I dont think he posts here, that would be like BW posting here. but heres a cool read I found on him.
LAS VEGAS -- He comes across as flashy and flamboyant.
The expensive home in Summerlin. The Corvette. The Mercedes SUV he bought primarily to transport his dog.
The impression he leaves implies a spirited lifestyle, complete with daily and multiple bets of $10,000, $15,000 and even more when and where it's allowed.
Either Alan Boston is a creative genius at what he does, or he's merely riding a hot streak. A third option -- that he's little more than a "beard" or front man for a betting syndicate -- has also been suggested.
Those who bet on sports for a living in Las Vegas and have done it for a number of years aren't quite sure yet. They see the spotlight that has been thrust on Boston and wonder if he's all he's cranked up to be.
"There's a test of time that he hasn't reached yet," said Lem Banker, a professional sports bettor in Las Vegas for 45 years. "Let's see him do what he says he's been doing for another five or 10 years.
"Until then, I look at him and see a guy who's getting a lot of publicity despite the fact the real big players try very hard to keep things low-key."
Any chance Boston had of remaining low-key was interrupted by his association with writer Chad Millman, who wrote a 2001 book on Boston and who authored an updated piece on the University of Pennsylvania graduate in the Aug. 4 edition of ESPN The Magazine. The book, "The Odds: One Season, Three Gamblers and the Death of their Las Vegas" took a brief stab at Banker along the way.
"The kid (Millman) looks up to (Boston) and knows nothing about Las Vegas," Banker said, adding that he quickly read the book before discarding it.
But the book has done well, reports owner Howard Schwartz of the Gamblers Book Shop downtown on 11th Street.
"We've sold hundreds," he said. "It's an entertaining book."
Schwartz knows Banker, Boston and everything else about gambling in Las Vegas. He also gained some insight into Boston when the latter appeared for a book-signing party at his store two years ago.
"He came in with a couple other guys and I thought he was confident but very arrogant," Schwartz said. "He puts on a good show." Boston, 44, has been a Las Vegas resident for 14 years and says he came here with little more than $80 in his pocket. He says that the key to his success was finding two financial backers in 1997 who agreed to bankroll his picks.
Now he lives in a mansion, golfs at his leisure, plays high-stakes poker and bets virtually every game on the board when it comes to his specialty, college basketball. That's not bad for a man who once ran bets for his father, who worked for a bookie between Boston and New York, and who says he had drug and alcohol problems only a few years ago.
Schwartz is neither overly impressed nor overly suspicious.
"I know Lem doesn't like him and Lem can sniff out a phony as good as anyone," he said. "He and I both know a lot of guys who say they can pick 65 percent winners as they're living out of the back of an old station wagon.
"It's also possible (Boston) is just a 'beard.' Who's to know the money he's betting and living on isn't coming from another source? And there are references in the book, such as a lot of money moving, that weren't documented and that's a reminder that the public, the media and those who publish books and magazines can be easily fooled.
"It's possible the writer just got trapped in the story, and even if he made a few mistakes he's not libeling anybody.
"But (Boston) could also be a Horatio Alger, too. These things do happen. There are people who have an innate talent to find that (gambling) edge.
"My guess is that Boston may be legitimate and that he probably is."
But Boston's story serves a dual purpose for the casual reader and/or bettor.
First, for those inclined, it confirms the belief that a sharp gambler with great instincts and moxie can make a terrific living in Las Vegas when everything's going right. Conversely, it's a reminder that anyone seeking a supposed guru's opinion on a given game does so with a trust that may not always be warranted.
Does Boston, as he claims, actually pose as a reporter and get away with calling the scorer's table at a college basketball game to get last-second information on a particular injured player? Or is that the type of nonsense that is more typically splashed across print ads hyping a 900 number staffed by would-be authorities and undocumented "experts"?
In the case of Alan Boston, few beyond himself and the IRS know for sure. And the latter, unlike the former, is not talking. Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.
LAS VEGAS -- He comes across as flashy and flamboyant.
The expensive home in Summerlin. The Corvette. The Mercedes SUV he bought primarily to transport his dog.
