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Atlanta's Finest Handicapper
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Hello everyone. I come here to ask for anyone who has time to give me a bit of advice. I have been a long time forum lurker and really know most of you because I am on this forum a few hours a day I just never take the time to post.

I am probably the youngest person that views this forum but I am asking for some serious advice.

I am 18 years old and have been betting on sports for over a year now. I really think it is ruining my life. Definently not from a financial stand-point because I actually do quite well capping and consistently following certain people. After taking my first weekend off in really a whole year from betting EVERYONE that knows me said I was a completely different person that they loved to be around. They said most of the time I have no personality and all I am concerned with is scores of games.

Basically what I am asking anyone who has experience is in the end is it really worth it? I spend countless hours in front of the computer, watching meaningless games.. I just dont want to look back at my teenage/college years and feel like I wasted them bettin on sports 24/7.
I mean honestly I feel like just after a year of sports betting I am one of the sharpest and smartest bettors around. I subscribe to Don Best, I keep funded at piny, oly, hollywood... I know what im doing and I make decent money doing it, it's just people around me say it is going to hurt me and I feel like im completely wasting valuable time.

I am not some dorky kid that has nothing else to do then sit around on my computer all day it's just I found this hobby and it's EXTREMELY addictive.

I know the average age on this forum is probably in the 30's so I don't know if you guys will take this as a joke because of my age, but I am asking for serious advice.

10, 20, 30 years down the line is sports betting really worth it?
If you started young do you wish you would of stopped?


Thank You
koolzie
 

Another Day, Another Dollar
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Good post and looking forward to the responses. If you are a straight bettor only then you can do both successfully. Have a life and a hobby. If you are a steamer, middler, scalper, then I do not know the right answer. There are pros and cons. Family issues being a con for sure.

Alot of people in America work 12 hour days in a factory and sleep 8. It is not just gambling that affects your social life.

You are in a prime spot to enjoy your life and also wager as a hobby.

Best of luck
 

RPM

OG
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if gambling is negatively affecting your personality and/or relationships, you should probably consider a new hobby.
 

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even when youre winning its not worth it.....definitely not...

take it as a hobby, do it once in a while if u can but DONT devote your life to it.
 

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koolzie said:
Hello everyone. I come here to ask for anyone who has time to give me a bit of advice. I have been a long time forum lurker and really know most of you because I am on this forum a few hours a day I just never take the time to post.

I am probably the youngest person that views this forum but I am asking for some serious advice.

I am 18 years old and have been betting on sports for over a year now. I really think it is ruining my life. Definently not from a financial stand-point because I actually do quite well capping and consistently following certain people. After taking my first weekend off in really a whole year from betting EVERYONE that knows me said I was a completely different person that they loved to be around. They said most of the time I have no personality and all I am concerned with is scores of games.

Basically what I am asking anyone who has experience is in the end is it really worth it? I spend countless hours in front of the computer, watching meaningless games.. I just dont want to look back at my teenage/college years and feel like I wasted them bettin on sports 24/7.
I mean honestly I feel like just after a year of sports betting I am one of the sharpest and smartest bettors around. I subscribe to Don Best, I keep funded at piny, oly, hollywood... I know what im doing and I make decent money doing it, it's just people around me say it is going to hurt me and I feel like im completely wasting valuable time.

I am not some dorky kid that has nothing else to do then sit around on my computer all day it's just I found this hobby and it's EXTREMELY addictive.

I know the average age on this forum is probably in the 30's so I don't know if you guys will take this as a joke because of my age, but I am asking for serious advice.

10, 20, 30 years down the line is sports betting really worth it?
If you started young do you wish you would of stopped?


Thank You
koolzie

Being honest with you, I dont set the world on fire but I hold my own. If I was to start over again I would never do it again. I am a very hyper and stressful person, I"ve been doing this for over 30yrs consistenly. I love doing it but its no REAL LIFE... Seriously if I were you I would try doing something different.
 

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RPM said:
if gambling is negatively affecting your personality and/or relationships, you should probably consider a new hobby.
good post RPM, welcome Koolsie.. If this is effecting your life in a bad way stop doing it....do not bet with money that you can not afford to lose either...its not worth it ....good luck in what you decide to do
 

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At your age stop and live life. When you get older let age (maturity) kick in some and see if you can have a healthy balance. But for now you should get out. It's not worth it.
 

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I worked for some big books over the years, and watched how the owners live their life, its really sad how so many of them have plenty of money and stay in the OFFICE 7-days a week, they dont even enjoy life. what good is money if you dont enjoy it. I know quite a few people thats been successful but are 100% MISERABLE. what some people dont understand you can have money and still be MISERABLE in this business. If you stop now what you are doing and try to start doing it for a HOBBY, its not that easy to come to a complete halt and start doing it a different way. being honest I would quit completely if I were you, trying to start doing it for a HOBBY is not as easy as said.
 
