Bookies and former bookies- give us some of your best bookie stories you have

Iceman · Feb 13, 2007

Just finished reading Confessions of an Ivy League Bookie and found it very interesting. Have read a few other Bookie books and really enjoy them.

Any of you guys have any good stories:

Best/worst weekend?
Biggest stiff jobs?
Biggest payoffs?
most money on a game?
How many guys you had betting under you?
How much you were making?
guys on tilt?
guys on incredibile winnnig streaks?
anyone consistently beat you?
etc...

just curious as I am sure hey are dozens and dozens of great stories some could share.

VIEJODINOSAUR · Feb 13, 2007

Biggest stiff job....Gary Austin in Las Vegas...stiffed hundreds of players...St. Louis vs Kansas City world series....closed his sportsbook and ran....

Iceman · Feb 13, 2007

I will give you one of mine.

About 94' or so I was working at UPS and I was calling a coworker who in turn called the book to make some plays. We were betting cbb hoops pretty heavy (alot of games everyday but not alot of money per game). Well my buddy who is mid 20's at the time goes on a horrendous run and loses a couple grand so he tries the double down on a noon Saturday game and loses. Now he is down over 5k and calls me for an opinion of a game and I say I have no idea, I didn't want the burden of this on me. He says he is done if he could just get to even.

I remeber this is when Cincinatti was really good in hoops that year and so he calls the bookie and asks to bet $5,200 on Cincinatti minus whatever it was, the bookie ( pissed off he tells me) tells him why don't I just put you back to zero because all you are going to do is keeping doubling down on me till you win. He then asks him if he losses how he will be able to pay 11k or so and my buddy tells him he will give him his motorcycle which is worth quite a bit more. The bookie okays the bet. I remember sweating this game with him and he wins it, I then go out for the nite thinking the guy is happy (and so am I) to be even.

My buddy calls me Sunday morning and tells me how he bet another 10 games or so and went like 8-2 and was now up $600 or so later Sat evening. I couldn't beleieve this clown had the guts to bet after that game. This ended up being the beginning of the end for my buddy gambling wise as he eventually became a yearly loser in evey sport.

BadCo · Feb 13, 2007

A friend is betting for a friend in L.A. after time goes by I agree to let him have his own #.

He wins I mail him checks and then he loses and says he's self employeed so be better if he just tore up the checks instead of mailing back the money.

OK this goes on for a while.I tell him I'm going on vacation and some one els will be answereing the phones and limits for this week will be 200 a game and only college TV games will be posted,something my/our current bookie is doing at the time.

He gets all pissed becuase he just lost $1100 and now I change the rules.

He runs down to the bank and cashes $1700 worth of checks he supposely had torn up.

So I'm out $2800 first thing I do is cut off 3 of his friends.

They gave me eventually $1400 and we split the cost and they got to bet again.

Thats just one stiff story along with the 6k guy I metioned in other thread.

Had a guy owe 5K and he ripped off his employer(a jewler)hawking jewlrey,lost all that at the card room and then got on a plane to Viet Nam.

Gamblers are degenerates and really can't be trusted but it's like a credit card company your making it hand over fist and your going to have deadbeats as is just the nature of the business.

Iceman · Feb 13, 2007

BC,

could you answer some of the question I posted on my first post in this thread, thanks!!!

BadCo · Feb 13, 2007

most money on a game

1994 I listened to the stardust line religously and Doc has released his BIG TEN GAME OF THE YEAR.

Didn't really think much of it till the next day Iowa opens -4.5 and presto here comes the money.In hindsite how the fuck did my guys get this game theres no internet back then.

So I'm writing down Iowa over and over line move did;t matter as the line is going up(I have a pager)better lay some of this shit off now.

Call my bookie who by this time knows I'm a young turk that opened up shop he was mad at me at first but when I moved money his way all was forgoten and we swapped stories.

I say whats your line on Iowa,he starts cussing WTF is up with that game it's -6.5 in a circle.

So $500 limit and I cry and he lets me go 800 still just a chip in the bucket with what I had.

I explain to him it;s Docs GOY I heard it on the stardust line last night.
He say fuck thats where I get my lines from.

Line closed at 9 and Iowa lost outright.

Call my guy the next morning and he's all giddy were laughing having fun loving the NFL sunday sunrise he says you think that crock didn't buy that game back....lol.

Thats just one wiseguy game that went down over time more went down than won trust me.

Iceman · Feb 13, 2007

how many guys under you? make good money at it? why did you quit? ever have losing year?

BadCo · Feb 14, 2007

It was something I thought I'd do forever but was very taxing,kids were infants at the time and just couldn;t keep it up.

I had 30 guys in my prime but after March madness cut that in half.

Over the years most wern't around anymore they wised up.

I got out in stages I turned them over to an offshore agent and was responsible for 25% of my guys acton and eventually my agent got fired and I explained to his uncle what we had going and he didn;t care and kept my guys for himself.

I moved out of state shortly there after,I sometimes wonder how many of my guys are still with him.

bigplay · Feb 14, 2007

BadCo said:
most money on a game

1994 I listened to the stardust line religously and Doc has released his BIG TEN GAME OF THE YEAR.

Didn't really think much of it till the next day Iowa opens -4.5 and presto here comes the money.In hindsite how the fuck did my guys get this game theres no internet back then.

So I'm writing down Iowa over and over line move did;t matter as the line is going up(I have a pager)better lay some of this shit off now.

Call my bookie who by this time knows I'm a young turk that opened up shop he was mad at me at first but when I moved money his way all was forgoten and we swapped stories.

I say whats your line on Iowa,he starts cussing WTF is up with that game it's -6.5 in a circle.

So $500 limit and I cry and he lets me go 800 still just a chip in the bucket with what I had.

