Cubone - The Gambling Historian!

Ever since my first bet, in late 1940s I have watched with interest gamblers who could beat the percentages,imposed against them.by the UK Boookmakers.
The massive %, deductons made winning a very difficult transaction, the very fact that only a handful of greats, are writen in the history books proves the point, that backing horses for a living is not easy.

Many attempted to beat the system by Chickanary, Fraud, or Strokes, and history also confirms that although there were many who attempted the black art, very few got paid after there well thought out plans. punters like, Alex Bird a 1940/80 Levethian, was an obvious winner, and we can assume most of his winnings was from hard work, beavering away on the form book. but that isnt the whole story of Alex,s success. a very big % of his winnings was on photo finishes, in a period when the time taken to confirm the result was not much better than Boots are today.

Bird admited when the betting tax on turnover was introduced that it was the end of his punting, and even when the first deduction was only 2% he cut back. as much as 75% of his betting. but even when he was flying he still found it most difficult to get on.
Bookmakers have always controlled there own destiny by restrictions, and there is nothing wrong with that policy, it is a ballancing act, between offers and exceptance.
The old Dear John letters from the Bookmakers head office a thing of the past, replaced with software that just hinders any wager being placed by a winning client, without actually giving you the proverbial Ticket.

Bookmakers however have been given the red light to expand in both telephone, credit, and internet, the new Gambling Laws both conducive with grouth. Gambling Debt recovery now statatary., that has tilted the game in favour of the Bookmakers.even more so than before.

So with this in mind I wasnt surprised when a high stret Bookmaker , sent out a very strong Dear John Internet, informing one of there clients that if he attempted to set foot in any of there shops, he would be escorted off, and any bets, placed by him or any friend or relations bets would be voided.

I assume that the punter, who is at the moment, going through an IBAS dispute with the firm, for several thousand pounds, is a marked man.
This type of behavour by UK Bookmakers is certainly not new, but not to this extream,bets have always been refused, sometimes because they are to large or because the offer is no longer available but I have never known, a case were Nevada, Maffia, restrictions are muted.

To be called into the back office of the Belagio, Las Vagas, and offered the Pent house free for a week confirms that you are a loser.
Big Winners, are paid out with pomp and glory, but those Gamblers who have discovered an Edge, will receive, a firm warning not to attend the Casino again, the card counters of a few years ago. were invited into the back room of the majority of Casinos, and sometimes the warnings were not much removed from a talking to by Bugsie Segal.

But 2007 in Leafie Britian, I am shocked. after all the punter is no card counter, he certainly is no strokester, or con man, all his bets, are well thought out, ligitamate wagers, if the Bookmaker offers a concesion so good that the punter sees an edge then what is wrong, for it is the very thing that all punters strive for.

Lucky15 the individual who is coming in for specialist treatment, is an old fashioned gambler, similar to Alex Bird, a great thinker a great figeurs man, who can calculate the odds, in his head no nead for a computor, to show him were it is.

2 years ago there was a complete change in the UK Betting Scene, the introduction of internet made it easier for a firm to bet to a wider international market, 24 hours a day, the many events, were a market was offered made it more dificult to keep a ballance of events taking place second by second. TV coverage from all round the world also made it an accute service, ball by ball, in running markets, exiting, oportunities, drove the industry and certainly sports betting skiwards.

Exchange Betting opened up many golden opportunites for non gamblers to trade or arb, % profit from differing odds, the game was now wide open to thinkers, movers and shakers, in some cases leaving the old fashioned punters behind.

But are the UK Bookmakers staff, up to the changes, or are they being out manouvered by people like Lucky15.

I personally dont think there are many as astute as this middle aged, ex accountant.

In the High Streets there has always been indipendants, competing with the big three for the UK Gambling Pound, and all prepared to look for a publicity push, inviting the more informed gambler, to participate in the offers.

Fred Done the 4th Bigest Bookmaker in the UK was the first to realy, extend concessions, in a big way, offering Bonus,s on all combination bets, these wagers the bread and butter, of the old fashioned, Honest Joe, gauranteeing massive profits.

To back a winner not easy to back 6 winners in a heinze 57, impossible.

Fred made his bones, on the Publicity, of BONUS KING FRED.
He pushed the boat out massivly with variable Bonus,s making it foolish for any UK punter to place a combination bet without consulting Fred.first.

