I miss being #366 and I miss my old Chicago Bookie

Yes hi this is number 366 and his reply was always after I confirmed my players number......Go ahead 366

The lines were always based off of the Chicago Sun-Times late final paper on Friday afternoon with my bookie back in the 80's and 90's 

Two team Teasers for six points were even money 

All plays were juiced at -110 no matter your side

Sometimes he would even give me an extra point or two depending on what sport I bet

I would meet him for my payout or his at the local breakfast house down the street 

And I had a two thousand dollar weekly credit line 

Stabler, Bradshaw, bartkowski, plunkett, Marino and Favre.....yes I miss my old number 366 and my old bookie "Rabbit" A.K.A. Tom

Man you aint kidding, those were the good ole days.

funny my bookie had a two thousand weekly, man l miss those old time bookies..my guy would let me come by his house, let me sit with him while he took plays, he would give me advice..he taught me alot.

The year was 1984, I was 10 at the time.  My uncle was a bookie so I couldn't play through him but I would get a $5 allowance per week and I used it on a parlay card n I would run down to the video store n placed the bet and the guy would take it, in thinking I was turning the slip in for my uncle.  It was always a 10 teamer because a 1 lost still pays at 30-1 odds.  

When I finally won, the amount was $1000 or around there.  A 3 teamer was paying 1 for 7.  Picking 3 teams are the minimum.  The video guy refused to pay me out because I was young n told me to go get my parents.  I could not do this or I'll get a whooping.  I was too young to know any adult at the time so I threw that winning ticket away.  I would see all these people coming to the house n placing their bets with my uncle and he was always on the phone and taking bets on this notebook that he has.  If the bets were lopsided, he would dump it to the video guy.  

This was narleans and we all moved to California about 4 years later n my uncle retired from the gaming industry.  Once I was old enough, I found out that being a bookie was illegal.  I had a kid in class who passing out these parlay cards.  This was high school days so I played a 3 teamer with him for $5.  Once I finally won my very first time, I came to him to collect but he apologized n said here's your $5 back because he forgot to turn the ticket in. I was young than him at the time n I did not have any older boys connection or we would of rough him up for running a fake bookie business.  So he would take our money n eat lunch with it because he knew that no one would win.  When we win, he gave excuses and like a refund would resolve the situation.  Still pisses me off thinking about it today.  It's only a $35 win but still, bookie business can get you killed.  

@nfl_brosuf

The parlay cards were awesome as well no doubt, we use to have a guy come every Friday at the local bar and pass them out and then came back on Saturday afternoon to pick them up from the bartender.

Everyone would be watching the ticker on ESPN to get an update on scores come Sunday 

When college was on and you had action on a basketball game...man it took forever for the scores to roll around to get an update on your basketball scores. 

Great stories guys /gals I  love it *keep em" coming 

Early 2000s in North Jersey.  I was Oz and my guy was Sal. All bets were -110. I would call the number and say "Yea this is Oz for Sal" and he would say "Alright go ahead Oz".  After asking for numbers on games and then placing my bets if I liked the number he'd read them all back and ask again who this was and I would repeat "Oz for Sal" and he'd say "Alright good luck Oz". 

Was at Rutgers back in early to mid 90’s…if I could go back I would’ve become a bookie instead, lol

Had a bookie like that..he was a barber. Would cut hair while taking in bets. His breezway was the barbershop..One day i was sitting watching a Michigan game, Charles woodson was playing..they were burying the opponent ( cant remember who) The barber told me the guys who bet michigan had a dime on em..he said Boy they know what theyre doing. 

those bookies still exist my friends. i'm living proof of that lol 

@justliketoplay

 Worked for a bookie for a few years. Every bet was $11.00 to win $10.00 in increments of that, there was hardly any over / unders except for very big games if then. A $40 3-teamer in football or basketball won you $200.00 never more or less. Baseball parlays payouts based on odds using a calculator to determine winning amount. Remember working hours from 11 to 1 and 5 to 7 on Saturdays. Awesome memories and certainly crazy characters back then. as Eddie Money sang; I wanna go back!

Phone ringing…

”Hold please…” a minute or two later-

“Hello who’s speaking?”

”Ginny (always nicknames)”

“Hi Ginny. +490. Go..”

@Verdict

And do it all over but I can't go back I know....Good cut by Eddie 

Yep a two team parlay paid $260 for a hundred dollar parlay or a $130.00 for a fifty dollar parlay.

A fifty dollar round robin netted me $380 for a three teamer with two of three winners paying thirty bucks. Lose two of three or all three then pay the man $150.00 (no juice on all gimmicks)

Fortunately for us "ole" timers we got to experience some good times Gambling with the local bookies and unfortunately with the young bloods on the gambling scene now they will never get the chance to paint both sides of the bookies fence at his home to nullify the five hundred dollar note that we owed him. (Monday night Dan the Man Marino my ass! ) 

Nothing beats hearing bookies complaining about the late night calls on a Saturday with everyone chasing on Hawaii

Thanks for sharing your stories fellas as I do read every single one of them so "keep em" coming.....Good stuff!

@cd329 

@FXGar 

@nfl_brosuf 

@randuniversity

@games1 

@Wizerguy 

@usikbasterd 

@Verdict 

@brn2loslive2win 

@undermysac 

I had a great bookie for 10 years.  Went from father to son then to his brother.  Never late, never refused a bet.

Then one day starting the 11th year, he calls me up and says......"Wanna go partners this year?"

That's when I knew the  party was over.  Business's often get watered down passing through the family.  He just couldn't make it......I moved on.

@Cooler999

 Great story cooler because it's nice when the big bettors lose and you get that big payday but when that big bettor wins he himself could take you down.

Back in the day yeah it was prestigious if you were a bookie but if you take any and all bets you better be sure that you have more then enough capital to sustain because real quickly when money is involved....the hunter could become the hunted.

Thanks for sharing and good luck this week bud