I think for me, since I have a local that doesn't mess around with anything but fball and the occasional world series. He actually didn't take anything on this years bc hes "a lifelong cubs fan." LOL. But I won big on KC last year. Given that there is only football, its hard for me to get away bc I get so excited for football to start and want to watch as many games as possible and have an even more vested interest. I think if I did year-around, I would have died from heart problems.
I agree with CD - don't ever get started! Just think about a $100 bettor hoping to hit around 60%. How much are you risking to make $160 profit!! Ten bets at $100 each $1100 risk - win 6 $600 lose 4 -$440 profit $160.
I think for many it's the thrill of making the bet but I can't even stand watching the game for the smallest of bets!! We are betting on 18-22 year old kids! One blown coverage-one bad call-one turnover-LOSER!
At the end of the day if you aren't taking money from your family, ruining a marriage, taking meds due to stress and somehow actually have money management then good for you. I guess it's better than getting fat from eating at fancy restaurants or buying stuff that collects dust or gets shoved in the back of a closet but yeah it's a pain in the ass to spend hours capping! Best day I ever had on PRO football I flipped a coin while making my plays - Tails away-heads home-and went 14-1!! Ugghh but I love that thrill of placing the wager!! 1-800-stop gambling LOL
I think for many it's the thrill of making the bet but I can't even stand watching the game for the smallest of bets!! We are betting on 18-22 year old kids! One blown coverage-one bad call-one turnover-LOSER!
At the end of the day if you aren't taking money from your family, ruining a marriage, taking meds due to stress and somehow actually have money management then good for you. I guess it's better than getting fat from eating at fancy restaurants or buying stuff that collects dust or gets shoved in the back of a closet but yeah it's a pain in the ass to spend hours capping! Best day I ever had on PRO football I flipped a coin while making my plays - Tails away-heads home-and went 14-1!! Ugghh but I love that thrill of placing the wager!! 1-800-stop gambling LOL
many a sunday a have gone over the coin flip scenario. especially after thinking I had nailed it on Saturday, but def did not, lol. I also agree with CD, I never ruined a marriage but it was close, I had been in financial trouble about 12-13 years ago, in part bc of this, took some time off, bettered myself in my career and income, and started again. last year I lost a decent amount, took a huge hit to my bank account, this year, I have been killing it **knock knock** and I guess I try to keep it in perspective, I have had years where by xmas I had next to nothing to buy gifts (I don't have kids so...) but I have had years where I paid for me and my lady to go to Dominican for 5 days. so those days are over, I am trying to just have some extra beer money/entertainment money/or maybe actually buy something that can collect dust in the basement. Everything is relative to your limits, but stating the obv, I think IF you start, which I am against starting nowadays, you really need to analyze your financial situation and prob be more disciplined than ever and god forbid don't chase. Everyone has their stories, good and bad, but I had a buddy that was doing it online, started with $250, managed to show me his account at approx. $6500, with about 1/3 of the season to go, and lost it all. Now in the grand scheme of things he lost $250, but to me, that's a lot of chedda. anyways I like this thread and hearing from veteran guys and getting your thoughts. On a different note, are the guys that aren't posting in this thread taking notes of who is posting and using this as "fade material?" LOL, soooo...who do you guys like this weekend...hahaha
When i tell new gamblers to not ever start doing this stuff, i dont do it out of being bitter that i never became super successful at it. I say it because 95-99 percent will fail at this stuff. I grew up in bar/restaurant so i have been around gamblers and bookies for a very long time. I wish i had listened to the ones who told me when i was a kid, to do something else with my time and money in life, but of course like all kids. i didnt listen and thought i would be the one with the magic touch. Never happened thou. Had good years and had bad years. I could have put the money into super safe investments and today i would be sitting on a pile. I cant even count the holidays with family and friends that i missed out enjoying with them because i would be sitting in the other room being depressed about the losers i had for the day,lolllllllllllllll.
And let me just end with this, if your are a youngster and already have good amount of cash in life, use that money to make more money on better things. Dont try to become the next billy walters, because those guys are so rare, chances are you will not become like him. If you do this hobby for fun, then you shouldnt have a problem in life, but if you try to make it your weekly paycheck, chances are very high that you will fail.
Good luck to everybody
cd
And let me just end with this, if your are a youngster and already have good amount of cash in life, use that money to make more money on better things. Dont try to become the next billy walters, because those guys are so rare, chances are you will not become like him. If you do this hobby for fun, then you shouldnt have a problem in life, but if you try to make it your weekly paycheck, chances are very high that you will fail.
Good luck to everybody
cd
Well said, cd. This may sound stupid, but I play 20-50 dollars on a few games, mostly 20. I do it ONLY for fun and to watch the game. If I lose or win, it's no big deal with that amount of money. Like you said, do it for entertainment and it's ok. Betting to try to make a living will end up ruining you and your life. I have been doing this for 30 years and have not had any problems.
My best weeks are typically followed by my worst and the cycle always continues. I have been at it for about 15 years now, no idea where I stand. I could say all the proper things about money management but a few beers at a bar with buddies and you can kiss that goodbye. I have found the best thing for me lies in futures. I usually play several in most of the sports I follow. Always take my team to win it all plus a few others I do research on. I do that particularly in nba and MLB where the season is so long that it's so much more difficult to gage 1 game. I am doing my best to manage it but it's exhausting. I don't really have advice but I can say that yes I am also completely exhausted from the grind of each day. 1 rule I will make is no more soccer...my god you can't win at that sport.
Betting on the daily sports is the ultimate grind. I don't see how people bet on basketball and baseball. I quit doing that long ago. This is the first year in a long time where I haven't placed a bet on college or pro football. I got tired of the BS calls and the weird bounces costing me money. I just can't win at it. Done.
The only sport I bet on now is soccer. It's the only sport I can win at.
The key is to have an offseason where you don't bet.
If you bet on football in the fall and winter, then college hoops through march madness, then NBA playoffs, and then MLB all summer, you will surely burn out.
You have to have an offseason to recharge the batteries. And you don't have to bet every sport. Especially the daily sports.
The only sport I bet on now is soccer. It's the only sport I can win at.
The key is to have an offseason where you don't bet.
If you bet on football in the fall and winter, then college hoops through march madness, then NBA playoffs, and then MLB all summer, you will surely burn out.
You have to have an offseason to recharge the batteries. And you don't have to bet every sport. Especially the daily sports.
