Do You Gamble?

[whore]

Me, am fond of a gamble now and then. I enjoy playing poker the most. I dont like tournaments but enjoy cash games alot. Not huge amounts of money. The biggest bet I ever done was a 1000euro call for a pot worth about 3000euro. But apart from that it usually stays in the hundreds. I also enjoy playing blackjack abit but am not allowed play it in my local Casino anymore.

I enjoy the horses alot, but dont know my arse from my elbow when it comes to them. I would know a fair bit about Dog racing and have a great knac at picking winners. Last time I was at the Dog track I won 1000euro in just 3 races doing 20euro reverse forecasts.

Met some interesting guys playing poker through the years. Ken Doherty being one. Played with Andy Black a few times in Dublin.

What about any of you's?

[manarak]

Sometimes... Poker, Blackjack and Roulette. But very rarely, and I always look like a cheap charlie because I always chose the tables with the lowest minimum.

But it is in no way a favorite activity of mine.
I get in with a few bills in my wallet, and get out when the time is up or when the money is finished.

Given the choice between casino and spending some "quality time" with ladyboys or even GGs, the bedroom wins every time.
So... Casino is rather something I do when there are no other options.

I also enjoy playing blackjack abit but am not allowed play it in my local Casino anymore.

Why would that be?

[Gobbler]

I take a punt regulary.....particularly horses. I have been to all the race tracks in the UK except Ffos Las (thats 59!) and many in France and Ireland. I have even been to the horse racing in Bangkok, although I would not recommend that to anyone! In 6 weeks I`m off to the French Derby at Chantilly...and later in the year to Kentucky for the Breeders Cup! I`ve actually been to 3 other Breeders Cups (in dallas, New York and New Jersey)...its a great trip, and I`ve managed to get over 50% of the winners so far!

I manage to keep my head above water...but only just. My biggest bet is around £2000 and my biggest win around £5000 (at a casino).

I like the dogs for a good night out, but its a tough betting medium...as is football (for me, at least).

[whore]

My gambling on horses, dogs or football would be random small bets. Like last week I was passing a bookies and stuck a 5euro reverse forecast on Newcastle bags. My boys came 1st and 3rd so no joy. The only time I would bet more than that is when am actually at a race meeting, thats when I up the ante abit.

Manarak the reason am not allowed play blackjack in my local Casino is I won a good few euros using the most basic method of card counting a while back. Nothing like the rain man. Its not cheating but the guy who owns the Casino would be best described as an Irish Joe Pesci. What he says goes.

I used to go to Dublin alot with the sole intention of playing poker. Buy in for 500euro, usually double up or sometimes more. Last time I doubled up, but with a hotel room for 89euro, an escort earlier in the day, it just cancels out my winnings.

[Jake_Sully]

(manarak @ Apr. 26 2010,21:11) Given the choice between casino and spending some "quality time" with ladyboys or even GGs, the bedroom wins every time.

Agreed.

And as per my I only really gamble with birth control with GG's or have in the past.

[guydesavoy]

Fortunately gambling is not a habit I have acquired this time round. I guess if you can keep fairly even or even slightly ahead it's a good hobby. Otherwise it's a mug's game.

Speaking of getting banned, I used to know a professional gambler a while back, used to wear those shiny tracksuits   He did the poker, backgammon, Wimbledon...all these games that are on the international gambling circuit. He never used credit cards always cash... He was persona non grata from Cannes to Cancun

My brother loves the nags and the form, so I can see that as a healthy interest as long as the finances don't take a beating.

[manarak]

(whore @ Apr. 26 2010,20:35) My gambling on horses, dogs or football would be random small bets. Like last week I was passing a bookies and stuck a 5euro reverse forecast on Newcastle bags. My boys came 1st and 3rd so no joy. The only time I would bet more than that is when am actually at a race meeting, thats when I up the ante abit.

Manarak the reason am not allowed play blackjack in my local Casino is I won a good few euros using the most basic method of card counting a while back. Nothing like the rain man. Its not cheating but the guy who owns the Casino would be best described as an Irish Joe Pesci. What he says goes.