Many of the copy cats, and that included the Big Three, offered extentions on all returns on these bets, it was then that Lucky15 saw the massive advanteges, being offered. it was in the wording of the terms,

Taking for granted the fact that 6 winners was nie impossible, all Bookmakers were content to offer a massive % if the lucky punter. succeeded.
Detorie Day gave this type of bet, a massive boost. with many bred and butter punters hitting the jackpot.

Fred made good use of the publicity. increasing many of his punters returns, massivly.

But whilst many of the high street Bookmakers jumping on Freds Band Wagon, this punting great, saw the Black Hole, within the Bonus.rules themselves.

The word was Returns, Bonus on Returns.
Lucky 15, realised that at certain times a year in Tennis, or World Cup, Rugby, early matches were non competative,
With some teams as near a certanty as possible.

By placing 6 of these teams, in a Hienze 57 or lucky 63, he could receive a BONUS on his stake, so it was just a matter of getting as much on as possible and allow the Bookmaker to pay out according to his own rules.

Some Bookmakers saw the implications from day one paying out like all honest Bookmakers ussually do, altering the terms to read, Bonus on Winnings.for future bets.
Some not so shrewed, still offering the Bonus on Returns, to this day.

I doubt that the change to high street rules on Bonus,s will have very little effect on the massive winnings that this man generates, yearly as he informs me that many other oportunities occure.

I cant waite for this man to tell his Story of how he beat the system, even the Hole in One Winners, of a few years ago, would give this man much respect as a massive winner, who does so without reverting to chickanary.

And long may thinkers, last, the old enermy have all the moves covered so when they fail to do so. now and again. best wishes to the person who saw the chance.

Cubone.

Thr alarm struck at exactly 6.30 I caught it at the second bell.. It was going to be a special day. I was going back to my routes, It was to be a pilgramage. back to the centre of Brum. to were I was born reared and raised. and although I lived less than 15 miles away, I hadnt been to the town once in the last 10 years.
Before I set off I had to get past the Family Stafordshire Bull. who I doubt would have let me out of the house without her being taken for the morning strole.
Although I intended to take in all the sites, of my youth. I was also about to vet the strenth of the Midland Betting Industry, why ???? I dont know something to do with the new Gambling Commission. and a new breath of fresh air for midland punters. I though it was something I could place on my Blog.

I had decided to go by train, I didnt fancy parking my car in some sky scraper. and as I intended to spend all day on my historical venture I didnt wish to find myself miles from my start.point.The trip took me through Alverchurch, Barnt Green, Lickie,, it was that village, that I had purchased my first home at £4,700 in 1961 a Detached House oppersite the Blind School. spread all over the base of the Licky Hills.
I wondered what it would fetch today, at least £380,000 what I fool I was Why didnt I purchase 10. instead of spending all my spare cash, on women of illrepute.

The smell of chochalate. drifted though the air conditioning system on the train. as I approuched Bournville.

I would have known Cadburys, without the smell however as I have been one of there best customers, all my life. and it is these mormans who shaped my 42 inch Girth,.

The next station was University, and it was there that I wished I had spent more time, learning the 3 r,s instead of Rugger, Running. and Rumpo.

But as the learned brains of Birmingham joined me on my trip to the city centre, I began to thank this great insitution, for the two leading surgens who had perfected the art, of saving little children born with heart valves that were back to front. and in so doing saved my lovely Grand Childs life.

Next stop Birmingham. even in less than a decade it had changed considerably. New Street, seemed revitalised, I met my old pal. Sam Nixon my mentor, from the period 1945 to 1995, he looked exactly as he did 10 years ago, smart dapper, and certainly didnt seem 82.

I had to ask him to repeat his historical tale that when told reduces all present to fits of laughter.

He was born with a terrible speach impediment, and as only cruel children can react, they called him Stuttering Sam.at school.

The head master was no more sympethetic than the inmates,

Even on the day Sam left school Mr Vaughn had to have his final dig.
“Well Nixon I dont know what will become of you in the big wide world”.
3 years later Sam had become a well respected Bookmaker, taking over the racecourse pitches left vacant on his fathers death.

As Sam walked into the Kardoma, for a coffie he was not surprised that all the tables were taken.

But Sam was not concerned he was well loved and known, by all the brummies. “come on Sam there,s room here. for you”

As Sam was drinking his coffie. he noticed an old man, with a military waxed mistouch, lookin out of place with a tea, in his hand and no were to sit.

Mr Vaughn. come and sit here sir.

