[kdmfox]

How does a book determine if someone is a professional and what is a professional other than the obvious they make a living at this? ... Or do they just assume if you win that you are one? ... Anyway, there seems like a lot of books arbitrarily making up rules for individuals to suit themselves and even admitting the individual broke no rules ... On the other hand, they seem very concerned about how these sites rate them ... The Fox

[tacomax]

I would suggest that they use the definition of the term "professional" more as someone skillful rather than someone gambling for a living specifically.

Say a book has 2 guys. One was a guy betting random -110 lines at $500 a time and winning $2K over the weekend. The other was betting $500 a time but chasing steam and targetting off-lines and finished $2K down over the weekend. If they're going to dump one of the guys, it would be the latter, despite being a loser. Someone who bets badly may profit in the short-term but will always be a long-term loser. Someone who bets smart may lose in the short-term but should be a long-term winner (or at least a long-term break-even guy). Books don't like long-term winners or even people who break even - they make their money through losers.

[JoshW]

Say a book has 2 guys. One was a guy betting random -110 lines at $500 a time and winning $2K over the weekend. The other was betting $500 a time but chasing steam and targetting off-lines and finished $2K down over the weekend. If they're going to dump one of the guys, it would be the latter, despite being a loser. Someone who bets badly may profit in the short-term but will always be a long-term loser. Someone who bets smart may lose in the short-term but should be a long-term winner (or at least a long-term break-even guy). Books don't like long-term winners or even people who break even - they make their money through losers.

Well put tacomax

[Relentless]

They compare the lines you bet at to the closing lines. Sharps beat the closing lines, squares dont.

[Quarm]

For a bookie a pro is someone who is winning, while betting the lines before they can move it...