ALLRIGHT...we have come to the end of 2008, and what a year it has been for the world of sports...Where we saw the Giants defeat the Undefeated Patriots to start it off...followed by an incredible comeback in the final minute by Kansas over Memphis to win the National Championship...then off to Boston, where the New Celtics went ahead and brought home a Championship and restored thier winning tradition...While the Redwings brought home even more "hardware" for thier storied franchise...And finally, we got to see the Fightin Phillies bring a World Series Title to a city that was in need of a Championship Team...
And along the way to reaching those finales...we as sports bettors had an entire season of match-ups...to Both, enjoy...and Profit from...
2008 was a devastating year for our economic markets...and one that we will feel the effects of, for a very long time...Many hard working, and honest people saw thier net-worth plumate as the housing markets collapsed and the stock market continued moving in one direction...following the dollar downwards...
But I'm not here to talk about the US Economy...instead, I want to take this opportunity to Both...go over the Results and Experiences of my 1st Full Year here at Pregame as a Pro-Capper...and to also discuss many of the ways that I believe we can improve on them...
For starters, it was a very difficult transition going from a Professional Sports Bettor...to a Professional Handicapper...And my goal was to simply be able to bring to Pregame, exactly what I was doing here in Las Vegas for over a decade...and for a very long time prior to that, in Philly...and that was, earning a Profit in what many refer to as the Sports Exchange...or as a Pro-Bettor...
Many of the difficulties were trying to change the timing of my wagering, because prior to sharing my work...I had the luxery of waiting until as long as I felt like it to make my wager, while now that isn't possible...Then I had to try and understand how to best help people profit with my information...I learned immediately that I can't expect bettors to have accumulated the type of bankroll yet, that would allow them to bet the way I had done for so long...And the approach the "wise-guys" have used for so long to beat the books with...But eventually with the help of all of you, I was able to slowly but surely implement my style into a way that anyone with discipline and desire can use to profit...
We created the "Heavy Hitters" and I have since been able to really make them extremely SELECTIVE wagers...which means that to compensate for any lack of volume, we will look to win as a higher rate...I also believe that having to endure some of the losing streaks that are inevitable if you plan on making money in this racket, really helped me to refine my approach and make it so much more effective...
I am fortunate to be surrounded by extremely sharp and competant people, and with thier help...I was able to go back through all of our work and look for ways to improve results because I knew from experience that we will definately be able to win more games than we lost...And through those tough stretches I was able to restructure my "Unit Distribution" so that we can get the most out of our work...
Now there is so much that I want to discuss with you all...and so many experiences over this past year that I would like to share with you...But doing so would take forever...so rather than make this an extremely long Blog...I think that I will break this down into a few Parts...where I can cover more topics in greater detail...
The Number One thing that I learned this year is that I can not control the bankrolls of anyone who chooses to follow me...I can continue to offer guidance and to educate on how to build a bank and wager correctly, like I was taught because believe me...it's not something that don't take a lot of work and self-control to achieve...And the other thing that I learned, is that I can't control when someone chooses to follow along...And that's true for anyone who is in the business of sharing investment information...
Here are the Results for 2008 : Based on a Starting Bankroll of $10k
HEAVY HITTERS = +$3,559 Profit....ALL-ACCESS = +$1,508 Profit
Before we break it down a bit...I want to add that although we did turn a profit, which is huge in any market...especially during these economic times...but more importantly...After going through all of our work, we realized that by not employing the "UInit Distribution" that we now are...we cost ourselves close to "70" UINITS of PROFIT...
That's Correct...If I had simply used the EXACT system we are using now...that Profit on "Heavy Hitters" would be closer to "100 UNITS" and the "All-Access" closer to "80 UNITS" of Profit...
Now that is a huge difference, and as much as it pisses me off for missing out on that Profit...I am so grateful to all those who helped me come to the conclusion that we needed to really put more emphasis on Units...and to realize that I was not passing along the information in a manner which would offer the most Profit...
But the Bottom Line is that we not only Turned a Profit for 2008...But also learned how to Profit more in the future from the same results...
Now I know why so many very successful and wealthy sports bettors have refused to share thier work...and believe me, since coming to Pregame...RJ will tell you, that I have tried to recruit some real Big Time Winners from here in Vegas...but so far, they all have said I am crazy for doing it...
The truth is, I am doing this because I know that I can beat them and I want to help others do the same thing...But I also am one who tells it like it is and this is by far, one of the toughest rackets you can choose to make money in...It takes a lot of time, discipline, and hard work...and even then there are no guarantees...Because like any market, information becomes the most important factor...
