Article In The Atlantic: Legalizing Sports Gambling Was A Huge Mistake (1 Viewer)

[eoMMan]

I want to see stats on if day trading decreased in states where they legalized sports gambling.

And if they did take away sports gambling, I bet day trading would increase.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

These are essentially marketing expenses meant to get the potential gaming addicts onto their books.

And therein lies the rub.

Its like marketing cigarettes to kids.

Pretty sure none of the legal gambling states allow kids to do it.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

These are essentially marketing expenses meant to get the potential gaming addicts onto their books.

And therein lies the rub.

Its like marketing cigarettes to kids.

Right. But we don't let cigarette companies do that every add break of every sporting event.

But we allow them to advertise alcohol, high sugar products, cars, theme park rides, football, and countless other things that kill or hurt people.

 

[dino259]

It’s illegal in CA? Nearly everyone I know that’s into sports gambles in some way or another on their phone. And I’m in CA.

Right now, unless you circumvent the rules and you are able to get on a site like Bovada (and have your credit card let you fund to it), then you cannot bet on games themselves.

The only thing that is "legal" in California is the "over/under" for player props. And you have to parlay at least two legs from differing teams.

So DraftKings and all those don’t allow single bets? Everything must be a parlay? no wonder they’re making so much money.

Right, you can't take JUST Josh Allen to throw for over 240 yards or whatever. You have to parlay it with a player prop from another team.

And definitely can't take BUF -4.5 or whatever. It's all player prop related and you have to multi-team parlay.

It's maddening. I will get SO close to hitting a nice big one and I'll be off by 10 yards or something stupid.

I'll definitely be putting in a little $5 parlay tonight just to make things more interesting.

That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. . Not you having fun, the parlays only bit. . I had a bookie with a website around 15 years ago. Zero issues making regular bets. Other than losing. . I haven’t really bet since.

I believe this is under the thought this is skill versus gambling on a single game against the spread.

WI technically has sports betting. However you have to be on premises at the Indian casino in either green bay or Milwaukee. Lots of stories of people driving across the state line of Illinois or Iowa and placing online bets.

 

[TLEF316]

This hits close to home to me. As I discussed in a thread about a year and a half ago, my brother fell pretty hard into an online gambling addiction. Started like 10 years ago with in-person trips to the casino, developed into a problem without anyone knowing and he hit rock bottom after basically bankrupting himself (threw away all of his savings, maxed out cards, several "online loans"). Bottom line, he was VERY fortunate to have a caring family with the means to get him out of it. (most are not so lucky) And as far as we know, he's been 100% fine going cold turkey since last spring. (Still does fantasy and a couple of survivor pool type things, but no "betting" in the more traditional sense).

I myself have never understood the appeal of sports betting, but I pissed away a decent amount of time (and probably money. Never did a true accounting at the end) during the height of the online poker boom. Spent a lot of late nights my senior year of college playing online sit-n-go's and chasing re-load bonuses that I wish I had spent out making some better memories. Nobody's perfect and the fall of Neteller as a vehicle for moving $$ around the poker world probably came at a good time for me (I got my first "real job" shortly after and who knows what would have happened if I had actual $$ to throw around)

I'm all for personal responsibility. You can't blame everyone else for your problems. But the absolute explosion of advertising and main-stream media pushing in the online era is a MAJOR problem. Its incredibly predatory and the combination of having it right in your pocket and the networks/leagues constantly shoving it right in your face is really disgusting to me. I dont have any issue with someone throwing down $25 on Seattle +4.5 every once in a while just to get a little juice going. But when its some goofy 7 way yardage/scoring parlay that's literally just dumb luck (and is obviously designed just to get stupid kids that one time win that hooks them for life)......I see a LOT of potential societal downside.

 

[Capella]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

 

[eoMMan]

Legalized online gambling of other kinds, such as slots, blackjack, etc, can be problematic for some people. Probably a lot more so than just sports gambling

 

[BassNBrew]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

I rant to my kids every few months about how this is a waste of money.

I sure one of them plunked down $10 tonite on Allen 3 TDs, Allen 250 yards, Cook 45 rec, Cook rush TD, Shakir over 5 receptions, Buffalo -7 and has already scored for $850. Once a month I get a text on how one of these cashed.

 

[BassNBrew]

I have spoken to many of my gambling broker friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought politicians and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports stock gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet buy this….instant leverage of a stock, short this, call that.

It’s just like how crypto got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

.........

Back in the day we had to pick up a landline and talk to a live person to make a stock trade. Gambling joins a long list of activities we can do on demand from out phone.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

What is a landline?!?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

I rant to my kids every few months about how this is a waste of money.

