Gambling Scenario - Opinions?
- Thread starter ChrisinNC
- Start date
Trust me, the houseman is far from stupid. He knows how everyone in his room plays better than anyone else ever could, and it doesn't take him long to figure out the true speed of an unknown player that comes in looking for a game or to play in the weekly tournament. In fact, the opportunities to make some extra cash placing side bets in match-ups at times can be very tempting, but best discretion is to stay out of it and remain neutral, so as not to hurt anyone's feelings!
And Player A will now know that his customer service was lacking.
You can tell A what his transgression was, if you want him to improve his etiquette
The way i see it, pool players are whiney a$$ *****es. At the window at the racetrack, I can bet as much as I want and never get any lip and they always cash me out straight away. If I lose, that's my problem. I never plead to them to give me another shot at my money if I lose. This is what makes betting in the pool room a sad affair. The juice ain't worth the squeeze.
And there ain't that much fruit around either.
For $20?! They oughtta both be barred!
Sounds like B may have tried to raise the bet or may have started the waterworks during play.
I'll take the possible nit over the definite crybaby blabbermouth.
Anything B said should be taken with a grain of salt.
In school I used to play a friend $20 sets. We played pretty even. If I got up he would want to play double or nothing until the math kicked-in and he won a set.
I'll take the possible nit over the definite crybaby blabbermouth.
Anything B said should be taken with a grain of salt.
In school I used to play a friend $20 sets. We played pretty even. If I got up he would want to play double or nothing until the math kicked-in and he won a set.
After dealing with several of those, I have always kept the bet the same. Win it the same way you lost it
This approach will definitely bring your poolhall/tournaments more players
:banghead::speechless: Jeez I am starting to appreciate the state of pool in my country when I read this BS.......:grin::grin::grin:pool player and integrity... that is funny.
How does anyone know how much $$$ player B has? Easy to 'play' poor or broke. If A had his reasons to quit playing for $$$ that's OK. But feeling sorry for someone? Forget that. How many times have all of us bought a drink for someone because we 'felt sorry' for them just to see them pull out a wad of bills out of their 'empty' pocket later. Or found out that they just are in the habit of leaving their $$$ at home. Don't be played for a chump.
There are three sides to every story. Has anyone even asked player A's side yet?
Personally, I'd let these two grown men work out their relationship on their own and just focus on my own business, at least until I hear both sides of the story.
Personally, I'd let these two grown men work out their relationship on their own and just focus on my own business, at least until I hear both sides of the story.
Given they are both experienced players, it seems like they would have set the limits before they started, "Race to X, $20/set, 5 sets..." or something like that so each understood where the endpoint is. But I get that some don't play that way. Advice: you could ask each why they didn't establish that up front in a casual manner, but you risk an argument with either. Strongly recommend not taking sides. The best bartenders never take sides....
And some have a problem with his actions, but it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS how folks gamble. If there is rule book you can't quit winner in your pool room, then stay the heck out of it.
You have nothing to gain and a customer to lose. Why do you care how someone else gambles. So what, now player B won't play him anymore. Who really cares?
Pokermster
Registered
Stay out of it. Gambling is gambling. If you cant quit winner when you want to (in the absence of a preset number of bets), then you cant afford to play.
starmaster
Registered
Hi, I am 59 and have been playing pool since I was 8 years old. I have gambled, played in tournaments and on leagues. My humble advice is,, stay out of it,, don't say anything to either one of them,, don't take sides either. Let them decide how it will end,, as long as they don't get into a fight,, let it go. Time has a way of healing things. Player A does not owe Player B anything, IMO. That's gambling and if he does not like it, then don't play with him again, its that simple.
ratdaddy
Registered
I managed 2 pool rooms for about 8 years, so I've seen situations similar to this...
If player A had stated before the first set that he only had time for 4 sets, or if he gets up $80 he's done playing for the night or something like that, that's acceptable. But to tell player B he's quitting if he gets up $80 when he's up $60...then after winning the next set telling player B he will continue to play for "fun" but not give him a chance to win his money back? I'd be hot too.
I have a different opinion on how you should handle this than most others. I think you should say something to player A about the situation.