And how you use it becomes the 2nd most important factor...which is why I continue to be in the forums and accessable to my guys so that I can try to show them how to profit and what to expect...Because I will tell you from experience and I have worked with and for, the most winningest sports betting outfits ever...and even they have to endure losing stretches that would leave most bettors broke if they don't know how to play the game...Look, there are no short-cuts, sure things, or ez money...
The way you make money in this business is like any other...You have to know how to save, spend, and progress...and you have to treat this like a business so that it pays like one...
I started my career in this industry as a bookmaker, and eventually was convinced by groups that I saw win year after year that I could make more money betting for them and with them...than I could booking...That brought me to Vegas and that is exactly what I did for a very long time until the time came to form my own group more or less and begin calling the shots on which games I want to bet...
I was lucky to have made the kind of contacts that very few people could imagine having...and I have continued growing my information network to include sharps, books, ticket writers, ect...because info is info and the more of it you have, the better chance you have of beating the market...Then RJ approached me with an idea and his passion for what he was trying to do and bring to Pregame...
I have never brought this up because it really isn't anyone's business...but to better explain just how much I believe in this concept...Of getting a group of cappers together who have valuable info, and sharing it with recreational and serious bettors...The truth is, I have not ever taken home "1 cent" of any income made by sharing my info...I sign over my check every single month to Pregame, for stock in the company because like I said...I believe in the vision of creating something that has never been available before...
And I believe that with time...Pregame will continue to show why it truely is like no other site on the web...But now I have gone all over the place because you know me...when I get going, it's tough to stop because I love this business, I love what I do...and I can talk about sports betting forever and not get bored...
But the purpose of this Blog was to post my results for 2008...and although it wasn't the best year ever...The Bottom Line is that it was a Winning Year...I won the first 4 months during the Pro-Bettor Challenge...and then I won the 12 months following it...Now some may say, that isn't the biggest profit I've seen...But it's based on only $10k, which was more or less never at risk because even during losing streaks, we were simply giving back profit most of the time...
And what I am proud of is that this was my 1st Year of a huge transition...and I still found a way to turn a profit and beat the books...And now, with more experience and a bigger network...we will only get stronger and better results, because this is what I do and this is what I have used to provide for myself and my loved ones my entire life...RJ says, this is a guy who lives off his winnings...and I am proud to say it's the truth...But I also want to caution others who want to do the same...
Sure you can do it, because I am no smarter than anyone else...But be warned, it is going to take a lot of time to get your bankroll to where each game and each night is insignificant...It's going to take a lot to learn how to endure and overcome the ridiculous losing streaks that will come with the business of investing in this market...But look, if I could do it...which is proven by the results...then anyone who truely want to can...
Some may say that those results are no big deal...and that is one of the problems I've seen with sports bettors...The inability to treat this like any other investment...and if you bought stock for $10k and 12 months later it was worth almost $14k...you would be pretty happy...And others may say, that with the fees...there wouldn't be much profit left...possibly even loss if you didn't take advantage of the yearly price...But again, I can not control what someone is able to bet and taking it to this type of level isn't for everyone...But the bottom line is, that the info showed a profit and with the Unit Distribution we are using now...it would have, and certainly will in the future...show even more...
Finally, although we will touch on more with later Blogs...the one thing that I wanted to really point out is the fact that we turned a profit...We went through good and bad...easy and tough...and in the end, we came out holding the dough...And there are not that many Pro Sports Bettors that can say that, because trust me...if they could, they would...But there is a reason you won't see account balances, and a reason why records shown are very selective...
I prefered to respect you guys...and tell it like it is, rather than how I would like it to be, or how it sounds best...Because I realized that today's bettors are so much sharper than we were...So I trusted that fact, and the fact that you guys are sophisticated enough in this racket to know just how few handicappers can actually say that thier info turned a profit for the year...
Thanks again for all your support...and Best of luck...Like I said, we will continue this discussion as I get more feedback and I plan on covering a series of topics about the past year over the next few days/weeks...Vegas-Runner
Ace has become the best of the best. Proud to see you demolish Vegas baby!
Thanks Matty, and thank you for the call after the GOY Cashed...You are and have always been a class act and a great friend...
Cowboys, once agin brother you are on point....I have always felt that those days that there are bigger things going on, that you can take advantage of other boards and it was first explained to me when I was moving "Steam" and during Rivalry Weekend, we were betting on the NHL or Coll of Charleston instead...