I sure one of them plunked down $10 tonite on Allen 3 TDs, Allen 250 yards, Cook 45 rec, Cook rush TD, Shakir over 5 receptions, Buffalo -7 and has already scored for $850. Once a month I get a text on how one of these cashed.

We only hear about the winners..

 

[PIK95]

I HATE this new betting friendly landscape. Pretty much for the reasons stated in the article. I also have a nineteen year old son that wants to gamble every cent he has on either UFC or some football angle. He always wins and then loses it all plus (food money, gas, ect) The worst part is he is a college student with no job. So yeah, it's all my money he's playing with anyway. He has ten close friends all doing the exact same thing. It's all they talk about. Don't even seem to care about girls. Half of them go to the casino every week on top of that. What a mess.
I will never look at sports the same way my self. It's either highlights for clicks, shady refs, or constant gambling advertising. Sports used to be about competition. I don't even know what all this is now. I just know I hate it.

 

[PIK95]

Article:

For little obvious gain, most states have permitted businesses to make billions of dollars off of...

I think this is the crux of the problem, and it's not solely germane to gambling. Our society is directed toward profit above all else. You get some negative consequences as a result, but very rarely will the consequences be harmful enough to a large enough number of citizens to attempt curtailing the assumed right to profit. I don't think that happens in this case, the people experiencing the most harm have the least amount of influence on government. The corporations making the profit will control the narrative, overwhelming any dissenters.

And this, 100%

 

[eoMMan]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

 

[ChiefD]

I HATE this new betting friendly landscape. Pretty much for the reasons stated in the article. I also have a nineteen year old son that wants to gamble every cent he has on either UFC or some football angle. He always wins and then loses it all plus (food money, gas, ect) The worst part is he is a college student with no job. So yeah, it's all my money he's playing with anyway. He has ten close friends all doing the exact same thing. It's all they talk about. Don't even seem to care about girls. Half of them go to the casino every week on top of that. What a mess.
I will never look at sports the same way my self. It's either highlights for clicks, shady refs, or constant gambling advertising. Sports used to be about competition. I don't even know what all this is now. I just know I hate it.

If it’s all your money there is a really easy way to stop this.

 

[JAA]

I don't get why this is singled out. It's another example of people not taking responsibility for themselves. We gotta make gambling illegal because people aren't smart enough not to do it or do it within reason.

Nobody forces anybody to do any of this. Take some personal accountability already. Things like this always irk me.

And for the under age population, let’s hold our parents responsible for not being parents and having conversations about these concepts (not just gambling obviously).

 

[JAA]

I don't get why this is singled out. It's another example of people not taking responsibility for themselves. We gotta make gambling illegal because people aren't smart enough not to do it or do it within reason.

Nobody forces anybody to do any of this. Take some personal accountability already. Things like this always irk me.

Even when it was "illegal" I bet 75% of the posters on this very website used an off-shore book or a bookie at least once in their lives. The "Wagering" threads in here were robust with activity in the early aughts. Legality never mattered to any of us then, won't matter in the future and it was always easy enough to get a bet down.

Getting paid out, on the other hand......crooks.

And this was not any different with online poker back in the day - remember Firepay?

 

[JAA]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

I don’t disagree but this isn’t much different than going out every night partying, getting ****ty grades, and dropping out of school.

 

[JAA]

I have spoken to many of my gambling broker friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought politicians and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports stock gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet buy this….instant leverage of a stock, short this, call that.

It’s just like how crypto got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

.........

Back in the day we had to pick up a landline and talk to a live person to make a stock trade. Gambling joins a long list of activities we can do on demand from out phone.

1000%

Has ruined the stock market BTW (for another thread)

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

The objection that is being raised here isn't moral. Hardly anybody here has an objection to gambling per se. It's the social consequences that are under discussion. The reason why online sports gambling is getting more attention that state lotteries is because very few people go bankrupt from playing the lottery, but it's relatively easy to get oneself into trouble with online sports wagering.

In other words, yes, we have a lottery and we have sports betting, and one of those is a lot more dangerous than the other. On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer but heroin is still illegal. That's not inconsistent.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I have spoken to many of my gambling friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought players and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet this….instant odds on a prop, parlay this, parlay that.

It’s just like how fantasy football got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

It’s so out of control and has infested NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL broadcasts….NFL is the worst though by far with their embracement of all the gambling…..it’s truly amazing.

I have been gambling on sports
Since I was 13. My dad was my first bookie. He taught me the way. I have plenty of discipline and know my limits.

But most people don’t and now the pandoras box has been opened and it won’t be shut. We are going to see the amount of lives ruined X’s 1000 now that your next bet is a tap away on the app on your smart phone.

Buckle up…..and get ready for a lot of greed, point shaving and dirty players and yes officials etc….the storm is coming.