The impression he leaves implies a spirited lifestyle, complete with daily and multiple bets of $10,000, $15,000 and even more when and where it's allowed.
Either Alan Boston is a creative genius at what he does, or he's merely riding a hot streak. A third option -- that he's little more than a "beard" or front man for a betting syndicate -- has also been suggested.
Those who bet on sports for a living in Las Vegas and have done it for a number of years aren't quite sure yet. They see the spotlight that has been thrust on Boston and wonder if he's all he's cranked up to be.
"There's a test of time that he hasn't reached yet," said Lem Banker, a professional sports bettor in Las Vegas for 45 years. "Let's see him do what he says he's been doing for another five or 10 years.
"Until then, I look at him and see a guy who's getting a lot of publicity despite the fact the real big players try very hard to keep things low-key."
Any chance Boston had of remaining low-key was interrupted by his association with writer Chad Millman, who wrote a 2001 book on Boston and who authored an updated piece on the University of Pennsylvania graduate in the Aug. 4 edition of ESPN The Magazine. The book, "The Odds: One Season, Three Gamblers and the Death of their Las Vegas" took a brief stab at Banker along the way.
"The kid (Millman) looks up to (Boston) and knows nothing about Las Vegas," Banker said, adding that he quickly read the book before discarding it.
But the book has done well, reports owner Howard Schwartz of the Gamblers Book Shop downtown on 11th Street.
"We've sold hundreds," he said. "It's an entertaining book."
Schwartz knows Banker, Boston and everything else about gambling in Las Vegas. He also gained some insight into Boston when the latter appeared for a book-signing party at his store two years ago.
"He came in with a couple other guys and I thought he was confident but very arrogant," Schwartz said. "He puts on a good show." Boston, 44, has been a Las Vegas resident for 14 years and says he came here with little more than $80 in his pocket. He says that the key to his success was finding two financial backers in 1997 who agreed to bankroll his picks.
Now he lives in a mansion, golfs at his leisure, plays high-stakes poker and bets virtually every game on the board when it comes to his specialty, college basketball. That's not bad for a man who once ran bets for his father, who worked for a bookie between Boston and New York, and who says he had drug and alcohol problems only a few years ago.
Schwartz is neither overly impressed nor overly suspicious.
"I know Lem doesn't like him and Lem can sniff out a phony as good as anyone," he said. "He and I both know a lot of guys who say they can pick 65 percent winners as they're living out of the back of an old station wagon.
"It's also possible (Boston) is just a 'beard.' Who's to know the money he's betting and living on isn't coming from another source? And there are references in the book, such as a lot of money moving, that weren't documented and that's a reminder that the public, the media and those who publish books and magazines can be easily fooled.
"It's possible the writer just got trapped in the story, and even if he made a few mistakes he's not libeling anybody.
"But (Boston) could also be a Horatio Alger, too. These things do happen. There are people who have an innate talent to find that (gambling) edge.
"My guess is that Boston may be legitimate and that he probably is."
But Boston's story serves a dual purpose for the casual reader and/or bettor.
First, for those inclined, it confirms the belief that a sharp gambler with great instincts and moxie can make a terrific living in Las Vegas when everything's going right. Conversely, it's a reminder that anyone seeking a supposed guru's opinion on a given game does so with a trust that may not always be warranted.
Does Boston, as he claims, actually pose as a reporter and get away with calling the scorer's table at a college basketball game to get last-second information on a particular injured player? Or is that the type of nonsense that is more typically splashed across print ads hyping a 900 number staffed by would-be authorities and undocumented "experts"?
In the case of Alan Boston, few beyond himself and the IRS know for sure. And the latter, unlike the former, is not talking. Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.
Boston Al
i can tell you a few things about Alan. He is one strange guy. The backing by the money guys in 97 is true. i know one of the guys involved in 97 and beyond. they put up the money and got down on the games at the best numbers. that left alan the time to just cap the games and not worry about getting down. they play a lot of games. were talking only cbb.
