[jjgold]

Yes theya re and same thing as having 1k on a game. It leads to actuall gambling.

[michael777]

with mental bets,the only thing you can lose is your mind,not your money

[jjgold]

Mikey they lead to real bets believe me

[jay88]

Sorry the ignorance... But what do you consider mental bets?

[doncal]

WTF is a mental bet? do you have to do the vulcan mind meld from star trek to get the line?

[jjgold]

Mental Bet= A scenario where you make a selection between two teams with a pointspread in mind IN YOUR HEAD and not for real money.

Example:

Yankess and Detroit are playing tonight so I guy would say " I like the Yanks tonight IF I WAS GOING TO MAKE A BET" but in reality he does not make a real bet.

[pags11]

I've definitely done this before...yeah, they're the same...

[mad]

Can't agree, does being thirsty and thinking "Gee i'd love a tall frosty one" make you an alcoholic or incapable of driving?

Thoughts and actions are not one and the same.

[kdmfox]

Is this a joke?

[jjgold]

If you think about drinking beer or fantasize about it you will be a heavy drinker.

Same with gambling

No this is not a joke

[sjelveh]

Sorry JJ, but I don’t even consider small wagers as a bet. If it doesn’t hurt at least a little bit if you lose, it’s not really a bet. Of course small wagers are different for different people.

[jjgold]

$1 bet is the same as a $1000 bet

smoking one ciggy can lead to heroin addiction

same thing

[HAPPY BOY]

Can't agree, does being thirsty and thinking "Gee i'd love a tall frosty one" make you an alcoholic or incapable of driving?

Thoughts and actions are not one and the same.

no shit! man I banged Tiffany Theissan this morning, I hope she liked it.

[Quarm]

some good points there JJ, it all starts in the mind...
BUT some statements are a lil too extreme imo, you cant say that if you wish you had a beer sometime, you will be a heavy drinker.

[slacker00]

I like this question. But, I don't think there is a clear answer.

I am a new sports bettor. I have not yet placed a real money wager on sports with an actual sportsbook, just side bets with buddies. Recently, I decided to try to understand sports betting by reading "Sharp Sports Betting" by Wong, as well as internet gambling forums. I am keeping a $1000 ledger of imaginary money for this NFL season, trying to understand the nuances of placing +2 1/2 at +102 versus +3 at -110, etc.

Is this gambling? In short, yes. My imaginary $1000 is meaningful in as much as I take this betting seriously. I'm taking it semi-seriously, trying to turn a profit for the season, but if I lose (which I expect to do, being an absolute rookie), at least I'll gain experience and be better prepared for the day if/when I place bets for real money at real sports books. But, how am I different than the guy who has a $1000 bankroll of real money, placing real bets, but who can afford this betting as the cost of entertainment? I see no difference.

[edit: fixed a spelling error]

[jjgold]

Slacker you are correct so you might as well make some $10 bets and start practing and post some of your plays here.

Welcome to the board

[mad]

no shit! man I banged Tiffany Theissan this morning, I hope she liked it.

You were banging her this morning, i was banging her this morning as well. What time you get there, must of just missed ya.

[jjgold]

I know a guy that started off writing fake bets on paper and before you know it he lost a drug store and two houses

Be careful

[Ganchrow]

I know a guy that started off writing fake bets on paper and before you know it he lost a drug store and two houses

My third-cousin-twice-removed once accidentally flipped a coin.

The next day he died.

[jjgold]

Mental bets are very serious

Point of whole thread and can lead to destruction

[sjelveh]

off topic but dose everyone else here seem to always lose the bets you don’t make like if like a team an I don’t bet them they always seem to cover

[jjgold]

Exactly guy!!

When you bet you second guess and bet differently

[slacker00]

Slacker you are correct so you might as well make some $10 bets and start practing and post some of your plays here.

Welcome to the board

Thankyou, JJGOLD!

