The Smooth Transition From Poker Chips to Local Bookie.

The Smooth Transition From Poker Chips to Local Bookie.
By Greg Dempson.

Gambling is probably the second oldest profession known to the human race, or is it? Most of us know what the oldest profession is purported to be. So, Adam and Eve were the first gamblers, right! Back then laying 11 to 10 had a whole different meaning. Perhaps that’s where the term "juice" originated. So, maybe gambling is the oldest profession. Seriously though, gambling dates back to the beginning of the human race. Daily jargon is common place today by many that don’t even gamble. We roll the dice or life is a crapshoot and so forth.

When I think back to my gambling beginnings or my youth as a card player, the poker chip, or in the case of a quick pick-up game, pennies come to mind. We were playing for "real" money; it’s just that – the real money wasn’t on the table! All of us had honorable intentions, we would settle up later. Most of the time it worked out. It had to; we resided in a small town of 3,200. When our crew played Rummoli, poker chips were used. When it came to blackjack or 7-card stud, chips were used. With chips it didn’t seem like real money when you lost. Perhaps it did, but since we were rookies many of us had blinders on. As we graduated to bigger and better situations in life, the same scenario applied to the corner bookie if you could bet on credit. It was a smooth and natural transition from poker chips to the local bookie. If no real money changed hands, no harm no foul, right? After all, you were gong to win those football bets anyway. It never seemed like real money if you weren’t putting up real money. Some are naïve enough to think that it eventually all works out. Some have had the unfortunate experience of getting a workout!

I’ve never totally understood the animosity toward the local, Nevada or off shore book. A line is posted and we get first pick. If you’re doing your own handicapping why get mad at the bookie. If he had the Rams at – 17½ and you knew the real line was – 16½ and "liked" the favorite, look for another "out" or wager on a different game. Play the Rams at the right number or pass. How many times have you heard or perhaps said this yourself, "He moved the line on me and I got screwed." Many of us were never afforded those multiple-out opportunities, as there was only one bookie. Accept responsibility for your actions and stop blaming the bookie, look in the mirror.

I thought about this a week ago as I talked to a subscriber who was telling me about how much more responsible he has become since he started playing off shore. For the first time in his life he was gambling with money that he set aside for this specific purpose.

Responsibility goes hand in hand with being a successful gambler.
One of the general rules in life is, in order to keep your house in order, you must accept responsibilities for your actions. Speeding, or drinking and driving are two acts of gambling that can have far more serious consequences that an hour or two of poker. The various forms of gambling come with a price, never let them interfere with your family or mental and social well being. The best way to alleviate a potential wagering problem is by setting aside a proper bankroll. If you’re gambling on credit with the local book, have the funds to pay up when you lose. If you are on a hot streak and the bookie has a solid reputation of paying when he loses, keep a credit with him. It’s money that you have on deposit with him. If he owes you $ 1,600.00 and the figure moves to $ 2,2200 in your favor, take a payment of $ 700 and keep a $ 1,500 float with him for that losing weekend. It will happen. NFL football is just around the corner. And this is the one time of the year gamblers do get themselves into the most trouble. Keep Murphy in mind. Now Murphy isn’t the local bookmaker, he is better known as Murphy’s Law is. What can go wrong will go wrong. The best approach to make certain your gambling transition from baseball to football goes smoothly is quite simple. Don’t play with money you don’t have. Pace yourself properly and do the necessary research to make this a profitable season. Winner’s Edge will help you in those areas. We don’t win all the time but we have won more selections than we’ve lost in the years I have been with the best publication on the web and newsstands. I am ready for some football! Bring it on.