Online Gambling: Ask The Shrink

[THE SHRINK]

Online Gambling: Ask The Shrink written July 4, 2009 Since I am contacted on a regular basis regarding Internet gambling, I have picked out an interesting question to answer that was sent to me recently from another message board... Dear Shrink, My bank (Bank of the West) contacted me asking about my wire transfers. I told them it's from an online gambling site (maybe not smart but I can't fix it now. Several people at my bank know I'm a gambler so it didn't occur to me to say anything else). After the conversation I went in to my bank and asked them why they wanted to know this. The lady said their fraud/security dept. checks on transfers originating in the Bahamas and wanted details. I just got a call and now she wants to know what site it's from and some sort of document/screen shot showing I won the money from a gambling site. Supposedly they want to know if the site is American or not? I'm supposed to get back to her with info/documents. what do I say and do? My advice: I would change banks immediately. The fact that you have already shared that you gamble online with this bank can lead to nothing but more trouble for you. I hope that when you do transfer your funds elsewhere, you do not offer any information unless you have to. Choose a larger bank so your transactions don't stand out and I'd recommend using checks rather than wires whenever possible, since it is easier to stay under the radar given this scenario. As for this particular situation, Ugh, I understand banks are trying to stop fraud and money laundering, but it's none of their business how we spend our money. I wouldn't offer any other information to this bank. I would also suggest speaking to someone higher up, as it has been my experience that they can be quite helpful at times. I hope this answers your question and thank you for sending it my way, THE SHRINK

[ZZ CREAM]

Good answer Dear Abby!

[THE SHRINK]

Originally Posted by ZZ CREAM

Good answer Dear Abby!

[Pickandwin2]

Originally Posted by ZZ CREAM

Good answer Dear Abby!

or

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by ZZ CREAM

Good answer Dear Abby!

Great minds ZZ

That's what I was thinking when I saw it this morning

[ZZ CREAM]

Originally Posted by Blondie

Great minds ZZ

That's what I was thinking when I saw it this morning

Great minds think alike....................................and then there's us!

[Just a Man]

I cannot believe someone would answer these questions when posed tothem.

I would tell my bank to go F themselves. I would then withdraw every dime.

To tell your bank these are gambling winnings? Common buddy, get with the program.

[BetPhoenix]

Love the idea...will this be a regular item at EOG?

[Pickandwin2]

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by ZZ CREAM

Great minds think alike....................................and then there's us!

Oh how true that is

[Bucky]

You can't unring a bell. Only thing you can say at this point is you play Poker online or better yet establish a couple of legal horse racing accounts and act like that is what you do. That slides a little better. You could say that you have no further plans to send or receive bank wires internationally. I doubt if they would care about sending bank wires. Receiving them is the problem. If you close the account they may submit a SARS report which they might anyway. If you go to Las Vegas you could send a wire to a front money account - all perfectly legal. Wire or to to a horse race place but no international wires. This would confuse the issue and show some legitimate gambling paper trails. Sent money to play poker with.

It is the problem of the post up system. No way to receive big bucks. Plenty of ways to send small amounts under the radar. Send an international wire for 25 k or receive one for 10 k - you might as well take an ad out in the paper that says "Hey look at me!"

What I think the offshore post up system needs is to pay players in person at their domicile at a bank. Help the player submit the cash to the bank to purchase a cashiers check payable to himself. In other words, if we go to Monte Carlo - we as players are perfectly within our rights to gamble there - go to the cashier's cage - cash in our chips - use our cash to purchase a cashier's check from a bank and go home.

Call it a big player promotion. Accounts with a 10k active balance qualify. Any player that wins 10k + and maintains a 10k balance qualifies - instead of an up front bonus - win a plane ticket for 1.

So, I know the last two paragraphs are brain storming. But, in theory - would this work from a legal standponjt to prove that the player deposited in person - withdrew in person - played on the internet?????

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by Pickandwin2

Isn't that a requirement to post on a message board?

[Pickandwin2]

Originally Posted by Blondie

Isn't that a requirement to post on a message board?

yes, and I would think about 60% of the posters have been on that couch

[Jimmy Hoffa]

My bank doesn't ask about my wire transfers.

However, if they did I would tell them I am purchasing South American pottery as I used to tell the nosey Western Union customer service reps.

[BADTTBONE]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Hoffa

My bank doesn't ask about my wire transfers.

However, if they did I would tell them I am purchasing South American pottery as I used to tell the nosey Western Union customer service reps.

Do you still use W.U. or did u give them up ?

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by Pickandwin2

yes, and I would think about 60% of the posters have been on that couch

Seems a bit low of an estimate...

[Jimmy Hoffa]

Originally Posted by BADTTBONE

Do you still use W.U. or did u give them up ?

I dropped WU like a bad habit.

[Pickandwin2]

Originally Posted by Blondie

Seems a bit low of an estimate...

I was trying to be nice

[Bucky]

WU's - same story. Works fine to send - all kinds of ?'s to receive. Maybe, works for peanuts - but nothing but possible grief over the Mendoza line.

We can get money to the sportsbooks - getting paid has all the problems.

[Bucky]

The industry is only worried about receiving post up funds - not sending them back. But, I think it is what is holding the industry back - getting to the next level of legitimacy and hopefully regulation.