I reread the thread and realize that my last post didn't quite address the gist of what you were talking about. You claim that betting can lead to self destruction. I have to respectfully disagree to some degree. I will admit that there is such a thing as gambling addiction. All gamblers should be aware of the warning signs and respond accordingly. There are many good support groups for this kind of problem, and there is no shame in admitting to a gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction aside, bankroll management is the key issue. First and foremost, it must be understood "How much can I afford to lose?". This will differ dramatically from person to person, and even vary through the course of a person's gambling career. But, you must set a number before you place your first bet! This is your bankroll, stick to it. Now, when you make bets, you must bet a size which will not bust your bankroll even if you hit the worst losing streak. Being a sportsbetting newbie, I'm not sure how much this would be. Maybe 100 standard bets for a sports betting season? In any case, you have to stick to a betting strategy that will not leave you on the curb.

Here's a story of how NOT to manage your gambling bankroll:
http://www.houstonianonline.com/medi...o-658388.shtml
I've heard many similar stories, I just pulled this one up from a random web search. I've also heard about the losing side of this kind of story, and it can end in suicide. This type betting is really reckless and idiotic for all practical purposes. Unfortunately, this is just an extreme example of how problem gamblers sometimes mismanage their bankroll.


If it is any help to anyone out there, my personal gambling bankroll is at exactly $1000. I know it is small compared to most people that might read this, but it is my number. If I lose my $1000, it wouldn't be the end of the world, but it would end my gambling for the entire year. I gamble playing poker, mostly, picking $2/$4 limit or tournaments with up to $20 buyin. The biggest swings are always less than $200, and most of the time less than $50 bucks. Then again, I understand bankroll management relating to poker. I aspire to be a break-even gambler at various gambling forms, which takes a considerable amount of work, I'll admit. But, it's entertainment. It's like anything else, I suppose, some people will pay bloated retail prices, some people only shop for sales, some people get insider deals, etc. If you are willing to do the work, there is a payoff. I'm trying to get the insider deal with regards to gambling. The first step is to learn bankroll management.

edit: I'm not sure the above link will work for everyone. Here's another link to the same story, just in case. http://www.gagreport.com/bizarrenews...04%20vegas.htm

[mad]

Yeah well getting up in the morning can lead to all sorts of problems. So too can crossing the road, you could get hit by a bus. So your point is, not only should we not get up in the morning, we should never cross the road and god help you if you even think of doing it.

Human beings have a brain to help us decide which actions are wise and which are not. If you have trouble operating this piece of equipment on a daily basis, then yes, you probably should not be betting. However, if you say that just because i contemplate this weekends games, that somehow i have started down a path to inevitable self destruction then i have no option but to disagree. At the end of the day, i will use my thought processes - again, and if my head does not explode i decide if and when i make a wager. Full stop. If my brain is telling me, "hold on, something is not right here" then my resulting ACTION is to avoid the bet. Through this process, thought, it is my contention that this actually improves my chances of success and does not condemn me.

[mad]

Exactly guy!!

When you bet you second guess and bet differently

OK JJ,

If this is how it works for you, then yes, you should not bet.

[Ganchrow]

Here's a story of how NOT to manage your gambling bankroll:
http://www.houstonianonline.com/medi...o-658388.shtml

And here's another.

Truly, no disrespect intended, JJ. I just want others to realize that yours may be a bit of an extreme example.

[jjgold]

Ganch I like to cover all bases.

Hey if you fantasize about women all the time that is a problem too as it takes away from your daily thought process.

Shit I went to school for this stuff so I know

One step further..if you think about gambling all the time and never bet it is still a problem and your considered a compulsive gambler

[natrass]

I know a guy that started off writing fake bets on paper and before you know it he lost a drug store and two houses

Be careful

That reminds me of an ex-girlfirend. I persuaded her to take an aspirin for a headache.

I went back the next day and she'd only started injecting heroin, hadn't she.

Things can spiral.