WOV/WOO Past-Present-Future
September 19th, 2014 at 7:36:37 PM
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Greetings!
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I jest.
The one thing that I have noticed is that our own Wizard has taken a little bit of flack today for what is probably the single best business decision he has ever made in his entire life. I really don't understand the nature of the flack that he has taken, although, I do respect the wishes of anyone who chooses to resign from participation on the Forum, though any such people will be missed.
The first thing that I believe I should do is try to assuage the concerns of our Members as relates their personal information, which Zuga and Wizard have already addressed. Beyond the very basic fact that this Forum lacks the functionality to permit an Administrator, of any kind, from digging into PM's, I very seriously doubt that LatestCasinoBonuses.com has any interest in any of our PM's or AP activities.
LatestCasinoBonuses.com, at least the Forum thereof, is a substantially similar Forum to this one where general gambling and Advantage Play (though on-line) are discussed. It is a highly reputable website with a Forum that dwarves ours both in Membership and activity, if I am to be objective. In all the time that I have followed anything related to casinos, I have never heard one peep about personal information being used in an inappropriate way by LatestCasinoBonuses.com
That having been said, I wanted to express a more detailed congratulations to Mike on this incredible success that he has achieved.
WizardofOdds.com was born as Mike's Gambling Page back in June of 1997 when Mike was living in/around Baltimore and working as an actuary for the Social Security Administration. What started out as a hobby eventually became a profession as Mike left the SSA and focused on gaming consulting and advertising less than three full years later, in 2000.
The long and short of it is that WoO has been around for over 17 years, now, so that's 17 years of hard work and extreme dedication that Mike has put into making this site what it is today. If we assume that he has put an average of six hours of work, per day, into his sites over the years, then, (365*6*17) = 37,230 hours of work have gone into these sites. He's probably worked far more than that. Given the site sold for 2,350,000, then 2,350,000/37230 = $63.12/hour is what he made as a direct result of this sale, if we assumed six hours per day of work, on average, every day.
It's true that Mike has also made money with the ads on the sites over the years, as well as with his consulting business, advantage play and when he owned Certified Fair Gaming. That's not so much the point, though, all of these things played a contributing role in making this site what it is today.
For the time being, I don't think that there's anything that changes the fact that this site is 100% free. There are going to be more advertisers on the sites now, but that is the sort of monetization that LCB had in mind when it acquired these sites! Again, there's a huge difference in having to look at some banners/advertisements for on-line casinos in exchange for reading FREE professional gaming analysis and optimal strategies of play and having someone come into your house, hold a gun to your head, and make you gamble at an on-line casino.
Wizard has always put those who have followed his websites first. Wizard has shared with us some of his best advantage plays over the years including his current work on the parlay cards, which paid dividends for him just last week! From what I can tell thus far, the information contained on Wizardofodds is going to remain free and this will continue to be a free message board. Just the Video Poker Strategy Makers and Hand Calculators could potentially save recreational gamblers (and make aspiring AP's) a ton of money if used correctly.
Not everything has gone perfectly for the Wizard, though. We know that because Mike has shared a lot more than gaming analysis with us throughout these years, he's shared significant aspects of his life with us. We know that Mike lost a ton of money in real estate ventures that didn't go very well for him, we know that he gave up his consulting business to take a job at Venetian from which he was unceremoniously dismissed after only a few brief months. We know that the exclusivity deal with Bovada has not paid off as well as it had in the last couple of years.
In fact, Mike was even reduced to pulling out his tin cup and asking Members for donations to keep the sites going, at one point.
Mike has spoken of his children and the fact that they are in one of the better private schools in the country. Mike has a wonderful family, a wonderful wife and three terrific kids. Just like many other people (including me) I should imagine that Mike puts his kids before everything else. Mike's kids have grown accustomed to a certain standard of living and this decision, I imagine, was the best one Wizard could make in order to continue to provide that high living standard and keep them enrolled in what is amongst the best schools in the country.
Even then, however, I don't imagine that this decision could have come easily for Mike. Even though he didn't say anything to me about it, I know enough about Mike to recognize that he takes a tremendous amount of pride in the work that he does, so while the sale of the site is an incredibly lucrative move for Mike, one must also recognize that it is an admission of defeat. The simple fact remains that the site simply wasn't making enough money for Mike to provide the sort of living standard to his kids that he believes to be necessary...which, for any good father, means the best one possible.
