[Smurf71]

Most books have a RISK DEPARTMENTS who are spending their days analyzing us and our bets,trying to figure out who we are and what to do with us. To ban or not to ban , that is the eternal question.

I'd like to ask:


Where exactly “recreational player” ends and “pro “ starts ? By the book it should be A. you are doing it as a hobby. B. you are doing it as a business...or is it A. You bet $100/game B. You bet 5-10K a game? Yet I think it is more about winning and losing than anything. Ultimately everything eventually comes down to the money that is won or lost.


We are all here to win I think, are we not? Any objections ?


You can not blame books for making profit, of course not! But you can blame them for trying to make profit on EVERY SINGLE player. And if that wont happen, they will throw you out.It is perfectly legal. One can be happy if he's money will not be stolen in a process. Here's why we have to highly value SBR guys work and efforts. They are the only ones to protect us, players and stand for our rights!


Here's a players comment about one of A+ rated books.


“In a two month period from January to March of 2007 I was up for about $30,000. I was put on delay towards the end of that stretch, and very quickly afterwards simply banned outright, with my entire account balance being sent to my Neteller account.”


Today I had a chat with a guy that works for CS of one of the very well known books .After he told me that this book is for recreational players only. I did ask : “ Who is recreational player in your book ? Is that a guy with “born to lose” tattoo on his chest?” His answer was- “No sir , it is about betting amounts only...if you wanna bet 10k or even 5k per game, this is not a place for you”


Then I asked: “If I place $100 straight bets every day and win 7-8k/month , 12 months in a row , am I still recreational player in your book or will my limits be reduced to $10?” “Would you pay me my 100k and still let me play?”


He did not answer me at all! Well there was no right answer to that question. We all know that.


So here is the dilemma. If most of the books are “4losers only” ,how can we survive?


If one wants to make living out of it, should one move to Vegas? All the books have their pain threshold. Even in Vegas you can get banned.


So my question is: who is recreational player and how to pretend to be one and not to be kicked out ? Is that even realistically possible? Please share your thoughts and experiences!

[sinkhole]

it is more about the lines u get, if u keep betting bad lines and still win I think they will let u stay longer beacuse they know they will get it back if u do it long enough

[Skalatharx]

most sportsbooks are crap and will be quick to swing the axe, even the A+ books here.

To me its always about getting a good line on the bet i like. If I don't like the line I won't take it.

Betting exchanges is where it is at now (with the exception of The Greek and Pinny). I like Betfair and Matchbook, wsex was ok awhile ago, but they are still having payment issues.

5 dimes will limit you quickly if you have a good run, same with bet jamaica. Makes me wonder why they are rated A+? There must be allot of costant gamblers in the red that play there.

So the sooner that most people realise that betting exchanges piss on most sportsbooks the better off we will all be.

[Karla]

I don’t think that books only consider how much you bet, they would also consider the amount that you deposit. If you’re an average Joe who is just joining them for recreational purposes, you won’t be putting tens and thousands of dollar/euro/pound in your betting account and exceeding the maximum amount of deposit in a day coz that will be a pro punter and not a recreational player and for sure books will limit you after a month or less (especially if you are winning).
And with your question to the CS, it would really be hard to answer. I would still tag you as a recreational player, provided that you will only spend $100/day and nothing more. And you don’t withdraw your money in bulk, then, I think it would be alright.
If you wanted to make a living out of gambling, then, you aren’t a recreational player. Or better yet, find a book that won’t limit you. Which is most likely that these books would have the “agent” system.

[Chuck Sims]

Play at Matchbook. The exchange is the wave of the future. Sending money to losers only books to get a bonus and then pray they do not use their we reserve the right to stiff you rule if you go on a hot streak is not the way to go if you take betting seriously. When I say betting seriously, I mean you want to win and not just flush your money down the toilet every football season.

For teaser and props, I use The Greek, Bookmaker, WSEX. WSEX takes a few weeks to pay so I am not recommending them at this time.

[Peep]

I don't think most books have a risk department.

I think most sportsbooks have a drug dealer on speed dial and could find their way to Del Rey blindfolded.

I sometimes think I am overly cynical.

[thespeculator]

a few days back matchbook was offering upto 20k on the tigers and 16k on the baltimore, so if limits is your concern that would certainly be the place to go, in theory they won't limit you , but you never know

[Karla]

you will never really know when the bookie cuts you off. i don't think that there would be a book that will not set any threshold. Otherwise, their business will die.. lol

[Smurf71]

I disagree with you here. If all the books were busy to shut you down after you have won 20-30k, smart players would be outlawed everywhere! Truth is- 97 % of players will always lose in a long run.By the way..there are some lucky Luke's out there, who are buying highly efficient picks and making good money betting on sports , only to give it back at the same books casinos! The rest 3% should be allowed to play up to some extent without a fear to be kicked out! But it is greed that blinds them. They could tolerate good players as a matter a fact but they don't cause their policy is - who ever walks in from their door, has to leave some blood on the floor. And who does not goes out faster than you can say "Indiana Jones". That clearly states that only losers are welcome... I don't like that, do you?
So there still are few good books who consider smart players as part of the game and allow them to play as long as they stay in low 6 figures per year. Or you can make some kind of a deal with them, just like John Morrison has with BetUS. You feed them with new sheep's and they will close their eyes to what ever you win . Way to go!

[Karla]

It is an ideal scenario for books to have members with the word "LOSER" on their forehead..
We should only think that if we are considered "pro" punter, then we shouldn't be joining those books that cuts us out when we are on a winning streak. I have no problem having low limits since once they do that, I'm off to another book, and the cycle starts all over. lol

[thespeculator]

like i said matchbook you won't have to worry about this, bet all you want , if there is someone on the other side, simple

[JoshW]

Don't bet steam. Don't bet big. Don't just hit one angle (teasers, props, etc). Bet into lots of books. That is the best way to stay under the radar.

Or as other have said, be sharp enough to be able to bet into roughly closing lines at Matchbook on any Major sport and you will be rich in a year. Good luck.