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professional gambler

Seagullsrock

Juniors
Messages
1,579
Schillaci said:
are there people out there who make a full time living out of gambling? i'd like to be that person

Why? I read that 65% of professional gamblers lose anyway so unless your that Sean Barthlomeuw fella, I wouldnt want to be.
 
Messages
15,545
Pretty P!ss poor way to earn a living really. I used to work in the TAB and knew quite a few Pro Punters who did nothing else. You need a few things to be a pro punter-

1) Large bankroll
2) incredible patience
3) fantastic memory
4) will power

I think people get the wrong idea about how it works. These guys don't bet everyday, or even every week. They spend hours disecting the form each day looking for the right horse and will not place a bet until they are absolutely certain that the thing will win. When they do bet, they go hard, i.e. minimum $5000 but up to $20000 or $30000 depending on the confidence and there bankroll. As I mentioned before though, they might only have 4 bets in a month and it could be that these are just for the place even. The idea is obviously, not to lose the bank, but also to make somewhere in the vacinity of $1000 to $1500 a week so te one bet they place in the week may be $10000 on a horse to run a place paying $1.20. If it gets up they pocket $1500 to live on, and put the extra $500 in the bank back with the $10000. They never bet the whole bank and they obviously have to live off some of their winnings and add some of the winnings to the bank in case they have a loss. I.e. they need to have $20000 in the bank in case they lose $10000.
You will never find them betting on a day to day period. They rarely ever come into the TAB to bet and usually its only if they can't get to a bookie, but if they like something then they will generally go to the races to back it with the book or they have an account with someone. Usually they come to the TAB only for the form guide's. The big trick is not to chase your losses. Sometimes if they lose a big bet, they fall into the trap of chasing there bank and this is the worst thing they can do.
 

willvillain

Juniors
Messages
2,385
Different kind of Rabbit said:
Pretty P!ss poor way to earn a living really. I used to work in the TAB and knew quite a few Pro Punters who did nothing else. You need a few things to be a pro punter-

1) Large bankroll
2) incredible patience
3) fantastic memory
4) will power

I think people get the wrong idea about how it works. These guys don't bet everyday, or even every week. They spend hours disecting the form each day looking for the right horse and will not place a bet until they are absolutely certain that the thing will win. When they do bet, they go hard, i.e. minimum $5000 but up to $20000 or $30000 depending on the confidence and there bankroll. As I mentioned before though, they might only have 4 bets in a month and it could be that these are just for the place even. The idea is obviously, not to lose the bank, but also to make somewhere in the vacinity of $1000 to $1500 a week so te one bet they place in the week may be $10000 on a horse to run a place paying $1.20. If it gets up they pocket $1500 to live on, and put the extra $500 in the bank back with the $10000. They never bet the whole bank and they obviously have to live off some of their winnings and add some of the winnings to the bank in case they have a loss. I.e. they need to have $20000 in the bank in case they lose $10000.
You will never find them betting on a day to day period. They rarely ever come into the TAB to bet and usually its only if they can't get to a bookie, but if they like something then they will generally go to the races to back it with the book or they have an account with someone. Usually they come to the TAB only for the form guide's. The big trick is not to chase your losses. Sometimes if they lose a big bet, they fall into the trap of chasing there bank and this is the worst thing they can do.

Bloody good summary. I remember having a massive chat to a pro punter in England, basically what he explained was that he was in a punting group and they would generally only have a maximum of maybe 5 bets a year, but it would be a sting that they would plan for one or two months.
 
Messages
15,545
I couldn't do it. If I walk into a TAB, I end up betting on every race until I walk out again. I'm hopeless like that.
When I used to work in the TAB I had one guy who used to come in who was a pro. The only reason he would come in, would be to lay off. If he had a hot tip he would bet some on it with the TAB and then go and bet the rest with a Bookie. Came in rarely but if he gave you a tip, you got on it. In about 6 years he probably only had about 15 bets and I reckon he only backed one loser. Mind you, they paid sh!t all so you really had to have some on them to get a decent return. I think the highest paying tip I ever got from him paid about $2.00 He'd have about $10k on with us and I don't even want to imagine what he bet with the book. Probably somewhere like $30k or even more. I'd have my $10 on them and they would pay for my lunch, so technically he shouted me lunch 14 times in 6 years. What a nice guy!
 

Parra

Referee
Messages
24,900
There are ways to make tidy money punting without being 'pro'.

A systematic approach, some basic maths skills and a range of online bookies are all you need to get started. Plus a bankroll of course. It takes a lot of work, discipline and time - but a small/medium income is possible. The bankroll and betting limit requirements to make a living this way rule most of us out - but you can still have fun.
 

Whos Ya Daddy

First Grade
Messages
5,699
it's the easiest thing in the world, to become a professional gambler.

all you have to do is quit your job.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
32,016
My dad was a pro gambler for about 5 years from when he was 18-23...

He basically spent all his time at the track, talking to bookmakers, other pros, jockeys, and anyone else he could for 12 months before taking it up seriously. By the end he was actually setting the odds for a few bookies :lol:

He bankrolled himself taking photos of the horses racing and selling them to the papers. Only tossed it in for a real job when he and my mother got married.