Why he is doing all this stuff to get all this publicity, books and magazine articules is beyond me. maybe his ego. i dont know. i think it is stupid for a lot of different reasons.
i can tell you a few things about Alan. He is one strange guy. The backing by the money guys in 97 is true. i know one of the guys involved in 97 and beyond. they put up the money and got down on the games at the best numbers. that left alan the time to just cap the games and not worry about getting down. they play a lot of games. were talking only cbb.
Why he is doing all this stuff to get all this publicity, books and magazine articules is beyond me. maybe his ego. i dont know. i think it is stupid for a lot of different reasons.
Valium, shooting pool with the affable Artie B in the windy city was giveaway number one that you are "in the know", you now have given clue number two.
I enjoy your posts, and agree with Schwartz, in that 101 knows as much about wiseguy traits, as he does how to pick winners in the NFL.
I do not doubt Boston's CBB talents, but have always thought he probably had a backer or two.
I enjoy your posts, and agree with Schwartz, in that 101 knows as much about wiseguy traits, as he does how to pick winners in the NFL.
I do not doubt Boston's CBB talents, but have always thought he probably had a backer or two.
Shoe
Shoe, i never shot pool with artie. he wouldnt know me from adam. i do know people and did some business with people that are very close to him. same with boston even tho i sat at the same dinner table with him and his partners a couple of times back in 97 and 98. he also wouldnt know me.by the way one of his favorite resturants in vegas is hugos at the four queens.
i just know people and done business with one of his partners.that is the only reason i was there. i will say more later in this thread about the book the odds.
Shoe, i never shot pool with artie. he wouldnt know me from adam. i do know people and did some business with people that are very close to him. same with boston even tho i sat at the same dinner table with him and his partners a couple of times back in 97 and 98. he also wouldnt know me.by the way one of his favorite resturants in vegas is hugos at the four queens.
i just know people and done business with one of his partners.that is the only reason i was there. i will say more later in this thread about the book the odds.
The odds
Illini, no not at all very real, very true. what i found most interesting about the book for me that didnt get talked about much was joe lupo the race and sportsbook manager at the stardust at that time.
many guys would come out to vegas with the dream of one day becoming a sportsbook manager. guys allways thought it was a dream job to have. i thought the book gave a realistic view of Lupo's job. very, very, long hours, allways having to keep happy the bean counting casino honchos upstairs. sweating games the house needs. from the mid 90's untill now the race and sports in vegas has gone downhill. it is now a complete joke compared to the 80's. when Scotty S. was there it was exciting fun and booming. it was a good job then even tho it was still very long hours.
right now most joints the supers cant even write comps for friends that come to town. All this has been talked about before on these forums. i just thought the writing about lupo's job was very well done even tho that wasnt the main storyline.
Illini, no not at all very real, very true. what i found most interesting about the book for me that didnt get talked about much was joe lupo the race and sportsbook manager at the stardust at that time.
many guys would come out to vegas with the dream of one day becoming a sportsbook manager. guys allways thought it was a dream job to have. i thought the book gave a realistic view of Lupo's job. very, very, long hours, allways having to keep happy the bean counting casino honchos upstairs. sweating games the house needs. from the mid 90's untill now the race and sports in vegas has gone downhill. it is now a complete joke compared to the 80's. when Scotty S. was there it was exciting fun and booming. it was a good job then even tho it was still very long hours.
right now most joints the supers cant even write comps for friends that come to town. All this has been talked about before on these forums. i just thought the writing about lupo's job was very well done even tho that wasnt the main storyline.
Becky the B*tch definitely gets my vote for Vegas Hall of Shame.
Joe Lupo said it all with his actions, taking a VP job on the other side of the country with no sports book. That should tell the whole story about the state of the industry, the guy might have been among the most powerful guys in the legal sports betting industry and he willingly left it to be one of many VPs at the Borgata...
Joe Lupo said it all with his actions, taking a VP job on the other side of the country with no sports book. That should tell the whole story about the state of the industry, the guy might have been among the most powerful guys in the legal sports betting industry and he willingly left it to be one of many VPs at the Borgata...
