As I finished posting my daily thread in the forum, I came across a question that was asked by Oopie, where he was wondering what method of wagering do most Pregame Members employ, flat betting or different unit amounts. I really thought that he brought up one of the most important issues that all professional and recreational sports bettors have definately gone back and forth on many times, trying to see which works best for them. Well, since I have made a living wagering on sports for a very long time, I can tell you that I had wrestled with that very question when I first started out and through the years, have come up with my own opinion on this matter, which many sharps have actually helped me form...and it happens to be one of those questions that is simply answered by, "It depends"...

I am finally able to put it that way after trying both early on and before I explain why it depends, let me first give you a little background on my very own experiences. When I finally decided to cross the counter and sell my book to come to Vegas and wager STEAM, I had that very same dilema. Since I was a runner whose job it was to get down on a game, at the exact number they asked for, it was very rare to have the same amounts on each bet. The reason for this was obvious...if the books got wind of the Steam fast enough to move the number before I could hit them, well then they were off the hook...and those who didn't, well then they were hit for the max. At that time, I was really new to this and even though I had booked since my youth, and wagered prior to middle school...I hadn't realized just how little I actually new about how this market works until coming to Vegas and having the privilage of working under the pioneers of "Sharp Money"...

So I wanted to get in on the action for myself because I had already spent a few years in Philly moving Steam so I knew that every play I was given had a much better chance of cashing, than not and since I was lucky to have a mentor, I went to him and asked the very question that Oopie did this morning...to my surprise, his response was, "Son, I just don't know you well enough to make that call, so here is what we are going to do"...I was told to flat bet each game for the same amount, and not ask any questions about increasing or decreasing until I had 2 seasons of each sport under my belt...So I went ahead and flat bet the same amount and as I have said prior, the "wiseguys" had their worst run in years and I found myself way down...eventually things turned, and I continued betting the same amount as before and I retrieved all my money back but hadn't done the 2 seasons yet so I kept it the same....

Anyway, during that time, I was really getting a first rate education on these streets, and my friendship with my mentor allowed me to ask question after question as well as hang out in the office and see how things operate. Finally, the 2 seasons had passed, I had built myself quite a nice bankroll and things were never better. I approached my man and told him where I stood and then asked for guidance and here is what I was told...

Its obvious that the sharps do not have the exact amount on each play because the strength of their advantage differs from game to game and that happens only because they are experienced enough and have the ability to make a strong enough number to compare to what is being offered by the books...and because he watched me weather that first big storm and never change my bet amount to chase losses, and then didn't try to profit more when we were killing it, he came to the conclusion that I had the type of personality needed to wager in the same manner that they were...which was simple....AMOUNT = STRENGHTH....so he broke it down to me and explained how to set up my unit sizes based on my bankroll and also how to keep developing that "feel" to determine strength...

I was also told how for many bettors, this is the worse thing they can ever try to do in order to extract the most profits possible...and that scared me so I asked why ? Well, the answer was simple....unfortunately, many sports bettors just do not have the discipline it takes to wager various amounts and it becomes a sure way for them to go broke, and not because of the method, but rather their own short comings. You see, if you do not have the discipline to bet, say $200 on a few games and then see a bigger edge and bump it up to $600, LOSE, and then come right back down to $200...then you must not sway from "Flat Betting"...and on the other side, if you can't win that same $600 bet, and then drop back down to $200 also, you must flat bet also.

And because I had already had 2 yrs under my belt which was like having 15yrs elsewhere, it made perfect sense...a bettor must first be honest with themselves and realize whether or not they have the discipline that it takes to switch their wager amount, and if they don't, well then they can still do well for themselves and profit in this market as long as they are willing to "Flat Bet" and do so like a robot. Again, there is no right or wrong answer to this question because I know of many successful sports bettors who to this day employ the different methods we discussed. But the reason that they are successful is because they have the discipline to stick to it no matter what and because they are winning cappers, both have found a way to make the most out of their ability and also, get hurt the least from their bad habits.

In the end, "It Depends" is the way that I would answer my man Oopie because as long as you are profiting, nobody can tell you that what you are doing is incorrect, but at the same time, knowing your individual strengths and weaknesses should dictate the method you want to use. We are all human and we will all have to learn from our successes and failures, but the key is that we do learn from them rather than continue making the same mistakes. Because if you consider yourself a winning capper and can honestly say that you have the ability to win much more than you lose in the course of a year...if you aren't making an excellent return on your investment, and find yourself doing some things along the way that hurt profits, then you really need to take a moment, be honest, and then bet accordingly. And maybe next time I will cover many of the factors that I consider which help me choose the amount of the wager...but for now, choose the method which helps makes things easier and less stressful for you and it will eventually improve not only your life, but also your finances.