I wish* that I were ruthless enough. . .

I wish that I were* ruthless enough to exploit those who discover the secret to beating simple casino games of chance. I mean those who come to this forum and other forums to announce that they have found and proved a system to beat games such as Roulette, Baccarat, craps or Blackjack ( without card counting )

I wish I were a ruthless b45t4rd that needed to make myself rich at the expense of the mathematically challenged.

It would be like taking candy from a baby.

But I'm not ruthless, and I'm wealthy enough to not need to profit from such folks.

So, like many here, I try to put them straight and indicate the error of their ways. Zod knows it's a thankless task. At best, I/we come over as condescending or worse.

But guys, newbies, young whippersnappers, BE FREAKIN' TOLD. It is ABSOLUTELY dead freaking simple to make a few bucks or hundreds of bucks, with near certainty. But, that notwithstanding, your thinking and your system are so flawed. I don't care what your system is or how well you tested it. I have money here to bet against it working.

Unrelated PS.
When I was about 13, doing my paper round, many decades ago, I'd daydream 'if only I could find a way to get half a percent of every penny spent in the country.' Decades later, I discovered that that is exactly what a great affiliate scheme would be, and I've been making my fortune since 2010 actually doing it. OK, not the whole country, but a chunk of it!

*Is it 'were' or is it 'was'? I'm UK English, and I struggle with the correct word to use there.

Quote: OnceDear

Unrelated PS.
When I was about 13...*Is it 'were' or is it 'was'? I'm UK English, and I struggle with the correct word to use there.

In US English, since 'I' is singular, you use 'was'. Brit anguish over that mystifies any Yank.

As for profiting over the stupidity of betting systems, don't be so sure it would be easy. There are threads here where such folk are challenged to put their systems to a test , with a huge reward if such succeed over the law of large numbers, yet none do. The Wizard has a story about one guy who tried to prove one before WoV was set up - perhaps the rest learned from that.

found it , https://wizardofodds.com/gambling/betting-systems/challenge/rainsong/

Quote: odiousgambit

In US English, since 'I' is singular, you use 'was'. Brit anguish over that mystifies any Yank.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/291510/Fiddler-On-The-Roof-Movie-Clip-If-I-Were-A-Rich-Man.html $:o)
The correct word to use is actually "Were" so you Yanks are wrong!
It's all to do with "The subjunctive mood" and is explained quite eloquently here: -
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference

Quote: OnceDear

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/291510/Fiddler-On-The-Roof-Movie-Clip-If-I-Were-A-Rich-Man.html $:o)
The correct word to use is actually "Were" so you Yanks are wrong!
It's all to do with "The subjective mood" and is explained quite eloquently here: -
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference

ah, but I only focused on "When I was about 13" which seemed to the be context

Quote: odiousgambit

Quote: OnceDear

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/291510/Fiddler-On-The-Roof-Movie-Clip-If-I-Were-A-Rich-Man.html $:o)
The correct word to use is actually "Were" so you Yanks are wrong!
It's all to do with "The subjective mood" and is explained quite eloquently here: -
https://writingexplained.org/was-vs-were-difference

ah, but I only focused on "When I was about 13" which seemed to the be context

Ah. I see. You read the whole post. No-one ever reads the whole post.
I had marked the questionable 'Were' with a '*' but placed that '*' in the wrong place in the title.
I think we can agree that 'When I were 13' would be an abomination and an affront to Her Majesty's language.

Although, there is an expression commonly used by older English gentlemen, mainly from Yorkshire 'when I were a lad':

If I were King ....
Same as If I were ruthless.....
Statement contrary to fact.

Quote: odiousgambit

In US English, since 'I' is singular, you use 'was'. Brit anguish over that mystifies any Yank.

Actually, the use of 'were' is correct here, since it's an example of the subjunctive case.