I used to go to Dublin alot with the sole intention of playing poker. Buy in for 500euro, usually double up or sometimes more. Last time I doubled up, but with a hotel room for 89euro, an escort earlier in the day, it just cancels out my winnings.

The counting / not counting cards argument is just childish.

The casino should reshuffle every time, period.

[whore]

Its a case of if I disagree and argue about it I'll get barred, which I dont want to happen so I just play the cash games of Texas Holdem and Omaha which is just winning money off other players, not the house. They just take a rake from it.

The poker thing is more of a social thing for me as I stopped drinking last year, apart from 1 night in Jan. I would normally spend about 200euro on a good night out. I would much prefer using that 200euro to buy into a cash game and have the craic with the other players until 8am and hopefully win a few quid. The worst for me would usually be breaking even am that tight a player.

One thing I will say is, the guys posting about hot market advice for 2010 should vote yes they gamble. Thats just another form of gambling really. In my opinion anyway.

[guydesavoy]

Yeah I know very few guys who play the market wisely..

What happened with the drinking whore ? (if you don't mind me asking ?)

[whore]

Just got sick and tired of waking up with hangovers and fat birds

But honestly I dont know why. I think I have just lost interest in going out for a few beers. But that will change come my next trip to Thailand.

[Tomcat]

Card counting does work assuming the deck isnt shuffled that often. I have no idea how the shuffling works these days but i guess its still possible if they dont shuffle every round. Aint been to Vegas for 7 years so i have no idea now..

Even if you cannot card count you can minimize losses by playing the well known Matrix of hands and depending upon the house rules of course . Like Splitting 8s etc or double down. But the Casino will grind you down due to the immutable laws of Physics...

Actually im not a bad card sharp and have studied much of the Gambling literature on this and have pretty big DVD library on this subject as well. Royal Flush from a shuffled deck... no problem.

[guydesavoy]

Hang in there

[whore]

Tomcat in most Casino's in Ireland they play just over half a shoe then shuffle. Not sure what it should be though. All I do is just bet 5euro and when you get run of cards with no 10 values just up the bet in the next deal to 50euro. Its simple but effective.

My first ever bet on a horse was at Cheltenham years ago. A horse called Hardy Eustace at 33/1. Had him each way and he came in 1st.

Anytime I go to the Dog track I go to Dundalk stadium, but I never bet on the races there as they are ropey as hell. I just watch the races from Shelbourne stadium on the big screens and the dogs are much better there. Last time I bet in a race at Dundalk stadium it was a fixed race. Cans of deodorant sprayed in the kennels of the other 5 dogs in the race. I had my money on the dog who didnt smell of lynx so I was happy.

[pacman]

After being a member of the local turf club for many years, I haven't stepped onto a race track for nearly 20 years.

Google "Elephant Juice" to understand why.

One year, the winner of our biggest race of the year dropped dead minutes after winning & the race committee still awarded it first place.

It was drugged up with Elephant Juice & everyone at the track knew.

My membership badge was returned in the mail, along with many others.

My father was a country bookmaker who tells many a good yarn about how they won dog races back in the day.

The favourite drug of choice was heroin. I asked him where on earth they obtained it.

Apparently it could be bought over the counter at the local pharmacy back in the '50's. It was quite popular for aches & pains.

I bet it was...        

[PigDogg]

I like gambling especially if I can get an edge such as poker against weak players and certain types of sports office pools where using game theory I get an edge.

I like backgammon but I'm not any good.

When there were big cash carryovers in lotteries we'd organize office consortiums. Sometimes the expected value of the winnings is higher than the cash outlay albeit with a huge variance.

I enjoy studying the racing form but only for fun and small amounts since I know I'm at a huge disadvantage.

My blackjack skills are limited to basic strategy with higher wagers if I feel the deck is good.

And will play in random pools such as Super Bowl box pools just to be a sport.