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Surprisingly, I don't miss online sports betting one bit

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Legend
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Posted: #1
January 1st, 2014 I quit online sports betting (I still bet sports during my trips to Vegas).  This was after a horrible Oct - Dec where not only would I lose, but a lot of my losses were bonified 's.  By bonified I mean a real moose, not the watered down moose's you see on this board where basically any loss is considered one.  I am talking about freak occurrences or last second play calling that goes completely against the logic of the game.

I was fine January through May because I was in a place in the world where it was not convenient to bet.  When I got back to the states, I was fine because it was Baseball season and even though I bet it in the past, it is not something I was really passionate about. 

My BIG worry was the start of football season.  In the past I got the college and NFL Sunday Ticket sports packages through Direct TV and on Saturday and Sunday I would have two receivers and TVs set up in the living room betting games all day.  I thought I would be miserable, or worse, relapse and start betting again.

Surprisingly after two weeks of CFB and one week of NFL, I find myself not missing it one bit.  What helps is reading the NFL message board and seeing all the bad beats and usual b ullsh it that happens in CFB and the NFL every week.

So if you are considering getting out, if I can do it so can you!  Also keep those entertaining threads coming in the CFB and NFL section, they serve as great reminders not to get back into this bullshi t
 
MVP
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Posted: #2
Bling, congrats!

Really!

Betting only on Vegas trips actually give you more ammo/data to choose from to make an informed bet. And NOT having to fill out the whole betting day from sunup Saturday morning to well into Sunday night. I'm sure you and your wallet can relax during the weekend. Let me know when you're going to Vegas
 
Legend
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Posted: #3
Quote Originally Posted by The Hawk:

Bling, congrats!

Really!

Betting only on Vegas trips actually give you more ammo/data to choose from to make an informed bet. And NOT having to fill out the whole betting day from sunup Saturday morning to well into Sunday night. I'm sure you and your wallet can relax during the weekend. Let me know when you're going to Vegas
Thanks Hawk!
 
All-Star
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Posted: #4
ive found fantasy sports and free contests like survivor, streak for the cash, beat the streak , etc help me a lot. Very hard to watch games without some kid of rooting interest. Those options make it bearable if I do decide to take a break
 
Legend
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Posted: #5
Quote Originally Posted by Messier-11:

ive found fantasy sports and free contests like survivor, streak for the cash, beat the streak , etc help me a lot. Very hard to watch games without some kid of rooting interest. Those options make it bearable if I do decide to take a break
I find Fantasy Football more enjoyable.  Almost every week I was conflicted between one of my FF players and the fact that I picked the opposing team to cover the spread, or I bet the under.
 
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Posted: #6
i always find these "I quit  and here's why " threads on here a bit strange, this is a gambling website, thats why 90-95% of us are on here, its a bit like an alcoholic going on to a site to discuss what pub crawls are best.

And everyone has bad beats, you just tend to remember them, not the winners ; but if thats the reason you quit, then as a betting man, I'll be betting you'll be back gambling online before the end of the year.

GL to u though Bling, if you're in a good place now, then thats all that matters
 
Legend
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Posted: #7
Quote Originally Posted by mr_bollox:

i always find these "I quit  and here's why " threads on here a bit strange, this is a gambling website, thats why 90-95% of us are on here, its a bit like an alcoholic going on to a site to discuss what pub crawls are best.

And everyone has bad beats, you just tend to remember them, not the winners ; but if thats the reason you quit, then as a betting man, I'll be betting you'll be back gambling online before the end of the year.

GL to u though Bling, if you're in a good place now, then thats all that matters
Not even close, I would say coming to this site is more akin to a recovering alcoholic observing the drunk tank at the local police station at 2:30 on a Sunday morning. 

Also, I am not a recovering gambler.  I still gamble, I play poker a lot and I take 3 - 4 trips to Vegas per year.   I am just giving up a certain aspect of gambling.  When you net +$25,000 in live poker earnings from tournaments and cash games and lose it all to online sports betting, the choice is easy, lose the online sports betting.

Plus I know what every person on this site that has been sports betting for more than 5 years secretly knows but will never admit.  Over the long term, no one, and I mean no one ends up in the plus column betting sports.  The vig catches up to everyone, even the well known winners end up after a while going to illegal activities to support their betting income. 