Mind you he never stopped punting. He likes to keep a spreadsheet of all his bets to monitor his wins and losses for the year. Last time I snuck a peak at it he was up $100K for 2007 :shock:

Its not the life for me though. WAAAY too much work for me.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
32,016
The amazing part is he does it as a hobby on the side while working a 40 hour week running his own company.

I dont like my father.... mainly because he doesnt share his tips with me (apparently my $50-100 bets ruin the odds :roll:)
 

andrew057

First Grade
Messages
7,485
Different kind of Rabbit said:
Pretty P!ss poor way to earn a living really. I used to work in the TAB and knew quite a few Pro Punters who did nothing else. You need a few things to be a pro punter-

1) Large bankroll
2) incredible patience
3) fantastic memory
4) will power

I think people get the wrong idea about how it works. These guys don't bet everyday, or even every week. They spend hours disecting the form each day looking for the right horse and will not place a bet until they are absolutely certain that the thing will win. When they do bet, they go hard, i.e. minimum $5000 but up to $20000 or $30000 depending on the confidence and there bankroll. As I mentioned before though, they might only have 4 bets in a month and it could be that these are just for the place even. The idea is obviously, not to lose the bank, but also to make somewhere in the vacinity of $1000 to $1500 a week so te one bet they place in the week may be $10000 on a horse to run a place paying $1.20. If it gets up they pocket $1500 to live on, and put the extra $500 in the bank back with the $10000. They never bet the whole bank and they obviously have to live off some of their winnings and add some of the winnings to the bank in case they have a loss. I.e. they need to have $20000 in the bank in case they lose $10000.
You will never find them betting on a day to day period. They rarely ever come into the TAB to bet and usually its only if they can't get to a bookie, but if they like something then they will generally go to the races to back it with the book or they have an account with someone. Usually they come to the TAB only for the form guide's. The big trick is not to chase your losses. Sometimes if they lose a big bet, they fall into the trap of chasing there bank and this is the worst thing they can do.

What "pro punter" woiuld use the Tabs ridiculous odds?
 

Whos Ya Daddy

First Grade
Messages
5,699
Different kind of Rabbit said:
Pretty P!ss poor way to earn a living really. I used to work in the TAB and knew quite a few Pro Punters who did nothing else. You need a few things to be a pro punter-

1) Large bankroll
2) incredible patience
3) fantastic memory
4) will power

I think people get the wrong idea about how it works. These guys don't bet everyday, or even every week. They spend hours disecting the form each day looking for the right horse and will not place a bet until they are absolutely certain that the thing will win. When they do bet, they go hard, i.e. minimum $5000 but up to $20000 or $30000 depending on the confidence and there bankroll. As I mentioned before though, they might only have 4 bets in a month and it could be that these are just for the place even. The idea is obviously, not to lose the bank, but also to make somewhere in the vacinity of $1000 to $1500 a week so te one bet they place in the week may be $10000 on a horse to run a place paying $1.20. If it gets up they pocket $1500 to live on, and put the extra $500 in the bank back with the $10000. They never bet the whole bank and they obviously have to live off some of their winnings and add some of the winnings to the bank in case they have a loss. I.e. they need to have $20000 in the bank in case they lose $10000.
You will never find them betting on a day to day period. They rarely ever come into the TAB to bet and usually its only if they can't get to a bookie, but if they like something then they will generally go to the races to back it with the book or they have an account with someone. Usually they come to the TAB only for the form guide's. The big trick is not to chase your losses. Sometimes if they lose a big bet, they fall into the trap of chasing there bank and this is the worst thing they can do.

given your explanation you have no idea.
 
Messages
15,545
andrew057 said:
What "pro punter" woiuld use the Tabs ridiculous odds?

Quite often they use the TAB to "lay off". Sometimes you can get good overs on the TAB also. Usually you find that you get overs with the TAB on big race days as you have a number of people with no idea come and place bets on horses with pretty names. I also used to work in the TAB before internet gambling became prevalent so I'm sure things have changed quite a lot.
 
Messages
15,545
Who's Ya Daddy? said:
given your explanation you have no idea.

Given your refernce to all unemployed people being professional gamblers, I think that perhaps you are making one of those "pot calling the kettle black" type calls. Before you can claim that someone has no idea about something specific, one should have some idea about anything in general.
 

Danish

Referee
Messages
32,016
Different kind of Rabbit said:
Quite often they use the TAB to "lay off". Sometimes you can get good overs on the TAB also. Usually you find that you get overs with the TAB on big race days as you have a number of people with no idea come and place bets on horses with pretty names. I also used to work in the TAB before internet gambling became prevalent so I'm sure things have changed quite a lot.


Betting on sports can also necessitate a trip to the tab.

the range of multis and different categories of bets you can make are often not matched by other online sites.
 

juggalo_strit

Juniors
Messages
1,447
Some of the punters will be having bets with the TAB, but not by actually going into the TABs. They'll either be at the track, or sitting at home and having access to all avenues. Plus most of them will have "runners" for them.....
 

Whos Ya Daddy

First Grade
Messages
5,699
no1 with half a clue bets straight out into the tab pools when the can use services such as betfair, top fluc, ect.

interstate bookies also offer best tote and home tote +5% (sometimes 10%) on the bigger days.

of course they get a lot of action on the multiplies.
 
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