Why pay a bookie???

[NattyBumpo]

I just got off the phone with my brother who live in So Cal. He was asking me to make a bet on the Giants for him. I told him what I thought about the game yadayadayada...

Then I stopped after I told him he would have to pay -120 to win a hundred. Wait a minute dude..."Why don't you just call your buddies that you have a betting pool with every year and find one that like the Pats and just bet straight up ... no vig?

He had a taker 30 minutes later.

There's hardly anyone out there who doesn't have an opinion and wants to risk something on it this afternoon. Why pay 11/10. Its a good deal for both party's and not too many are gonna ask for juice on -3 if they like the Patriots.

Shit, I live in Vegas... so most people already are playing at the book. I also don't have a lot of money riding on this game. So it's really no big thing to me. But every year I hear a couple of die hard fans with their team in the Super Bowl get into it, and challenge each other straight up, no vig, no points that their team will win. And they bet a hundred bucks, no strings. It's assinine for the guy that is on the favorite but there's a lot of dumbasses where I work, and pride often gets in the way of good sense. I never seem to be lucky enough to find these saps but it happens every year.

This scenario is not very likely but getting down with a trustworthy colleague at +3 or -3 without any juice is highly likely for this game. Before adding any prop bets or parlays or god forbid your not already on a side, or just want to add..... before you hit submit.... try making a few phone calls.

Just a suggestion. Can't believe I didn't think of this sooner.

Peace.

[mrsports]

Lots of friendships have been destroyed over deals like you described.
People can be pretty caddy about betting.
People don't like their friend goating them because they beat them.
Guys sometimes don't pay (suppose a book might not as well)


It takes two guys with no ego to make it work as you described.

[Louie]

Yes, no question, if you are talking about a good friend (that has character), it's a good idea to save the vig.

But, like sports said...Some people can be very squirrelly & selfish when it comes to giving up their money (even though they know they placed a bet and lost). This is why bookmakers are there; for a reliable place to place a bet. I've ran pools with my friends and always have at least 3-4 guys that I have to track down to get their money. I play golf with the one guy who always wants to play for money, but never wants to pay up when he loses. I find that shit very annoying.

Personally, I don't like placing a bet (or wouldn't recommend that anyone else place a bet) with someone unless I know 100% that you will be paid when you win (and can cashout winnings when the time comes).

I carefully monitor & talk with these online books while keeping an eye on the industry. I do this for a reason. I want to make 100% sure that every sportsbook recommendation I give are the right choices and that all the players on this forum are playing (or at least had the opportunity to play) at reliable books that will pay players in a timely fashion. I take this responsibility seriously.

[beak]

Only way to do the friendship wager is to have the money on the table before game time with a third party in the room. There's always going to be that guy who's the double or nothing until he wins

[mrsports]

and a guy that finds it easier to not pay you than a book.

When I was in Indiana in their basketball hey day... and the opponent was a favorite...I could get action on Straight up bets and then take Indiana plus the points. I would have like Purdue +5-110 and Indiana pk even money. There was no friendship there and just a bet...and the money was put up before the game....problem was to get anyone to bet more than $100.

[NattyBumpo]

Jeeze... I did mention "a trustworthy colleague". Nevertheless, I do remember years ago... It took me 6 months to collect a 20$ bet from a guy at work on a Super Bowl "ego" bet when I lived in SoCal. I learned a great deal about his character and that turned out to be priceless in the long run. He took advantage of a lot of people, but I never had to deal with him again.

[Louie]

Jeeze... I did mention "a trustworthy colleague"

Haha. It's our duty to offer contrarian views on every topic. That's what a good forum does. I feel we've made good points in this thread. You do offer some excellent topics to discuss...not to mention your game writeups... Glad you found us.

[NattyBumpo]

Jeeze... I did mention "a trustworthy colleague"

Haha. It's our duty to offer contrarian views on every topic. That's what a good forum does. I feel we've made good points in this thread. You do offer some excellent topics to discuss...not to mention your game writeups... Glad you found us.

Thats spot on Louie, I didn't mean to sound miffed. Sorry if it came out like that. I guess it did.

After looking at the the replies I guess I could've put more emphasis on the pitfalls of "friendly wagers" haha...
Living in "sin city" ...most people here are more oriented and accustomed to the reality of winning and losing of wagers...shit..people throw a 20$ in the poker machines on their way out of the grocery store and chalk it up as state tax LoL. So I kinda lost sight of the fact that it's a little different with parts of the country where some people just don't gamble much and don't consider paying a lost wager as something as honorable.

So, thanks for the replys fellas. Perhaps it really did save someone a headache.