Thanks. Agreed not everyone has the learning experience you had. Can you offer some insights or tips you've seen to be effective in gambling responsibly?

It’s really understanding your limits and realizing this is entertainment and only entertainment.

I deposit $500 into my account at the start of the season.

Once or if that’s gone….that’s it for the season.

Stay away from exotic bets, crazy multi team parlays etc.

Pick your top game in college
for the week and top game for the pros.

Bet them and enjoy those two games.

If you want to parlay them then go ahead. I would even do a 3 team sweetheart teaser if I have three games I love and manipulate the spread +/- 10 points.

I also love futures. I place 4 futures every year to win the Super Bowl. 2 in each conference. I then get to root for those 4 teams all season.

My dad set a limit for me. Down a $100 I had to pay, up a $100 I was paid.

When I hit a big bet….I cash it
Out and get my account to my original limit.

It’s discipline. And not risking what I can’t afford to lose.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no self control and also get very greedy and think this is a viable way to earn easy money.

I invest my serious money in the market and gamble my entertainment budget.

It’s really all about setting limits, buying into the concept of “this is strictly entertainment and I fully expect to lose all this money” and if I win it’s a bonus.

I realize there are “professional” handicappers etc…..but if they hit on 55-60% they are doing really well.

Thanks. I think that's excellent.

Question - how serious do you take the research when picking your games? Is it a thing where you're diving deep and analyzing trends and news and such?

Or is it more you have a feel you like one team and the line seems wrong and you are more casual with it?

Do you have limites for what percentage of your bankroll you'll have in play each week?

 

[RCon]

As echoed before, it seems odd that so many (including the author of the original Atlantic article posted) seem to be presenting the only choices as "anything goes" and "banned completely". Somehow, we've chosen a different option when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, legal marijuana, other forms of gambling, prostitution (in Nevada), pornography, day trading, and any number of other "morally questionable" activities.

Was it a great idea to allow online sports gambling with virtually no guard rails, especially when it comes to advertising and promotion? Of course not. That should have been obvious beforehand, given what we've learned in the past regarding other activities, yet the allure of money caused our legislatures to ignore history.

I'd go so far as to say the problem isn't "legalized sports gambling" as much as it is "corrupt and stupid governing bodies".

 

[rockaction]

I HATE this new betting friendly landscape. Pretty much for the reasons stated in the article. I also have a nineteen year old son that wants to gamble every cent he has on either UFC or some football angle. He always wins and then loses it all plus (food money, gas, ect) The worst part is he is a college student with no job. So yeah, it's all my money he's playing with anyway. He has ten close friends all doing the exact same thing. It's all they talk about. Don't even seem to care about girls. Half of them go to the casino every week on top of that. What a mess.
I will never look at sports the same way my self. It's either highlights for clicks, shady refs, or constant gambling advertising. Sports used to be about competition. I don't even know what all this is now. I just know I hate it.

PIK, man, I'm really sorry to hear this. Best to you—I hope he realizes what he's doing before it's too late. I have had addiction issues in the past and didn't realize them until I was way in over my head. I now no longer spend a cent on gambling or booze or vice, and booze wrecked my life for about twenty years solid. Gambling could have but for some weird occurrences and a social circle that all moved on from it at a certain age. I hope that your son and his friends all do the same, but I'm afraid if it's that ingrained that hard landings tend to have to happen for that to be the case. Let's hope one of those hard landings isn't happening to your son.

I think that legalizing all the sports betting was good in theory but really bad in practice given the way it has been promoted and the springboard given by the leagues and other entities. It's nice to have consensual transactions be legal so that things that aren't violent on their face don't get pushed underground and become criminal and violent, but there is definitely a cost to all of this.

On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer

I've got a word/phrase quibble with you on this one.

 

[KarmaPolice]

These are essentially marketing expenses meant to get the potential gaming addicts onto their books.

And therein lies the rub.

Its like marketing cigarettes to kids.

Right. But we don't let cigarette companies do that every add break of every sporting event.

The takeaway is cigarettes are bad, but online gambling, booze, and any prescription you can ask your dr. about =

 

[Dan Lambskin]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

I rant to my kids every few months about how this is a waste of money.

I sure one of them plunked down $10 tonite on Allen 3 TDs, Allen 250 yards, Cook 45 rec, Cook rush TD, Shakir over 5 receptions, Buffalo -7 and has already scored for $850. Once a month I get a text on how one of these cashed.

I fell a Jamar Chase reception short of a 34-1 payout last night

 

[Todem]

I have spoken to many of my gambling friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought players and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet this….instant odds on a prop, parlay this, parlay that.

It’s just like how fantasy football got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

It’s so out of control and has infested NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL broadcasts….NFL is the worst though by far with their embracement of all the gambling…..it’s truly amazing.