Also, this site offer more than just sports betting talk on specific games.  I actually spend most of my time here in the General Discussion, Las Vegas, and Penalty Box sections. 
 
Covers Linesmen
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Posted: #8
k
 
Banned
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Posted: #9

Quote Originally Posted by Bling:

Not even close, I would say coming to this site is more akin to a recovering alcoholic observing the drunk tank at the local police station at 2:30 on a Sunday morning. 

Also, I am not a recovering gambler.  I still gamble, I play poker a lot and I take 3 - 4 trips to Vegas per year.   I am just giving up a certain aspect of gambling.  When you net +$25,000 in live poker earnings from tournaments and cash games and lose it all to online sports betting, the choice is easy, lose the online sports betting.

Plus I know what every person on this site that has been sports betting for more than 5 years secretly knows but will never admit.  Over the long term, no one, and I mean no one ends up in the plus column betting sports.  The vig catches up to everyone, even the well known winners end up after a while going to illegal activities to support their betting income. 

Also, this site offer more than just sports betting talk on specific games.  I actually spend most of my time here in the General Discussion, Las Vegas, and Penalty Box sections. 

 

You can absolutely end up in the + column.

 

But is more about discipline and how you bet, not necessarily what you bet, assuming you are not a typical square.

 
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Posted: #10

Take slots as an example.

I will NEVER play a slot machine.

Why? Unless you hit a progressive, you will never end up in the + column.

Sports betting? Completely different. And believe me, I wouldn't be on this site for a single second if there wasn't money to be made in the NBA and NFL over the short and long-term.

 
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Posted: #11
bling enjoying life now
 
Captain
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Posted: #12
Whatever floats your boat..
 
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Posted: #13
In my eyes, online sports betting for a gambling addict is like putting an uzi in a 7-year old's hand at a gun range outside of Las Vegas.

An idiotic situation that is bound to turn into a disaster.  It might seem fun and harmless at first, but give it a few, it will escalate and next thing you know you took a slug to the head.

The main issue becomes that you are staring at nothing more than a number.  You don't have the luxury of touching, feeling or even seeing the money you are wagering.  What is merely a number is the sensation that, "my bankroll is limitless."  I've been down this road as short as a few weeks ago.  You take one brutal loss that should have never happened, and you end up hurling your own snowball off a mountain.  

I find that when you place the bet, let's say an 1100 single game bet, you find yourself counting out all of that money.  You realize, this is a lot of money, I better get s**t right.  You put a ton more devotion and time into that play.

We're not talking cocaine, alcohol or heroin.  I don't lump gambling into that category, because at the end of the day your body doesn't go into shock; it doesn't reject anything but the drug, and you won't become autoimmune-deficient without it (unless you are a psychosomatic type.)  It's not hard to get yourself away from gambling, and more importantly the offshore business.

I believe you that you're off, Bling.  Also very happy for you.  Life, I'm sure becomes easier without that burden on you.  But I really don't see this place helping your cause of staying straight.  A gambler thrives off of impulse.  This place is filled with impulse-based ideas.

Different from a drunk tank, this is more of a bar with people telling you, "just one drink isn't going to kill you."   I see people win here just as much as lose.  I can't imagine a drunk tank filled with success stories.  

I love the entertainment of Covers on a given day.  But this would be one of the last forums I visited on my path to recovery from the offshore gaming business.  

At the end of the day, though, to each their own I'm sure.  And I hope you stay straight and live life without burden or stress.  Squeezing the most of a utilitarianism-esque state of mind is knowing that what you're doing what helps not just you live a better life, but everybody around you who is important enough to change for.  Good luck.  
 
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Posted: #14
Quote Originally Posted by TheDrizzle77:

In my eyes, online sports betting for a gambling addict is like putting an uzi in a 7-year old's hand at a gun range outside of Las Vegas.

An idiotic situation that is bound to turn into a disaster.  It might seem fun and harmless at first, but give it a few, it will escalate and next thing you know you took a slug to the head.

