Originally posted on 07/29/2014:

Vegas, you are aware that the "beat the books" theory is wrong. No one ever beats the books. You win by beating the people who faded your team. You beat other people. All the books do (in most cases), is act like a clearing house for wagers by different people. They set the odds to try and get an equal amount of action on both sides and normally are very successful at it. So basically, they act like stockbrokers. Just like stockbrokers, they charge a fee for each transaction, which we know as the "vig". I never look at wagering as "beating the books". I always look at it as beating other gamblers. Also, I try to make most of my wagers at the same 2 or 3 books in Vegas. You be nice to your book, and they will be nice to you.