I've recently made a similar decision in the context of my divorce by which I voluntarily entered into a VERY one-sided spousal support agreement with my ex-wife by which I have assured she and the kids have transportation, housing and I pay 100% of the bills with her getting child support on top of it until she is out of nursing school. I currently have zero cars when, if I went with just the court-ordered child/spousal support amounts based on my income, I'd have enough money left that I could afford three or four car payments...besides that, there's also the fact that I'd still have the PT Cruiser that I had already and gave to them!
I made the decision to put my kids first and to look out for their welfare before anything else, and as we can see, Mike has swallowed the bitter pill of losing control over the websites it has taken him seventeen years to build, in order to put his kids first.
Trust me, if I had anything that was worth 2.35M, at this moment, I'd sure as s(&^$^ sell it too if it would benefit my kids.
Many of us here know Mike just from the Forum, and some of us (myself included) have had the honor of becoming personal friends with him. We represent a minority of people, and that minority is people who have directly communicated with Mike. Not only has Mike freely spent the last seventeen years helping us by providing us with mathematically accurate and terrific gambling information and entertainment, but he has also provided the same to any number of people that he will likely never meet, speak to, or know of.
To say that Mike deserves this would be a terrific understatement and, quite frankly, an insult. Mike MORE THAN deserves the profit he has now realized from these sites, blatantly put, he worked his @$$ off for it.
Once again, congratulations, Mike!
The first thing that I want to say is that you can get a 400% Welcome Bonus up to $4,000 at Lucky Red Casino by signing up through the affiliate link at Wizardofodds.com
Please check the Lucky Red T&C's for more specific information, and/or wagering requirements. Lucky Red Casino scores a 3.5/5 on LatestCasinoBonuses.com
I jest.
The one thing that I have noticed is that our own Wizard has taken a little bit of flack today for what is probably the single best business decision he has ever made in his entire life. I really don't understand the nature of the flack that he has taken, although, I do respect the wishes of anyone who chooses to resign from participation on the Forum, though any such people will be missed.
The first thing that I believe I should do is try to assuage the concerns of our Members as relates their personal information, which Zuga and Wizard have already addressed. Beyond the very basic fact that this Forum lacks the functionality to permit an Administrator, of any kind, from digging into PM's, I very seriously doubt that LatestCasinoBonuses.com has any interest in any of our PM's or AP activities.
LatestCasinoBonuses.com, at least the Forum thereof, is a substantially similar Forum to this one where general gambling and Advantage Play (though on-line) are discussed. It is a highly reputable website with a Forum that dwarves ours both in Membership and activity, if I am to be objective. In all the time that I have followed anything related to casinos, I have never heard one peep about personal information being used in an inappropriate way by LatestCasinoBonuses.com
That having been said, I wanted to express a more detailed congratulations to Mike on this incredible success that he has achieved.
WizardofOdds.com was born as Mike's Gambling Page back in June of 1997 when Mike was living in/around Baltimore and working as an actuary for the Social Security Administration. What started out as a hobby eventually became a profession as Mike left the SSA and focused on gaming consulting and advertising less than three full years later, in 2000.
The long and short of it is that WoO has been around for over 17 years, now, so that's 17 years of hard work and extreme dedication that Mike has put into making this site what it is today. If we assume that he has put an average of six hours of work, per day, into his sites over the years, then, (365*6*17) = 37,230 hours of work have gone into these sites. He's probably worked far more than that. Given the site sold for 2,350,000, then 2,350,000/37230 = $63.12/hour is what he made as a direct result of this sale, if we assumed six hours per day of work, on average, every day.
It's true that Mike has also made money with the ads on the sites over the years, as well as with his consulting business, advantage play and when he owned Certified Fair Gaming. That's not so much the point, though, all of these things played a contributing role in making this site what it is today.
For the time being, I don't think that there's anything that changes the fact that this site is 100% free. There are going to be more advertisers on the sites now, but that is the sort of monetization that LCB had in mind when it acquired these sites! Again, there's a huge difference in having to look at some banners/advertisements for on-line casinos in exchange for reading FREE professional gaming analysis and optimal strategies of play and having someone come into your house, hold a gun to your head, and make you gamble at an on-line casino.
