How serious are you about gambling?

[Ozfry]

Just curious what kind of figures you guys make from gambling on average...

Also do you use this site mainly to get your tips from? Or do you study all the sports etc. and get the tips yourself?

[wesmip1]

Ozfry,

Without giving away exatly how much I made last year I thought I did ok. I made a 4 figure income from it. I never bet more than 1% of the bank.

I do my own tips and bet the majority of them unless I don't like something about the race or the sport.

The majority of my income comes from greyhounds and horse racing. I have made some cash on the NBA and Super 14 as well but nowhere near what I make on racing.

At the end of this year I am aiming for a 5 figure income (10,000+) and at this stage I am on track.

It isn't easy and I don't think you could do it by just following tips here. You could probably get some ideas though which would steer you in the right direction.

Good Luck.

[limitedsupply]

I walked into betting by accident so I don't get too worked up in it, but last year it paid for a vacation and a new laptop. So it's not large in cash, but it's worth the investment of time. Wife seems to enjoy it, she gets more done when I'm watching livescore :)

I tend to watch several sites, stats more than anything. I bet a lot in the European market - something that access to information isn't always avail.

[Mr J]

I am very serious. I had a terrible run at the end of '04 and have been playing poker since, and am now just getting back into sportsbetting. Given my bankroll I expect to make a relatively large amount. I'm not going to give a ballpark, the income is highly volatile.

I will say that I expect to place at least 6000 bets by the end of the year.

I mainly follow sources (eg someone I know, a website such as this etc) but in 2004 created a betting model for super 12s, nrl and afl. I found that it wasn't really worth it as I could get bets that perform just as well elsewhere, but with a lower time investment. More profitable to 'outsource' (get someone else to make the picks) as it allows you to spend your time on other things (eg arbitrage, shopping lines, bonuses, betting more sports etc).

In 2003-2004 I followed this sites tennis package. In 2004 I followed the baseball package here. The tennis package is good, it just isn't being offered this year. The baseball package is excellent value and well worth a look. I can't speak for the other packages.

"It isn't easy and I don't think you could do it by just following tips here."

It can be easy/simple. Buy the baseball package, following the staking strategy and spend half an hour a day placing the bets. Of course this is at its simplest level. At its toughest you have a guy who spends his whole day in front of a computer pouring through pages of stastics and bookie websites.

I will say this. The most successful sportsbettors are not handicappers (those who create picks), but the sharp, cashed up investors who employ them.

[punta]

im very serious about my gambling whether it be sports, racing or casino

started serious part-time last year and made a a 5 figure income

this year its been very serious because my employer sold out and everyone got let off so for the past 3 months i have been gambling full time

i have been playing poker at star city every weekday and bet on sports and races on weekends

i pick all my own selections for sports but for racing i get alot of inside help because i do have a share in a horse and get alot of tips from the trainer and other owners, the saying "its not what you know its who you know" is very true in horse racing

i will continue full time until i get in some financial trouble or find suitable employment

[wesmip1]

What I think you will find is anyone who has been around the forum for quite a while is usually making some sort of decent money out of it or they are a gambling addict.

[discipline pays]

Those of you who are pro or at least semi pro, how many of you are married ? kids etc? I have no doubt that a comfortable living could be made on punt. I work part time only and study full time am married no kids but mortgage etc and am finding it difficult to get a bank together and/or convince my wife of merits.

Any advice?

[wesmip1]

discipline pays,

I am married no kids and my wife doesn't work (she retired at 24). I also have a mortgage. I started with $100 and built it up.

Surely you can string together $100 and build it up betting 1% or 2%. If you lose it then it wasn't meant to be.

Good Luck.

[Floydyboy]

I am with partner and 2 dogs, kids are grown ,no mortgage....... I put 100 in my account for melb cup day and now I have 400 with a few bets pending.....I dont take it seriously I like to entertain myself watching my money go round .....I lost 40 on the ggs today and Ive invested another 40 on the soccer tonite and tomorrow night
one of the pending bets for tonite is
ManU
Werder Br
Lyon
Club Brugge
@ $9.42 x 20

[mad]

Couldn't agree more. It's not all about $10,000 on the nose to win type stuff. Gotta start somewhere and i think it's good to start and learn small, very costly to learn when you're betting big.

[Floydyboy]

I think its easier to make a quid from sports rather than racing ....I think if you are selective enough about what you bet on you can do alright....head to head in a sporting contest is easier but you have to live with short prices ... you need to string a few together or take small multis .....
Along with last nights multi I had
Arsenal/ManU/Chelski
@$2.96 x $20 ......
.......you watch Fullham make me work for my money back

[punta]

i agree floydy but if you know the right people in racing, it can be a lot more profitable

[Floydyboy]

For sure ,cept I dont know anybody in racing , so I back the trainers and jockeys with the numbers on the board .......just backed the last winner in Armidale to get some of my chelsea money back .......

[rooburger]

its good to see the honesty in this post,
i turn over 2 to 3k a month and down for the year around 400 but its not a worry as long as you don,t bet with scared money and you keep your nerve.
the game will test you out!!!
my starting bank 5 years go was $100 i,m a greyhound and sports bet man.
all the best