I have been gambling on sports
Since I was 13. My dad was my first bookie. He taught me the way. I have plenty of discipline and know my limits.

But most people don’t and now the pandoras box has been opened and it won’t be shut. We are going to see the amount of lives ruined X’s 1000 now that your next bet is a tap away on the app on your smart phone.

Buckle up…..and get ready for a lot of greed, point shaving and dirty players and yes officials etc….the storm is coming.

Thanks. Agreed not everyone has the learning experience you had. Can you offer some insights or tips you've seen to be effective in gambling responsibly?

It’s really understanding your limits and realizing this is entertainment and only entertainment.

I deposit $500 into my account at the start of the season.

Once or if that’s gone….that’s it for the season.

Stay away from exotic bets, crazy multi team parlays etc.

Pick your top game in college
for the week and top game for the pros.

Bet them and enjoy those two games.

If you want to parlay them then go ahead. I would even do a 3 team sweetheart teaser if I have three games I love and manipulate the spread +/- 10 points.

I also love futures. I place 4 futures every year to win the Super Bowl. 2 in each conference. I then get to root for those 4 teams all season.

My dad set a limit for me. Down a $100 I had to pay, up a $100 I was paid.

When I hit a big bet….I cash it
Out and get my account to my original limit.

It’s discipline. And not risking what I can’t afford to lose.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no self control and also get very greedy and think this is a viable way to earn easy money.

I invest my serious money in the market and gamble my entertainment budget.

It’s really all about setting limits, buying into the concept of “this is strictly entertainment and I fully expect to lose all this money” and if I win it’s a bonus.

I realize there are “professional” handicappers etc…..but if they hit on 55-60% they are doing really well.

Thanks. I think that's excellent.

Question - how serious do you take the research when picking your games? Is it a thing where you're diving deep and analyzing trends and news and such?

Or is it more you have a feel you like one team and the line seems wrong and you are more casual with it?

Do you have limites for what percentage of your bankroll you'll have in play each week?

I really look for false favorites most of the time in the pros.

In college I try to take advantage of spreads that feel really off.

I do follow injuries carefully and depth charts.

Also I do watch long term trends.

A perfect example and my strongest bet so far this season was taking the Bills and points at Miami on TNF. Josh Allen was 11-2 lifetime vs the Dolphins and one of those losses was in his rookie year.

False favorite. And they were killing us before Tua even went down yet again.

So yes….having a good feel in combination of really searching for false favorites plus seeking strong historical trends are my guides.

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

 

[Desert_Power]

These are essentially marketing expenses meant to get the potential gaming addicts onto their books.

And therein lies the rub.

Its like marketing cigarettes to kids.

Right. But we don't let cigarette companies do that every add break of every sporting event.

The takeaway is cigarettes are bad, but online gambling, booze, and any prescription you can ask your dr. about =

Definitely questions about where the line is. I would put prescriptions and gambling (including state lotteries) on the cigarettes side of the line personally.

 

[beer 30]

Thankfully one of the few addictions I don't dabble in, good luck to all you degenerate gamblers out there breaking the cycle

 

[Desert_Power]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

The objection that is being raised here isn't moral. Hardly anybody here has an objection to gambling per se. It's the social consequences that are under discussion. The reason why online sports gambling is getting more attention that state lotteries is because very few people go bankrupt from playing the lottery, but it's relatively easy to get oneself into trouble with online sports wagering.

In other words, yes, we have a lottery and we have sports betting, and one of those is a lot more dangerous than the other. On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer but heroin is still illegal. That's not inconsistent.

It's a fair point. But having the government run the gambling and advertise it so strong has always rubbed me the wrong way. Doesn't seem like their role.

 

[Bossman]

These are essentially marketing expenses meant to get the potential gaming addicts onto their books.

And therein lies the rub.

Its like marketing cigarettes to kids.

Right. But we don't let cigarette companies do that every add break of every sporting event.

The takeaway is cigarettes are bad, but online gambling, booze, and any prescription you can ask your dr. about =

From 1948 until 1995 companies could not advertise liquor on television. Just beer and wine.
They still don't show the beverage being consumed during the adds but we're coming around.

 

[Todem]

I have spoken to many of my gambling broker friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought politicians and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports stock gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet buy this….instant leverage of a stock, short this, call that.

It’s just like how crypto got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

.........

Back in the day we had to pick up a landline and talk to a live person to make a stock trade. Gambling joins a long list of activities we can do on demand from out phone.

1000%

Has ruined the stock market BTW (for another thread)

Yes and no. In one way when I see the algorithms taking over and seeing totally disconnected dumping of high quality we dive in.

But in general…..yes it is a casino. However long term disciplined investors are not affected.

But boy it makes my job harder sometimes with calming people down and talking them off ledges. It’s rare but it happens.

