Just Starting To Read "We Were Wiseguys and Didn't Know It

scott · Mar 3, 2010

The book is finally out, whew

A lot of RX posters were interested. Well discussed a while back on the RX.

scott

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eStore URL https://www.createspace.com/1000252745

JudgeWapner · Mar 3, 2010

Good title.

Porcupine · Mar 3, 2010

Is the book available in Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. book stores or it something we'll need to order online?

Betallsports · Mar 3, 2010

I think I better call My Lawyer.... :laugh:

scott · Mar 3, 2010

Porcupine said:
Is the book available in Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. book stores or it something we'll need to order online?

So far just online.

billpapa · Mar 3, 2010

Any reviews of it yet? I believe Justin at the SBR, also known as Daringly elsewhere, has many betting books reviewed in a no nonsense style. I would like to see a review of this by him.
Are you listening Justin?

BAGIANT · Mar 3, 2010

Just received my copy today from Amazon.com and just had to start reading it right away. It's a real easy and interesting read, and I'm sure anyone who has been around the Dust in past years will know some of the characters mentioned. I know I used to stay at the Dust on my days off from bookmaking in L.A., and probably knew some of them, but not by name.

If Boyd could have ever looked into the future and saw what has happened to the casino industry, and the financing market, the Stardust would still be standing today.

I can't wait to read the part about how guys would line up on Sunday afternoons during the NFL season, and get a number, to be the first to bet the following Sunday lines. I'm sure it must be mentioned in the book.

I'll get back with a review when I finish the book, but I can tell already it's going to be an interesting read.

By the way, this is Scotty Schettler's book.

VegasVic · Mar 3, 2010

BAGIANT said:
I can't wait to read the part about how guys would line up on Sunday afternoons during the NFL season, and get a number, to be the first to bet the following Sunday lines. I'm sure it must be mentioned in the book.

"The lottery" was run everyday, (every morning), year round.

Looking forward in reading it as well.

barman · Mar 3, 2010

MERGED Scott's 'announcement' of the book with BAGiant's review

BAGIANT · Mar 3, 2010

VegasVic said:
"The lottery" was run everyday, (every morning), year round.

Looking forward in reading it as well.

I don't believe that's correct, as far as the NFL goes. Stardust put out the lines on Sunday afternoon for the next weeks action. I've never heard of any other lotteries during the week. Maybe Scotty or the book will clear this up.

By the way, I'm already up to page 35 while playing in a poker tournament. Just can't seem to put the book down.

boxcardrew · Mar 3, 2010

Read the first 5 or 6 pages on Amazon, seems like a good read.

VegasVic · Mar 4, 2010

BAGIANT said:
I don't believe that's correct, as far as the NFL goes. Stardust put out the lines on Sunday afternoon for the next weeks action. I've never heard of any other lotteries during the week. Maybe Scotty or the book will clear this up.

By the way, I'm already up to page 35 while playing in a poker tournament. Just can't seem to put the book down.

In the day, before offshore, the Stardust created the line, early in the day, by posting numbers and allowed bettors, who were required to play a minimum amount, (I think it was $500), to put their names into a "lottery". The names were blindly pulled and announced which window you were to line up at and in which position. Example: Bill, window number 4, position 3.

As the wagers were placed the super would monitor and adjust the numbers as the money came in. The lines would move fast and after everyone was finished the windows would then be open to all. After all the dust settled, this final adjusted line became the "Stardust Line". Shops around town would use this to set up their own. There were a lot of opinionted lines back then and much variance from shop to shop. Runners would routinely be stationed at each to report any move.

I know this is true, at least for baseball, because I participated in it.

VegasVic · Mar 4, 2010

Is anyone old enough here to remember when these electronic boards used to be huge, back lite, panels that had employees changing the lines by hand similar to Fenway's green monster scoreboard?

scott · Mar 4, 2010

VegasVic said:
In the day, before offshore, the Stardust created the line, early in the day, by posting numbers and allowed bettors, who were required to play a minimum amount, (I think it was $500), to put their names into a "lottery". The names were blindly pulled and announced which window you were to line up at and in which position. Example: Bill, window number 4, position 3.

