k first and then MAYBE we can talk, if you stick to just poker. You need the bankroll not just to handle the swings, but because you just can't make enough money playing low stakes. I've spent 6 years as a dealer, alternating between full and part-time at it, and I've seen plenty of people try. Haven't seen any succeed yet. |
Jayvegas420 | 235 |
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My best friend lost 17 grand when he was 17 years old; his parents had to refinance their house to pay off his bookie, who was threatening to burn down their house. He then lost another 5 grand (at age 30), ducked the bookie for a year and now has to pay off a loan shark who bought his debt. Some people never learn. This kid just ignored 30 people telling him to stop betting and pay off the debt, and then made his hole twice as big by parlaying the BROWNS?!? I'd say I'd want him as a client if I were a bookie, but I have a feeling I'd never get paid...stupid kids! |
applesandorange | 70 |
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It was half of the right call, but he didn't go all the way and play the Madden Defense. If you don't think you can stop Manning from 70 yards out, then you can't stop him from 30 yards out. Let the Colts score RIGHT AWAY and get the ball back with 2 minutes! Neither team can stop the other, so give up the TD, get out there with 1:40 left, kick a field goal and get the W.
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Wakko4Flacco | 150 |
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I was in this position for the first time a month ago; I'm 26, so I guess it took me longer than most to get there. It sucks, but pay him off and stop betting for a month. Betting is a man's business, and it takes a man to own up to his losses and pay them off. An online account is the best way to go from there on out, because it won't let you get into a bigger hole than you can handle. But yea, if you're going to bet with a bookie, then you need to be able to nut up and pay when you lose. A payment plan will work well. A buddy of mine is a bookie, and he'll always accept payment plans. All the bookie cares about is getting action and getting paid. It doesn't matter to him if it takes you time to pay him off. As long as he gets his money. |
applesandorange | 310 |
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