You guys might remember a couple of weeks back I posted a question for the forum about what happens when you really don't pay your bookie. Anyway, check back through the forum if you wanted the whole story. But anyway, it prompted about 4-5 pages of responses and was a very educational thread/experience for me.
To make a long story short, my brother got in over his head and was down 10 grand to his bookie. After a lot of thought/discussion with me, he called our former bookie for some advice.
According to most guys on the forum(who I now think are a majority of bookies), the result would be sure death, dismemberment, or harm to a family member......really too many TV watchers out there. Some said he'd get a huge bill from the IRS, and one guy even said he'd write it off.
Our former bookie told us that he wouldn't do anything. To threaten/give harm would only involve the law, which NO bookie wants. Anyway, he said the bottom line is that if he threatened anything or did anything, you could basically turn him in.
Well he was right! My brother called him and was very apologetic and explained his situation and how he'd gotten into it and couldn't get out of it. He explained how credit cards were maxed out, etc. etc. and that he basically had NO way to pay. He told the guy he'd send him what he had....about 2 grand, but that that was all he could pay him.
The guy was real cool about it and said he wasn't there to ruin anybody's life, just have a little fun and make a little money. He agreed to write it off and told my bro that if he ever wanted to start again, that he'd lower his limit to like $500 a week or even lower if he thought he couldn't handle it. Anyway, my brother has quit and has his life back. I'm happy for him and thankful for the understanding bookie.
So I guess I've learned a few things and come up with my own 2 cents on this issue:
1) Bookies aren't all like the ones you see on TV and this sort of thing doesn't really happen much anymore.
2) Most guys pay up, because they think they can win it back and just can't stand not being able to bet on games anymore.
3) A lot of guys on here are bookies who don't want the word out that there is really not much they can do about someone not paying.
4) It is MUCH, MUCH, safer gambling at a site such as bodog where you have to front the money instead of being able to make bets that you can't ever pay.
5) Bookies DO appreciate/have some consideration for guys who are upfront and truthful with them instead of just running and hiding.
6) This has helped me also to get a better hold on my gambling habit and not letting it control my life.
I appreciate all of the responses I received out there, good and bad. I hope all of this has helped some of you guys/gals out there as it has me. I love gambling, but for 98% of people it has to be done for fun/entertainment, otherwise it can ruin your life.
I'm sure I'll get many cutting responses, but I just hope you all realize it is not life or death and there is a way out. I sure have. Gl and god bless!
To make a long story short, my brother got in over his head and was down 10 grand to his bookie. After a lot of thought/discussion with me, he called our former bookie for some advice.
According to most guys on the forum(who I now think are a majority of bookies), the result would be sure death, dismemberment, or harm to a family member......really too many TV watchers out there. Some said he'd get a huge bill from the IRS, and one guy even said he'd write it off.
Our former bookie told us that he wouldn't do anything. To threaten/give harm would only involve the law, which NO bookie wants. Anyway, he said the bottom line is that if he threatened anything or did anything, you could basically turn him in.
Well he was right! My brother called him and was very apologetic and explained his situation and how he'd gotten into it and couldn't get out of it. He explained how credit cards were maxed out, etc. etc. and that he basically had NO way to pay. He told the guy he'd send him what he had....about 2 grand, but that that was all he could pay him.
The guy was real cool about it and said he wasn't there to ruin anybody's life, just have a little fun and make a little money. He agreed to write it off and told my bro that if he ever wanted to start again, that he'd lower his limit to like $500 a week or even lower if he thought he couldn't handle it. Anyway, my brother has quit and has his life back. I'm happy for him and thankful for the understanding bookie.
So I guess I've learned a few things and come up with my own 2 cents on this issue:
1) Bookies aren't all like the ones you see on TV and this sort of thing doesn't really happen much anymore.
2) Most guys pay up, because they think they can win it back and just can't stand not being able to bet on games anymore.
3) A lot of guys on here are bookies who don't want the word out that there is really not much they can do about someone not paying.
4) It is MUCH, MUCH, safer gambling at a site such as bodog where you have to front the money instead of being able to make bets that you can't ever pay.
5) Bookies DO appreciate/have some consideration for guys who are upfront and truthful with them instead of just running and hiding.
6) This has helped me also to get a better hold on my gambling habit and not letting it control my life.
I appreciate all of the responses I received out there, good and bad. I hope all of this has helped some of you guys/gals out there as it has me. I love gambling, but for 98% of people it has to be done for fun/entertainment, otherwise it can ruin your life.
I'm sure I'll get many cutting responses, but I just hope you all realize it is not life or death and there is a way out. I sure have. Gl and god bless!
hno:
arty: 