 

[JAA]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

However ...

Lotteries are supposed to fund social services, NOT for-profit corporations

 

[JAA]

As echoed before, it seems odd that so many (including the author of the original Atlantic article posted) seem to be presenting the only choices as "anything goes" and "banned completely". Somehow, we've chosen a different option when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, legal marijuana, other forms of gambling, prostitution (in Nevada), pornography, day trading, and any number of other "morally questionable" activities.

Was it a great idea to allow online sports gambling with virtually no guard rails, especially when it comes to advertising and promotion? Of course not. That should have been obvious beforehand, given what we've learned in the past regarding other activities, yet the allure of money caused our legislatures to ignore history.

I'd go so far as to say the problem isn't "legalized sports gambling" as much as it is "corrupt and stupid governing bodies".

I like what we have done with cigarettes. And its what othe countries have done with things like alchohol and ... gas. TAX THE BEJESUS OUT OF IT.

Im all for huge luxury taxes:
- Cigarettes
- Alcohol
- Gambling
- Gas
- Sugar

These are all NICE TO HAVES

 

[Desert_Power]

I have spoken to many of my gambling friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought players and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet this….instant odds on a prop, parlay this, parlay that.

It’s just like how fantasy football got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

It’s so out of control and has infested NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL broadcasts….NFL is the worst though by far with their embracement of all the gambling…..it’s truly amazing.

I have been gambling on sports
Since I was 13. My dad was my first bookie. He taught me the way. I have plenty of discipline and know my limits.

But most people don’t and now the pandoras box has been opened and it won’t be shut. We are going to see the amount of lives ruined X’s 1000 now that your next bet is a tap away on the app on your smart phone.

Buckle up…..and get ready for a lot of greed, point shaving and dirty players and yes officials etc….the storm is coming.

Thanks. Agreed not everyone has the learning experience you had. Can you offer some insights or tips you've seen to be effective in gambling responsibly?

It’s really understanding your limits and realizing this is entertainment and only entertainment.

I deposit $500 into my account at the start of the season.

Once or if that’s gone….that’s it for the season.

Stay away from exotic bets, crazy multi team parlays etc.

Pick your top game in college
for the week and top game for the pros.

Bet them and enjoy those two games.

If you want to parlay them then go ahead. I would even do a 3 team sweetheart teaser if I have three games I love and manipulate the spread +/- 10 points.

I also love futures. I place 4 futures every year to win the Super Bowl. 2 in each conference. I then get to root for those 4 teams all season.

My dad set a limit for me. Down a $100 I had to pay, up a $100 I was paid.

When I hit a big bet….I cash it
Out and get my account to my original limit.

It’s discipline. And not risking what I can’t afford to lose.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no self control and also get very greedy and think this is a viable way to earn easy money.

I invest my serious money in the market and gamble my entertainment budget.

It’s really all about setting limits, buying into the concept of “this is strictly entertainment and I fully expect to lose all this money” and if I win it’s a bonus.

I realize there are “professional” handicappers etc…..but if they hit on 55-60% they are doing really well.

Thanks. I think that's excellent.

Question - how serious do you take the research when picking your games? Is it a thing where you're diving deep and analyzing trends and news and such?

Or is it more you have a feel you like one team and the line seems wrong and you are more casual with it?

Do you have limites for what percentage of your bankroll you'll have in play each week?

I really look for false favorites most of the time in the pros.

In college I try to take advantage of spreads that feel really off.

I do follow injuries carefully and depth charts.

Also I do watch long term trends.

A perfect example and my strongest bet so far this season was taking the Bills and points at Miami on TNF. Josh Allen was 11-2 lifetime vs the Dolphins and one of those losses was in his rookie year.

False favorite. And they were killing us before Tua even went down yet again.

So yes….having a good feel in combination of really searching for false favorites plus seeking strong historical trends are my guides.

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

Remind me, what was the line on this one?

 

[Todem]

I have spoken to many of my gambling friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought players and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet this….instant odds on a prop, parlay this, parlay that.

It’s just like how fantasy football got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

It’s so out of control and has infested NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL broadcasts….NFL is the worst though by far with their embracement of all the gambling…..it’s truly amazing.

I have been gambling on sports
Since I was 13. My dad was my first bookie. He taught me the way. I have plenty of discipline and know my limits.

But most people don’t and now the pandoras box has been opened and it won’t be shut. We are going to see the amount of lives ruined X’s 1000 now that your next bet is a tap away on the app on your smart phone.

Buckle up…..and get ready for a lot of greed, point shaving and dirty players and yes officials etc….the storm is coming.

Thanks. Agreed not everyone has the learning experience you had. Can you offer some insights or tips you've seen to be effective in gambling responsibly?

