Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

Say you find a bookie who takes like, 5% of a loss as his +EVness.

Let's assume he has the muscle in case someone decides to stiff you.

If you charged 10% on the loss, then you'd make 5% on the loss each time, right?

Using this, wouldn't it'd be a really good idea just to call in bets all day?

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

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Using this, wouldn't it'd be a really good idea just to call in bets all day?

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You'd still need to find people willing to pay you 10% of the loss.

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

And enough cash around to cover when you get an overwhelming number of bets on one side and that team covers.

There was a great article in the Boston Globe newspaper a few years back about how the first Super Bowl the Patriots won of this recent era forced a large number of local bookies out of business. If I have time later I'll try to find it.

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

and you need to make sure your line is the same as his and that his line doesn't change before you place the offsetting bet with him.

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

There was a much better article with a lot more detail written about this a few years back, but this article covers the general idea.

http://www.bettorstalk.com/index.php...view&id=40

It's much easier for a national operation to get even bets on both sides. A local bookie needs a deep bankroll for a season when your local favorite won't stop winning. In the long run, things will even out, but can you wait for the long run? And in Boston in 2004, where can you put the line and get a blanace of bets. Everyone wants to bet the Pats, if you set the line too high, they just won't bet.

You can say "I'll stop accepting bets on the heavy side", but when one of your regulars calls with a bet, are you really going to turn him down?

*** edited to add***
I didn't really think it through, but if you're the middle man, you're not on the hook for all that cash. Your concern is if the bookie you are middling skips out after a big game. You're on the hook then to your customers.
******

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

Your bookie has the muscle? He's going to muscle you, isn't he? Or does he know you're making juice off him and doesn't mind? I suspect you wouldn't be in business long before he got your customer list and cut you out.

Re: Hypothetically speaking, being a \"middle man\" bookie
 

sounds like you are crusing for a bruising.