Joined
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Forget all that negativity. Everyone says the same thing, it's ruining your life, it is an obssession, you are wasting your time, your luck will run out, gambling has no future. I have been listening to same bull for over 30 years. Is it worth it, hell yes. I love what I do, but I am generally happy wherever I am. You get stuck in some dead end job, and have to put 30+ years in just to pay the mortgage, or you take a chance in life, early, so if you can't cut it, you still can regroup. You are the one profiting, not all the naysayers who surround you. You just have to put things in perspective. You cannot obsess about it, that will ruin you. Treat it like a long hour job, but you works lots of weekends. Do not stay mesmerized by watching the scores. It changes nothing. Either get paid or pay, maybe kiss your sister. Take control of your life, do not let it control you. Take time off, for mental refresh. Once you treat it like a career you will gauge how many hours you need to work and recreate. You need to achieve a proper balance. If I was younger I would put in 50-60 hour weeks.

So, lets say you listen to all negative people, and just stop something you are successful at, and enjoy. You take the well traveled path. You get your career, your house, your beautiful wife, kids and some vehicles. The nut is so high you barely scrape by. The only way you can bet is to risk the mortgage payment, or credit cards. Now you are at a crossroads. You will always mentally beat yourself up asking, what if I would have stuck with it? I should have given it a shot. That will haunt you forever. At least if you try, and cannot get control of your life, you will have the answer, it is not for you. Go for it, you only live once and will always regret it if you never try.

Best Wishes...OF:howdy:
 

AK

The Bonus Man King
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Get Out and Run or you might owe your local mob $54,000 in cash in the long run.

Never use the DUE theory either.
 

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i was in your exact situation (age and all, as i'm only 19) in january of this year. became very anti-social, etc...
best/only advice i can come up with is decide what you want to do with gambling: is it just a hobby, or do you want to make it into a career? if it's a hobby, cut back to the point where people know it's JUST a hobby. you call it a hobby, but it's obviously taking up enough time in your life that you have to decide where you want to go with it. if you want a career, i definitely lack life experience in giving an answer.
in my situation i realized i don't have the drive to keep this up for a year, let alone the next 20 or 30...
 

ODU GURU
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The key to your post was when I read this sentence you wrote:

After taking my first weekend off in really a whole year from betting EVERYONE that knows me said I was a completely different person that they loved to be around.

You imply that your Family and Friends don't like being around you when you are gambling. The odds of you making a successful career at it are very small, maybe 1-2% in the long run...

I am 49 years of age. I could be your Father. There is so much more to life than gambling, and at your age, you need to SEE what LIFE has to offer you...

If you've exhausted other avenues and can only find happiness when gambling, well that's an entirely different story. But you are YOUNG, and you should listen carefully to the words of others who have taken the time to respond to you.

Read ALL the posts and choose the one(s) that touch your heart...

Best of Luck,

THE SHRINK
 
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THE SHRINK said:
The key to your post was when I read this sentence you wrote:

After taking my first weekend off in really a whole year from betting EVERYONE that knows me said I was a completely different person that they loved to be around.

You imply that your Family and Friends don't like being around you when you are gambling. The odds of you making a successful career at it are very small, maybe 1-2% in the long run...

I am 49 years of age. I could be your Father. There is so much more to life than gambling, and at your age, you need to SEE what LIFE has to offer you...

If you've exhausted other avenues and can only find happiness when gambling, well that's an entirely different story. But you are YOUNG, and you should listen carefully to the words of others who have taken the time to respond to you.

Read ALL the posts and choose the one(s) that touch your heart...

Best of Luck,

THE SHRINK

I like the fact that he stresses words in all CAPS just like you The SHRINK...OF:103631605
 

Atlanta's Finest Handicapper
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Thank you all for your responses.

It's really just hard for me to completely stop. The money is great and I just love the hustle and bustle of it. Going to Western Union inside the Publix and having the old lady look at me when she pulls up the MTCN and see's a WU for 3 dimes from Costa Rica thinking somehow it is an error.

It's just one of those things that is unheard of when your young. I don't look at it at all as a hobby, it really is a full-time career for me currently.

I am going to try to somehow just forget about the wagers after I make them and cut back on some of the capping I put into this every night.

You guys really opened some light for me and I am going to seriously try to go back to my normal loving self when I am around friends and family.

Thanks
 

ODU GURU
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koolzie,

Two things come to mind...

1-TRYING IS LYING

2-LOOK UP THE WORD, "RATIONALIZING..."

The more I thing about it, the more I believe you are ADDICTED...

Woops, I guess 3 things came to mind...

THE SHRINK
 

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Have you been winning consistently. If you're not, as General says, a "steamer, middler, scalper" then I'd say your winning may last, but it may not. A year is not very long. How confident are you that you will keep winning?

Another question, and feel free not to answer, but if you're sitting in front the screen, subscribing to Don Best, using multiple books, then you must have had a pretty nice bankroll funded to being with. Not sure if I want to ask how an 17 year old acquires a significant enough bankroll to be able to use Don Best.
 

ODU GURU
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D2bets said:
Have you been winning consistently. If you're not, as General says, a "steamer, middler, scalper" then I'd say your winning may last, but it may not. A year is not very long. How confident are you that you will keep winning?

Another question, and feel free not to answer, but if you're sitting in front the screen, subscribing to Don Best, using multiple books, then you must have had a pretty nice bankroll funded to being with. Not sure if I want to ask how an 17 year old acquires a significant enough bankroll to be able to use Don Best.

:lolBIG:
 

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