It’s really understanding your limits and realizing this is entertainment and only entertainment.

I deposit $500 into my account at the start of the season.

Once or if that’s gone….that’s it for the season.

Stay away from exotic bets, crazy multi team parlays etc.

Pick your top game in college
for the week and top game for the pros.

Bet them and enjoy those two games.

If you want to parlay them then go ahead. I would even do a 3 team sweetheart teaser if I have three games I love and manipulate the spread +/- 10 points.

I also love futures. I place 4 futures every year to win the Super Bowl. 2 in each conference. I then get to root for those 4 teams all season.

My dad set a limit for me. Down a $100 I had to pay, up a $100 I was paid.

When I hit a big bet….I cash it
Out and get my account to my original limit.

It’s discipline. And not risking what I can’t afford to lose.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no self control and also get very greedy and think this is a viable way to earn easy money.

I invest my serious money in the market and gamble my entertainment budget.

It’s really all about setting limits, buying into the concept of “this is strictly entertainment and I fully expect to lose all this money” and if I win it’s a bonus.

I realize there are “professional” handicappers etc…..but if they hit on 55-60% they are doing really well.

Thanks. I think that's excellent.

Question - how serious do you take the research when picking your games? Is it a thing where you're diving deep and analyzing trends and news and such?

Or is it more you have a feel you like one team and the line seems wrong and you are more casual with it?

Do you have limites for what percentage of your bankroll you'll have in play each week?

I really look for false favorites most of the time in the pros.

In college I try to take advantage of spreads that feel really off.

I do follow injuries carefully and depth charts.

Also I do watch long term trends.

A perfect example and my strongest bet so far this season was taking the Bills and points at Miami on TNF. Josh Allen was 11-2 lifetime vs the Dolphins and one of those losses was in his rookie year.

False favorite. And they were killing us before Tua even went down yet again.

So yes….having a good feel in combination of really searching for false favorites plus seeking strong historical trends are my guides.

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

Remind me, what was the line on this one?

I am almost sure it was Miami -3 when I bet it. I was like….Buffalo will win this game most likely and I will gladly take a FG.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Legalized online gambling of other kinds, such as slots, blackjack, etc, can be problematic for some people. Probably a lot more so than just sports gambling

And that's for sure where this is going. Draftkings Blackjack on your phone for a 22 year old will be something.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I have spoken to many of my gambling friends and we all saw this coming as the new epic epidemic in our country.

Not only that….if you thought players and officials were compromised before…..we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg now with legalized sports gambling.

I can’t stand the constant in your face BS of hey bet this….instant odds on a prop, parlay this, parlay that.

It’s just like how fantasy football got watered down, exploited and IMO ruined.

It’s so out of control and has infested NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL broadcasts….NFL is the worst though by far with their embracement of all the gambling…..it’s truly amazing.

I have been gambling on sports
Since I was 13. My dad was my first bookie. He taught me the way. I have plenty of discipline and know my limits.

But most people don’t and now the pandoras box has been opened and it won’t be shut. We are going to see the amount of lives ruined X’s 1000 now that your next bet is a tap away on the app on your smart phone.

Buckle up…..and get ready for a lot of greed, point shaving and dirty players and yes officials etc….the storm is coming.

Thanks. Agreed not everyone has the learning experience you had. Can you offer some insights or tips you've seen to be effective in gambling responsibly?

It’s really understanding your limits and realizing this is entertainment and only entertainment.

I deposit $500 into my account at the start of the season.

Once or if that’s gone….that’s it for the season.

Stay away from exotic bets, crazy multi team parlays etc.

Pick your top game in college
for the week and top game for the pros.

Bet them and enjoy those two games.

If you want to parlay them then go ahead. I would even do a 3 team sweetheart teaser if I have three games I love and manipulate the spread +/- 10 points.

I also love futures. I place 4 futures every year to win the Super Bowl. 2 in each conference. I then get to root for those 4 teams all season.

My dad set a limit for me. Down a $100 I had to pay, up a $100 I was paid.

When I hit a big bet….I cash it
Out and get my account to my original limit.

It’s discipline. And not risking what I can’t afford to lose.

Unfortunately a lot of people have no self control and also get very greedy and think this is a viable way to earn easy money.

I invest my serious money in the market and gamble my entertainment budget.

It’s really all about setting limits, buying into the concept of “this is strictly entertainment and I fully expect to lose all this money” and if I win it’s a bonus.

I realize there are “professional” handicappers etc…..but if they hit on 55-60% they are doing really well.

Thanks. I think that's excellent.

Question - how serious do you take the research when picking your games? Is it a thing where you're diving deep and analyzing trends and news and such?

Or is it more you have a feel you like one team and the line seems wrong and you are more casual with it?

