To our elder gamblers....

[ChalkyDog]

How the hell did you function before the internet?

I've been gambling since 2004ish, and as a result only gambled in a world that had a way to look up offered lines on a website (locals included).

Anyway, the purpose of this thread is a way to hear of how this business is done without the aid of the internet.

Sounds like a pain in the ass to have to call someone just to figure out what lines are being offered.

[King Mayan]

A lot of shit was hard to do without the Internet..

Like watching tranny porn..

Now that shit was hard!!!!

[Seaweed]

Phenomenal Inquiry, Chalky. I'll never forget it. My telephone was ringing off the hook in those days.

[str]

How the hell did you function before the internet?

I've been gambling since 2004ish, and as a result only gambled in a world that had a way to look up offered lines on a website (locals included).

Anyway, the purpose of this thread is a way to hear of how this business is done without the aid of the internet.

Sounds like a pain in the ass to have to call someone just to figure out what lines are being offered.

Call, get the line.

Call, make the play.

Downside, too many calls.

Upside, had a guy that did not know that the Cubs played day games.

Used to get the result from Warner Wolf and play an "if win" on Bob Gibson at night, then drive around drinking beer with the top down and listening to the St. Louis feed on AM radio after the sun went down. Did it all summer. My friends and I still talk about it when we get together.

The if bet turned 12-5 on Gibson into 6-5 or better depending who won the day game.

That, was indeed , the good ole days.

Great question.

[Smoke]

Easy. My uncle was a bookie he took my action.

[William Walters]

There were 800 numbers to get the lines. Also, most opening lines could be found in the sports section of the newspaper. A lot of bookies weren't always up to date with line movement due to lack of information at their fingertips. If you had multiple outs...........there were countless opportunities to "middle". "str" is right though..........a lot of phone work back in the day.

[The iron sheik]

I can't remember the name of the company, but I remember in around the early 90's or so, there was I think a british book that took bets via snail mail. I remember the name being an acronym, something starting with S (perhaps SPS?).

The government also provides gambling including sports betting (I believe sports betting was introduced in 1993 or so), but the juice is horrible, really really horrible.

[RubberKettle]

Someone link the JJ gold video where he talks about numbers

Also que Brock Landers insight about sports pagers

[William Walters]

I can't remember the name of the company, but I remember in around the early 90's or so, there was I think a british book that took bets via snail mail. I remember the name being an acronym, something starting with S (perhaps SPS?).

The government also provides gambling including sports betting (I believe sports betting was introduced in 1993 or so), but the juice is horrible, really really horrible.

Could the book you're thinking of be "ESB" (English Sports Betting)? They were located in Jamaica.

[billysink]

You mean there was gambling before the internet?

Wonder how that worked.

[The iron sheik]

Could the book you're thinking of be "ESB" (English Sports Betting)? They were located in Jamaica.

Yeah that's probably it! Thanks, stopped thinking about this one for a bit too long. That snail mail thing sucked ass because of the obvious delay of sending something a thousand miles away. No use calling bets in, when the long distance charges back in those days would have made it too expensive.

[ChalkyDog]

There were 800 numbers to get the lines. Also, most opening lines could be found in the sports section of the newspaper. A lot of bookies weren't always up to date with line movement due to lack of information at their fingertips. If you had multiple outs...........there were countless opportunities to "middle". "str" is right though..........a lot of phone work back in the day.

Obviously information available to the player was a lot, probably infinitely, less. But, I was just thinking how often you could come across a bad line.

Still a toss up in my mind right now if the internet has hurt or helped the player. While we have access to endless information, so does the bookie. Hell, we even see bookies manipulating said information with these line services.

Anyway, love the stories - as the concept is not only foreign, but something I will never experience... ever.

[bostonphoenix]

This is somewhat connected.

But how do live bookies now operate?

Is it now all online, or if I found a local would I find substantially different odds?

[ChalkyDog]

This is somewhat connected.

But how do live bookies now operate?

Is it now all online, or if I found a local would I find substantially different odds?

My experience with locals afforded a few instances of lines "way" off of what was being offered elsewhere. Could be for a number of reasons, but that is truly an exception to the rule. My locals have always had similar lines to offshore/vegas. Hell, the last guy I used simply would use the same lines as bookmaker (Think SBR does this for the most part too).

Only reason you would find a different line at a local, IMO - is in an attempt to balance action. Not because they "know" something or are simply not up-to-date with their lines.

[bostonphoenix]

My experience with locals afforded a few instances of lines "way" off of what was being offered elsewhere. Could be for a number of reasons, but that is truly an exception to the rule. My locals have always had similar lines to offshore/vegas. Hell, the last guy I used simply would use the same lines as bookmaker (Think SBR does this for the most part too).

Only reason you would find a different line at a local, IMO - is in an attempt to balance action. Not because they "know" something or are simply not up-to-date with their lines.