As the wagers were placed the super would monitor and adjust the numbers as the money came in. The lines would move fast and after everyone was finished the windows would then be open to all. After all the dust settled, this final adjusted line became the "Stardust Line". Shops around town would use this to set up their own. There were a lot of opinionted lines back then and much variance from shop to shop. Runners would routinely be stationed at each to report any move.

I know this is true, at least for baseball, because I participated in it.

VV
You certainly were in it. Sounds like you had #7 @ window 7. You described it vividly. Maybe BAGIANT is talking about post '91 after we left.

I'm really curious, give me a hint or a PM as to who you are providing you're not in the Witness Protection Program or on the lam.

Scotty

scott · Mar 4, 2010

VegasVic said:
Is anyone old enough here to remember when these electronic boards used to be huge, back lite, panels that had employees changing the lines by hand similar to Fenway's green monster scoreboard?

VV
I have numerous pictures, in the book, of those boards you're talking about and in depth descriptions of how we pulled it off. What characters worked them.

Scotty

Fishhead · Mar 4, 2010

Was I in the book.........or will I be in the d umb f uck edition?

RobFunk · Mar 4, 2010

Fishhead said:
Was I in the book.........or will I be in the d umb f uck edition?

Fish, you ARE what makes that book!

--------------------------------

When I first saw the title, I was wishing it was about the infancy and the early years of offshore gaming. All the bonus whoring, ridiculously easy money transfers, scandals, the dirt, the age of advanced information sharing, it's relationship to vegas booking, failed ventures, the sharps who hit pay dirt with a computer, scam books, etc etc. I think the offshore industry and it's history is completely fascinating; I only wish a book covered it's past indepth.

However; this book sounds more and more interesting every time I see a reply to this thread. I am going to have to try and get my hands on a copy.

VegasVic · Mar 4, 2010

scott said:
VV
You certainly were in it. Sounds like you had #7 @ window 7. You described it vividly. Maybe BAGIANT is talking about post '91 after we left.

I'm really curious, give me a hint or a PM as to who you are providing you're not in the Witness Protection Program or on the lam.

Scotty

lol....Thankfully, I was not notorious enough for you to have noticed me but I was there. I moved here in '88 but had been coming out at least four times a year for over ten years before that. From the moment I first stepped into the Stardust book I knew I had died and gone to heaven. Especially compared to places like Gary Austin's, Little Caesar's, Leroy's...the Stardust was the Taj Mahal of sportsbooks. I always stayed at the Stardust as a tourist and was there nearly on a daily basis after I moved to Vegas. Back then, it was the only place you could go and have almost every game on a TV.

I was a friend of Bobby Bryde's and a avid hockey bettor. We sat in your book more nights I could count and watch game after game. Baseball season and I'd camp out morning, noon, and night.

I have many fond memories of the Stardust and have already ordered your book. Looking forward in reading your take on it and seeing those old pictures.

Regards
VV

scott · Mar 4, 2010

VegasVic said:
lol....Thankfully, I was not notorious enough for you to have noticed me but I was there. I moved here in '88 but had been coming out at least four times a year for over ten years before that. From the moment I first stepped into the Stardust book I knew I had died and gone to heaven. Especially compared to places like Gary Austin's, Little Caesar's, Leroy's...the Stardust was the Taj Mahal of sportsbooks. I always stayed at the Stardust as a tourist and was there nearly on a daily basis after I moved to Vegas. Back then, it was the only place you could go and have almost every game on a TV.

I was a friend of Bobby Bryde's and a avid hockey bettor. We sat in your book more nights I could count and watch game after game. Baseball season and I'd camp out morning, noon, and night.

I have many fond memories of the Stardust and have already ordered your book. Looking forward in reading your take on it and seeing those old pictures.

Regards
VV

I was also Bobbys friend, right up to the end. We never had the hockey game on he was most interested in, never once. That's Bobby. He taped almost every game at home. Hundreds of tapes (?). I miss him and his sticking up for the sportsbettor, in the papers, bugging the Gaming Board or whever he was needed. Almost like it was a mission.

Scotty

VegasVic · Mar 4, 2010

scott said:
We never had the hockey game on he was most interested in, never once.

He took as much pride in tormenting the "establishment" as picking a "cup cake".

We always sat in the first row. Closest to the mini screens were all ice hockey was sequestered. Clearly on some nights there wasn't enough screens to make everyone happy. But thanks for trying.