Do punters actually make money gambling?

Do punters actually make money gambling?

Author
Discussion

Macneil

Original Poster:

928 posts

87 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I'm not talking about the stereotype "professional gambler" haunting the stables or "influencing" matches, just normal people who bet online. I know a couple of people who claim to make money from betting on horse racing and football, they certainly don't seem particularly affluent to me, and I reckon that even if you were some sort of genius and showed a regular profit the sites would close your account if you won consistently.
So does anyone make any worthwhile money betting?

A1VDY

3,575 posts

134 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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Mugs game..

GregK2

1,692 posts

153 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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With matched betting it's possible. Until you get your account(s) closed. But it's not big sums.

Jazoli

9,212 posts

257 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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Yes some do but most don't.

98elise

28,183 posts

168 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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Betting on games no. The odds are stacked against you so that the house (bookies) are the only winner.

Gambling on card games like poker, then yes there are legitimate professional gamblers who make money.

swamp

1,000 posts

196 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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If the odds-setter makes a significant mistake, then yes.

I don't think they make mistakes very often though.

gazza285

10,184 posts

215 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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When the local bookmaker was asked for a good tip he replied

“Keep out of my shop.”

Best tip yet.

993kimbo

2,996 posts

192 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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How about things like the lottery scratch cards. Does anyone ever win the big prizes? I won £2 once but then I’ve always been lucky.

zb

2,978 posts

171 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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No, and any that do quickly get their accounts closed or severely restricted on what they can bet and what offers (if any) are available to them.

alorotom

12,136 posts

194 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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A friend and ex-staff member of mine used to play poker online - a lot.

He was very good and won substantial amounts and quite his job working for me - he had to cycle accounts and names online for them routinely being closed or suspended.

He set up his own poker site, blog and paraphernalia store in the end which has a decent profit level and he regularly plays and does reasonably will in the World Series and other tournaments (he lives in Vegas now)

So yes it is possible but I do think it’s reasonably rate to be able to make a living out of it - esp against AI / machine learning

Spare tyre

10,333 posts

137 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I can remember when I was about 7 walking past the betting shop and asking my dad what book maker meant. He explained and it just seemed bizarre. I often sit outside a local bookies With the dog whilst wife walks into Sainsbury’s, it’s so depressing. Seeing people going in and coming out looking miffed. Have walked past at mid day and then again at 4 and there are the same people in there.

My father in law earns big bucks as a self employed air con installer, still paying off mortgage at 67 thanks to gambling most of it away and sadly mother in law who earns minimum wage having to cover the bills. If he just stopped for a year they could retire, but it’s an addiction


Nic20v6

10 posts

140 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I made around £16k off £200 around 3 or 4 years ago.
A certain gambling website had a offer of doubling the deposit up to £200 so I thought what the heck, made the majority off it through the 1min financial markets (funnily enough that particular site no longer does) over the course of a week and to claim the full amount had to place a large bet to spend my excess bonus, which I did on john Higgins to win a snooker match (from what I remember he was 1 or 2 frames down) which he won, even if he had lost I'd of been well up so was a case of nothing lost.
It was 2 days before my birthday which made it all the more sweeter had absolutely no issues collecting the money despite hearing horror stories. I'm certainly not a big gambler by any means will have the odd flutter no and again but can certainly take it or leave it.

deckster

9,631 posts

262 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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alorotom said:
A friend and ex-staff member of mine used to play poker online - a lot.

He was very good and won substantial amounts and quite his job working for me - he had to cycle accounts and names online for them routinely being closed or suspended.

He set up his own poker site, blog and paraphernalia store in the end which has a decent profit level and he regularly plays and does reasonably will in the World Series and other tournaments (he lives in Vegas now)

So yes it is possible but I do think it’s reasonably rate to be able to make a living out of it - esp against AI / machine learning
Poker's not really gambling though, it's a game of skill with an element of chance. If you are ruthlessly disciplined and can calculate odds against pot sizes then it's absolutely possible to make it work for you as ultimately you're playing other people and not the system.

There's no comparison with genuine gambling where somebody else controls the game or the odds - blackjack, roulette, sports betting etc. are all fixed against the punter and long-term there is literally no way the house can lose.

TwigtheWonderkid

44,648 posts

157 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I know a foolproof way to leave the casino with a small fortune. Never fails. You just go in with a large one.

Mrtank

58 posts

54 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I've made 5k last year on cryptocurrencies. I treat it the same as gambling. Market is volatile and I try to translate current affairs into future movements. I was mining bitcoin when it came out. If only spent 100£ back then and bought some I would not have to work again in my life 😭

Mr-B

3,876 posts

201 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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Few are profitable and those that are get closed down or restricted quickly, the majority lose. The fact that Labrokes, William Hill etc have been around for years tells you everything, they are profitable because their customers aren't.

LordLoveLength

2,053 posts

137 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
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I worked with someone once who liked a fllutter on the football. Every opportunity he could.
He won some decent amounts- I saw slips for several hundred a couple of times.
I have no doubt he was down overall.

Biggest I saw him win was £4k - he went to collect his winnings first thing, insisting on cash so his other half wouldn’t find out.
They didn’t have the cash but said come back later that afternoon. He did and they paid up.
A mornings earnings saw them clear the £4K.
Tells you all you need to know.

The Moose

23,112 posts

216 months

Monday 13th July 2020
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I don’t gamble much. Usually play blackjack at the casino.

Some days I win. Others I lose. Never bet more than a couple of hundred bucks as it’s the game and the environment I enjoy, not the gambling.

My most memorable win is not even near my biggest. We were in Vegas on our honeymoon and my wife wanted to go to Calvin Harris. I really didn’t!! So she went and I played blackjack at the casino while she went to the club. When she was done, she came and found me and I had about $300 on the table. From $100. I then pulled out a couple of $500 chips I had tucked away in my pocket. That paid for the night out and our helicopter flight the next morning.

driver67

1,010 posts

172 months

Monday 13th July 2020
quotequote all
alorotom said:
A friend and ex-staff member of mine used to play poker online - a lot.

He was very good and won substantial amounts and quite his job working for me - he had to cycle accounts and names online for them routinely being closed or suspended.

He set up his own poker site, blog and paraphernalia store in the end which has a decent profit level and he regularly plays and does reasonably will in the World Series and other tournaments (he lives in Vegas now)

So yes it is possible but I do think it’s reasonably rate to be able to make a living out of it - esp against AI / machine learning
Very similar situation to myself, was playing poker for a few years on PKR. Ended up making far more money playing poker at night than I was in my day job (IT Manager of an SME). Boss thought I was off to Vegas.

All great but who want's to rely on the turn of a card to pay their mortgage ?.

All casino games are against the house, you're a sure loser.

Poker - the house takes an 'entry fee' (rake) in tournaments and cash games then all prize money is split evenly between top finishing players.

My speciality was $50 dollar tournaments with 35-50 players. Been back at it over lockdown with a group of 18 local friends on Pokerstars home games and doing well.

Anyone interested in poker, Harrington on Holdem - 3 Volumes. Essential reading for all aspiring players.

Dougie.


Edited by driver67 on Monday 13th July 03:21

Robbo 27

3,742 posts

106 months

Monday 13th July 2020
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My father gambled on horses, one week in 4 he would win more than he staked, in later life he gambled every day. Nowadays we would call him an addict.

He still found money for gambling when the family went without shoes and heating. A stupid, stupid man.