How best to gamble?

Question

I need some advice. I am not a good gambler. And I am an even worse mathematician. But like us all- I long for a quick easy profit.
I live in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia (and am a regular reader of guardianunlimited.co.uk). I have a budget of 20US$ a week for a little flutter.
My question for you is what is the best way to ‘invest’ my money?
My options in Phnom Penh are football betting (Asian multiples, European multiples, correct scores, over/under goals, half time/full time results) and the casino (Blackjack, Poker, Roulette etc.)
The odds are roughly the same as the UK…a fraction less perhaps.
I have been ‘multiple teams European odds ’ betting. (3 teams to win outright at about - $20 x2.7 x2.5 x3.2 for example) With few returns.
I have recently started betting multiples but with Asian handicap odds- with more success.
I also like to throw in a 1 unit stake ($1) on a 4 correct scores….haven’t won yet, but the odds tempt me(a reurn of around $1000)How should I be spreading my bets, and what types of bets should I focus on-what is the best way to make a regular small profit and what is the best way to win big. Should I be betting 20 bets of 1 unit on 20 correct scores- the odds are long, and thus the return high. Or 1 bet of 20 units on 2 teams to win on Asian odds- short odds small return (but maybe more regular)

Or should I be saving up $80 a month and hit the border town casinos card counting?

Thanks for the advice guys....In reply to the "if you can only afford to gamble $20, you can't afford to gamble at all" statement. I would like to say you are very wrong. I can afford to lose, and am prepared to gamble, $20 a week....I like the motto "bet small, win big".

Not many replies from sports bettors.
I was hoping for advice as to how to split "soccer/sports" wagers.

Advice that would tell me statistically if I am better off betting 1 $20 bet on 1 home team easy favorite @ odds 1.4ish every week...winning say 75% of the bets but only winning small...or am I better off betting 20 $1 bets on a 6 correct score multiple...winning (if I ever do) a possible $25,000i kinda figure only once or twice a lifetime.

Do you follow?

I am better of backing long odds in the hope of 1 huge win, or backing a simple home win favorite and winning small, but regularly?

Answer 1

If you can only afford $20 per week to gamble, you should not be gambling at all.

I suggest you learn to play poker online for play money. In a year when you have saved up a reasonable bank roll you can begin playing for small stakes with the $1,000 you've saved up.

Remember that poker has no house edge. You are betting your skill against other players. If you are the best player, you will likely win over the long term.

Answer 2

The key to winning a game of chance is comfort. Really. If you can count cards moderately well in a quiet room with your friends, you are *NOT* going to do well in a noisy casino. The only way you have any hope of coming out a head is picking a game you know inside and out, and can play when tired/drunk/distracted.

Without getting into too much number theory, here's some useful statistics. On a 1:1 return, the house usually has about a 3-5% edge. That means their odds of winning are usually 53-55%. It doesn't sound like much, but it guarantees that on a long enough timeline, everybody goes broke (except the casino). For bigger returns, the odds shift dramatically in their favor.

Take roulette as an example. Assuming you find a generous game running 1-36 (18 red, 18 black) with a single green 0 (some have a 00 also). There are 37 total slots. If you bet red or black, your odds are 16/37 or 48.65% of hitting on either red or black. Double 00 and your odds drop to 47.37%. Try and hit a number right on and your odds are 37 to 1, but it only pays 35 to 1.

The secret, if it can be called such, is to find a game your intimately familiar with and hope to consistently make good decisions with it.

Or you could keep doubling your bet every time you lose. :) If you have a big enough bankroll, you'll win (eventually).

Hell I once took a hundred dollar bill and with a few well placed rolls turned it into a $20.

Hope that helps,
Odd

Answer 3

poker is best bet ,BUT you can't assume the house is neutral ,they must take something somehow ,is it a raked game or do you pay time and is there a drop for a jackpot? alot of players who would be break even or small losers are crushed by a $3 rake and a $1 drop for the jackpot in a 3-6 game-here is how -9 people sit down in a 3-6 game and buy in for $50 each a decent dealer sits down for 30 minutes and deals 15 hands,thats 9x50=$450 ,now multiply 15x3rake+1jackpot+1tip for dealer thats $150 dollars an hour that comes off the table assuming all skill /luck equal the game can only last 3 hours ! play your best game at the highest level you can afford and move up FAST or the rake will kill you

Answer 4

In my opinion, gambling is like anything else -- it can become a sin if you let it overtake your life. If you are able to play a few games of Bingo strictly for fun, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. But if you start neglecting your family, your church, and your prayer time with God in order to play Bingo more ... that's where the problem comes in.

Answer 5

you may want to either learn how to count cards and play black jack.
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/8820

or you can play poker its less of a gamble cause you can learn how to read your players in fact if you can read people realy well you dont even have to look at your cards. you just play the player

Answer 6

Texas Hold'em is the way to go.. You don't play the house or dealer, just other players...But you have to learn skills, stategies, and math...In the meantime, read books and play on line for play money...Or take me and will kick assssss..