Mention gambling in an interview?

Im not talking about poker or cards, but sports betting. I feel this is something I should avoid bringing up. But it is similar in a way to the environment of trading imo.

What do I do?

23 Comments
 

It is impossible to prove that you are a winning player, so no, do not mention it, as there is very little math involved in sports betting, since a -EV bet is -EV no matter how you spin it.

Of course, if you wrote a script that searches every bookie, extracts the odds, and calculates existence of dutch books, well then, hell yeah, I would mention that.

 
Best Response
protectedclassIt is impossible to prove that you are a winning player, so no, do not mention it, as there is very little math involved in sports betting, since a -EV bet is -EV no matter how you spin it..
This is some of the worst fucking bullshit I have seen on WSO in a while. There is plenty of math involved in sports betting (playing one bookie off another ie taking the over for x payout and the under for Y payout on the same game, straight arb plays on props, etc.) You also have to pay taxes on what you win so you can absolutely prove that you won.

General comment; if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about then don't talk about it.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee
protectedclassIt is impossible to prove that you are a winning player, so no, do not mention it, as there is very little math involved in sports betting, since a -EV bet is -EV no matter how you spin it..
This is some of the worst fucking bullshit I have seen on WSO in a while. There is plenty of math involved in sports betting (playing one bookie off another ie taking the over for x payout and the under for Y payout on the same game, straight arb plays on props, etc.) You also have to pay taxes on what you win so you can absolutely prove that you won.

General comment; if you don't know what the fuck you're talking about then don't talk about it.

Arbitrage, when referring to gambling is called a dutch book. Something, I explicitly mentioned.

General comment, if you are going to troll, know what the fuck you are talking about.

 

It is impossible to prove that you are a winning player, so no, do not mention it, as there is very little math involved in sports betting, since a -EV bet is -EV no matter how you spin it.

Of course, if you wrote a script that searches every bookie, extracts the odds, and calculates existence of dutch books, well then, hell yeah, I would mention that.

 

Would not mention sports gambling.

I have seen poker used to demonstrate risk management skills and quick thinking though. The guy played during college at a target, explained somewhat low GPA, lived off his winnings for a year after doing Duke's MMS.

 

In any event, the purpose of this post is devolving. In truth, you can mention just about anything on your resume if you can spin it in a positive light and show why X is relevant to the position you are applying for. Sports gambling may rub a certain person the wrong way or sports gambling could be a great conversational piece. It's completely dependent on the person looking at your resume, so arguing whether it's smart or not is like a pissing contest. It's not like this guy is putting "Interests: Dissects cats."

 

Actually, rather than argue with a person that thinks personal anecdotal evidence is enough to win an argument.

I'd like you to show me the math for a super bowl bet that has positive mathematical expectation after the vig. You can use every sports book on the internet.

 
protectedclassActually, rather than argue with a person that thinks personal anecdotal evidence is enough to win an argument.

I'd like you to show me the math for a super bowl bet that has positive mathematical expectation after the vig. You can use every sports book on the internet.

Its honestly not worth my time to go through a hypothetical with you. You claimed to be the expert so I'm assuming you want me to give you some sort of scenario so that you can go through and use what pittance of knowledge you have to piss and moan about it. Whatever the case, the guys I know, myself included, run at about 5 - 8% PV and have for the last few years. We all file taxes on it and I have never lost money in a month. You're probably so much smarter than me surely you have it all figured out.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

My expertise is that 90% of sports bettors lose, and those that say they "never lost money in a month" are some of the biggest losers. Both in terms of money, and in terms of being pathological liars. And when push comes to shove to "prove" they are winning or can prove that they can win in a mathematical way, they claim it's "not worth the time".

OP, heed this advice, do not put sports betting on your resume. There is no advantage to it. Barely any upside and infinite downside. You will end up looking like happypantsmcgee.

 

Yikes this got off topic fast. Anyways if you feel confident that your betting ability is a skill, and takes mathematics and risk management and puts you in stressful situations, fine mention it. But just be damn ready to back it up. On a side note since you started to get a little cocky once people started to play with you, if you never have a losing month....why not take a huge loan and skip the whole "job" idea and live off betting...... Cause your oh soo good :-)

 
illusion38Yikes this got off topic fast. Anyways if you feel confident that your betting ability is a skill, and takes mathematics and risk management and puts you in stressful situations, fine mention it. But just be damn ready to back it up. On a side note since you started to get a little cocky once people started to play with you, if you never have a losing month....why not take a huge loan and skip the whole "job" idea and live off betting...... Cause your oh soo good :-)
Plenty of people do it but I like my job and I don't move the kind of size that other guys do. I love that you guys act like this shit is impossible and that no one could possibly gamble on sports professionally. Plenty of people do it.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford

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