I like to tell myself I'm a fairly smart person. Not the smartest guy in the room but far from the dumbest. Probably pretty similar to the majority of posters here.
For that reason, I've never even thought about going and playing online blackjack or other casino type games at the online sportsbooks. Simple reason is that I know that it is a computer program designed to beat me more often than it lets me win. Therefore if you play it long enough, you will lose. Simple enough. Never played them and never will.
However, I'm starting to wonder if gambling on sports is more analogous with that than I thought. While not a computer program designed to beat you, you are facing an uphill battle paying juice on every loss. Simply put, if you go 1-1, you will lose a little money assuming the bets were of equal amounts.
Over the course of my gambling "career", I have lost more money than I have won. I know that puts me in the majority obviously but I wonder how high a % that majority is. 90%? 95%? Higher?
Even a cursory look at the boards and reviewing picks of the higher profile members here that are well respected, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any poster who consistently beats the book. I'd be interested in hearing from the handful of locals who post here as to what % of their players beat them. What % of their players have won more than they have lost?
I think everyone acknowledges the fact that over the long haul, a bookie is going to make money. Likewise, over the long haul, the average better is eventually going to fall below even. We can rationalize our betting by believing that we are not the average better. We are smarter or know more about sports. And sometimes that may be true but does it matter? If you're still down money overall, it obviously doesn't.
These are just my random thoughts. I thoroughly enjoy betting on sports and will continue to bet in contests, on fantasy football, Survivor leagues, pick em leagues, etc..., but I am seriously rethinking the overall concept of gambling on sports.
Thoughts?
Advice?
For that reason, I've never even thought about going and playing online blackjack or other casino type games at the online sportsbooks. Simple reason is that I know that it is a computer program designed to beat me more often than it lets me win. Therefore if you play it long enough, you will lose. Simple enough. Never played them and never will.
However, I'm starting to wonder if gambling on sports is more analogous with that than I thought. While not a computer program designed to beat you, you are facing an uphill battle paying juice on every loss. Simply put, if you go 1-1, you will lose a little money assuming the bets were of equal amounts.
Over the course of my gambling "career", I have lost more money than I have won. I know that puts me in the majority obviously but I wonder how high a % that majority is. 90%? 95%? Higher?
Even a cursory look at the boards and reviewing picks of the higher profile members here that are well respected, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any poster who consistently beats the book. I'd be interested in hearing from the handful of locals who post here as to what % of their players beat them. What % of their players have won more than they have lost?
I think everyone acknowledges the fact that over the long haul, a bookie is going to make money. Likewise, over the long haul, the average better is eventually going to fall below even. We can rationalize our betting by believing that we are not the average better. We are smarter or know more about sports. And sometimes that may be true but does it matter? If you're still down money overall, it obviously doesn't.
These are just my random thoughts. I thoroughly enjoy betting on sports and will continue to bet in contests, on fantasy football, Survivor leagues, pick em leagues, etc..., but I am seriously rethinking the overall concept of gambling on sports.
Thoughts?
Advice?
