Sharing Your Larger Wins?

I primarily go to the casinos with the same folks/family, and we all agree beforehand that any "larger" wins will be split evenly between us. We don't keep up with every single small win and loss, but if someone hits a nice one (i.e. $100+) then we will divide it up equally among us.

It seems like this accomplishes two things:

1. It helps give everybody in the group the opportunity to enjoy part of a nice win (even if their own luck has been bad).
2. It eliminates that "envious feeling" folks get when one person in the group wins big when everybody else loses all of their money.

This method works for us since we all start with similar bankrolls and pretty much play the same mix of games. Everybody is obviously on the honor system to disclose and share any big wins, since we split up and aren't always playing together.

So anyway, when you go to the casino with other people do you have any kind of up-front "sharing arrangement" agreed upon? Or is it strictly every man for himself?

No, never. Sharing $100 among 3, 4, or 5 people wouldn't even occur to me. If I lose, and the people I'm with win, then I'm happy for them, not envious. If your group likes it though, that's cool. As long as everyone's happy.

My friends and I do this when we enter poker tournaments together. If any of us finish in the money, some percentage (25-50%, depending on the number of players on the team) is distributed to the others. Also, whoever lasts the longest collects an extra bonus (usually $20 each) from all the other members.

What about jackpots? Do you also split those taxes?

If you're not an actual AP team, casinos would love what you're doing, as it gives them a chance to more quickly recoup the loss of the big win whenever the others continue to play on "their share".

I've done this with lotto. A friend and I will both put an equal amount in, and if we win a hundred million we will give a million to the other.

I always felt gambling is a loner type activity, or an activity with spouse(since bank accounts are shared)

But lets face it, the ride to the casino everyone is happy and joking.

On the ride back the people who lost are quiet, and the person that won wants to talk and talk about each hand , roll or spin in detail.....you really hate that if you are a loser..its like fingernails on a chaulkboard.

Same goes if you take a bus to the casino(which i didonce in my life),,,,losers just want to close their eyes and wake up back at home, and the winners want tchat and chat it up. They are pumped. So you end up having to listen to them(unless u bring headphones)

For me, the best way is to just go alone or with wife.....otherwise I guess splitting the money will put less of a strain on the ride home , but then if the friends split up u have to wonder if everyone is reporting their wins honestly.

Quote: rob45

What about jackpots? Do you also split those taxes?

Unfortunately for us, we haven't faced this situation yet. But I remain hopeful. :)

If/when one of us ever does hit a smaller taxable jackpot, we've agreed that the person claiming it would just keep 20% off the top for taxes. If it was a HUGE jackpot, then I imagine we'd have to take a step back and do some real tax calculations before splitting any winnings.

I dont know... the folks I take to the casinos play the penny machines... me dollar VP . I think their EV is very positive on a deal like this

Quote: coilman

I dont know... the folks I take to the casinos play the penny machines... me dollar VP . I think their EV is very positive on a deal like this

I play penny machines at 2-8 dollars per spin. Its not like people who play penny machines are playing a penny per spin.


secondly I think going to gamble with a group is sometimes as bad as drinking and gambling. The both will break your concentration. and sometimes make you go against your instincts.

Lets say you are alone at a craps table, and you grind out 50 dollars and you feel its time to leave. So you are alone and walk away. Same situation and your buddy next to you saysm hey lets wait till I get to roll the dice then we will go get asome dinner. So you stay, going against your instincts and lose your profit and more.
Playing those extra hands is the great advantage for the casino when people are chasing comps.

I hav seen guyd playing togehter at a craps table, drinking, having a great ole time, high fiving eacvh other, not paying attention when thier chips get moved to someone elses spot when the dice hit them. Not paying attention to replace their hard 10...and then wonder why there are no chips when the hard 10 shows.

Sometimes I think dealers accidently on purpose forget to pay someone who is too busy yelling screaming high fiveing.flirting with the waitresses.

No way. No freakin' way at all. LarryS said it: gambling is pretty much a loner sport. Even for nice people.

I'm a really pleasant person, I think. I get along with everyone. I float on top of strife, I keep a positive attitude, I make things happen. I don't stress out gambling. I tip. Sometimes too much. I know the odds, but the odds don't dictate what I play. Money is important, but as a social lubricant. To you AP players, I'm absolutely a "ploppie". I don't care. You got your game, I got mine, the fact that we are in close proximity is a coincidence. Out of respect for your game, I'll keep good manners, and not interrupt nor pester you.

For all my friends and relatives with whom I go to the casinos: keep your hands off my cache. Don't even entertain the thought that we should split anything.

That being said, if I won $20,000 I'll buy dinner at the nicest restaurant we can find. I would certainly give Mrs Mosca a huge chunk of that, probably $5,000; she's put up with me and nursed me through some rough times these last 25 years. If someone runs out of money, I would OFFER them a couple hundred... but if they come to me and ASK, it's going to be a loan, except for my closest sister, but she would ask for it as a loan anyhow, in which case I would give it to her.

When I hit for $4,000, I gave Mrs Mosca $500. My sister and her husband were staying at our house and eating our food anyhow. They didn't expect anything.

Also: $100? Man, I play tables for $10, and I try to keep my slots between $1 and $3 per spin. $100 wins are nothing. That's a couple tanks of gas these days, a trip to the grocery store. Big wins start around $1000. Okay wins are $500. Under that is just offsetting the last time I lost $300-$500.

Quote: LarryS

...but then if the friends split up u have to wonder if everyone is reporting their wins honestly.

There definitely has to be a certain level of trust when agreeing to share the winnings. My gambling companions are typically family, but not always. Hopefully the folks in my group keep things honest. Of course if they don't, I guess I wouldn't know!