New to this!

[Sports]

I'm so confused on how a bookie works. Ive searched the internet but I cant find anything to help me. I get the basics of a bookie and what it is but I'm confused on how they make a profit and their clients...

Lets say 3 of my friends each place a $20 bet on the Cowboys vs. Redskins game. Lets say the Cowboys are the favorite and 2 of my friends pick the Cowboys and my other friend picks the Redskins. If the Cowboys win how does the bookie pay off the winners? Does he use his own money? Or say the Redskins win, what happens there?

Let's say all 3 of my friends pick the Cowboys and they all win. How does the bookie pay them? Lets say all 3 of my friends pick the underdog, the Redskins, and they all end up winning, how does the bookie pay them in this situation???

[Willie Bee]

I get the basics of a bookie and what it is but I'm confused on how they make a profit and their clients...

Welcome to SBR. No offense, but I really do not think you do "get the basics" of bookmaking or sportsbetting based on the questions you asked. You need to do a lot of research still and please, do not entertain the notion of gambling until you fully understand it.

The simple answer to your questions is the bookie is expected to pay off all winners, period.

[themajormt]

In a "perfect" world there wouldnt be 3 of your friends. There would be 100 of your friends and 50 of them would take the Redskins and the other 50 would take the Cowboys. Or theres 100 people and 60 bet Skins and 40 bet Boys but the people who bet the Skins bet equal to the amount on the Boys.

The people who lose the bet lose their bet, say $100, PLUS 10% of the amount bet, for a total of $110. Then the bookie pays the people that won, and he pockets the difference.

[The General]

Welcome to SBR.