When a player doesn't follow gambling protocol or steps out of line in some other way, I think it's ok in some circumstances for certain people to make sure he understands what he did is unacceptable. I wouldn't recommend that Joe Bystander get involved, but it's your room, so I don't look at it like you are "butting in". I know you mentioned this player has been around long enough that he should know better, but maybe he doesn't. At one point there were things I didn't know about etiquette or "unwritten rules" (either because I hadn't learned them yet or I hadn't been taught) and when I made a mistake there were certain regulars who were more experienced that would pull me aside and point these things out in a tactful way.
Player A's actions (announcing he's quitting if he gets up $80 when he's already up $60, offering to continue to play Player B for no money, and hanging out for a while after playing which indicates he didn't quit because he had to leave) make me think that he is oblivious that he did anything wrong. None of that makes sense, especially for a good player who has been around. All rookie mistakes. Since you have a position of authority there, I thinks it's completely acceptable for you to speak with Player A in private. If you don't explain to him what he did wrong, it's going to happen again next time he matches up. He could wind up pissing off a lot of other players in the process, and having that tension is not good for business. If he did it intentionally, then find out what his reasons were so you can understand the whole situation. Player B is probably going to let other regulars know about this, and it doesn't take long for stupid rumors to form, so it will help you put a lid on it. I just think this situation needs to be nipped in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem. There is a chance Player A might feel embarrassed when you point out what he did (or maybe not) and get upset at you, but it's your room...you're not some guy randomly sticking his nose into other people's business. What happens in your room IS your business. If you saw a customer set a glass of beer on the table or pissing in the corner, you'd explain the proper way to do it. Do the same thing for Player A.
If player A had stated before the first set that he only had time for 4 sets, or if he gets up $80 he's done playing for the night or something like that, that's acceptable. But to tell player B he's quitting if he gets up $80 when he's up $60...then after winning the next set telling player B he will continue to play for "fun" but not give him a chance to win his money back? I'd be hot too.
I have a different opinion on how you should handle this than most others. I think you should say something to player A about the situation.
When a player doesn't follow gambling protocol or steps out of line in some other way, I think it's ok in some circumstances for certain people to make sure he understands what he did is unacceptable. I wouldn't recommend that Joe Bystander get involved, but it's your room, so I don't look at it like you are "butting in". I know you mentioned this player has been around long enough that he should know better, but maybe he doesn't. At one point there were things I didn't know about etiquette or "unwritten rules" (either because I hadn't learned them yet or I hadn't been taught) and when I made a mistake there were certain regulars who were more experienced that would pull me aside and point these things out in a tactful way.
Player A's actions (announcing he's quitting if he gets up $80 when he's already up $60, offering to continue to play Player B for no money, and hanging out for a while after playing which indicates he didn't quit because he had to leave) make me think that he is oblivious that he did anything wrong. None of that makes sense, especially for a good player who has been around. All rookie mistakes. Since you have a position of authority there, I thinks it's completely acceptable for you to speak with Player A in private. If you don't explain to him what he did wrong, it's going to happen again next time he matches up. He could wind up pissing off a lot of other players in the process, and having that tension is not good for business. If he did it intentionally, then find out what his reasons were so you can understand the whole situation. Player B is probably going to let other regulars know about this, and it doesn't take long for stupid rumors to form, so it will help you put a lid on it. I just think this situation needs to be nipped in the bud before it becomes a bigger problem. There is a chance Player A might feel embarrassed when you point out what he did (or maybe not) and get upset at you, but it's your room...you're not some guy randomly sticking his nose into other people's business. What happens in your room IS your business. If you saw a customer set a glass of beer on the table or pissing in the corner, you'd explain the proper way to do it. Do the same thing for Player A.
I appreciate your thoughtful feedback, which is pretty much the way I feel about the situation, and which very few people who responded to my thread appeared to understand. To this point, I have said nothing to player A regarding what transpired, and player B is not the kind of guy who is going to blab about his feelings regarding what player A did. I may speak to player A at some point to try to make sure he knows that what he did was not the best of etiquette to do when you are playing $ sets against another regular, for his future benefit.
Quick reminder to everyone that these were $20 sets. Many people would argue that IS playing for fun, not “gambling”. Would you have felt differently if they were playing for $5 per set? You might believe that it doesn’t make a difference what amount they’re playing for, but I doubt everyone feels that way. Just food for thought.
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