Betting - who does?

[simon.r]

For many years I've had the occasional bet on the Grand National and maybe the odd MotoGP race or big football game, but I've got online this year and regularly bet on football.

I have to say I really quite enjoy it, much to my surprise. I keep an accurate tally of my wins / losses and assuming Leicester win or draw tonight I'll be £34.26 in profit this year! I've never been more than -£50 / +£100, but even if I lose £50 over the year I think the entertainment is worth it.

Anyone else indulge?

 

[vernon]

Over 50% of the funding for my Woodrup came from the profit from a £1200 stake in a horse racing betting syndicate.

I never placed any bets and let the syndicate organiser place them over a three year spell. I more than doubled my money.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

£7.50 on a Lucky 15 when I fancy an afternoon's entertainment shouting at the TV. I write the money off as gone as soon as I place the bet.

Biggest return was £166 on a £5.50 Yankee.

 

[vernon]

A different colleague regularly places £2,000 and £3,000 bets to rake in around £800 - £1,000 profit per month.

I never forget seeing him looking really ill after he lost £8,000 the day before on a string of losing bets.

 

[Dayvo]

Just a few quid a week on the lottery here.

Most I've won is £50 once, otherwise it's a fiver here and there. Still down, but one day...

 

[vernon]

[QUOTE 4056011, member: 259"]Most sporting events are more fun if you've got a bet on. It's human nature.[/QUOTE]

The only time I've placed bets myself was at Ripon races several years ago. I found the event dull and balked at paying £4 for small bottles of warm beer. I lost £80 on the horses and spent £7 on food and drink.

It was a miserable evening out.

 

[Dayvo]

I'll be at Lingfield Park in January for a week (greenkeepers' 'conference') and hope to have a flutter at a couple of meets whilst I'm there with my colleagues and other acquaintances.

 

[growingvegetables]

Once and only once. A game of Scrabble (!?!••!??) in Cairo.

Losing all the way through the game, until my last play - 7 letters on two triple word scores.

Such bizarre "good luck" put me off! Thankfully.

 

[nickyboy]

The only bet I've placed in probably 20 years was on this year's National Hill Climb Championship.

I'd spotted that Paddy Power had mispriced a pro guy who didn't enter many events but had amazing strava. He was 200-1 so I stuck a few quid on each way (first three). He came in 5th, missed 3rd by 2 seconds. Ifs and buts....story of a gambler's life

 

[Dave 123]

Never ventured into a bookies in my life. I only buy a euromillions ticket when it's over £10m (if I remember), other than that, no.

I did however go dog racing at Peterborough a couple of years back with people from work. It was a really good night, more to do with the company. My budget was £20 and I lost £20. In all the evening cost about £50 with transport and food. About right for a fun night out.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I don't gamble at all. I gave up the lottery the other month when they made it even harder to win, after winning a few measly tenners over 20 years and funding them hundreds and hundreds of pounds. I have a bit of an addictive personality so it's best to stay well clear of betting shops. Besides those who frequent them always look so unhealthy!

 

[stephec]

When I was at college in the late eighties I used to work in an old style local pub that had a regular betting crowd and a bookies four doors away.

On a Saturday afternoon racing was on the TV in the vault, and I would usually have a few bets whilst working.

Not far from us used to be Bolton greyhound stadium, a regular in the pub had a dog there and invited us one night. We didn't see much of him until near the end of the meeting when he cam over and said, "number five in the ninth, and four in the tenth." Sure enough they both romped home.

 

[Accy cyclist]

When I was at college in the late eighties I used to work in an old style local pub that had a regular betting crowd and a bookies four doors away.

On a Saturday afternoon racing was on the TV in the vault, and I would usually have a few bets whilst working.

Not far from us used to be Bolton greyhound stadium, a regular in the pub had a dog there and invited us one night. We didn't see much of him until near the end of the meeting when he cam over and said, "number five in the ninth, and four in the tenth." Sure enough they both romped home.

I used to work at Blackburn Greyhound Stadium in the early 80's. I think Blackburn and Bolton dog tracks were owned by the same firm. Blackburn's was knocked down about 20 odd years ago to build a Tesco on. I don't suppose Bolton's is still standing, is it? I remember the "stadium" was mostly made out of wood. When the wind blew the main stand swayed from side to side. It would be condemned now as a fire hazard!

 

[dan_bo]

The only bet I've placed in probably 20 years was on this year's National Hill Climb Championship.

I'd spotted that Paddy Power had mispriced a pro guy who didn't enter many events but had amazing strava. He was 200-1 so I stuck a few quid on each way (first three). He came in 5th, missed 3rd by 2 seconds. Ifs and buts....story of a gambler's life

I tried in vain to find a bookies takimg bets on this years' three peaks cx.

I wanted to put a tenner on Tim Gould getting top six.

He came fifth.

 

[Milkfloat]

A friend of mine is a full time professional gambler, a mixture of sports betting and online poker. I don't quite understand the full ins and outs of it, but he rides a very nice bike, lives in a nice house and is brilliant to have on your team for the sports pub quiz.