Was it easier picking winners when there wasn’t much technology?

[jjgold]

Today you can forget about it sports books have every tool imaginable, and really good programmers

 

[lapenti]

The best bettors usually end up running out of outs, and working FOR the bookmakers.

So even if you're the best, using the best tools, you can't beat them. Because they also have the best tools. And the vig on their side.

I don't think technology changed much in this regard.

 

[jjgold]

Lapenti that was a great take

The triggers now are quicker than ever limiting people even squares are getting limited

 

[charliebrown]

Only good thing about tech is forum posting. Otherwise I hate the internet

 

[Tanko]

In the 90's, you could still squeeze out an edge with simple math by hand.
Tech made the lines sharper.

 

[djefferis]

Simple answer - more info doesn’t beat a sharp instinct.

As mentioned - the best bettors often wind up working for the places that set the line - so naturally you are trying to beat someone who is coming from an advantageous position to start. Just because you now know more details - doesn’t mean you are more educated than someone who has both years of experience and is in the top .1 percent of the field.

It’s why NBA/NFL and Soccer are the hardest to beat - these sports pull the most money and are where bookmakers spend the most to obtain the sharpest number possible. Books realize MLB for example there are 162 games x 30 teams - long term they can win simply by dealing volume - not bleeding the customers dry in a week or 2 (or 18). NFL is 18 weeks (17 games per team) - you have to gain as much of an advantage as possible as 3-4 weeks the wrong way can make or break profits for both sides.

Tech makes the info easier to compile for everyone - bit sharp instinct can tell someone who has done this for years what raw data will eventually confirm for everyone else. And if you miss even a small piece of data - the tech result may be flawed - instinct has all the data it needs every time as it’s not reliant upon an outside source.

 

[phillyflyers]

What real difference to the bettor has technology made? The books and casinos always had the edge and they always will.

Nothing's changed in that regard.

All tech did was to make it easier to place a bet.

 

[BobbyFK]

I think so because there were more arb/scalp opportunities back then since you didn't have that real time line moves