I explain to him it;s Docs GOY I heard it on the stardust line last night.
He say fuck thats where I get my lines from.

Line closed at 9 and Iowa lost outright.

Call my guy the next morning and he's all giddy were laughing having fun loving the NFL sunday sunrise he says you think that crock didn't buy that game back....lol.

Thats just one wiseguy game that went down over time more went down than won trust me.

Actually I think the year was "93" and Iowa won by 7 ......However NOONE Got in under 10. That's why I warned Ace-Ace agin working with Doc. that wa his downfall. 17 st8 years winning this play!!!! LOL.

BTW... it was 3.5 at 3:00 Friday afternoon, came off the board and reopened at 10.5 on Sat. morn.

Journeyman · Feb 14, 2007

I had a great collection story I will try and find...it's way too much to type again...it was a classic.

BadCo · Feb 14, 2007

bigplay said:
Actually I think the year was "93" and Iowa won by 7 ......However NOONE Got in under 10. That's why I warned Ace-Ace agin working with Doc. that wa his downfall. 17 st8 years winning this play!!!! LOL.

BTW... it was 3.5 at 3:00 Friday afternoon, came off the board and reopened at 10.5 on Sat. morn.

Your probably right I was parphrasing the actual events.

But I know I started in 94 so could be both years?

Like my book would say It boggles the mind.

bigplay · Feb 14, 2007

Journeyman said:
I had a great collection story I will try and find...it's way too much to type again...it was a classic.

Me too ... involves seeing a guy on the local lottery show who owes me 5 large. I got in my car immediatly.

Iceman · Feb 14, 2007

BadCo said:
Your probably right I was parphrasing the actual events.

But I know I started in 94 so could be both years?

Like my book would say It boggles the mind.

how much did you make a year? Did you have a REAL job with it or that was it?

BadCo · Feb 14, 2007

I know I started in 1994 because I was openend right when the NBA playoffs were starting.

Our bookie had closed shop saying there was a rat in the house.
Were in my garage playing poker and the guys say where the hell are we going to bet now and in true Denny McLain fashion I raise my hand and say I'll take your bets.

Well for the NBA championship that year were palying poker in my garage again bets all placed and written down its the 7th game of Knicks and Rockets and wtf do they do?

They go away from the game to show that idiot in a slow speed chase in the Ford Bronco.

It's like WTF it's on every damn channel back to the game you pinheads.

The best we could geyt was a split screen on WGN and watch the Cubs game.

Now if WGN can think of that why can't a big ass netwrork!

bigplay · Feb 14, 2007

I sent $800 to Vegas for the Docs 1st loser in 18 years. I had put a little on it each year thru the years. But, I 'm sitting good so i send $800.

I knew it was going to be Iowa .....and felt good in this situation.

My buddy calls me Sat. "We are in man Iowa-10.5"

ME:.... "You can take my $880 and flush it down the toilet"

BUDDY: "Why the negativity"

ME: "I smell a rat"

BadCo · Feb 14, 2007

Iceman said:
how much did you make a year? Did you have a REAL job with it or that was it?

Ya I had a 40 hour a week job thats what made it so taxing.

Don't really know what I made a year wife spent it pretty fast.

Best week I ever had was 20K worst week was 12K

Mostly 50-500 dollar bettors.

mvbski · Feb 14, 2007

VIEJO DINOSAUR said:
Biggest stiff job....Gary Austin in Las Vegas...stiffed hundreds of players...St. Louis vs Kansas City world series....closed his sportsbook and ran....

Only time I have ever been stiffed by a book was Austins :bunnies:

Kabbagecough · Feb 14, 2007

VIEJO DINOSAUR said:
Biggest stiff job....Gary Austin in Las Vegas...stiffed hundreds of players...St. Louis vs Kansas City world series....closed his sportsbook and ran....

I still have my $30.00 ticket on KC at +170 odds. It turns out I could have gotten better odds elsewhere, and, more importantly, also been paid!

KAB

cy1981 · Feb 14, 2007

My old bookie was going to meet me and pay me the $1500 he owed me at the time. I meet him at the arranged spot. He pulls up riding his motorcycle with a pair of shorts on. Asks me how everythings going and reaches into his pocket and no money. Apparently on the way to meet me his money, which he said was over $3,000 had blown out of his pocket while flying down the road on his bike. I don't think he was shitting me because he met me later that night and paid me. I still remember the look on his face when he reached in to get the money and there was nothing there. Classic.

Sugarbear · Feb 14, 2007

BadCo said:
most money on a game

1994 I listened to the stardust line religously and Doc has released his BIG TEN GAME OF THE YEAR.

Didn't really think much of it till the next day Iowa opens -4.5 and presto here comes the money.In hindsite how the fuck did my guys get this game theres no internet back then.

So I'm writing down Iowa over and over line move did;t matter as the line is going up(I have a pager)better lay some of this shit off now.

Call my bookie who by this time knows I'm a young turk that opened up shop he was mad at me at first but when I moved money his way all was forgoten and we swapped stories.

I say whats your line on Iowa,he starts cussing WTF is up with that game it's -6.5 in a circle.

So $500 limit and I cry and he lets me go 800 still just a chip in the bucket with what I had.

I explain to him it;s Docs GOY I heard it on the stardust line last night.
He say fuck thats where I get my lines from.

Line closed at 9 and Iowa lost outright.

Call my guy the next morning and he's all giddy were laughing having fun loving the NFL sunday sunrise he says you think that crock didn't buy that game back....lol.

Thats just one wiseguy game that went down over time more went down than won trust me.

I remember that game very well. That was my first year at the Dust and people bet that game like it was the gospel or something. Hilarious. I dont think he won a B 10 GOY the whole time I was there. I am thinking they played Illinois that year.