Even Las Vegas wants to deal to suckers only. That just doesn't lend itself to reputable business. Maybe, the new stuff of the East Coast will set a new trend. All players can play with the same limits? Wouldn't that add some credibility???

Sportsbooks should bitch less about people who win and spend more time and effort being a scientific bookmaker. Stop trying to club baby seals and just treat every player the same. Same limits for everybody.

[cheapseats]

Pay Pal advertises sending money person to person, so all you need is the right person, seems easy enough to me.

[MexicanMedic]

Originally Posted by cheapseats

Pay Pal advertises sending money person to person, so all you need is the right person, seems easy enough to me.

Paypal is still used as a method of funding accounts in many European countries

[Max Value]

Pay Pal advertises sending money person to person, so all you need is the right person, seems easy enough to me.

That sounds very doable...I going to suggest that to a few book managers to look into.

[armyvet]

I'd say paypal runs a pretty tight ship and if they see an enormous amount of funds going to a few key individuals they will be questioning what its for

[Patrick McIrish]

Bump.


Nice to see Ken doing more writing, we can all learn a thing or two. Hope it's a regular feature.

[munson15]

Was just going to add, Patrick, that it's great to see Ken so involved lately. I know it's not always feasible, timewise, but when the bossman starts a thread, it automatically generates more views, and when he has something interesting or valuable to say, that number grows even larger.

I have an amusing story to share from a few years ago. Olympic wanted me to send a cashier's check to them for an initial deposit. I had to show up in person at my small local bank to send the check. As I gave the information, I got a little nervous because I had to tell the teller to make the cashier's check out to "The Greek." When they asked me who this was, I said, 'he's a friend who lives down there and changed his name legally to "The Greek."

[Patrick McIrish]

[cheapseats]

Originally Posted by munson15

Was just going to add, Patrick, that it's great to see Ken so involved lately. I know it's not always feasible, timewise, but when the bossman starts a thread, it automatically generates more views, and when he has something interesting or valuable to say, that number grows even larger.

I have an amusing story to share from a few years ago. Olympic wanted me to send a cashier's check to them for an initial deposit. I had to show up in person at my small local bank to send the check. As I gave the information, I got a little nervous because I had to tell the teller to make the cashier's check out to "The Greek." When they asked me who this was, I said, 'he's a friend who lives down there and changed his name legally to "The Greek."

Shoulda told then you were buying olives.....

[THE SHRINK]

Originally Posted by BetPhoenix

Love the idea...will this be a regular item at EOG?

If there is enough interest, why not?

[The Noob]

Next Question

In your opinion is it better to vary bet sizes or bet the same amount on all games and why?

[THE SHRINK]

Originally Posted by The Noob

Next Question

In your opinion is it better to vary bet sizes or bet the same amount on all games and why?

GREAT QUESTION!!!!

I believe that has a lot to do with your personality and how you handicap...

For some people, especially the addictive type, I believe it is best to stick with the same amount on all games and the reason should be obvious...

Gamblers who play for "action" and "thrill" are more prone to become addicted and chase. If you fit this description, then you know from personal experience you can lose your entire bankroll because of poor money management and discipline...

On the other hand, if you are a very serious bettor, and perhaps you are almost a Professional at it, then by all means you SHOULD vary your bets anywhere from 1 to maybe 3 units...

Almost every Pro gambler that speaks to me varies their wagers depending on how much the better of it they believe they will have compared to the closing line...

For example, if The Patriots are favored by 3 over the Jets , and I have the game handicapped to fall 6, then this would fall into a 3 unit bet...

Also, if I know the pointspread is going to move favorably due to contacts I have, then that also qualifies as a larger bet...

I am assuming all pros are seasoned vets at bankroll management and discipline. And that's the only group I believe I'd recommend such variance to..

THE SHRINK

[Mammon]

Dear Mr. Shrink,

I have often thought about how many times I have lost late night Drunk and High. How would you suggest coping with this problem. In the old days it was call the bookie and final bets in at 7pm or 9pm on MNF. These days the best I do is cap all the late games everyday before the first heron.

[shdw01]

Dear Shrink,

What can I do to help me be in a better mood when I lose my ass in baseball? I am in a very bad mood but it is the 4th of July and everyone around me is happy. I do not want to bring down the mood with my angry attitude. Are there any tricks or is it acceptible to be a grouch on bad gambling days?


TIA

[THE SHRINK]

Originally Posted by Mamon

Dear Mr. Shrink,

I have often thought about how many times I have lost late night Drunk and High. How would you suggest coping with this problem. In the old days it was call the bookie and final bets in at 7pm or 9pm on MNF. These days the best I do is cap all the late games everyday before the first heron.

There are plenty of 12 Step Recovery Programs that are helpful, and i speak from personal experience...

[THE SHRINK]

Originally Posted by shdw01

Dear Shrink,

What can I do to help me be in a better mood when I lose my ass in baseball? I am in a very bad mood but it is the 4th of July and everyone around me is happy. I do not want to bring down the mood with my angry attitude. Are there any tricks or is it acceptible to be a grouch on bad gambling days?


TIA

Misery is optional for me personally. I can choose to stay in that crappy and angry mood or I can choose to start my day over at any time...

Sometimes, I will do something nice for someone else, even though I don't feel like it...

This often helps me get out of myself and in a better frame of mind...

THE SHRINK