[clevfan]

Columnist Jeff Haney: Over-the-counter tips on courteous sports wagering

Aug 10
LAS VEGAS SUN

Football handicappers aren't the only people in the sports betting world gearing up for the coming season.

Sports book employees are, too -- including "ticket writers," the men and women behind the counter who take bets and pay out winning wagers.

Well aware that new gamblers are visiting and moving to Las Vegas all the time, one veteran ticket writer at a Las Vegas-area casino has offered up a list of pointers designed as a primer for novice sports bettors and a reminder for experienced handicappers.

Filled with good information and refreshing candor, here are the ticket writer's tips for football season, the busiest time of year in the sports book:

1. "Have your bets ready before you come to the window; (have your parlay) cards filled out correctly and (know) the right betting numbers for the teams."

That is, proper etiquette dictates telling the ticket writer, "No. 514 (or whatever) for $22," not "the Eagles for $22." The betting numbers for each team can be found on the wagering board.

2. "If you don't know how to fill out a parlay card, or have a question, ask a writer. We will be glad to help you. Better to ask than make a mistake."

Though there's a very small number of exceptions that prove the rule, the great majority of ticket writers in Las Vegas are friendly, helpful and accustomed to dealing with beginners and tourists who are inexperienced bettors.

3. "Make sure you fill out the parlay cards correctly. Stay in the circles. An ink mark just barely touching a number that you don't want will go through on the machine."

Nothing worse than trying to play a three-teamer, thinking you're getting 6-1 odds, and ending up with a four-teamer that pays only 10-1.

4. "Don't come up to the window with 10 six-team parlays when it is busy or just before kickoff. Be courteous of other bettors in line."

In other words, 9:55 a.m. on a Sunday morning in September is not the optimal time to ask the ticket writer for a rundown of the latest odds on each of the 199 horses eligible for the Breeders' Cup.

5. "Have an idea on what you want to bet on before you come to the casino. Don't sit in the sports book and listen to other people tell you what to bet on. That's all they do is hang out in the sports book, because they don't have a life -- or any money."

This is far and away the best tip on the list.

6. "Don't come to the window and ask the writer what they like (as far as which teams to bet on). A lot of them, like myself, don't tell people, and we get asked that question a lot every day."

Even if the ticket writer knows a lot about sports, there's no guarantee he or she is a successful handicapper.

Or -- who knows? -- maybe this particular ticket writer's opinions are too valuable to give away for free.

7. "Have fun and enjoy the season. Remember, the better prepared you are, the more fun you will have -- and a better chance to cash a ticket."

PGA Championship

As part of his research in handicapping the PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., Las Vegas' Jay Ginsbach spoke with the club's head golf pro.

Ginsbach, known as "Fairway Jay," took a couple of key points from the conversation: the course's greens are extremely large, and its rough is made up of thick Kentucky blue grass that makes it difficult to advance the ball.

"You've got to be playing from the fairway," Ginsbach said. "This is a pretty 'penal' course. Anyone playing from the rough has no chance."

That prompted Ginsbach to take a hard look at several players whose odds to win are listed in the range of 30-1 to 50-1, including David Toms, a 35-1 shot to win.

"Toms is really consistent off the tee, and a really good putter," Ginsbach said. "In the British Open, I was sold on Tiger (Woods). This one is a little more open, though I think it's still limited to about 15 guys who could win it."

With the heavy attention on Woods from bettors and fans leading to the PGA Championship, Ginsbach is opting to play against Tiger this week in proposition wagers.

Ginsbach thinks paying minus-280 (risk $2.80 to win $1) on the prop that Woods will not win the tournament is a solid bet, as is plus-110 (win $1.10 for each $1 risked) that Woods will not finish in the top three.

"It's like betting in any other sport," said Ginsbach, online at sportsmemo.com. "When a player or team, like the Oakland A's in baseball, gets too hot, you have to pay a huge price on them."