With Friends like this

[Glengoyne]

I was talking to one of my close friends about the Superbowl yesterday, and he had watched the game at a Poker Buddy's house. The guy used to be my friend's neighbor, but had recently moved away. In any case, the ex-neighbor is a heavy on-line sports gambler. When my friend arrived at the party, the host asked if he wanted to place any bets with the on-line service. My friend says "Yeah, I'll put $20 on the Eagles.".

About half time the host tells my friend "Hey I'm covering your bet. I didn't want to log on for just $20". My friend says that that is OKAY. Then when the game ends, the host comes to Collect on the bet. My friend points out that the Eagles were getting points. The host then says "Hey when you made the bet, you didn't ask for points".

Now before you say my friend should have decked the guy, my friend is essentially blind. And even if he weren't I doubt he would be disposed to violence to settle the issue. After much cajoling, my friend actually paid the guy. Well technically he only collected $30 of a $50 side bet made during the game.


Any way. Not sure why I'm posting this...but it really ticked me off when I heard the tale.

[Franklinnoble]

That's bullshit.

[MacroGuru]

Send Shorty on over....just make sure he doesn't have his clogs on....

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

And even if here weren't I doubt he would be disposed to violence to settle the issue.

Lost me there, but in any case that is F*cked up, although not a huge gamble, its just the principle.

[gstelmack]

We need flere to diagram that first paragraph for us.

[rkmsuf]

That is a great paragraph.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

We need flere to diagram that first paragraph for us.

Aack ! I guess I need to work on that.


There are only two players involved and I apparently went Faulkner on you guys.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

That is a great paragraph.

The truly sad thing is I just re-read it, and it makes perfect sense to me.

[gottimd]

Sounds a bit awkward to me.

[Suicane75]

I can see both sides of the argument. If anyone told me they were going online to make a bet I would assume they were asking me if i wanted to bet the spread but without ever making it clear I can easily see the other guys point of view as well.

[gstelmack]

The lesson as always: Don't Gamble

[Karlifornia]

Well, if McNabb hadn't been such an assmuncher, none of this would have mattered.

[sachmo71]

You should get some friends like Hell Atlantic's.

[sabotai]

I would have said "Well, you got me." and paid him.....and then never talked to the jerkoff again. What an asshat.

[BrianD]

Don't most sports books give you the option to bet on the spread, or to bet straight-up with increased odds? The guy taking the bet really should have made that part clear. It sounds like he intentionally left the terms vague just to put the odds in his favor.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Don't most sports books give you the option to bet on the spread, or to bet straight-up with increased odds? The guy taking the bet really should have made that part clear. It sounds like he intentionally left the terms vague just to put the odds in his favor.

Absolutely. He probably did bet the Eagles outright at better odds, figuring that if they won, he would tell the guy that he bet with the points, and would have paid him what the bettor committed to winning (slightly less than $20), leaving probably about $15 extra for himself (that's a guess). If the Eagles don't cover, the bettor isn't expecting any money. And if the Eagles do cover, it's "You never asked me for points."

Blind or not...I would have started swinging until I caught someone square in the chin.

[Joe]

what an assholish thing to do for only $20

[gottimd]

I don't know about anyone else, but that is the first question I immediately ask when someone offers to bet me, "Points or Straight up?", even if it was a family member, best friend, etc.