Inside a professional betting syndicate

[TahoeLegend]

Somewhat interesting to read about how these guys operate, but it's far too boring for me to ever do it. As they admit, they are not handicapping at all. They are line shopping and attempting to apply formulas they have invented to small line moves. They neither know nor care about real handicapping.

http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/20913399/nfl-spending-nfl-sunday-sports-betting-syndicate


There are a lot of people trying this, but I have yet to see any who are actually making enough money for the time they invest to make the boredom worth while.

The halftime strategy does make sense. I spent one year working with several other handicappers trying to beat the half time lines on MNF. We would each call several bookies at half time, compare lines, and then try to take advantage of small differences from book to book. We made a little money, but I got bored and dropped out.

What these guys are doing reminds me of card counting in black jack. By the time you factored in the long hours spent sitting at a table in a smokey casino and the endless little aggravations like a drunk coming up to a table and hitting a 20 just when the deck was right or losing a big bet even though the deck was almost foolproof, it was a grind it out business that was so boring it was not worth it in the long run. And I was doing it in the early day before Thorpe's book was well known and the casino was taking counter-measures.

I prefer trying to handicap a game, betting money, then watching the game and enjoying the football as much as the betting..

 

[s--k]

I'll have to check out the link, but just reading your post here, I have always found the #1 thing for me, maybe it applies to others, is to have fun and enjoy the games and everything that happens. Your last sentence there really hits it on the head for me. There was a time that I was focused on the money and how much I could win. It lead to some amazing highs, but some crushing lows and I hated everything the days I was losing and it caused alot of problems as I'm sure some of you might've unfortunately experienced. And I realized I was in it for the wrong reasons. I made all my bets reasonable amounts to the point that if I lost an amazing game I could still appreciate what I was seeing. And it actually led to a clearer mind with alot less pressure. Been that way for 15 years maybe and couldn't be happier. Everyone is different and in it for different reasons and purposes, but enjoying the process and watching the games should be pretty high on most everyone's list I would think.

 

[s--k]

Next time I see halftime lines and juice moving rapidly I'll probably think of these guys now.

 

[B.A.R.]

Good read.

 

[Johnnyonthespot]

Thanks

 

[gps_3]

I'll have to check out the link, but just reading your post here, I have always found the #1 thing for me, maybe it applies to others, is to have fun and enjoy the games and everything that happens. Your last sentence there really hits it on the head for me. There was a time that I was focused on the money and how much I could win. It lead to some amazing highs, but some crushing lows and I hated everything the days I was losing and it caused alot of problems as I'm sure some of you might've unfortunately experienced. And I realized I was in it for the wrong reasons. I made all my bets reasonable amounts to the point that if I lost an amazing game I could still appreciate what I was seeing. And it actually led to a clearer mind with alot less pressure. Been that way for 15 years maybe and couldn't be happier. Everyone is different and in it for different reasons and purposes, but enjoying the process and watching the games should be pretty high on most everyone's list I would think.

When I started betting less money per game, my enjoyment went up considerably

 

[twinkie13]

Somewhat interesting to read about how these guys operate, but it's far too boring for me to ever do it. As they admit, they are not handicapping at all. They are line shopping and attempting to apply formulas they have invented to small line moves. They neither know nor care about real handicapping.

http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/20913399/nfl-spending-nfl-sunday-sports-betting-syndicate


There are a lot of people trying this, but I have yet to see any who are actually making enough money for the time they invest to make the boredom worth while.

The halftime strategy does make sense. I spent one year working with several other handicappers trying to beat the half time lines on MNF. We would each call several bookies at half time, compare lines, and then try to take advantage of small differences from book to book. We made a little money, but I got bored and dropped out.

What these guys are doing reminds me of card counting in black jack. By the time you factored in the long hours spent sitting at a table in a smokey casino and the endless little aggravations like a drunk coming up to a table and hitting a 20 just when the deck was right or losing a big bet even though the deck was almost foolproof, it was a grind it out business that was so boring it was not worth it in the long run. And I was doing it in the early day before Thorpe's book was well known and the casino was taking counter-measures.

I prefer trying to handicap a game, betting money, then watching the game and enjoying the football as much as the betting..

THIS

 

[Timh]

Good read, though I wish they had gone into more of the math and valuation on the line moves.

 

[ksimpsc]

Good read, though I wish they had gone into more of the math and valuation on the line moves.

agreed they stated it a few times but was hoping they would expand there

 

[B.A.R.]

Good read, though I wish they had gone into more of the math and valuation on the line moves.

Yeah...

It seemed like a good piece that just abruptly ended.

I get why they wouldn't want to discuss it but definitely was leaving me wanting more, albeit a good read.