Acceptable Win to Loss Ration in Gambling

What is an Acceptable Win to Loss Percent?

  • 0% loss

    Votes: 7 10.8%

  • 10-20%

    Votes: 24 36.9%

  • 30-40%

    Votes: 19 29.2%

  • Break Even at 50%

    Votes: 11 16.9%

  • Born Loser

    Votes: 4 6.2%
  • Total voters
    65
Fast Lenny

Fast Lenny

Faster Than You...
Silver Member
I know there are a bunch of people on here who gamble so I am curious as to what you all feel is an acceptable win to loss ratio when your out there playing. I am at about 80% win ratio for the cash and keep logs of all my pool related wins and losses in gambling.
 
That's funny. Off the top of my head, I was going to say 80% without seeing that you said your winning percentage was 80%.

I don't gamble all too much, but the times I've lost, I've limited the losses to very small amounts. Whereas, my wins have usually been quite higher than my highest loss.

That's the key to me....not necessary the percent of times that I win....but when I lose, to have enough control to limit my losses to something reasonable...
 
why are you gambling?

Fast Lenny said:
I know there are a bunch of people on here who gamble so I am curious as to what you all feel is an acceptable win to loss ratio when your out there playing. I am at about 80% win ratio for the cash and keep logs of all my pool related wins and losses in gambling.
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Lenny,

If you are gambling to put pressure on yourself to get better you aren't taking enough risk. On the other hand I carefully worked out over several years that I could keep most of the losers thinking they had a shot if I won 80-85% of the time when I was betting purely for the dollars. If I wasn't legitimately losing 15% of the time I stalled to lose.

Gamblers remember their wins far better than they remember their loses. They also tend to take credit for their wins and blame external things for their losses. A smart person only concerned with taking home the cash can take advantage of these things.

Hu
 
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ShootingArts said:
Lenny,

If you are gambling to put pressure on yourself to get better you aren't taking enough risk. On the other hand I carefully worked out over several years that I could keep most of the losers thinking they had a shot if I won 80-85% of the time when I was betting purely for the dollars. If I wasn't legitimately losing 15% of the time I stalled to lose.

Gamblers remember their wins far better than they remember their loses. They also tend to take credit for their wins and blame external things for their losses. A smart person only concerned with taking home the cash can take advantage of these things.

Hu
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I do enjoy playing for money as long as the game is in my favor, call it being a locksmith but it is just how I was taught how to matchup. I am not saying I never play a game that I might be even money or have to challenge myself but its usually on money I have won. Here is my list of wins and losses since the beginning of the year, not a lot of money but still is good to keep track instead of guessing. Some are sweat bets, actually most of my bigger losses are betting on matches. I think I am just under 80%, if you do not count the side bets I am over 80%. Curious if anyone else keeps a log of there wins/losses.
 
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I was told by a Pro who gambled for a living and he said that your winning percentage should be 70%. Less than that you have trouble making expenses and a living and if it is higher than that then you are playing to conservative and passing up lots of good action.

Dick
 
It's an interesting question. If you are really trying to make significant money from pool then I'm not sure the answer lies in having a high win percentage. Unless you are traveling and always playing strangers (and with the internet it is hard to remain anonymous for long if you are playing for significant dough), I would think whatever win percentage makes you the most net profit is the correct win/loss ratio. It might be a lower percentage but because you demonstrate that you can lose you end up getting more action. If you win 95% of the time your action dries up quick. I'd rather win 70% of the time with $100,000 in action (net profit of $40K) than win 80% of $50K ($30K net profit).
 
I just use Holdem Manager to record all my sessions! ;)

Oh and with the win percent its 58% w-l however the winning sessions are bigger than the losing sessions due to a stop loss normally.
 
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Fast Lenny said:
I do enjoy playing for money as long as the game is in my favor, call it being a locksmith but it is just how I was taught how to matchup. I am not saying I never play a game that I might be even money or have to challenge myself but its usually on money I have won. Here is my list of wins and losses since the beginning of the year, not a lot of money but still is good to keep track instead of guessing. Some are sweat bets, actually most of my bigger losses are betting on matches. I think I am just under 80%, if you do not count the side bets I am over 80%. Curious if anyone else keeps a log of there wins/losses.

Wins

$100
$200
$100
$40
$100
$100
$10
$5
$60
$100
$60
$50
$40
$20
$5
$10
$870
$30
$5
$20
$40
$200
$10
$40
$30
$50
$160
$40
$50
$20
$50
$150
$40
$60
$20
$20
$150
$80
$160

TOTAL: $3405

Losses

$100
$10
$15
$50
$20
$20
$10
$15
$20
$20
$100 *SB
$200 *SB
$40
$20
$20
$30
$20

TOTAL: $710
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that $870 win were you playing or sweat betting?
 
I figure on the money, at the end of the fiscal pool year, 70-75% winner keeps you in action. People have to hear of a loss or two, or they quit chasing you.
 
Losing is not an option. Only kidding I think you need to lose about 30% of the time. Keep your easy games but be sure to challenge yourself against better players. Just make sure you win more money with you soft action than you lose or may lose in tough action. Tough action is required if you want to improve. It really teaches you a lot about yourself as a pool player and a person.

How you handle yourself under gun when a guy is getting out from everywhere and locking you up and you have to stay focused and remain calm even though you want to choke the bastard. Everytime you get out of the seat you have to perform and execute under intense pressure.

Isn't that why we play this game anyway. I sure hope so!!!
 
Honestly Gambling on you skill in Pool should not be a gamble, if you know your skill level, and are honest about it.

If you pick your opponents correctly I think you have the possibility to be a WINNER a VERY LARGE Percentage of times. JMHO.
 
who to is as important as how often you lose

I always studied the pecking order where I was playing. Losing to people about two-thirds to three-fourths of the way up the list and making a little noise about losing left a lot of people thinking they should be able to take me. Losing to people lower down than that wasn't credible and people suspected a dump.

Hu
 
only times I hear somebody called a nit

Perk said:
I think the definition of NIT comes from this statement. :)
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The only times I hear somebody called a nit is when someone is trying to play the person they are calling a nit as a sucker or after the person has refused to be a sucker. As I always say, "I'm a shrewd gambler, other people like me are nits!"

Hu
 
I will be honest ever since coming to az in march I have won maybe 30% of the time and all except one of my wins were in Tucson. I know thats not a good record but I always look for a tough match. i have been matching up poorly to because my honest appraisal of my game is when I have been practicing, and I havent been practicing really since march. i do try to match with the heaviest guy whenever I get the chance. ive learned lately that its also good to look for that weak guy to.

I think my fault is that I want to play my best and against the best, cuz i want to be the best. not a good formula for making money but when iam in stroke with some practice I can be lethal.

Thats alright though Ive learned alot. It will pay dividends in the future.

I would like my win to loss ratio to be 70-80% and it has been in the past.
 
I understand the idea behind this thread (even though I don't totally understand the poll options), but it is relative to your goals.

If your goals are to only make money, then anything over 50% is good.

If your goal is to make a living, then anything over 50% minus expenses.

If your goal is to play better competition and to challenge yourself, then a losing ratio maybe acceptable in relation to your bankroll.

Ideally, everyone wants to win 100% but that is not very likely even for the best. Again, it goes back to your goals. I could lose 99% of my matches against the greatest players for $1 and then get one good score against some chump for $10,000 and consider that acceptable.

Just my 2¢ worth.

P.S. For only a $1, I will write this twice, an amazing 4¢ value! ...but wait there's more!
 
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