Back then it iritated me because I wanted to get down on the marquee stuff like anyone else...but eventually, I realized that these guys didn't do this for the fun of it, or to have action...They did it because they knew that they held an edge, and they would grind and grind until that damn edge finally appeared, and eventually the Entire Market, and how to beat it began making sense...
And I began never looking at the board the same way...
To be perfectly honest, sometimes it's just too overwhelming and almost impossible to do all the work required to bet those boards...And because I only trust myself when it comes to making the final decision on a bet, I can't cover it all...
Which is why as we grow...my plans are to allow others who I trust and know, to come on board and join me so that we can cover more...and eventually have a group of competant cappers to work with me...
Damn, that sounds awesome....and it's how all those outfits got going...So maybe as time passes, and we continue growing, we are able to make our mark as a group...
See that, now you got me ahead of myself again...but I just can't help it because I have always been like that...A Big Thinker....meaning that when I get involved in a project, I always have been able to take it to another level..And believe me, I definately have some plans about where this is going for me...
I love seeing guys like you who pick things like that up Cowboy...those are the kind of guys that I love working with...so Thank You and Best of Luck my friend, VR
Great job Ace and best of luck in 2009!
I agree with everything you wrote, next season you could destroy football and loose in another sport, you just never know. One "interesting" thing I noticed was that your record in basketball on days with big football games is so much better than the other days. I know a lot of the big football days you just passed on basketball or baseball but you may want to think about playing more basketball and baseball on those types of days as lines are usually not as "sharp".
Cowboysfan...That's what makes this market so difficult to beat, because if you would have asked me before the year began, which sport I was least worried about...I would probably have said College Football and College Basketball because since the day I began moving "Steam", even before going off on my own...those sports were what I always looked forward to and felt that I had a huge edge over the books...
But like I said above...that is what makes this such a difficult market, and why truely so few bettors can actually say they have made money betting into it...
You have no idea how pissed off I was at how we fared in NCAAFB...I mean, I worked so hard all year long and was so ready to coast through the final 3 months of the year and bring down well over 100 Units again...
But it just happend that this was probably my worst NCAAFB Season ever, and it cost me a lot of the profit that I had accumulated over the year...
And unfortunately, sometimes even though you come in ready to go, things don't go your way...But to beat this racket, you have to be able to overcome those things because they are going to happen...
I bet "Steam" for some of the best groups ever...I mean, I was moving MLB Action for the Kosher Kids when I was just 19yrs old...and everyone knows that there was no better MLB Bettors EVER...But I can tell you that even though I made more money and got dropped by more books than you could imagine...We still had to endure some really tough stretches...And even a losing year...
But I had enough experience after a few years to know that I had something extremely valuable in my possession...Plays that Won more than they Lost...
And I had been around long enough to know that there were very few people at that time who could say the same thing...
That is why even though I didn't reach the goals I had set for us this year because of College Football...I can say that it was an extremely successful year because we were able to go up against the bookmakers...and walk away with a Profit...
And just like I felt when I was betting the Kosher's MLB, I feel today...which is that we have an edge over the books, and have turned a Profit to prove it...
So now we move on to 2009, with bigger goals and bigger plans...But in the end, what will most likely matter most...and what will ultimately seperate success from failure...is whether we Win or Lose...And if I were a betting man, I'd say we are a Favorite once more to have a Profitable 2009...
Thanks again Fellas, and it's been such a pleasure being here...I have learned so much from you guys and I really look forward to getting the chance to share with you all the experiences and knowledge that I have gained over the years in this racket...Best of Luck to you all, VR...
This is why I bet all of VR games. Yeah, the tough runs can hurt - but when you win most years you are a winner.
VR, I say this with the biggest smile on my face (sarcastically), but you destroyed every sport but football. Had you "faded" yourself in football in 2008 and bet all your other sports the same you would have made in my calculations about 450 units! Bizzare....
Hi VR,
Good job last year, especially the last month or two.
Are you offering a yearly package for 2009?
Thanks
Jaym
Vegas Runner=$$$$
"ACE"=Class Act
Ace- you are just a absolute HUGE ASSET for any serious long-term sports bettor. Thanks for all you have done here brother.
Congrats on turning a profit last year VR. We are lucky to have you and your information at pregame. Thank you for taking the time and effort into improving your blue print. The changes are going to result in a nice profit in 2009. Thanks again for all your help.