Book On Bookies: An Inside Look At A Successful Sports Gambling Operation

onthewhat · 07-23-09, 06:30 AM

Matt Rain · 07-23-09, 07:47 AM

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Out of date and inaccurate, January 9, 2004
By obediah (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
"The Book on Bookies" is a manual on how to run a sports book in America. It must be noted that such an enterprise is illegal and carries various risk. The book constantly mentions large tax free income which adds tax evasion to your list of criminal activities.

My biggest gripe with the book is its deviation from factual and useful content. The "basics" chapter is riddled with glaring deficiencies - here are a few that I noted

(a) Book: there are no winning gamblers - truth: there are few winning gamblers, but the few winners can really hurt the bottom line
(b) Book: you cannot specify pitchers in baseball - truth: the standard way to book baseball is to offer listed pitchers
(c) Book: Dime line baseball is booked at -110 a side - truth: dime line baseball is booked at -105 a side
(d) Book: Soccer is booked without totals - truth: soccer is booked with totals, 2.5 being the most common number
(e) Book: Nascar is an easy money spinner - truth: Nascar is a sport where the lines are weak and the "wiseguys" can eat you alive
(f) Book: The "field" bet never wins in golf - truth: "No name" golfers are beginning to proliferate the winner's list at PGA and European golf tournaments

Aside from the factual inaccuracies, the book simply doesn't mention many of the important developments that have taken place in the bookmaking world. Important terms such as "beard", "middle" and "steam" are only mentioned in the glossary. Each term quite possibly deserves a chapter of its own. Finally, there is no mention of the ubiquitous "Don Best" screen, which governs the betting line from Vegas to the Caribbean. The way the author describes grading the wagers manually is almost comical.

The lack of professional writing skill is evident and the only thing that kept me reading to the end was the author's quirky sense of humour. My favourite line in the book is when he casually mentions "If you are going to be hiring someone to work with you in this business, you must...accept that at some time, he will probably steal from you". Although the author has a number of character flaws, this nonchalant attitude is something we could all use at times.

In summary I really cannot recommend this book to gamblers and especially not to anyone thinking of becoming a bookmaker!

Bluehorseshoe · 07-23-09, 08:37 AM

This is my favorite review.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing special, July 17, 2009
By TSoprano - See all my reviews
This book buried me!!!!! I can't even hang out at my favorite forum anymore!!! Yes No

Matt Rain · 07-23-09, 08:48 AM

Originally posted by Bluehorseshoe

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing special, July 17, 2009
By TSoprano - See all my reviews
This book buried me!!!!! I can't even hang out at my favorite forum anymore!!! Yes No

Fishhead · 07-23-09, 08:52 AM

Reading post #3 in this thread insures me that that this book was written by a complete neophite.

What a joke!

FH

Matt Rain · 07-23-09, 08:55 AM

JJ has a clue.

Reload · 07-23-09, 09:08 AM

I was thinking of reading it once until I saw the reviews. Might still look at it sometime though.

pico · 07-23-09, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by Bluehorseshoe

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing special, July 17, 2009
By TSoprano - See all my reviews
This book buried me!!!!! I can't even hang out at my favorite forum anymore!!! Yes No

mathdotcom · 07-23-09, 10:35 AM

Good book, pretty funny actually. Quite outdated now though.

InTheHole · 07-23-09, 11:27 AM

JJGold---have you read this book?

RogueScholar · 07-23-09, 03:49 PM

I just ordered a copy from ValoreBooks, great price. I'll give you guys an SBR-izen's perspective on it once I finish reading.

tacomax · 07-23-09, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by Fishhead

Reading post #3 in this thread insures me that that this book was written by a complete neophite.

What a joke!

FH

You're saying that the author knows very little about the gambling world?

tacomax · 07-23-09, 04:01 PM

I've just bought a copy of Rolling Stone. From now on, please address me as Mike Dolbin.

Attached Files

Matt Rain · 07-23-09, 04:05 PM

Holy shit taco, nice work.

InTheHole · 07-23-09, 04:06 PM

Ok Mikey

tacomax · 07-23-09, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by Matt Rain

Holy shit taco, nice work.

Mike Dolbin, please. I won't remind you again.

tacomax · 07-23-09, 04:11 PM

I looked on google but I can't seem to find the Costa Rica region of New Jersey.

Unless JJ meant the cigar store:

Costa

http://maps.google.com/maps?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q="costa+rica"+"new+jersey"&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=2598358986644484848&ei=t9FoSsPiBYHEsQPuxKCWBQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=result&resnum=1

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InTheHole · 07-23-09, 04:11 PM

you think mike grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA

RogueScholar · 07-23-09, 04:13 PM

I thought it was Mario Dolbin, and Mike Corbin...

tacomax · 07-23-09, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by RogueScholar

I thought it was Mario Dolbin, and Mike Corbin...

No Mike Dolbin is what I want to be referred to. If I read the same copy of Rolling Stone as someone else and we came up with similar fake names then that's pure coincidence.