I have somewhat of a hesitation to use a real bookie. Probably because I think it's somewhat shady, though in reality its probably a Joe Schmo doing it. The ease of using the internet, being able to shop lines and not having to "settle" and actually meet with a bookie are overwhelming benefits of the internet. It may be fun to place a bookie bet though.

Thanks.

[TheGoldenGoose]

You fukking kids have no idea. I used to drive my 69 Firebird up to the top of the mountain to tune in baseball games on AM radio. Game fading in and out, you would sometimes lose the AM station and miss a part of the game. Do a couple bong hits, suck down a beer, and pray when the station faded back in, that you would receive good news. The good old days.

[str]

You fukking kids have no idea. I used to drive my 69 Firebird up to the top of the mountain to tune in baseball games on AM radio. Game fading in and out, you would sometimes lose the AM station and miss a part of the game. Do a couple bong hits, suck down a beer, and pray when the station faded back in, that you would receive good news. The good old days.

62 Impala Convertible for me.

The rest is the same.

[tony_come]

Harder for guys to beat the numbers

[allabout the $$$]

I have somewhat of a hesitation to use a real bookie. Probably because I think it's somewhat shady, though in reality its probably a Joe Schmo doing it. The ease of using the internet, being able to shop lines and not having to "settle" and actually meet with a bookie are overwhelming benefits of the internet. It may be fun to place a bookie bet though.

Thanks.

most bookies nowadays use a pph website if they dont they have a line service so they are up to date on the correct#'s. actually having to leave your house and go to a local bar to pay or get paid weekly is such a terrible thing. the bookie actually has to pay you on time with no processor or fee issues .

back in the late 80's early 90's you had a sports pager that you would get the up to date odds on every 2 or 5 minutes. i also had bookies that had an answering machine set up get the daily news for the lines and call in the bets leave a message. very easy to middle back in the day. one guy i used to run for had the direct hook up to vegas lines probably don best in 94. he would absolutely kill some books. the fukking good old days

[bostonphoenix]

I hear beer is cheaper when you buy it from the liquor store. I also get better watching options! How is not leaving my home a bad thing again!

This must be asked time and time again, but the best way to find a local is to just go to the local bar and ask? I apologize if I shouldn't ask.

[allabout the $$$]

I hear beer is cheaper when you buy it from the liquor store. I also get better watching options! How is not leaving my home a bad thing again!

This must be asked time and time again, but the best way to find a local is to just go to the local bar and ask? I apologize if I shouldn't ask.

go out and socialize it might cost more than staying home but it can be a lot of fun

instead of worrying about the payout issues and fee issues nothing like winning a dime and picking up a dime instead of winning a dime and only picking up 900 after fees from ** 2 or 3 weeks later if you are lucky.

its pretty easy just have to be attentive and make friends with the right people

[bostonphoenix]

True.

Though I can't imagine walking around with a dime today. Might be too much for me to handle!

I think I may try to see if i can place a bookie bet for tomorrows bruins game!

[allabout the $$$]

if you are in boston im sure after a few trips around town you can find a local

[The Kraken]

You mean there was gambling before the internet?

Wonder how that worked.

Youre the one guy I was hoping would respond.

AND THATS ALL I GET!?!?!?!

billysink

[lakerboy]

You fukking kids have no idea. I used to drive my 69 Firebird up to the top of the mountain to tune in baseball games on AM radio. Game fading in and out, you would sometimes lose the AM station and miss a part of the game. Do a couple bong hits, suck down a beer, and pray when the station faded back in, that you would receive good news. The good old days.

seriously dude.

[Seaweed]

You kids have no idea. You should hear how The Giant made bets in the early 1940's.

[Jayvegas420]

He used a telegraph machine

$100 on the Lakers [stop]

Parlay the Lakers with the OVER [stop]

Lincoln has been shot [stop]


The Giant has an autographed copy of the Bible


But both he & D2D will beat everyone

[Seaweed]

He used a telegraph machine

$100 on the Lakers [stop]

Parlay the Lakers with the OVER [stop]

Lincoln has been shot [stop]


The Giant has an autographed copy of the Bible


But both he & D2D will beat everyone

Are you suggesting the Giant to be 1700 years old?

[Big Bear]

How the hell did you function before the internet?

I've been gambling since 2004ish, and as a result only gambled in a world that had a way to look up offered lines on a website (locals included).

Anyway, the purpose of this thread is a way to hear of how this business is done without the aid of the internet.

Sounds like a pain in the ass to have to call someone just to figure out what lines are being offered.

lol

[pavyracer]

Stuff was easy 30 years ago when I started gambling. You looked at the paper for lines and then pick a winner without worrying about line movements and late money on a game. As long as you picked winners you didn't go bust.

[billysink]

Youre the one guy I was hoping would respond.

AND THATS ALL I GET!?!?!?!

billysink

Whatcha wanna know.

Numbers, nags, sports, keno, street racing, tonk, monte..........


Fukk the fukkin bandwidth of the world.


It wasn't even fair back then, just fukkin stay where you are supposed to.

Tuesdays will run you ragged. Saturday and Sunday too many hands in the soup.