Does Las Vegas ever "make a book" on a pool tournament?

B

bdorman

Dead money
Silver Member
Does Las Vegas ever "make a book" on a pool tournament?

It seems like a natural with all the betting that goes on around pool tournaments.

If "The House" (bookmakers) got to wet its beak a little, maybe it would do more to help promote pool (more bettors = more wet).

Or is all the betting fragmented, person-to-person?

(I've heard about the "thrown" matches...and sure, that hurts. But other sports have survived fixes; no reason why pool shouldn't be able to work past that history)
 
it will be back shortly..if only for a small time..I will take 4-1 that an american pool match will be booked in vegas in the next 2 years..small sweat..
 
Charlie Hustle said:
Not anymore. The ol 91' Challenge of Champions tournament they booked ruined it for everyone.
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Agreed, it is way to easy for them to get screwed like they did in that tournament. They had Mike going off at some ridiculous odds 80-1 or something like that. It was too easy for everyone to make a killing. Since then, as far as I know, there hasn't been a book on any pool tournaments.

PS, honestly though, if it wasn't that one it would have happened sooner or later. Just the nature of the game.
 
Cdryden said:
Agreed, it is way to easy for them to get screwed like they did in that tournament. They had Mike going off at some ridiculous odds 80-1 or something like that. It was too easy for everyone to make a killing. Since then, as far as I know, there hasn't been a book on any pool tournaments.

PS, honestly though, if it wasn't that one it would have happened sooner or later. Just the nature of the game.
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It was 20:1 on Mike LeBron, and it was disgraceful. All of those who dumped should never be able to live it down. Buddy was practically handing Mike games at the end.
 
yep

TSW said:
It was 20:1 on Mike LeBron, and it was disgraceful. All of those who dumped should never be able to live it down. Buddy was practically handing Mike games at the end.
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I bookmarked the Youtube video of that last rack....just amazing to me to watch Buddy Hall miss the shots he did......amazing and unbelievable...
 
wahcheck said:
I bookmarked the Youtube video of that last rack....just amazing to me to watch Buddy Hall miss the shots he did......amazing and unbelievable...
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It's not only the shots he missed; it's the shape he TRIED to miss. He kept trying to scratch and couldn't quite get there.

This was supposed to be the golden era of hustlers. You'd think Buddy could do a better job laying down.
 
yea. i wander how many times they dumped on their backers.. once a dump always a dump

can someone put up a link to some of it?
 
Cdryden said:
It was too easy for everyone to make a killing.

Just the nature of the game.
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I don't necessarily disagree with you, but, it was no easier for the favorites to throw to the underdog than in an other endeavor, as a matter of fact, it was actually more difficult in that multiple guys had to get in on it. Interesting that although pro players have always found it impossible to band together and form a tour, they found joining together for an illegal "fix" as you point out, "easy".

And, I wonder, why is this just the nature of our game when its not just the nature of the zillion other sports that manage to retain enough image to at least remain a betting proposition in Vegas.

Thanks

Kevin
 
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stevelomako said:
You cannot lose if you are booking pari-mutual wagering.
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Incorrect.

The state of Iowa has a law that the casino can pay back no less than a dime on the dollar for non-exotic wagers.... Win, Place and Show.

Every once in a great while you will see a strong horse fit into a weak race in preparation for a larger race. I'm not talking about being a big favorite but very nearly impossible to be beaten to show; barring a DNF.

This encourages large show bets, $100,000+, usually on a Tuesday or Monday afternoon card.

There is not enough money in the show pool to cover this size of action but due to the law, which is usually a nickel on the dollar in most states, the casino is stuck with the tab.

I worked at a horse track to 10 years and remember it happening 3 times, may have been more but I didn't see them.

I believe this is the only instance when pari-mutual wagering is not a lock for the house... and of course this is only because of a legislative act.
 
kvinbrwr said:
I don't necessarily disagree with you, but, it was no easier for the favorites to throw to the underdog than in an other endeavor, as a matter of fact, it was actually more difficult in that multiple guys had to get in on it. Interesting that although pro players have always found it impossible to band together and form a tour, they found joining together for an illegal "fix" as you point out, "easy".

And, I wonder, why is this just the nature of our game when its not just the nature of the zillion other sports that manage to retain enough image to at least remain a betting proposition in Vegas.

Thanks

Kevin
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Basically I look at it like this, if I put a stake on the floor in front of my dog and turn my back.....he's gonna eat it. (and no, I'm not calling anyone a dog. :D)

They made a book on a pro tournament, the odds got way inflated on Lebron then were backed down to 20-1 (it was higher at first). It shouldn't surprise anyone what happened.

Pool has a long history of money first, glory second. Whether it be in a pro tournament or dumping to some guy to drum up some action. These guys always take the smart money. I'm not condemning them for it. For no more than what they make in pro tournaments it makes perfect sense to do what they did.

As far as why they can band together to do this but not band together to form a pro tour; because it was money in the hand, guaranteed. There was no guarantee on the pro tour.

BTW, when I said "it's just the nature of the game" I was speaking more about the gambling side of pool, not the game itself.
 
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yep

TSW said:
For the benefit of those who haven't seen it, I give you Buddy Hall, C player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y12sL1oR2s
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I've said this before on another thread about the same thing, but the general populace which does not play or know pool, or know Buddy Hall would not think much about what he did here; but those of us who know pool and play pool and know Buddy Hall see this and just shake our heads......
 
wahcheck said:
I've said this before on another thread about the same thing, but the general populace which does not play or know pool, or know Buddy Hall would not think much about what he did here; but those of us who know pool and play pool and know Buddy Hall see this and just shake our heads......
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The art of the dump. Hall must have been pissed when he blew that easy 8 in the corner and Mike comes back and misses. It was ugly!!! :barf:
 
not very artful...

Nine ... corner said:
The art of the dump. Hall must have been pissed when he blew that easy 8 in the corner and Mike comes back and misses. It was ugly!!! :barf:
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...and what was also funny was the narrator's (was it Rempe?) reaction; as though he didn't know what was going on; he said something about the pressure of the $50K factor....did the narrators know what was happening?
 
wahcheck said:
...and what was also funny was the narrator's (was it Rempe?) reaction; as though he didn't know what was going on; he said something about the pressure of the $50K factor....did the narrators know what was happening?
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Rempe was in on it too, it was sickening listening to Rempe make every exuse for why Buddy keep missing.

The reason Lebron played so bad he had all the pressure on him, plus the karma factor was kicking his fat ass all the way through the match.

A secret is no secret anymore when more then one person knows of it!

Even if Lebron played great and it all went good, someday it would of came out, tooo many people involved.

I believe some one here at AZ had said that David Howard was drunk one night and had admitted to this happening, even know the whole world already seen it for themselfs.
 
How did these guys (the dumpers) not get their legs broken?

The only explanation I can think of is that the player's "boss" was higher up the food chain in the Vegas mob than the bookmaker's boss. I guess the bookmakers ate the loss instead of going to war; they probably got some squirt back too, just to ease the pain.

In any case, pool isn't the only sport that's had a fix or two. It's a great betting sport so I'm surprised Vegas hasn't tried it again. They're always looking for new action.
 
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