Donate option -- Save the Wizard sites.
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92 members have voted
Quote: SOOPOOI've now tried using 4 different credit cards on 3 different days. I've been able to use these cards without difficulty all over the world, and on a variety of internet sites. I think it reflects poorly on the entire site that a simple credit card transaction for someone trying to make an optional donation cannot be handled. I would suggest that a direct credit card acceptance be an option, rather than processing through a paypal site. I am pretty sure for a few percent anyone can now accept credit cards. As a loyal follower, I'll use another option eventually to help the Wiz out, but a casual user might not be as persistent.
I am quite surprised how many people are having problems with paypal.
I have bought and sold on ebay hundreds of times using paypal. I love ebay, saved me a ton of money, made me some money.
Do any of you people that are having problems ever use ebay?
Quote: terapinedI am quite surprised how many people are having problems with paypal.
I have bought and sold on ebay hundreds of times using paypal. I love ebay, saved me a ton of money, made me some money.
Do any of you people that are having problems ever use ebay?
I think the problem relates to the Wizard's site. He is probably tagged as a gambling site and certain credit card companies reject any transaction coded to a gambling site.
Quote: SOOPOO... a casual user might not be as persistent.
I think he's talking about me! :) Is there something to be changed on the Wizard's end that will make these transactions go through, or should I just get off my lazy butt & try another way?
BTW, aside from all of the valuable info the WoV & WoO sites provide, I choose to donate because, although I have never met the man, Wizard strikes me as someone who values integrity over money. And that is something I will support!
Quote: JoemanI have successfully use Paypal with Ebay on many occasions, but I was rejected trying to donate to the Wiz. I have never "verified" my PP account (by providing bank info). Would that make a difference?
Maybe, my paypal account simply deducts from my bank checking account.
I have Bank of America, no problem donating thru paypal.
Probably. My bank is affiliated to Mastercard, they say that's where the blocking lies. Which credit card are using those who have the same problems?Quote: DRichI think the problem relates to the Wizard's site. He is probably tagged as a gambling site and certain credit card companies reject any transaction coded to a gambling site.
Quote: terapinedMaybe, my paypal account simply deducts from my bank checking account.
I have Bank of America, no problem donating thru paypal.
Yeah so does mine, and it looks like it's going to work. All this issue over paypal made me donate $5 to the Wiz partly just to test. I will donate a lot more when I am gainfully employed... :-\
For fwiw, Visa/MC have banned transfers to online gambling sites for years. I'd assume the Wiz's site is classified as one. You'd probably would need to have your paypal attached to your bank acct for it to work in the US.
It's a credit card issue I think.
I also apologize for all those who tried to make a donation via Paypal but were rebuffed. I agree with others that it is probably an issue with the credit cards and my business is flagged as being gambling related.
Besides the snail mail option, you can try to send me funds to my personal account. The name on that account is Michael Shackleford and it is associated to Email shack @ wizardofodds.com. I don't mind putting that out there for spambots to find, because I quit using that Email years ago.
Also, somebody asked who to make a check out to, the answer being Wizard of Odds.
Thanks again for all who did or tried to make a donation.
On ethics
I have lived in Las Vegas now for more than four years. I run into all sorts of folks very routinely. When it comes to ethics, Michael is at the top of the list of ethical people that I know who also live in Las Vegas. It is his crusade for ethics in the casino and gambling space that defines his unique position in the industry. A donation to Michael is, in effect, a vote that money should go to ethical individuals who promote the practice of gambling (IE: ethical gambling should not be an oxymoron). The Wizard is a stand up guy, and losing his site and what he stands for would be a huge loss.
On donation amount
Donating even $1 should mean something. The beginning of this thread expressed how few the number of people who helped him last time was, and how he wants to open the opportunity for more people to donate. I am certain that every person who thinks $1 won't make a difference can make a difference by giving a buck to the Wizard. He gave his P/O box, so send him a $1 bill in an envelope if that's all you can afford. Every person on this forum has saved a buck from the Wizard's advice. It will make a difference. I also happen to know that the Wizard appreciates $2 bills if you want to make him smile and have more time than money.
Cost of running the site
Running websites like this one is an ongoing cost. Much of it is opportunity cost. I'm sure the Wizard could earn a decent living doing things with time that he could be saving by not having this site. That's probably the biggest cost to the site. It's probably hard to understand for some folks, but if you realize not just anyone has the clout to put this sort of thing together, it might help to understand the true cost is in money lost by not doing less ethical things that would easily result in windfalls at the expense of folks being taken advantage of.