Wizard has always put those who have followed his websites first. Wizard has shared with us some of his best advantage plays over the years including his current work on the parlay cards, which paid dividends for him just last week! From what I can tell thus far, the information contained on Wizardofodds is going to remain free and this will continue to be a free message board. Just the Video Poker Strategy Makers and Hand Calculators could potentially save recreational gamblers (and make aspiring AP's) a ton of money if used correctly.
Not everything has gone perfectly for the Wizard, though. We know that because Mike has shared a lot more than gaming analysis with us throughout these years, he's shared significant aspects of his life with us. We know that Mike lost a ton of money in real estate ventures that didn't go very well for him, we know that he gave up his consulting business to take a job at Venetian from which he was unceremoniously dismissed after only a few brief months. We know that the exclusivity deal with Bovada has not paid off as well as it had in the last couple of years.
In fact, Mike was even reduced to pulling out his tin cup and asking Members for donations to keep the sites going, at one point.
Mike has spoken of his children and the fact that they are in one of the better private schools in the country. Mike has a wonderful family, a wonderful wife and three terrific kids. Just like many other people (including me) I should imagine that Mike puts his kids before everything else. Mike's kids have grown accustomed to a certain standard of living and this decision, I imagine, was the best one Wizard could make in order to continue to provide that high living standard and keep them enrolled in what is amongst the best schools in the country.
Even then, however, I don't imagine that this decision could have come easily for Mike. Even though he didn't say anything to me about it, I know enough about Mike to recognize that he takes a tremendous amount of pride in the work that he does, so while the sale of the site is an incredibly lucrative move for Mike, one must also recognize that it is an admission of defeat. The simple fact remains that the site simply wasn't making enough money for Mike to provide the sort of living standard to his kids that he believes to be necessary...which, for any good father, means the best one possible.
I've recently made a similar decision in the context of my divorce by which I voluntarily entered into a VERY one-sided spousal support agreement with my ex-wife by which I have assured she and the kids have transportation, housing and I pay 100% of the bills with her getting child support on top of it until she is out of nursing school. I currently have zero cars when, if I went with just the court-ordered child/spousal support amounts based on my income, I'd have enough money left that I could afford three or four car payments...besides that, there's also the fact that I'd still have the PT Cruiser that I had already and gave to them!
I made the decision to put my kids first and to look out for their welfare before anything else, and as we can see, Mike has swallowed the bitter pill of losing control over the websites it has taken him seventeen years to build, in order to put his kids first.
Trust me, if I had anything that was worth 2.35M, at this moment, I'd sure as s(&^$^ sell it too if it would benefit my kids.
Many of us here know Mike just from the Forum, and some of us (myself included) have had the honor of becoming personal friends with him. We represent a minority of people, and that minority is people who have directly communicated with Mike. Not only has Mike freely spent the last seventeen years helping us by providing us with mathematically accurate and terrific gambling information and entertainment, but he has also provided the same to any number of people that he will likely never meet, speak to, or know of.
To say that Mike deserves this would be a terrific understatement and, quite frankly, an insult. Mike MORE THAN deserves the profit he has now realized from these sites, blatantly put, he worked his @$$ off for it.
Once again, congratulations, Mike!
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
September 19th, 2014 at 7:50:00 PM
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Great post Mission. I just realized that I haven't actually said it yet, so - Congrats Mike! This sale was an excellent move, especially because you're able to stay involved in the business.
May I ask what exactly was purchased? It sounds to me like WoO.com was sold, while the consulting company and personal brand were not. Is it a true statement that Michael Shackleford remains the Wizard of Odds? Is there a branding issue now that Wizard of Odds Consulting, Inc. no longer operates www.wizardofodds.com? It seems unlikely that both entities would be allowed to use the name & logos.
May I ask what exactly was purchased? It sounds to me like WoO.com was sold, while the consulting company and personal brand were not. Is it a true statement that Michael Shackleford remains the Wizard of Odds? Is there a branding issue now that Wizard of Odds Consulting, Inc. no longer operates www.wizardofodds.com? It seems unlikely that both entities would be allowed to use the name & logos.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
September 19th, 2014 at 7:50:38 PM
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Well said. Exactly my sentiments. He is living the American dream, where one works very hard to toil, and hits the jackpot for his insight and ingenuity. I commend him for putting up with us idiots for as long as he did. I'm not exactly sure if WoV went as expected for him, in the way that the forum has organically grown without I am guessing the growth in revenue to go with it. He still has to put up with us, but at least he's getting a steady paycheck for it, and likely with the payout, can choose to take it or leave it.
