Sports betting as a Profession...

[WaterOlay]

Anyone care to share their stories?

How did you get started?

How did you get that big of a bankroll to be able to start? (I know I could never do it as a profession because I will never have a large enough Bankroll)

Do you enjoy making this your life or is it really a grind for you?

Anything else to add, please do. Even if you are not a professional and just want to share that is ok as well.

[igetbadbeat]

If you are from the U.S., the lack of pinny is going to kill you. I know two people who made a career doing this by taking out $100K loans and making most of their cash off arbs and middles.

[ImNew]

Oh where is "The well" thread this week?

I just bet for fun... make it more exciting to watch the scoreboard [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[WaterOlay]

I mean actual "gambling" not arbing or middles. Although, I would like to know how those people got enough money to be able to arb for a living.

I know if I went to the bank I am pretty sure they wouldnt let me take out a $50k loan for arbing [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[igetbadbeat]

They took out student loans

[lightem]

From my time lurking this forum, I'd estimate a majority don't really bet / watch (or even know how to play) sports. I'd say the most it is for them is finding arbs and making an extremely small profit relative to the amount they're wagering. The rest just make retarded -EV parlays. Only seen a handful of real quality guys on here.

I got my start betting on baseball about 15 years ago, now I bet a couple different sports to generate a nice side income, nothing too serious but it's still very rewarding.

[igetbadbeat]

I'd say it's next to impossible to make a living sports gambling.

To do so, you would have to have a lot of contradictory traits. First off, you'd have to have the risk aversion to size your bets properly. Then you'd have to have the patience to pick and choose proper bets.

Seems to me most people with those traits find themselves better off looking for arbs and middles. I hope to make A living off sportsbetting (not my living), and I have my own method. I believe it's mathematically sound but I'm sure i'm 90% likely to fail.

[kaboshedx]

why can't one arb/middle and handicap? come on man

[igetbadbeat]

they can.

[Thremp]

lightem,

There's more money made in small market inefficiencies than in handicapping. You can get a nice living of >100k a year betting obvious line errors (well obvious to you) and arbing for 20 hours a week, which is much less stressful and easier.