Do you have limites for what percentage of your bankroll you'll have in play each week?

I really look for false favorites most of the time in the pros.

In college I try to take advantage of spreads that feel really off.

I do follow injuries carefully and depth charts.

Also I do watch long term trends.

A perfect example and my strongest bet so far this season was taking the Bills and points at Miami on TNF. Josh Allen was 11-2 lifetime vs the Dolphins and one of those losses was in his rookie year.

False favorite. And they were killing us before Tua even went down yet again.

So yes….having a good feel in combination of really searching for false favorites plus seeking strong historical trends are my guides.

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

Thank you. Do you know of any good articles or resources that talk about the kind of stuff you're writing about here?

I agree with you in that it seems like there isn't much out there to help teach people how to be responsible with it. LIke your dad taught you.

Much of the help line stuff I feel like is mostly lip service from the books. They have to tack that on at the end.

 

[Joe Bryant]

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

And apologies for asking so many questions but I'm interested in this topic.

Am I right in that you don't ever let your bankroll get above your initial deposit for the season ($500 in your example). So if you're up $100 after week 1, you pull out the $100 to keep the bankroll at $500. And then if you love a game in week 2, you might have 25% of your bankroll in play that week?

 

[Joe Bryant]

For @Todem and others who are into this, do you have a sense for how profitable (or not) you are over like a 5 year run?

I know Todem said it was pure entertainment.

My guess is the linesmakers are so good, it's nearly impossible to consistently be in the black betting Football. I think the linesmakers are so sharp that they can put the odds really close to 50-50 and then you can't be right enough to offset the rake. So like almost all gambling, if you play long enough, it feels to me like you'll lose.

Which goes back to Todem's point: I think you have to see it as entertainment.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I hate the way some of this is promoted.

The "All you need is a feeling and a phone" seems awful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxb1XxcACZY&t=1s

 

[Todem]

If I love a game like I did that Buffalo/Miami game I will risk at least 25% of my bankroll on one game.

And apologies for asking so many questions but I'm interested in this topic.

Am I right in that you don't ever let your bankroll get above your initial deposit for the season ($500 in your example). So if you're up $100 after week 1, you pull out the $100 to keep the bankroll at $500. And then if you love a game in week 2, you might have 25% of your bankroll in play that week?

That is correct.

 

[BassNBrew]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

However ...

Lotteries are supposed to fund social services, NOT for-profit corporations

The State Lottery Act directs the lottery to increase and maximize the available revenues for education purposes. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, a breakdown of revenues showed 65.8% went to prizes, 23.4% for education programs, 6.8% in retailer commissions, and the remaining 4% to administrative expenses. That 10.8% gone. Vegas and others are operating at a 5% gain on a straight bet.

For @Todem and others who are into this, do you have a sense for how profitable (or not) you are over like a 5 year run?

I know Todem said it was pure entertainment.

My guess is the linesmakers are so good, it's nearly impossible to consistently be in the black betting Football. I think the linesmakers are so sharp that they can put the odds really close to 50-50 and then you can't be right enough to offset the rake. So like almost all gambling, if you play long enough, it feels to me like you'll lose.

Which goes back to Todem's point: I think you have to see it as entertainment.

DFS is taking a 10-19% cut. It's easier to be profitable in betting than dfs and probably high stakes FF contests.

I hate the way some of this is promoted.

The "All you need is a feeling and a phone" seems awful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxb1XxcACZY&t=1s

That is disgusting. They claim to be the only legal outlet in Florida. The gov't needs to smack them back in line. Who a Betting General warning saying 95% betting will lose money this year and 10% will go into financial ruin that pops up before every bet make sense?

 

[Todem]

For @Todem and others who are into this, do you have a sense for how profitable (or not) you are over like a 5 year run?

I know Todem said it was pure entertainment.

My guess is the linesmakers are so good, it's nearly impossible to consistently be in the black betting Football. I think the linesmakers are so sharp that they can put the odds really close to 50-50 and then you can't be right enough to offset the rake. So like almost all gambling, if you play long enough, it feels to me like you'll lose.

Which goes back to Todem's point: I think you have to see it as entertainment.

I had a three year run where I was ahead at the end of every season. That ended in 2023.

So far YTD we are up $700 as we did hit a monster 3 team money line parlay in week one.

I actually would recommend if you are going to parlay….just bet teams to win. Less odds but less heartache with having to cover the spread.

That is a pick winners approach vs pick false favorites approach. Less odds but better odds to potentially win when you see some strong games where you feel like a team has a great chance to win straight up.

And hey you can take dogs with that approach and ramp up your odds.

As far as articles…..wish I could point you to a few but I don’t really know of any.

 

[Hastur]

The difference, I feel, between the lottery, as opposed to sports betting is the 'turn key' market.