The Wizard is one of those folks who is giving to prevent you from being swindled.
Summary
It's easy to not donate. But do it no matter how much or how little you donate. You can always donate more later, I'm sure, but donate something now and figure out the details later just to let the Wizard know that he has many many supporters as I am sure that he does. It should mean quite a bit to see lots of small amounts trickling in. I'm sure that would warm his heart to see the stories of how he has made a difference in helping people get the best possible result from their activities in gambling and avoiding the pitfalls that many slip into.
I have enjoyed learning about casino math and house edges and math and stuff from this site and other people on this site.
I have had my moments with the drama on this and other sites, and that's more of a reflection of me than of how this site is run.
But I am very happy to support the Wizard during this time, and I want to encourage others to support him and let us know your personal stories of how the Wizard's site has helped you.
Quote: AhighI want to encourage others to support him and let us know your personal stories of how the Wizard's site has helped you.
It's been several years ago but I gleaned the single deck compositional strategy off the Wizard Of Odds site to exploit the full pay IGT video blackjack. I made a lot of money where casinos had cashback with the game. In Wendover I was getting .8% comp playing the game. I would burn through $5000 in comp a month, getting everything comped, rooms, meals, cigarettes, clothes, top shelf liquor, spa, haircuts, show tickets, everything.
We all have learned from the The Wizard's sites and should support him in any way we can right now.
See now that's a great attitude, instead of saying you can't afford it and how broke you are, you did what you could.Quote: tringlomaneYeah so does mine, and it looks like it's going to work. All this issue over paypal made me donate $5 to the Wiz partly just to test. I will donate a lot more when I am gainfully employed... :-\
For fwiw, Visa/MC have banned transfers to online gambling sites for years. I'd assume the Wiz's site is classified as one. You'd probably would need to have your paypal attached to your bank acct for it to work in the US.
Quote: BozJust a note to others who have tried to Donate through PayPal and have had issues. I just had a donation go through using the same account and cards that were denied for days. Perhaps something has changed in the setup, so please try again if you had issues in the past..
+1
Same here. My donation went through this morning.
Quote: Joeman+1
Same here. My donation went through this morning.
And to confirm, no problem here now so it looks like things have been properly adjusted!
Quote: AhighFor anyone wanting to match and/or compete with donation amounts, I just donated $101.41. I first learned the house edge on craps' pass line bet is 1.41% from the Wizard, and I wanted to donate more than $100, so that's how I came up with the amount.
But I am very happy to support the Wizard during this time, and I want to encourage others to support him and let us know your personal stories of how the Wizard's site has helped you.
I agree with this. Thanks to a favourable exchange rate, and the PayPal problems being fixed, I have just kicked in $200.
I reasoned it on the $50 i would have thrown in anyway, plus a repayment of $150 for the meal at Benihana, the Wizard took me and my wife out for when we met him in Vegas.
Quote: TheBigPaybakAlso, if anyone has an issue donating going forward, please post to this thread, as it looks like the issue corrected itself, so it would be good to know if it recurs going forward.
Mine is still failing. Has anyone had success with an American Express card tied to Paypal?
Quote: mickeycrimmIt's been several years ago but I gleaned the single deck compositional strategy off the Wizard Of Odds site to exploit the full pay IGT video blackjack. I made a lot of money where casinos had cashback with the game. In Wendover I was getting .8% comp playing the game. I would burn through $5000 in comp a month, getting everything comped, rooms, meals, cigarettes, clothes, top shelf liquor, spa, haircuts, show tickets, everything.
No ladies comp'd?
Quote: AcesAndEightsNo ladies comp'd?
I thought women were the rake?
I donated $99.54.Quote: AhighFor anyone wanting to match and/or compete with donation amounts, I just donated $101.41. I first learned the house edge on craps' pass line bet is 1.41% from the Wizard, and I wanted to donate more than $100, so that's how I came up with the amount.
Quote: AcesAndEightsNo ladies comp'd?
From Wendover u had to go to Wells for the ladies. Not comped. I'm very familiar with Mustang Ranch and Moonlight Bunny Ranch too. LOL!
Quote: IbeatyouracesWhy not $99.73? :-P
What about $101.60?
Quote: TheBigPaybakAlso, if anyone has an issue donating going forward, please post to this thread, as it looks like the issue corrected itself, so it would be good to know if it recurs going forward.
Mine went thru, finally.
And I am happy to say, it's worth every dollar.
Quote: IbeatyouracesWhy not $99.73? :-P
lol
But using 99.54 is one of Mike's favorite inside jokes. Well done, teddys.
Quote: andysifMine went thru, finally.