As for your decisions you made for your children and justifying the over-amount that you paid, the guidelines are there for a reason. There is absolutely no reason why you couldn't go with the court ordered settlement and then GIVE, voluntarily, over that amount. My court ordered settlement is the minimum I can pay, but that allows me to pay 100% for the extras for my child and enrich her life by having the choice and the money for my kid to do extra-curricaulars and go on trips, etc. You can look after your kids voluntarily without a court order... happens all of the time with responsible parents.
As for your decisions you made for your children and justifying the over-amount that you paid, the guidelines are there for a reason. There is absolutely no reason why you couldn't go with the court ordered settlement and then GIVE, voluntarily, over that amount. My court ordered settlement is the minimum I can pay, but that allows me to pay 100% for the extras for my child and enrich her life by having the choice and the money for my kid to do extra-curricaulars and go on trips, etc. You can look after your kids voluntarily without a court order... happens all of the time with responsible parents.
-----
You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
September 19th, 2014 at 7:51:44 PM
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I'm all props to mike for selling his sites for 2 commas.
it's probably more than the sites made in the 17years combined.
but I'm curious why he didn't pick back up his consulting business after the Venetian?
it's probably more than the sites made in the 17years combined.
but I'm curious why he didn't pick back up his consulting business after the Venetian?
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice).
Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
September 19th, 2014 at 7:58:28 PM
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Membership dues will be $100 a year. However I am authorized to offer a 50% discount. This offer will expire in 24 hours. PM me for further instructions. and YES we do accept PAYPAL.
Shed not for her
the bitter tear
Nor give the heart
to vain regret
Tis but the casket
that lies here,
The gem that filled it
Sparkles yet
September 19th, 2014 at 7:58:38 PM
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Very well said, Mission. I have been away from the site for a while and just happened to pop in today to see this news. While it could mean that things are changing (haven't heard the details yet, if there are any) around the forum, it was a very smart business decision. Damn, I wish I had built something worth that much on the open market!
"So drink gamble eat f***, because one day you will be dust." -ontariodealer
September 19th, 2014 at 9:24:37 PM
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The unexpected derailment pertaining to my divorce agreement has been moved to a thread titled, "Did Mission's Divorce Agreement Suck?"
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/19590-did-missions-divorce-agreement-suck/2/#post397553
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/19590-did-missions-divorce-agreement-suck/2/#post397553
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
September 19th, 2014 at 9:47:02 PM
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Thank you for the very kind words, Mission. I hope you will agree to speak at my funeral when the time comes.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 19th, 2014 at 10:01:36 PM
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As I said in the other thread, I think the new owner got the better deal! In other words, WoO/WoV worth more than the sale price. That's just my opinion. But I stand by my words.
winning streaks come and go, losing streak never ends.
September 19th, 2014 at 10:06:33 PM
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Quote: BuzzardMembership dues will be $100 a year. However I am authorized to offer a 50% discount. This offer will expire in 24 hours. PM me for further instructions. and YES we do accept PAYPAL.
Are you serious?
If they start charging membership fee, I will have to consider quit here because I am a low roller and $100 is a big chunk of my bankroll. :)
winning streaks come and go, losing streak never ends.
September 19th, 2014 at 10:07:18 PM
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Quote: BuzzardMembership dues will be $100 a year. However I am authorized to offer a 50% discount. This offer will expire in 24 hours. PM me for further instructions. and YES we do accept PAYPAL.
You take big hats?
"Man Babes" #AxelFabulous
September 19th, 2014 at 10:16:00 PM
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Quote: WizardThank you for the very kind words, Mission. I hope you will agree to speak at my funeral when the time comes.
You've got it! LOL
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/gripes/11182-pet-peeves/120/#post815219
September 20th, 2014 at 1:07:04 AM
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Lets avoid that. You might want to be extra nice to Mrs. Wizard for a while.Quote: WizardThank you for the very kind words, Mission. I hope you will agree to speak at my funeral when the time comes.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
September 20th, 2014 at 4:43:49 AM
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Quote: Mission146The unexpected derailment pertaining to my divorce agreement has been moved to a thread titled, "Did Mission's Divorce Agreement Suck?"