To play the lottery, you have to choose to go to a location and purchase a ticket. You have never done this before. It is a new action. You have chosen to try this new thing. A new thing you don't have a connection to initially. You are not emotionally invested. You can buy ALL the lottery tickets and scratch offs at your local gas station and be financially invested via $50 max.

Sports gambling already has a 'turn key' audience. Hundreds of millions of people already watch, enjoy, and are emotionally invested in. Rabid even(Raiders and Philly fans come to mind lol). So, you have this HUGE audience that is emotionally invested in something that has hundreds of variables for each game. Now add a monetary variable to those.

People aren't generally emotionally attached to the lottery. Sports fans ARE emotionally attached to their teams. As soon as you add the ability to earn/lose money based on that....

Last note: AI has been creeping into sports betting. Once it takes control(and it will), it'll be too late.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

The objection that is being raised here isn't moral. Hardly anybody here has an objection to gambling per se. It's the social consequences that are under discussion. The reason why online sports gambling is getting more attention that state lotteries is because very few people go bankrupt from playing the lottery, but it's relatively easy to get oneself into trouble with online sports wagering.

In other words, yes, we have a lottery and we have sports betting, and one of those is a lot more dangerous than the other. On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer but heroin is still illegal. That's not inconsistent.

But it doesn't explain why alcohol and sugar would be legal, but gambling illegal. Because alcohol is way more dangerous than gambling. And sugar probably is too. Heck, football itself might be more dangerous.

And there are plenty of low income people that get into serious issues with overspending all their money on scratch-off tickets. My father-in-law was one of them for a long time.

 

[Capella]

The amount of 18-30 year old bros that are gonna go broke from this has to be startling. Frat houses on campuses better get their dues up front.

What gets me is the insane single game parlays they show during every pregame show. Places like espn just casually tossing out +550 odds and acting like they are sure things. It’s insane to me.

I don’t disagree but this isn’t much different than going out every night partying, getting ****ty grades, and dropping out of school.

They’re doing that too.

My main gripe with gambling is the targeted advertising and the ridiculous parlays they have people who are ‘insiders’ peddle.

 

[Sammy3469]

I don't get why this is singled out. It's another example of people not taking responsibility for themselves. We gotta make gambling illegal because people aren't smart enough not to do it or do it within reason.

Nobody forces anybody to do any of this. Take some personal accountability already. Things like this always irk me.

Even when it was "illegal" I bet 75% of the posters on this very website used an off-shore book or a bookie at least once in their lives. The "Wagering" threads in here were robust with activity in the early aughts. Legality never mattered to any of us then, won't matter in the future and it was always easy enough to get a bet down.

Getting paid out, on the other hand......crooks.

I'd sort of actually doubt that, GB.

As for what is different now, it's pretty simple, the smartphone/iPad and social media. I don't really have a problem with these sites/Apps, but I do think folks need to realize the combo of social media/smartphone/spending is a pretty insidious combination in general (and that goes for gambling, single day stock options, crypto, etc). For a lot of kids/teenagers there really isn't money, budgets, etc.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

The objection that is being raised here isn't moral. Hardly anybody here has an objection to gambling per se. It's the social consequences that are under discussion. The reason why online sports gambling is getting more attention that state lotteries is because very few people go bankrupt from playing the lottery, but it's relatively easy to get oneself into trouble with online sports wagering.

In other words, yes, we have a lottery and we have sports betting, and one of those is a lot more dangerous than the other. On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer but heroin is still illegal. That's not inconsistent.

But it doesn't explain why alcohol and sugar would be legal, but gambling illegal. Because alcohol is way more dangerous than gambling. And sugar probably is too. Heck, football itself might be more dangerous.

And there are plenty of low income people that get into serious issues with overspending all their money on scratch-off tickets. My father-in-law was one of them for a long time.

I don't think the fact that sugar is legal tells us anything about if or how we should regulate sports betting.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The difference in participation with legal sportsbooks vs illegal offshore books is massive.

Sure, lots of people played the illegal books. And still do I'm sure. But it's night and day now with it being legal.

 

[eoMMan]

Another conversation for another day…if this bothers you, the state lotteries should as well. That’s been legalized gambling with bad odds for a long time.

The objection that is being raised here isn't moral. Hardly anybody here has an objection to gambling per se. It's the social consequences that are under discussion. The reason why online sports gambling is getting more attention that state lotteries is because very few people go bankrupt from playing the lottery, but it's relatively easy to get oneself into trouble with online sports wagering.

In other words, yes, we have a lottery and we have sports betting, and one of those is a lot more dangerous than the other. On a related note, that also explains why we allow people to drink beer but heroin is still illegal. That's not inconsistent.

Why is sports betting a lot more dangerous than the lottery?