And I am happy to say, it's worth every dollar.
Agreed. I arranged to have a uniformed employee of the United States Federal Government deliver it to the address that the Wiz specified, no doubt 20 or 30 stories below the Nevada desert in a climate controlled command center.
Quote: ShineyShineI havn't been here long, but have spent a lot of time going through the archives, and it has been an excellent research tool for me, and hopefully will continue to be. I'm happy to make a small donation. The quality of information on offer here is top drawer, from some very experienced and knowledgable posters from all aspects of the gaming world. I assume there would be a significant drop in that quality if it had to be sold.
Tried to pay through PayPal, but have to wait a few days to confirm my card, will do so once that is sorted.
Good luck.
Sorted... It's not much, but hopefully they all add up.
Quote: DRichMine is still failing. Has anyone had success with an American Express card tied to Paypal?
I just did a test with my AMEX card and it went through just fine. I'd verify my account details matched up with my card details as something else may be going on and try again. At this point, I think your attempt is the only one having trouble, although if anyone else is still having trouble, please post to the message board, thank you
My bank told me it was Mastercard who suffered some problem last week. It is now supposed to be fixed.
Larry
Well, it's a Postal Money Order actually. Finding time to go to the PO was what caused the delay.
But it's finally done - it's in the hands of the fine people who call themselves Letter Carriers. Wiz, I suddenly lost all confidence in my delivery method. Lemme know when you get it. Thanks. :)
Quote: WizardI have swallowed my pride and taken out my tin cup.
For those who have read this appeal and still won't donate, the question for the forum is why not?
I have a lot to say about this request and can only assume I will be trashed for expressing my personal opinion.
First and foremost; if this tin cup donation is for the sake of helping you to provide your family and children with room and board please make that clear since that of course would change things.
If this request is only for the sake of maintaining the forum, it should be obvious that unless you charge a permanent membership fee, I can’t see how a more then likely one time surge of donations would solve anything for the long term.
You mention being forced to advertise multiple online casinos. This would make your site no different then the payola web sites like Casinomeister, etc, that are promoting 100% unregulated online casinos. This approach would surely destroy your present creditability, and just make you another greedy person trying to take advantage of the stupidity of players willing to chance playing in unregulated markets.
It also became obvious that even with all of your expertise in the gambling world that regardless how much a player can slow down the losses, financial death is inevitable.
Then again I could be totally wrong here with my opinions, and all of the professional card counters, dice throwers, etc, that learned how to constantly win thanks to your sites should have no problem helping to support you and help train the up and coming winners.
The Wiz has mentioned (I think somewhere in this thread), that additional advertisers are going to be scrutinized, and only those that are credible will be added.Quote: 4ofaKindYou mention being forced to advertise multiple online casinos. This would make your site no different then the payola web sites like Casinomeister, etc, that are promoting 100% unregulated online casinos. This approach would surely destroy your present creditability, and just make you another greedy person trying to take advantage of the stupidity of players willing to chance playing in unregulated markets.
Quote: 4ofaKindFirst and foremost; if this tin cup donation is for the sake of helping you to provide your family and children with room and board please make that clear since that of course would change things.
I am trying not to sound like a charity case, but just asking for something in return for any value my readers find in my site.
Quote:You mention being forced to advertise multiple online casinos. This would make your site no different then the payola web sites like Casinomeister, etc, that are promoting 100% unregulated online casinos. This approach would surely destroy your present creditability, and just make you another greedy person trying to take advantage of the stupidity of players willing to chance playing in unregulated markets.
Any advertiser will be thoroughly vetted for integrity, good customer support, and competitive odds.
Quote: Wizardjust asking for something in return for any value my readers find in my site.
Which is exactly why I wanted to support the site, which I did. This site (along with the Wizard of Odds) provides a lot of value to me and I enjoy both of them.
Quote: 4ofaKindIt also became obvious that even with all of your expertise in the gambling world that regardless how much a player can slow down the losses, financial death is inevitable.
I don't disagree with a lot of your post, but this is completely incorrect. It's all about playing within your means.
Suppose you make a 6-figure salary and like to go to Vegas once per year. Let's say that you go with a gambling budget of $5k each time. You can definitely afford this, and you enjoy it. Financial death is not inevitable, because you are earning and saving money much faster than you are losing it.
