Originally Posted by redietz View Post
Originally Posted by monet View Post
Originally Posted by redietz View Post
I should correct that. Ivey blew almost as much playing craps and sports betting as he did playing poker.
Ivey was getting massive rebates putting the game over 100% for him but whatever, the way you tell the story is better and I'm guessing he prefers it that way. This a little bit of gripe about these forums because most of you don't know or realize what is going on behind the scenes. Negotiating a 5% rebate for a certain amount of action used to be a thing. I've seen other interesting deals like the Casino giving you 105k must play chips or free play that you had to run through for 100k cash. Sometimes, sports has deals and or promotions like this... you must know that!? Add on points and mail and other things and it can get fun.
Monet, I'm well aware of people who laid 105 instead of 110 routinely on everything they bet when they bet it, but that was for 50K on up per game. I'm also aware of the occasional 5K in free play that could be used towards sports bets if one chose (M used to do that). I think when all is said and done, if you are completely diligent and organized, yeah, you could manage to make a profit winning 50 to 51% of your bets.

Where Ivey got in some trouble (and Mickelson) was hooking up with a certain high stakes sports bettor originally from my neck of the woods. That was a whole 'nother world.
You can make 2% -3% knowing absolutely nothing about sports using a simple formula tracking lines that are off/line shopping. Multiple online accounts+ time and dedication and you could make a living. If you were really motivated, dedicated and added more tools such as odds boosts, bonuses, rebates promos, etc, and had lots of friends and family accounts you could do quite well. No fancy handicapping or knowledge about any of the sports. Just some math that shows you either have a +EV bet or you dont.