So far so good

[billryan]

Yep, he dropped out of college to do it. I think it was a wise move to try at his age because if it didn't work out he could go back to school or whatever.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=BillRyan]Saturday night, I invited one of the APs I met to join me at the 51s game.
He was born in 1992 and moved to Vegas in 2013. After six months working as a dealer, he left to pursue full time AP.
In 2015, he paid cash for his house. Last year, he went in with another AP and bought a second house as an investment.
Eight to ten hours a week of BJ, with similar time on VP and about an hour a day on sports betting.
There are a thousand such stories in the naked city.[/quote]What a crock.  You may get me to believe a professional gambler could make a good living from sports betting and as you told us you were a "former" BJ player, I'll have to assume that didn't work out.  From VP?   A video poker AP is an extinct creature kept alive by dreamers and gaming industry marketers.  Back in the day before computer programs, casinos weren't aware they were giving away the ranch with some VP games.  Some people took advantage of this fact and devised strategies to beat the game and were very sucesssful.  In modern times these games have been made unbeatable for everyone except a few Vegas quarter players.  The idea that any casino in today's world would allow a VP player to consistently win enough money to buy a house is so outrageous it's laughable.  What ever happened to working an honest job?  Try it, it works.... 

[billryan]

Poor Phil.
He can't do it so no one can. Why do ignorant people hate that which they don't understand? At seventy or whatever he is, its pretty obvious he is set in his ways and there is nothing anyone can do to change it. It's kool. Every forum needs a Negative Nanny. If only to make us laugh.
As the not so great Danny Quale once said- What a waste it is to lose ones mind.

[FloridaPhil]

Why do you consistantly glorify professional gamblers?

[billryan]

Better question would be why do you constantly tell half truths and twist everything into your mean spirited ,hateful vision of the world?
I meet a young guy who took a chance and is thriving in a competitive field, I want to get to know him and see what makes him tick. Maybe I can learn a thing or three from him.
They aren't professional gamblers, they are advantage players. Can't help it if you don't understand the difference. This week I invited a horse handicapper to the game. I try to soak in knowledge from everyone that has something to offer.
It's a wonderful life. Next week, I'll be living here a year.

[FloridaPhil]

Are they your heros?

[billryan]

How sad. You just don't get it. Do you?

[FloridaPhil]

I think I do.  By glorifying APs you are running the risk of leading some young person to believe gambling is a viable career choice when in reality you may be leading them into a life of heartbreak and destructive behavior.   Some people are not concerned with other people's welfare.  I am, especially when it comes to impressionable young people.  If this doesn't bother you, then I guess that is what makes us different.

[billryan]

Fearless Phil. Chairman of the Sunshine Committee.
He does it for the childrens.
What a maroon.
What do you think you are teaching people ,arguing incessantly that playing a 97% game is better than a 99.4% game. Pay no attention to the math, it will only confuse you.

[olds442jetaway]

Anyone can have short term luck even for a few years. If the young guy mentioned is doing well gambling for now great. I wouldn't bet the ranch that the story will be the same 5 years from now. Been there done that. Its so easy to get sucked in to short term gains. If this was doable as a career there would be thousands jumping on the band wagon and the casinos would be OOB or just outright ban the players for no good reason and they would have that right unfortunately. Last Aug 1st, I hit two vp jackpost for exactly 18k each in the same 24 hour period. They were different bet amounts and completely different games. I tried to duplicate the results at a much lower betting level and both jackpots were gone in a couple of months. That said, I do feel that players playing perfect play and 98% or better games can in the short term on a long session be ahead something in almost every session. The problem the something is usually a nominal amount and the player keeps going and the casino has the advantage big time at that point. If only we knew when that something amount would end and quit before it was eaten back up. The reason I posted the above is I cannot remember any session and my sessions are long where I wasn't ahead something in part of the session. I have tracked vp and it is like a sine curve but it always is tipped down over time. If one had a crystal ball and knew the peaks and got out, I do think one could make some money long term playing vp. Unfortunately, I do have a crystal ball for real as a decoration and that is all it is good for. It is emerald green in color and has little formed bubbles inside of the glass to remind me that one'w bubble will always burst playing vp over time.