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A fellow walks into sports book at a major Strip hotel and wagers $5,000 on a football game. The move triggers an immediate and frenzied reaction from the house bookmaker, who quickly telephones the casino's sister properties and adjusts the line on the team that just was bet.
A few minutes later, another person strides up to the very same window at the very same sports book and wagers a whopping $50,000 on a football game. The very same house bookmaker nods in the player's direction, but otherwise makes no effort to put down his cup of coffee and lift himself from his corner stool.
What's going on here?
Bookmakers have learned that the amount of money bet often is secondary in importance to the identity of the person who places the wager. For example, a hotel guest who lumbers into the sports book from the gaming tables with a cocktail in one hand, a load of black chips in the other and what he believes is an informed opinion, usually is not viewed as a serious threat to the house's bottom line. For the most part, books are far more concerned with the activities of gambling syndicates and crafty local players.
Because bet-takers always are looking to get ahead of the action, to find that one right number that attracts equal or near equal activity to each side of a game, distinguishing and separating recreational or unsophisticated bettors, called 'squares,' from professional bettors, known as 'sharps,' can be crucial to a sports book's well-being. One way books do this is by reacting as quickly as possible to the moves made by professional bettors.
But first, bookmakers must identify the 'sharps,' who, in an attempt to get their wagers down at the most attractive prices, often use a variety of tricks and subterfuge. Known by sight to most bookmakers, many sophisticated bettors employ 'runners' or 'beards' to place their wagers, frequently striking with military-like precision at several properties at the same time.
Of course, bookmakers, who are trained to look for tip-offs such as clipboards or cell phones, eventually become familiar with the runners and the cat-and-mouse game begins anew.
In addition to the overall quality of their play, 'sharps' differentiate themselves from 'squares' in several other ways. Most obviously, 'sharps' are professionals who derive their income from their play, while 'squares' have "real" jobs.
Generally, say sports book managers, 'sharps' are low-key, gracious and unassuming, while players who boast about their successes usually are 'squares' with little chance of winning.
'Sharps' also distinguish themselves by the number of games they bet and the consistency of their wagers on each of those games. Typically, 'sharps' bet about six games during a football weekend. 'Squares' bet one or two, or even worse, nearly the whole card.
"If you believe you have an edge you don't want to bet just one or two games," explained a professional sports bettor who asked that his name be withheld. "If you play only a couple of games, luck becomes much too overwhelming of a factor. You don't want to be in a situation where a bad bounce or a lousy call from a referee beats you and that's the only game you've played. If you've played a handful of games, maybe five or six, and you're any good, you can overcome a bad beat."
There's also little variation in the size of bets made by 'sharps.'
"You pretty much bet the same amount on each game," said the player. "I don't have a best bet, a game-of-the-week or anything like that. C'mon, if I really knew which of my bets were 'best' wouldn't I just make those bets? I think all my bets are going to win; that's why I make them."
Finally, the 'sharp' player never measures success in the short run. Therefore, he never has to "get out" on an unlikely parlay or chase after the final game of the day or the weekend. Poker players are fond of saying that one session doesn't mean anything. 'Sharps' understand that.
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