SPORTSBOOK CLERKS THAT GAMBLE? Shouldn`t they all..

Journeyman · Apr 10, 2004

Shouldn`t they all be sharp with the information they receive each day?

I would think they would have some very good inside information they could use to their advantage, do most clerks play?

I know its common knowledge the average sportsbook clerk doesn`t make a whole lot but who needs a big salary when you have that kind of information ? Are the clerks limited in what they`re allowed to see , as far as what sharp cappers are doing? Can they get access , or is it more a hit and miss thing depending on what player they actually talk to each day?

THE CLERKS ARE PROBABLY CLEANING UP!

Slimmy, care to enlighten the inquiring minds? He probably won`t tell us lol

Horseshoe · Apr 10, 2004

Journey, wiseguys have their own lil' "baccarat room" of phone numbers to dial into, so I doubt that many clerks ever get the marks, but I've never worked offshore, and am curious to hear what many of our BMs have to say on the matter.

This is a touchy contentious subject in general for most wiseguys and their BMs, Movers, Runners, Clerks, as putting one's "sides out in the streets" gives people the royal red@ss.

P.S. Journey, there have been cases of clerks & runners, that have went from making $80 to $100 per day income in LV or NYC or Offshore, to becoming sharps that play 2,5, to upwards of 10K per game..it has happened.

-Slim- · Apr 10, 2004

Dude, I can resume it with, its probably best if they just dont start betting. Plus, many places dont like it if they do. Sharps are sharps but following someone blindly is way too dangerous. Most sharps tend to be credit players......many will disappear when they lose, its amazing how many people burn their "creditors"..... Its probably more popular to try and get around the system by coming up with little ingenous schemes like getting a family member to open up an account and putting in Bonus Plays if you have access to do such a thing...

All in all, I dont think many are succesful at it, in fact, many dont care much about sports but most have tried it and end up stopping *which is usually a smart thing*...

Betting is fun but its probably more of a bad thing than a good thing...

One thing I left out is, if you're following someone you have to literally place every single wager they're placing and that can be a very tough thing to do because youre not there all the time, cant be checking those things all day long and it can be very tiring..

Fezzik · Apr 10, 2004

People who are not well versed mathematically simply do not gamble logically. I'd say less than 5% of clerks could win.

Billy Walters can be banging Dallas/Sacr under 218. A clerk can know that. He can also know that BW is a winning bettor.

He will then walk to the betting window and play over 219.5 between these "high scoring" teams. Bad gamblers feel that in any 1 game all the rest of the info. is just 'noise' and they are going to bet what THEY want to bet, period. The idea of piggybacking off winning bettors is completely foreign to them, and as soon as they lose 1 or 2 bets on games they liked the other side on, they bail like rats from a sinking ship.

Horseshoe · Apr 10, 2004

Fezzik, many outfits move so much on each side of a game, that many of their clerks & runners are generally dizzy(by design), and don't know which way's up..or are assigned but to one or a few shopping posts, thus miss most of what's happening.

But you're right Fezzik, as soon as most get slightly burned, they go back to their own bad opinions more than not.

Agree Slim, even with smarts, they are streaky(like all), and blindly following anyone all the time is a waste, plus smarts/syndicates are often in head-to-head battles on games(especially football).

[This message was edited by Horseshoe on April 11, 2004 at 03:39 AM.]

Journeyman · Apr 10, 2004

I figured most 'sharp action' would be called into a private line or some other way.

I was just curious how easy it is to follow.

Slim, I didn`t mean the clerk would be betting into his own book...Do books discourage or even try to hire non sports fans?

Slim we really should have a sitdown lol, I guess you would probably have to answer 'no comment' alot though....

'The life and times of Slim the Sportsbook Clerk, how he won millions offshore'

-Slim- · Apr 10, 2004

Books tend to discourage clerks betting, period.

As far as sitting me down, I have no problem. I can answer any and everything without a fear of any kind.

wilheim · Apr 10, 2004

Booking the clerks is the easiest of easy money. They have no time (and usually no ability either) to handicap. A clerk can only follow different players they write, most of the time getting the worst of the number. Some books let clerks have small limit credit accounts, mainly because if they are going to bet anyway it might as well be with the house where they can only lose their pay every week. A smart book discourages clerks from betting whenever possible.

wil.

Journeyman · Apr 10, 2004

Look forward to it, should be an interesting view from that side of the counter...Slim, would you even tell us which books you have worked at? I will save all the good questions Slim..

Dante · Apr 10, 2004

I would think they do some..maybe they get a bonus at Xmas in the form of a free wager??

-Slim- · Apr 10, 2004

If I told you who Im with know I wouldnt be able to open my big mouth as much as I like to *who we're heavy on, etc etc* but other than that Ill answer everything as best as I can and no, I wont give names, nothing good can come out of that and Im sure whoever Id be talking about wouldnt appreciate me mentioning them. Other than that, just fire.

-Slim- · Apr 10, 2004

dante, no free wagers, as I said gambling is discouraged.

Journeyman · Apr 10, 2004

Ok Slim, I want to save it for a better day...Saturdays are slow, how bout during the week maybe monday if your around?

-Slim- · Apr 10, 2004

monday im off....

tuesday or wednesday is perfect.

DellDude · Apr 10, 2004

Nice topic. How about starting a Porn Stars that Clean Dishes next?

Journeyman · Apr 10, 2004

Don`t you have some thread to start about trying to turn 25 cents into 5 bucks,lol..Scram meatloaf!

WildBill · Apr 10, 2004

Back in the day when Vegas got all the very sharp action, clerks were always broke as well. They knew who was betting what and couldn't make anything of it. Bottom line is that few people clerk for the "info". In offshore places it is just a good job that pays well relative to local wages. In Vegas you get a lot of guys that love the atmosphere and being around sports betting. They always say do what you love and I think casino employees are among the most loyal to this theory. Most dealers love playing the games they deal, most of the people that work the slot floor love to play the games, most sports book personnel have opinions on all the games, and most poker room people put in some hours playing each week. Notice almost none of them ever make money on it, hence they keep their jobs!

blueedwards · Apr 10, 2004

it does seem like they could just fade the square action in pro football and make a killing.

scott · Apr 10, 2004

back in the day most LV clerks were sports or horse degenerates. I always let them bet. It was not a problem because it was upfront and they didn't have to sneak, bet out of their drawer(usually) or use a beard. At the old Churchill we clerks could even have a piece of the sides the house needed. Again it was up front.....ScottyS

Of course their is always the loser that would rather scam you out of a double saw than do it up front.

blueedwards · Apr 10, 2004

what about the dealers? every time i sit down at a blackjack table in vegas, i ask the dealer if they play...i have yet to hear one say yes.

are they lying to me?