General Gambling Questions For Me

[KUJustin]

What are your thoughts on the ethics of playing a zero-sum game for a living?

[BluffTHIS!]

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What are your thoughts on the ethics of playing a zero-sum game for a living?

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KUJ,

As we both along with David post in SMP regularly about religious issues, here is an old thread on this issue regarding christianity and gambling where I discuss it.

Note further that being a pro poker player is providing entertainment to non-pros, and with the caveats I gave in that thread (no hustling degenerates or cheating), is just as acceptable as being in other entertainment jobs, where such entertainment is just another form of leisure time activity. Furthermore, those in the retail and credit industries who promote compulsive credit-driven shopping have far greater ethincal issues than any *honest* professional gambler could possibly have.

[mak15]

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Note further that being a pro poker player is providing entertainment to non-pros

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i've always thought this was a stupid rationalization. you aren't providing any service, the casino is. whether or not there were professionals in the games, the games would exist. in fact, the recreational players would rather there were no professionals since the professionals just make the games tougher and cost the recreational players money. there may be a few recreational players who enjoy the challenge and don't mind if their ev is reduced by a pro's presence, but certainly this type of player is the minority. so you're not providing a service, you are actually hurting the service provided by the casino.

note: i have nothing against professional gamblers.

[ScottieK]

David,

Have you seen the new Vegas table game Hold'em Bonus? Here are the rules if you haven't.

http://wizardofodds.com/texasholdembonus

In this game, players are not discouraged from sharing their hole cards, from what I can see. Sometimes, they are encouraged by the dealer. In your estimation, how many players (six max at a table I think) would have to be actively sharing their cards in order to swing the odds in their favor?

ScottieK

[mike l.]

dr/ sklansky,

can you tell me what your answer was to the KJs in the cutoff hand you posted in high stakes several months ago? it was where you were getting something like 15 to 1 on a Q high flop. i argued fold and everyone else said call. who was right?

mike l.

[Beermantm]

Do you have better Edge odds in NL poker or in Limit Poker??

[Beermantm]

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David,

What criteria must one meet to be considered an expert handicapper for the NFL? Is betting 5 games a week each season and winning 65% of all selections sufficient? And would this calibur of a handicapper gain EV if he chose to include higher-payout parlays into his plays? More specifically, would the steady performance of his straight bets make the losses accounted for in the parlays okay? Assume he were making 5 straight bet each week, then wagering on 6 games for his parlay with payout odds of 47.41/1. After five years of using this sytem how much more can he expect to average a season betting $400 each straight bet & parlay?

Dem

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This is a great question. Do mind reposting it in the sports forum and I'll take a crack at it for you. Generally speaking pro handicappers hit anywhere from 55% to 60% and since you are only playing 5 picks a week you will have to expect your deviation to be quite high until you have played quite a few years. Also I have a question on why your payout for the 6 team parlay would be that exact payout each time? Are you betting with a local?

[Sandwich]

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Can the Horses be beaten?

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Judging by many of the posts on this board, the DEAD ONES surely can!
[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[sledghammer]

[ QUOTE ]
David,

Have you seen the new Vegas table game Hold'em Bonus? Here are the rules if you haven't.

http://wizardofodds.com/texasholdembonus

In this game, players are not discouraged from sharing their hole cards, from what I can see. Sometimes, they are encouraged by the dealer. In your estimation, how many players (six max at a table I think) would have to be actively sharing their cards in order to swing the odds in their favor?

ScottieK

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I was going to ask this same question. Where I have played it, (Binions and I think Mirage?) the floor discouraged sharing of hole cards, but the dealers never enforced it. Also, new dealers would misread the board occasionally and pay out after a loss. The game really feels beatable, given these conditions.

[Carded]

DS, Do you have pre-game routine? If so, what is it and what do you think about while doing it?