I would like to welcome-SLIM-in for a `Sitdown with The Journeyman` (A clerks take on the biz)

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

The real Slim Shady...
Slim welcome to the program and have a seat....I will start by saying it is a pleasure to have you, we have had our share of interesting guests on past shows, this should be a very entertaining and informative interview...

For those that don`t know , Slim is from the other side of the counter (the books side)

Slim, I will ask you questions on all fronts, anything you don`t want to answer feel free to pass on it....I will not ask what book you are with....Anyone else that has a question for SLIM, just feel free to leave it and he should get to it when time permits...

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

How many books have you worked at?

What is the best part of working in the sportsbook game?

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

Ohhhh boy......

Well, let me see, I started working in 1996 after replying to an ad that didnt say a single thing about sports betting. Simply said "english and computer skills" needed....

I was there for three months, quit the day I got promoted to "supervisor"......which happened to be SDB, or SBG as they're known nowadays....

Went on to work with several guys on a project called American Sports Club....Was there for about 8 months getting the thing off the ground but this was around the time when SDB got in trouble, the investors kinda panicked and the whole operation went nowhere...

After that, went to work at a place called Total Sports Betting, I was there for several years, from late in 97 till June 2002.

After that, been working handling different packages at places that include DSI, Little Nasa *had no direct relationship with them* and now here.

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

Best part of working in a sportsbook?

Hmmmm.....its not a bad job, it really isnt. For a sports fan like myself, its actually a pretty cool way of staying in contact with every single sport that I used to follow anyway. No one has ever died at a book, its not like its arduous physical labor or anything like it. In fact, it can be relatively stress free. In terms of that, it can be a pain in the ass if you're just a simple clerk but if you're a bit higher up in the chain, you can eat, read, watch tv or pretty much whatever you want to do as long as youre still doing your job efficiently.

Working every single weekend is horrible and being here Christmas day hurts but who doesnt have stuff to complain about in life...

At the same time, Im a pretty competitive person so its not like I give a shit if I get beat or not...

All in all, I enjoy it.

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

In fact, when I got hired at SDB, the guy said I had to have a certain knowledge of sports...

I said ok...

He said, if I say Green Bay Packers, can you tell me anything about them.....

I said I could name all the starters, he stood up, shook my hand and said I was hired..

JudgeWapner · Apr 13, 2004

Slim,how's Kat doing?

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

She's doing fine. Unfortunately her grandpa died about a month ago

Very very sweet nice man. She's going to school, working and is becoming quite the photographer, LOL.

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

Could you have named even the interior lineman ? Just kidding...

Okay so you mention the 'regular clerks', are you a regular clerk these days?

Slim, I realize you have been around just by reading your posts...wouldn`t you say though, alot of the clerks are subpar? Why do you suppose that is? Do the books thouroughly train the new people? Are you looking to move up in the industry?

Take you time Slim, we have alot to cover, I will (if you don`t mind) be asking quite a few questions over the next couple days lol

JudgeWapner · Apr 13, 2004

Give her my condolences.

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

Interior linemen I dont know....for sure I knew a shitload more about the Packers than the guy who was asking me the questions.....that was a given.

No, I dont clerk anymore although I like to do so and I jump in whenever we're in a rush. During the time I spent at TSB, and because we were a small book, we all had to learn how to do pretty much everything....clerking, taking deposits, payouts, customer service, the whole nine yards.... Nowadays though, I take care of the lines and handle any problem that comes up.

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

Slim, and all this time I thought you were a clerk....

Slim, when you say 'take care of the lines', could you go into some detail what exactly that entails?

We will go back to the clerk days later...I`m sure you can give us a few good stories there, relating to customers etc...

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

In terms of clerks.....

As with everything in life, there are all sort of clerks out there....

Unfortunately, many books here have the tendency to not give a damn about their employees. This can sometimes reflect on their attitude and performance.

Many dont care whats going on, many dont follow sports, so that adds on to make the clerk subpar. At the same time there are those that will engage in conversation with a customer, be pleasant, nice, etc etc..... Unfortunately again, many books discourage much of anything outside of the taking of bets.

Ive been fortunate to not really run into it but many bookies here have the "you have no clue" attitude towards their employees for the simple fact that we are Costa Rican. Many many bookies here are arrogant, dumb, full of themselves and simply treat others like a piece of shit.....

For many people it can be a very sad affair.

Im not saying at all that this excuses the way they work the phones but it doesnt help any either.

Another important point is, NOT EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY can speak fluent English. SDB found that out real quick years ago when they were firing people faster than they were hiring them. Theres only 4 million people in this country, most dont speak English, and of those that do, few speak fluent English.

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

Taking care of lines: occasionally set up schedules, moving lines, grading, talking to agents, deciding claims..

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

Slim, what is your opinion of the American`s that come down to Costa Rica and open a sportsbook? Are they very similar? I`m getting the impression there is a great deal of lack of respect for the local people?

Do the employees generally like their jobs as clerks, or sportsbook reps?

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

How much customer information are the clerks able to get, do the clerks have access to the gamblers wagering history?

When a customer calls in his plays, what exactly is on the screen , another words could the clerk see the customers entire wagering history if he wanted?

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

Americans that come down here......

My experience has been that most tend to be the obnoxious, loud, asshole type of guy that thinks they're all that and more because they book..... At the same time the stereotype does not hold up with everyone. I must say that one of the nicest guys Ive ever met is our very own Judge Wapner. Those that know him, share that opinion Im sure.

Most of the bookies down here, because of the money seem to think that they belong to some kind of high class and ride around in their expensive cars, with their expensive wifes and their obnoxious, loud behavior....and several body guards.

I dont think anyone here appreciates that..... I for one dont.

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

How much information a clerk has depends on who exactly the clerk is.... If the clerk has some kind of responsibility then they probably have a little more access to what a customer is down since they began or can check back on the history for a longer period of time than a regular guy thats just there to take bets. As a rule, not too many people usually care what someone is down or up. As I said the other day its very difficult to follow someone you call sharp for several reasons so you dont see people checking accounts or histories much....

What they see is similar to what you see online....a box with figures, a box with sports, a box with pending plays, another one with graded wagers etc etc but very rarely will they have access to other type of information such as name, address, phone etc etc (reason is obvious). Click on any of the boxes and it takes you there...

newbie666 · Apr 13, 2004

r u still chasing chubys in the irc

Journeyman · Apr 13, 2004

What % of Americans reside in Costa Rica?

Has there been a significant rise since the sportsbook boom?

-Slim- · Apr 13, 2004

That percentage has to be under 1%.....and no it really hasnt risen significantly....

The country has abour 4 million people, 1 million of them are Nicaraguan....