The Starting Line
Turning 40 can be a pivotal moment in anyone’s life. For me, it marked the beginning of a mid-life crisis. I got fired from my job just 6 months after my daughter was born. It looked bleak, like how the hell was I ever going to provide for my family.
“Oh, I know”…
How about taking what has been a hobby for the last 20 years and making it a profession.
My journey into becoming a “professional sports bettor” realistically began quite casually back in 2014. I started with small wagers, primarily focusing on mainstream sports and bet within the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA, MLS and European Soccer leagues.
The weekends were often spent analyzing teams, scrutinizing player forms, coming up with betting strategies and locking in bets in college football and on the pitch in the Premier League and other European football leagues. The time I invested in this hobby was substantial but not overwhelming—just enough to keep it enjoyable without becoming an obsession.
Early in my sports betting experience, I encountered both minor successes and notable setbacks. Let me be clear right off the bat, your losses are the most valuable information that you gain each and everyday.
I will never forget the first time I bet $1,000 on a game.
It was on 9/9/2014. Astros vs Mariners. I was home alone and on a heater. My bankroll at the time only had me betting about $5-$10, but when your locked in you feel as though you cannot lose. So, I looked at the MLB slate and found what I thought was going to be an easy matchup at home for the Seattle Mariners so I bet the entire bankroll of $1,000 on the M’s ML.
This was the first time that I realized I should not watch the games that I bet on (I will write a separate blog on that later). The Astros’s took the lead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th. I was on edge and already angry that I might lose my entire bankroll. Luckily Logan Morrison hit a HR and tied the game and gave my bankroll hope as we headed into the 9th inning.
In the 9th, Mariners reliever Joe Beimel got the first two batters out and then my world unraveled. A walk, wild pitch, and infield single left runners on the corners with two down. Villar then singled in a run to give the Astros a 2-1 lead and held on quite easily in the bottom of the 9th to win the game.
Five minutes later my soon to be wife walked in the door and saw me in the fetal position with tears in my eyes. I was left having to explain to here that my entire $1,000 bankroll that I had been grinding for the past couple of years was now at $0. During some point of that conversation the degenerate gambler in me decided to tell her that it was her fault because I choose the Mariners because she was from Seattle. Needless to say, I slept on the couch that night.
That $1000 bet and essentially losing my entire bankroll was one of the many lessons I learned at the beginning of my sports betting journey but it is the most important.
Rule #1: Managing and Maintaining a Bankroll is the Key to Success.
10 Years Later – Day One, (Not) One Day
Nearly a decade later, I find myself in Cleveland, OH, jobless, sitting with my wife of 8 years and our 6-month-old daughter. I regret not taking sports betting more seriously.
For the past 10 years, I was purely a recreational bettor, supported by a great job that allowed me to build my bankroll with regular paycheck contributions.
In truth, there were times when my bankroll only grew because of the money I deposited weekly.
The highest my bankroll ever reached was around $7,500. Depending on life’s demands—vacations, bills, etc.—I would withdraw funds from my bankroll to cover expenses. However, I mostly kept it intact, grinding daily and betting only 1% of my bankroll on each bet.
Unfortunately, my recent professional setbacks have forced me to drain my bankroll. Thankfully, my wife has graciously allowed me to keep $1,000 in my Draft Kings account. Today, I find myself asking, “Can I make a living as a sports bettor if I truly commit to it?”
Let me clarify: this doesn’t mean I’m abandoning my 20+ years of professional experience for the uncertain path of becoming a professional sports bettor. I am fully committed to advancing my professional career. However, the question still remains—if you are dedicated and disciplined, can it be done?
The Playbook
A significant difference between a recreational bettor and someone who makes a living from betting lies in their approach. I’ve created a “Playbook” outlining the most important elements to guide me on my journey to becoming a professional bettor.
- Bankroll Management – This is the area that recreational bettors struggle with the most. If you cannot be disciplined you will see your bankroll diminish quickly or completely. Here is how I am going to manage this.
- I will only be betting 1% of my bankroll which we will call units. So with a $1,000 bankroll I will have 100 units at $10 a piece.
- At any given time, I will have no more than 3% of my bankroll actively in play..
- Limit Parlays – If you want tell tale sign who is a recreational bettor just ask them if they bet parlays. This is the biggest drain a person’s bankroll so they need to be done with even more discipline.
- I will only be betting one parlay a day (Only Props).
- Any parlay bet will be 0.30 units.
- Here are the parlays by sport:
- MLB – HR & RBI milestone
- NBA – 3’s made
- NHL – Goalscorer & SOG
- NFL – TD’s
- Education & Accountability- You have to grow, and that is why my journey is called “A Bettor Yesterday.
- Each day I will blog about my bets from the previous day and convey the real emotions it takes throughout my journey.
- My bankroll will always be transparent to everyone for the accountability factor.
These will be the guiding principles of my journey, so…
Let’s Begin…
The 2024 Hall of Fame game kicks off the 2024 preseason tonight when the Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears clash at the NFL Hall of Fame in Akron, OH.
Here is your Texans vs Bears Prediction
Tonight’s Bet:
