Online Games and betting

[JCW]

We see these adverts all the time , can you really win on these online poker or any other online card games , we playing against machines so how can we beat them on the long run as they control the odds , betting on sport is different , I don't play either , has anyone done so and how did you get on or find the experience .......Thanks

 

[fundy]

online poker is a skill game (played against other people), sports betting is skill based so if you are good enough at either you can definitely win (i know plenty of people who make their living through these, albeit there is small levels of corruption in both which can make it very hard at times). other games are house biased games, in these you can get lucky and win in the short term, the more you play the more likely you are to lose (due to the maths of compounding the edge in the houses favour)

 

[dufferman]

I have played online blackjack against 'the computer' (William Hill & Paddy Power). 2 mates of mine are obsessed - and for every £200 win they have, they probably lose much the same if not more.

I play once in a blue moon, and see it as a £10 'flutter' much like sticking £10 on a golfer to win an event. I have, 2 or 3 times, won more than £50 for my £10, but have the will to not stick another £10 on if I lose my first £10 after a few hands. I do suspect it is rigged in someway - it seems that when I stick a big bet on a hand (once or twice I've gone full £10 on one hand) and my cards are good, 'the computer' ends up with Blackjack. That must be a serious coincidence...

 

[fundy]

I have played online blackjack against 'the computer' (William Hill & Paddy Power). 2 mates of mine are obsessed - and for every £200 win they have, they probably lose much the same if not more.

I play once in a blue moon, and see it as a £10 'flutter' much like sticking £10 on a golfer to win an event. I have, 2 or 3 times, won more than £50 for my £10, but have the will to not stick another £10 on if I lose my first £10 after a few hands. I do suspect it is rigged in someway - it seems that when I stick a big bet on a hand (once or twice I've gone full £10 on one hand) and my cards are good, 'the computer' ends up with Blackjack. That must be a serious coincidence...

Nope, thats just you remember the big losses not the big wins. They dont need to rig it, they have an edge on the game, all they need is people to play it as much as possible, why on earth would a big business whose whole business relies on them being trusted risk rigging a game further in which they cannot lose already?

 

[Fyldewhite]

We see these adverts all the time , can you really win on these online poker or any other online card games , we playing against machines so how can we beat them on the long run as they control the odds , betting on sport is different , I don't play either , has anyone done so and how did you get on or find the experience .......Thanks

Have played online poker for years. Texas Hold'em just like on the TV. You can play for fun ie "play money" but don't think you'll learn anything but the basic rules/etiquette here as it's a bit like golf without a card in your hand. You can play for low stakes right down to a few cents with real money. Overall, I enjoy it once in a while and there is a massive skill element to it but always tempered by lady luck. You can play a hand perfect and lose or badly and win. Good players will win in the long term though. The casinos make their money by raking off a few cents for every game played (ie a lot). They don't care who wins and it's not rigged despite what people say. As above, they simply don't need to rig anything, it's a licence to print money as it is.

 

[Birchy]

Look at the machines in the bookies, more and more of them are being put in. These are like money printers for the bookies.

You can make money gambling but you need to be smart, disciplined and have a plan. Not easy.

 

[CMAC]

Look at the machines in the bookies, more and more of them are being put in. These are like money printers for the bookies.

You can make money gambling but you need to be smart, disciplined and have a plan. Not easy.

the only people who consistently make money long term are the owners

 

[fundy]

the only people who consistently make money long term are the owners

not true at all CMAC, plenty of clever individuals out there are able to win long term in the skill areas (sports betting/poker)

 

[CMAC]

not true at all CMAC, plenty of clever individuals out there are able to win long term in the skill areas (sports betting/poker)

Yes there are 'professional gamblers' that appear to do pretty well especially in the States but they really are in the minority I would think?

 

[fundy]

Yes there are 'professional gamblers' that appear to do pretty well especially in the States but they really are in the minority I would think?

Definitely in the minority, talking from experience its not as easy or as glamorous as many seem to believe it must be! Probably more proportionally here than the states due to online gambling and tax rules

 

[Birchy]

Yes there are 'professional gamblers' that appear to do pretty well especially in the States but they really are in the minority I would think?

Theres plenty over here who do it but in the grand scheme of gamblers as a whole they are only a tiny minority.

As Fundy says its not easy and not as glamorous as it sounds. Most people don't have the patience or the discipline as a starter.

 

[CMAC]

I knew one, only one mind who for 4 years paid his mortgage/car/kids schooling/holidays etc basically everything, and had enough left over when tallied up each year.

He 'worked' stupid hours (USA games) and ridiculously long hours with no consistency, so planning anything in his life wasn't easy. Inevitably his skill/luck changed and he had to get a job to make ends meet, most employers shied away -understandably- from a 'professional gambler'. But one said ok, hired him, good worker, he enjoyed it and the change, 7 mths later he had enough to try again and packed it in to go back to gambling. Who's to say it wont work and he wont hit the big one and retire, but the odds arent in his favour.

 

[Birchy]

I knew one, only one mind who for 4 years paid his mortgage/car/kids schooling/holidays etc basically everything, and had enough left over when tallied up each year.

He 'worked' stupid hours (USA games) and ridiculously long hours with no consistency, so planning anything in his life wasn't easy. Inevitably his skill/luck changed and he had to get a job to make ends meet, most employers shied away -understandably- from a 'professional gambler'. But one said ok, hired him, good worker, he enjoyed it and the change, 7 mths later he had enough to try again and packed it in to go back to gambling. Who's to say it wont work and he wont hit the big one and retire, but the odds arent in his favour.

It is a very difficult thing to crack. You have to put lot more time in than people think. Its not like just rock up the racecourse and back a load of winners etc you have to do plenty research and crunch the numbers.

You need to keep some back when you have a big run as a bad dry spell is always just around the corner. You can go a while on a dry spell and need to stick them out and not lose your cool etc. Very stressful and can finish some people off.

Its a tough way to live imo.

 

[JCW]

Thanks everyone , I think I stick to playing golf , have the odd bet , here is one for you Jason Day , I will back him for every major this year , he is well due , in fact overdue just like Westwood , Donald , Garcia & Stricker , but they may have left it too late ..........................................EYG

 

[fundy]

I knew one, only one mind who for 4 years paid his mortgage/car/kids schooling/holidays etc basically everything, and had enough left over when tallied up each year.

He 'worked' stupid hours (USA games) and ridiculously long hours with no consistency, so planning anything in his life wasn't easy. Inevitably his skill/luck changed and he had to get a job to make ends meet, most employers shied away -understandably- from a 'professional gambler'. But one said ok, hired him, good worker, he enjoyed it and the change, 7 mths later he had enough to try again and packed it in to go back to gambling. Who's to say it wont work and he wont hit the big one and retire, but the odds arent in his favour.

Just for full disclosure, Ive been sports betting (i prefer that to professional gambler lol) getting on for 10 years now (having quit as a Finance Director before hand). Without making silly money (I know plenty who have) Ive done alright but am very close to packing it in for non financial reasons. Not sure how he approaches it but theres no "hitting the big one" approach for me, just a regular grind, decent money management, and making the most of as many value opportunities as possible.

As for getting back into the normal working world, yep its not going to be an easy sell if I go the corporate route, but it is what it is