Now suppose you, like most people, aren't a very good gambler. You make lots of high-house-edge sucker bets. Then you stumble upon the Wizard's site, learn a thing or two, and after that, when you gamble, due to the fact that you make better bets, you have cut the average house down by a factor of 2. So, either the Wizard just saved you $2500 per year, or, he has allowed you to play twice as long with your money (which, since you enjoy playing, means that you are getting twice the entertainment value for your money)
For most people, it's not about winning, it's about getting more bang for their buck. With the exception of a few real APs, most people who think that they are winning are delusional. Just take a look at all the dice control and baccarat threads.
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI don't disagree with a lot of your post, but this is completely incorrect. It's all about playing within your means.
Suppose you make a 6-figure salary and like to go to Vegas once per year. Let's say that you go with a gambling budget of $5k each time. You can definitely afford this, and you enjoy it. Financial death is not inevitable, because you are earning and saving money much faster than you are losing it.
Now suppose you, like most people, aren't a very good gambler. You make lots of high-house-edge sucker bets. Then you stumble upon the Wizard's site, learn a thing or two, and after that, when you gamble, due to the fact that you make better bets, you have cut the average house down by a factor of 2. So, either the Wizard just saved you $2500 per year, or, he has allowed you to play twice as long with your money (which, since you enjoy playing, means that you are getting twice the entertainment value for your money)
For most people, it's not about winning, it's about getting more bang for their buck. With the exception of a few real APs, most people who think that they are winning are delusional. Just take a look at all the dice control and baccarat threads.
Very we'll said I agree completely
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI don't disagree with a lot of your post, but this is completely incorrect. It's all about playing within your means.
Suppose you make a 6-figure salary and like to go to Vegas once per year. Let's say that you go with a gambling budget of $5k each time. You can definitely afford this, and you enjoy it. Financial death is not inevitable, because you are earning and saving money much faster than you are losing it.
Now suppose you, like most people, aren't a very good gambler. You make lots of high-house-edge sucker bets. Then you stumble upon the Wizard's site, learn a thing or two, and after that, when you gamble, due to the fact that you make better bets, you have cut the average house down by a factor of 2. So, either the Wizard just saved you $2500 per year, or, he has allowed you to play twice as long with your money (which, since you enjoy playing, means that you are getting twice the entertainment value for your money)
For most people, it's not about winning, it's about getting more bang for their buck. With the exception of a few real APs, most people who think that they are winning are delusional. Just take a look at all the dice control and baccarat threads.
Very good summary of reasonable -EV gambling for entertainment, and knowing your odds.
please don't stroke his ego, he already has one the size of Texas.Quote: NostronVery we'll said I agree completely
Quote: AxelWolfplease don't stroke his ego, he already has one the size of Texas.
Make that Alaska.
Quote: 4ofaKindIf this request is only for the sake of maintaining the forum, it should be obvious that unless you charge a permanent membership fee, I can’t see how a more then likely one time surge of donations would solve anything for the long term.
To help for the long-term, I have an idea. Mr. Shackleford starts a non-profit. All the talented people that visit the Wizard's sites, that work on math, patents and anything else used in the table game design and implementation of those games, offer their services for free, to get a new game up and running for a member on here that has a new game. The member with the game will agree upfront to donate 10% of all earned royalties for such game, to the Wizard's non-profit, to keep continuing donations coming in. If the game does well enough over the years, and if additional games are put through in the future, all of those proceeds can be used to fund different projects, even some scholarships for under-privileged students that focus on stats and probabilities, as well as other mathematical curriculum.
Quote: allinriverkingTo help for the long-term, I have an idea. Mr. Shackleford starts a non-profit. All the talented people that visit the Wizard's sites, that work on math, patents and anything else used in the table game design and implementation of those games, offer their services for free, to get a new game up and running for a member on here that has a new game. The member with the game will agree upfront to donate 10% of all earned royalties for such game, to the Wizard's non-profit, to keep continuing donations coming in. If the game does well enough over the years, and if additional games are put through in the future, all of those proceeds can be used to fund different projects, even some scholarships for under-privileged students that focus on stats and probabilities, as well as other mathematical curriculum.
Interesting idea.
Quote: allinriverkingTo help for the long-term, I have an idea. Mr. Shackleford starts a non-profit. All the talented people that visit the Wizard's sites, that work on math, patents and anything else used in the table game design and implementation of those games, offer their services for free, to get a new game up and running for a member on here that has a new game. The member with the game will agree upfront to donate 10% of all earned royalties for such game, to the Wizard's non-profit, to keep continuing donations coming in. If the game does well enough over the years, and if additional games are put through in the future, all of those proceeds can be used to fund different projects, even some scholarships for under-privileged students that focus on stats and probabilities, as well as other mathematical curriculum.
Why would people offer their services for free so that one person could make money off their idea?
