Question about handicappers

durito · 05-10-07, 12:58 AM

What is strange about it?

They sell information like lots of industries. Whether or not that information needs to be paid for is another question.

I can't guess whether any of them pay their taxes any more than anyone else. But, I would assume as most people that run a business do, they pay their taxes.

Can anybody just set up shop and say they are a sports handicapper and then get paid by people who need picks?

Sure, why not?

Razz · 05-10-07, 01:02 AM

Originally posted by ferndog

So when you pay, do they report that income? I mean is that their full time job? Can anybody just set up shop and say they are a sports handicapper and then get paid by people who need picks? Are these guys stating on their income taxes that they are professional sports handicappers? And then they get taxed just like anyone else. I know if you live in Vegas i think you can do this because it is legal to gamble over there but if you don't live there then these guys can make a living doing this? It just seems strange how this works.

A lot of it is strange. I'm certain that most, if not all of them who actually live in the US, pay their taxes. They get away with it by putting the whole "information is for entertainment purposes only" spiel.

durito · 05-10-07, 01:18 AM

It's not illegal to sell information.

You can buy books on bomb making, marajuana growing, etc.

rmcaj · 05-10-07, 02:28 AM

I hate handicappers. I hate Brandon Lang, I hate Wayne Root, however Marc Lawerence is ok in my book. He is the only decent one out there. I love his free picks cause most of the time they are right on and i agree with them. Guys like Big Al SUCK! Brandon Lang is pretty decent with the fact he will show you exactly what he bet and how much he won or loss that night. In terms of the taxes question, yeah they all pay there taxes and crap. The whole "for entertainment purposes" stuff gets them to be able to do this. Especially since all these guys work out of Vegas makes this that more legal.

jjgold · 05-10-07, 06:17 AM

They all lose and giver both sides too games

If you call in AM they give you team A and if your buddy calls later in the day they give you team B

ALL DO THIS

Ganchrow · 05-10-07, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by jjgold

They all lose and giver both sides too games

If you call in AM they give you team A and if your buddy calls later in the day they give you team B

ALL DO THIS

They also kill puppies and maim kittens.

abacus30 · 05-10-07, 08:55 AM

I was wondering why nobody brought this up earlier (subject of online handicappers), although I've only been a member w/SBR for a couple months. First off - hell yeah this is some guys' fulltime job and it shows (just watch some of their long term records). Next, do they pay their taxes? who cares. Is it weird? absolutely not. It's no different than paying my stock broker from Merrill Lynch for her personal recommendations on particular stocks to invest.

I've been using a specific handicapper's service religiously over the last two years and all he does is make me money. Yes, I've used multiple guys over the last several years and for the most part didn't make sh*t - it seems most are .500 players. I'm not going to say the particular guy I'm using now because I know many of you guys will bitch and moan about it, say I work for the guy or express some other paranoid thoughts. I will say however, not all handicappers are the same and some win long term on multiple sports.

Curse Fire · 05-10-07, 09:10 AM

Mark Lawrence free picks are way under 50%. I fade him
alot and have more winner s when I fade him than loser
picks. If he gets hot some times I just don't play his picks
and wait until he start losing again.

ferndog · 05-10-07, 09:52 AM

So then if a guy gives picks and for example makes 30k a year on the info he sells and he is not in vegas. Then what does he say on his income taxes? That he made 30k in sales or what? Do they say i sell investing information? Because in Vegas you can say you are a professional gambler but if you don't live there then what? Because there are alot of these guys that operate outside of Vegas. So i guess its like ebay. You don't need a license and can sell to whoever buys your picks.

crackerjack · 05-10-07, 02:58 PM

I am not sure how much the industry is really monitored. I know there are a few monitoring services but really the successful handicappers (by that I mean the ones that make money selling picks) are the ones who have done the best job marketing and have the best salesmen working for them. It says little about their ability to make solid picks week in and week out.

Bill Dozer · 05-10-07, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by crackerjack

I am not sure how much the industry is really monitored. I know there are a few monitoring services but really the successful handicappers (by that I mean the ones that make money selling picks) are the ones who have done the best job marketing and have the best salesmen working for them. It says little about their ability to make solid picks week in and week out.

Right. Two For the Money was a crappy flick but it showed how it's all in the packaging. There is high turnover with bettors so if they have good marketing they have a job. Another example is Sportsbook.com. They aren't successful due to outstanding service. That is not to say that they couldn't have better retention with good service. The same goes for a winning capper.

Some picks can be worth the cost. If you can get plays early from someone whos action will move the line it can be a good value. The picks can be out of a hat but if it changes the market that's all that matters. The opposite is true for guys who try to sell you the play regardless of the spread. "oh, they are going to kill em so it doesn't matter waht the line is". That's a scam.

Spanks · 05-10-07, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by Bill Dozer

Right. Two For the Money was a crappy flick but it showed how it's all in the packaging. There is high turnover with bettors so if they have good marketing they have a job. Another example is Sportsbook.com. They aren't successful due to outstanding service. That is not to say that they couldn't have better retention with good service. The same goes for a winning capper.

Some picks can be worth the cost. If you can get plays early from someone whos action will move the line it can be a good value. The picks can be out of a hat but if it changes the market that's all that matters. The opposite is true for guys who try to sell you the play regardless of the spread. "oh, they are going to kill em so it doesn't matter waht the line is". That's a scam.

Please dont mention Sportsbook.com.That scam company should be in your blacklisted section.

pico · 05-10-07, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by Ganchrow

They also kill puppies and maim kittens.

i think you have too much power...now you created an button that changes everyone's pic to yours

pico · 05-10-07, 05:25 PM

best post i've seen

Originally posted by Bill Dozer

Right. Two For the Money was a crappy flick but it showed how it's all in the packaging. There is high turnover with bettors so if they have good marketing they have a job. Another example is Sportsbook.com. They aren't successful due to outstanding service. That is not to say that they couldn't have better retention with good service. The same goes for a winning capper.

Some picks can be worth the cost. If you can get plays early from someone whos action will move the line it can be a good value. The picks can be out of a hat but if it changes the market that's all that matters. The opposite is true for guys who try to sell you the play regardless of the spread. "oh, they are going to kill em so it doesn't matter waht the line is". That's a scam.

right on buddy, the only reason i signed up on sportsbook.com because i had a boner for nikki cox and they took credit cards :-)

two for the money was my movie of the year, btw. only movie that is better than is rounders.