Why do books get pissed off?

[chuckz]

i ain'y claiming to be a scalper and did not know what one was until a little while ago. my question is this. why do books get pissed at scalpers? its just action in your book. i don't understand.

chuckz

[Ronbets]

chuck,

Reno and I have been battling this issue for a long time. He's a pro scalper(one of the best) and I'm an ex-BM.

Unless you run a major book with mucho handle, these type of players are hazardous to your bottom line. Compare them to a stonewall pokerplayer that puts up no ante and won't move unless he has "aces wired". They are just tough robotic, egoless players.

Due to the current truce we have, I'll refrain from using me typical cutting adjectives to describe these parasites.....oops

[Dwayne]

Ronbets, that was a funny post man!

[chuckz]

Thanks. Thats one side and it looks like a good one.
i would like to the other.

chuckz

[azbob]

This reminds me of casinos who kick players out for counting cards. They don't mind the players who split tens, break when the dealer has a six up, etc. But as soon as a player starts using his intelligence, skills and strategy, they boot him.

Re: the sportsbooks...players are there to make money. What's the different between using a scalping strategy versus some other system or trend?

The sportsbooks are also in the business of making money but, primarily...they want action. It's the nature of gambling and, in my opinion, they should take this action like they would any other or don't put themselves in that position.

After all, there are not alot of angles the players can play to make up for the built in 11/10 or 12/10 deficit they face on every wager.

[chuckz]

This is what is confusing to me. A book lays the line, a player plays the game and action is created. isn't this what they want? i simply don't get it. the vig is there so whats the problem?

cz

[sportshobby]

Sportsbooks that boot honest players should be exposed, because it is simply unfair. If players can't play as smart as they know how, and win, then the game isn't fair.

I know some people justify books' decision to throw out "wiseguys." But for most books, this is just an excuse - they will chase anyone that either scalps, shops the lines, happens to win, etc, etc. It's really a disgrace to the industry.

[Jeff]

What the books get pissed at, right or wrong, are the players that sit there watching the don best screen, waiting for a move, so they can jump on it to create a scalp opportunity.

This is more of a software problem more than anything else as far as I'm concerned.

There are books out there that get popped at a number several times before they can change it. They have no control over the situation.

Other books, are in complete control, having the ability to accept or decline any online wager ahead of time, and rarely do you hear of any complaints about books with this type of a system.

This type book can take a pop, move the number, and let the next guy come in, etc.etc....Let em bet till the cows come home.

The other type, might get hit by 10 different guys before they can do anything about it.

Fix the software. Regain control......

[Dragon]

One way to look at it, is that since the players can choose which books they want to use, can't the books choose which customers they want? Just a thought, though I'm not in favor of it.

[Eman]

I don't agree books should get to choose their clients (provided honest, etc.) any more than a book should only get to put certain games on the board and not all of them. The have an edge because of the "vig" on each game and the right to put "limits" on the action they take on a game or side. I agree with Jeff, spend some money upgrading the software, etc. to avoid getting popped on a number. Just like retailers that have to spend money on anti-theft devices, its a cost of doing business.

[Jeff]

Software can be made to do just about anything in this day and age......some of the systems that different books use are in the dark ages........

[ 06-14-2001: Message edited by: Jeff ]

[ric]

If they don't want to get middled, then they shouldn't move the live to far. It's their own fault. You don't see the books here in Vegas doing it. :cool:

[ric]

If they don't want to get middled, then they shouldn't move the live to far. It's their own fault. You don't see the books here in Vegas doing it. :cool:

[chestrockwells]

Above and beyond the technical issues that Jeff and others have brought up (which are all certainly valid), the bigger answer to why books get pissed off is that ultimately they expect you, me whoever to lose. Sure, all BMs will whistle the same tunes about how if there weren't winners there wouldn't be a game etc etc. and they may believe what they say..........but they don't want that winner on their watch. So over time, they expect you to lose; and if you win month in month out then "you must be doing something". It's the same in the casinos. You could be playing roulette, but if you're beating them for any protracted period of time then you must be "doing something". All the math and statistics and law of large numbers etc. will go out the window, in the heat of battle. I've personally seen it happen many times in a casino. Deep in their heart of hearts, IMHO, the other side of the counter view the vast majority of gamblers as "total suckers". I would even suggest that a number of BMs view scalpers as cheaters. Just read some of the reactions over the years on this board. It's almost like.......they're not playing right. I don't know, maybe I'm the only one who reads those feelings between the lines.

[ 06-15-2001: Message edited by: chestrockwells ]

[ric]

Chestrockwells,
I don't believe that's true. The books make their money off the vig. If you were always losing, they know they will lose you as a customer. Same thing for the casinos. A little story. A guy called the casino and said he had a roulette system. They told him "stay where you are, we'll send a limo right over to pick you up". :D :D