! VERY IMPORTANT !

I know this site is mostly filled with grizzled vets, but since this is the world cup it brings out newbies into the betting world and that can be very dangerous and addictive.

FOR THE NEW & OLD BETTORS

1. NEVER EVER BET ANYTHING YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE - these days you can play a buck or two on any wager, even with cents. So if you think you are the betting Messi why not try it with money you can afford. Winning/being right is the adrenaline rush, how much you win or lose is relative to how much you have. Elon Musk dropping a grand is like someone dropping a dollar.

2. DO NOT GET SUCKED IT TO PARLAY PROMOS. The books make most of their money from parley/lottery ticket promos. USA to win the world cup IT IS A LOSING BET trying to suck in the patriotic newbies. Please donate that money to an animal shelter. Some books will offer great odds/boosts etc, snatch those at max money even though they will be limited to very little money, all in the hope to hook new bettors.

3. SHOP AROUND. If you are serious about betting, you need to have more then one outlet to bet. With the onset of prediction markets even more so. Also within several books there are different prices for the same bet. Example ML, to win outright and AH -0.5 are the same thing but are sometimes priced differently.

4. BETTING SHOULD BY FUN. I have memories of my parents playing card games with the family. I think there would be cigarette smoke and vodka, laughter along with quarters and dimes exchanged between rounds amongst family and friends. The addiction there prior to the internet was family getting together once a week on a Sunday. It bragging rights along with a few bucks. 

5. STREAKS BEING HOT/COLD- I remember as a former commodity broker I gave out like 24 what would be even money picks/trades in a row. The brokerage owner gave me comped EVERYTHING anywhere, fuk it was fun, but guess what? That did not last and the fair weather birds flew away. 

6. BE KIND- I know it sounds trite, it does not hurt to be kind. It should not cost you to lend a helping hand or friendly advice. In a world full of hate and division Try to be a gentleman. Hold a door open, say thank you to a service worker, throw a compliment to someone once a day.

@Mikewavy

Yeah nobody wants to hear a DAD and his geezer advice, but on fathers day I thought it was apropos 

Messi to score tomorrow is 51 cent/share , -104 , Messi not to score 49 cent , +104

Great reminders 

@DiamondJack

 Well said DJ

well said.

I think one very important one to add.

Never buy picks from touts!

They lie and fudge records, and you will more than likely lose tailing their plays. There are plenty of good cappers on these forums for every sport who give out better picks for free. It's hard enough to be profitable as is, but adding in the cost of a service and you are making it much harder. 

@DiamondJack

I've been quietly following your picks for quite a while, tailing here and there. I for one appreciate your posts immensely. Thank you DJ

Messi scored a hat trick

Why not Messi score again 

@DiamondJack

 This is what everyone should learn. Thank you for this post. Perfect thoughts for fathers day and well everyday!

Hear hear! 

I'll bet a dime

@DiamondJack

 Well said DJ

I will add a couple more things as well

As was mentioned by user @fsutomahawk for anyone thinking of paying for information or picks. Please don't.  At the end of the day if someone is trying to sell you picks or information about a "fix" they are double siding games.  Customer #1 Gets Pick A and then Customer #2 gets Pick B.  This is done so that the tout will have some customers coming back the next day.  The truth is if someone was so good at picking winners or has information about a "fix" than why wouldn't they just bet the games themselves and put their feet up?  Yet they don't do this. 

Do not listen to any main stream media sports pundits / shows talking about gambling / betting.  They don't know anything and often times just google a few buzz words to makes themselves seem smart right before they go on the air.  They cater to the retail books such as Fan Duel, Draftkings, MGM or Sports Interaction just to name a few.  These are the sponsors so there is your connection.   If same game parlays were doing lots of damage to books they would not be peddling them through advertising.  Though even I've hit a few SGPs, over time this is a sucker bet imo.  What the retail books are advertising is all designed to fleece the average / novice / new better. 

Another piece of advise to any better / capper is to keep a proper record of all your plays.  Use an Excel sheet.  When keeping track of your plays make notes as to why you won a bet or why you lost.  Was your handicap spot on? Did you benefit from shenanigans? Or was the line pretty much bang on and your bet won or lost by a coin flip.  Here's a basic example.  Say you handicap a soccer game and bet the U2.5 The game goes to plan and is a snoozefest for 90 min.  Then in 7 min of extra time we get 1 goal and 2 penalties.  Penalties are converted and all of a sudden the U2.5 is toast and the Over hit.  If you bet the over in this scenario you would have been on the wrong side of the handicap but your bet hit anyways.  Just because your bet hits doesn't mean you handicapped it correctly.  Understand why you win your bets and understand why you lose your bets 

Great thread DJ.  Hope everyone gets some use out of it and remember to be Humble whether you win or lose. 

 approved by the OLD MAN 

@DiamondJack

 Kind words.  Thanks!

@DiamondJack

nice and thoughtful of you to write this.

kudos

too late! I'm in debts the past 10 years. What do I do now? 

1st half Agintina! Put the whole house on it!   I was kidding , DJ! Good write up!l

Great thread DJ! Longtime lurker here.

Do not blindly tail someone and blame them if you lose. Do a bit of research on your own too. Noone is perfect at this.

Sometimes live betting offers better odds especially on overs if there's no score early on. There can be great opportunities to be had in the live markets.

One last thing. Do not chase right away after a gut wrenching loss. Take a breather and regain your composure.

Great Reminder DJ . . BOL