Originally published in the TSP Newsletter on October 25, 2022, this “My Two Cents” segment is being republished on TheSharpPlays.com for easy access and future reference. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just beginning the journey, this one’s for you.
🔥 It Starts with Passion
Let’s pivot from strategy and talk about something deeper—what it really takes to make a living in this game.
First things first: you need fire in your soul for gambling.
I don’t mean loving sports — I mean loving the game of odds, data, handicapping, price analysis, and finding angles that beat billion-dollar sportsbooks using nothing but brainpower and sweat equity.
I wake up every day excited. No coffee, no tea. Just a bottle of water and a rush of adrenaline. Whether it’s trading the market or chasing down sharp action, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning — every single day. That’s not marketing fluff. It’s my reality.
If you’re only in this for money, it won’t work. When I was chasing money, I lost. When I started chasing edges, patterns, and performance — the money followed as a byproduct. These days, money is just a way to keep score.
🧱 Characteristics of a Successful Professional Bettor
Let’s dig into the traits you must embrace to survive and thrive in the gambling business:
❤️ 1. Passion
You must love the process, not just the results.
Love the puzzles. Love the data. Love cracking the code.
🧠 2. Fortitude
You’ll lose hundreds of bets a year. If you can’t let a bad beat slide off your back, this game isn’t for you.
💡 Use every loss as a lesson.
Don’t complain. Analyze. Adjust. Move forward.
🛠️ 3. Work Ethic
This is not a hobby.
It’s a 24/7 grind, and if you’re serious, you’re never fully “off.”
Whether I’m at the Magic Kingdom or sitting oceanside in Hawaii, I’m still working markets and monitoring action. Why? Because I love it.
👊 4. Responsibility
Own your bets.
If SMU fails to cover and you tailed a group for the third time — that’s on you, not them.
Be honest with yourself.
Review your decision-making.
That’s where growth lives.
“Failure is a chance to do better next time.” – Henry Ford
🐢 5. Patience
Everyone wants to turn $1,000 into $200,000 in six months. You won’t.
Rushing = overbetting = doom.
Take the long view. Embrace the journey.
🕰️ My first offshore bet was in 1993 at English Sports Betting: $5 on a four-team NHL parlay. I was a broke high school kid. Today, I wager more on a single game than some people make in a year — but it took 15 years of trial, failure, and nonstop hustle to get here.
If I can do it — small-town kid, no connections — so can you.
📚 6. Lifelong Learning
Think you know everything? You’re already losing.
I’ve been betting since the 1980s and a profitable professional since 2001. Still learning every day — from people older, younger, smarter, or just different.
Stay open. Stay curious. Stay humble.
🎯 7. Realistic Expectations
This ties into patience, but it’s a mindset all its own.
You must set attainable ROI goals and accept losing months as part of the business.
Don’t let a downturn derail you emotionally. That’s what ruins bankrolls and careers.
💵 8. Bankroll Management
You need a separate gambling fund. Period.
Not a chunk of your checking account. Not a portion of your net worth.
A dedicated, disposable bankroll — managed like a business.
💡 Pro Tip: Open a separate checking account. Deposit wins. Fund sportsbook deposits. Keep it clean and trackable.
🧠 Final Thoughts
There are countless traits that make someone successful in this game, but these are your foundation. Embrace them and you’ll be ahead of 99% of aspiring bettors out there.
As for the other 1%?
They’re already TSP followers. 😉
Good luck in your action,
~ The Sharp Plays