The main issue becomes that you are staring at nothing more than a number.  You don't have the luxury of touching, feeling or even seeing the money you are wagering.  What is merely a number is the sensation that, "my bankroll is limitless."  I've been down this road as short as a few weeks ago.  You take one brutal loss that should have never happened, and you end up hurling your own snowball off a mountain.  

I find that when you place the bet, let's say an 1100 single game bet, you find yourself counting out all of that money.  You realize, this is a lot of money, I better get s**t right.  You put a ton more devotion and time into that play.

We're not talking cocaine, alcohol or heroin.  I don't lump gambling into that category, because at the end of the day your body doesn't go into shock; it doesn't reject anything but the drug, and you won't become autoimmune-deficient without it (unless you are a psychosomatic type.)  It's not hard to get yourself away from gambling, and more importantly the offshore business.

I believe you that you're off, Bling.  Also very happy for you.  Life, I'm sure becomes easier without that burden on you.  But I really don't see this place helping your cause of staying straight.  A gambler thrives off of impulse.  This place is filled with impulse-based ideas.

Different from a drunk tank, this is more of a bar with people telling you, "just one drink isn't going to kill you."   I see people win here just as much as lose.  I can't imagine a drunk tank filled with success stories.  

I love the entertainment of Covers on a given day.  But this would be one of the last forums I visited on my path to recovery from the offshore gaming business.  

At the end of the day, though, to each their own I'm sure.  And I hope you stay straight and live life without burden or stress.  Squeezing the most of a utilitarianism-esque state of mind is knowing that what you're doing what helps not just you live a better life, but everybody around you who is important enough to change for.  Good luck.  

 

Nice encouraging words.

 

 
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Posted: #15
Yeah I quit after the Super Bowl last year even tho I had a great 2013 football season. Didn't bet Any baseball or basketball and really didn't miss it as much as I thought. Just focused on family, my job and working out. Even stayed away from covers. Just started last week for football season and it's nice coming back in with a clear head and fresh perspective. The year round betting can really burn you out and the stress is a killer.
 
Captain
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Posted: #16
Bling---that's awesome news sir. 

As for me, I took a hiatus from sports betting as of the MLB All Star break…and picked it back up week 1 of CFB. It was only a couple months but what a great couple months! Feeling fresh and excited about it again…had a nice start to college and pro football which is refreshing. Hope the feeling lasts. 
 
Captain
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Posted: #17
I went to two pirates games this year. One I had money on and one I didn't. I had much more fun at the game where I had no money on the game. Even though I made a small profit on the game I did have money on. Made me more aware of how the stress is not worth it in the grand scheme of thing.
 
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Posted: #18
Quote Originally Posted by ironlionzion722:

Yeah I quit after the Super Bowl last year even tho I had a great 2013 football season. Didn't bet Any baseball or basketball and really didn't miss it as much as I thought. Just focused on family, my job and working out. Even stayed away from covers. Just started last week for football season and it's nice coming back in with a clear head and fresh perspective. The year round betting can really burn you out and the stress is a killer.


What in god's name is going on in that avatar...?
 
Legend
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Posted: #19

GL Bling.

The Jax loss this week had me read your post twice. 

GL in the future.

Support your local animal shelter. I am on twitter.
 
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Posted: #20
Quote Originally Posted by scalabrine:



What in god's name is going on in that avatar...?
NO SHIIT!!     It looks like Mr. Wrestling II layed out in front of a Minecraft Creeper
 
Captain
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Posted: #21
Good for you and GL
 
Legend
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Posted: #22
Quote Originally Posted by vanzack:

GL Bling.

The Jax loss this week had me read your post twice. 

GL in the future.


Thanks Van
 
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Posted: #23
If you've found solace in fantasy sports then it's a good thing. You can Use your poker pedigree in this avenue of gambling. Because you're not asked to play against the spread, which is set by smarter men than you and I. Over the long term they're able to keep their margins slim. 
I takes a lot to identify a weakness and take action. If ever you do decide to take another shot, look for a subjective situation that you are absolute and strong on that makes you feel like the oddsmakers messed up, bet it on that game. 
 
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Posted: #24
Rw
 
 
Legend
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Posted: #25

Don't even watch sports at all anymore - too much money lost in mlb. No interest.

Get rid of the shovel and the hole won't get deeper.

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