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/19590-did-missions-divorce-agreement-suck/2/#post397553
Sorry, Mission, you had a paragraph in your statement comparing your situation with the Wizard's, when the two situations are not similar. We all do things for our kids. Mike selling his websites because he isn't getting the cash flow to support his stable family: a no-brainer. Mike loses nothing out of this. You signing over your income and giving up your vehicle for your ex-wife and kids? Worth a debate.
-----
You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
September 20th, 2014 at 4:47:40 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfLets avoid that. You might want to be extra nice to Mrs. Wizard for a while.
There was a 19 page thread at the beginning of 2013 on the Wizard's wife getting a new car. If it hasn't happened, it certainly can now. Make it a nice one! May I suggest the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat? :-)
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
September 20th, 2014 at 5:02:12 AM
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Perhaps a Miata so he has an excuse to drive one ☻Quote: 1BBThere was a 19 page thread at the beginning of 2013 on the Wizard's wife getting a new car. If it hasn't happened, it certainly can now. Make it a nice one! May I suggest the 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat? :-)
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
September 20th, 2014 at 5:05:29 AM
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Ha ha. What would Sheldon say? Bazinga!
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi
September 20th, 2014 at 7:05:11 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfPerhaps a Miata so he has an excuse to drive one ☻
what the hell is this thing? ☻
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
September 20th, 2014 at 7:25:11 AM
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inverted gay smiley face?Quote: odiousgambitwhat the hell is this thing? ☻
smiley face = happy, happy = Gay
2.3 = Mike happy
Mike+2.3 = having a gay old time
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
September 20th, 2014 at 9:17:00 AM
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so gay smiley faces are too tiny to really see? [vbg]
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
September 20th, 2014 at 10:00:19 AM
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Quote: odiousgambitwhat the hell is this thing? ☻
Here ya go:
☻
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:49:46 AM
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Quote: beachbumbabsHere ya go:
☻
Looks like a pumpkin to me.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:55:40 AM
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Quote: BozQuote: beachbumbabsHere ya go:
☻
Looks like a pumpkin to me.
Getting to be that time of the year...
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
September 20th, 2014 at 7:36:25 PM
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This post of mine got lost in the thread-split, reposting here just for posterity.
Quote: AcesAndEightsJust reading through the other thread and WOW, some really negative reactions that don't make sense to me.
What kind of "personal information" did you give up to join this site? A username, and an email address, that's it. No "real names" are involved, unless you happened to use your real name when you registered.
The worst that could happen, as I see it, is the new owners start sending us unsolicited email (SPAM). I would hope that the Wiz discouraged them from doing this during the deal. Even if he didn't, if they don't provide an "unsubscribe" button then they will severely negatively impact their street cred. It would be a really bad PR move for them to start spamming people.
Barring substantial changes in how the forum is run (a total possibility, of course) I don't see a reason to immediately jump ship just because of an ownership change.
"So drink gamble eat f***, because one day you will be dust." -ontariodealer
September 20th, 2014 at 8:05:11 PM
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I wonder if the wizard will continue to discourage and disparage system players, in light of the new business arrangement, hey hey?
" Life is a well of joy; but where the rabble drinks too, all wells are poisoned!" Nietzsche
September 20th, 2014 at 11:43:44 PM
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I hear he is now going to bring back the challenge and add 1 million more.Quote: soxfanI wonder if the wizard will continue to discourage and disparage system players, in light of the new business arrangement, hey hey?
System players are pretty meaningless, most of them are all talk, broke and don't even play their own system. They just try to convince others it works in order to con money out of suckers willing to back them.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
September 21st, 2014 at 4:56:06 AM
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Quote: AxelWolf
System players are pretty meaningless, most of them are all talk, broke and don't even play their own system. They just try to convince others it works in order to con money out of suckers willing to back them.
I had to get a system player off my porch the other day so I paid him for the pizza.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
September 21st, 2014 at 5:11:44 AM
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Quote: AZDuffmanI had to get a system player off my porch the other day so I paid him for the pizza.
LMAO....that really was POTD for me. Thanks, AZD!
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
September 21st, 2014 at 5:24:26 AM
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I didn't realize you lived in Great Falls.Quote: AZDuffmanI had to get a system player off my porch the other day so I paid him for the pizza.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