“Thank you young man, Dont I know you,”
Yes Sir I am Stuttering Sam.

Stuttering Sam of course what on earth are you doing with yourself, you certainly look as if you have succeeded in what ever it is.

IM A BOOK BOOK BOOKMAKER SIR

“A Bookmaker how can you be a Bookmaker the last time we met you could hardly speak”.

Well Sir I still have difficulty in calling out the prices, 13/8 and 33/1 still trap me.
“Well what do you do when trapped”.
I go 6/4 and 25. LO LO

Back outside I looked at were the Kardoma used to be, and I wondered how the 50 odd years had gone by so quickly.

I then stood on the kirb. were the enterance would have been.

The last time I gazed at that spot was when I arranged to meet a complete stranger, for coffie,
It came about when I was in our first betting Shop in Selly Oak, in those days if you wanted a telephone number you would chat to an opperator who understood the Brummie Accent, and you could understand her.

“Can I have the number for Abe Rubens in Edbaston please”.
Of course you can it is 121 315 2452
“I think if you are as nice as you sound I bet you are a beuty.”

The laugh was enough for me to realise that I had pulled.
“Were are you based, in the city centre,”
Yes New Street.
“Well Im going to the Kardoma at 1.0 do you fancy a coffie”.

That would be lovely.
What will you look like, I will drive past the enterance in my Red Sunbeam Alpine. Sports Car.

The young lady confirmed that she would be wearing a Red Cape.

As I drove along the Bristol Road to town, I had the ussual twinge that only 21 year olds used to have,whilst going on blind dates.

It had began to rain quite heavily. as I drove towards the Meeting place.

Being a very low car, I was having to look upwards towards this apperition, a very tall girl standing with her back to me draped all in red.

I piped my horn, and pushed the passengers door open.

The first thing I saw was a Leg that seemed to be 4 ft long she was in a twiggie Mini Skirt, and as I waited for her to take the seat, her knee was right infront of my vision.
The KNEE was at least 2 ft round, with Hair protruding arround it. I began to panic, Puting the gear into first, I shot off at 70 miles an hour, taking a look into my rear mirror, I could see this site of a women at least 6f 6inch tall sitting in the gutter. with the Red Cape over her head.

I never went back to the city centre again for 6 months and sold the car over night.I even grew a beard.

And here I was in the very same spot and still the hair on the back of my neck began to tingle.
My next trip was to Rackhams, this was the shop that gave me a feel for the better things in life, as you used to enter the smell from the Perfumes on the ground floor was wonderfull every girl there seemed to be a Miss World Contestant.
Today I guess there are not so many Miss World Contestants about or if there are they certainly dont work at Rachams any more.
My next port of call was the job that I was realy in Birmingham for, and that was to eye the betting Services, on offer. following the Betting Revolution, and the new Gambling Commission in charge of punters rights.I had to see first hand what the punters of Birmingham were getting for there Gambling pound.

Below, New Street Train Station was Ladbrokes an enormous Betting Shop however Shop is not the correct word to use more like a picture house.
How many square feet I will not hazzard a guess but it is large. the counter in the centre is a circle beutifully layed out. a thousand punters would struggle to fill.as I arrived there was 2 others, in the place, both on one arm bandits.

The activity however was non stop. Lottery Numbers, reality Horses and Dogs, all taking place at once.

I was only interested in F1 in Italy on Sunday, and the Rugby Union. starting friday.
I knew what prices they were offering on the internet as I left, home, but they had been trimmed for cash customers, I didnt bother to enqure why this should be. and walked to the other 2 of the Big Three Conglomerates,
Corals, also polite, Hills not so.
I had to find a comparision service, 50 years ago there were 20 shops within the same vacinity, all of them jumping over themselves to satify.

I had been told that there was a Sports Caffie in BROAD STREET, and I walked through the underpass towards the site, not far from the old Rum Runner were I first saw Duran Duran.

It seemed to be in a busy part of the city much more so than the centre,

As I walked into the Sports Caffie, I was shocked it seemed to have a buz about it, not witnessed in the High Street establishments.
As soon as I arrived The manager, invited me to join in a healthy conversation on there facilities and services, he didnt know me from adam, but it was as if he wanted me to become a client.and was prepared to work at it.

As i was browsing the services a women no more than 25 requested an early morning price on a horse at Kempton. in the evening,
A Bundle of Reddies, was produced £3,000 a very quick telephone converstaion with the managers head office concluded that the horse was 4/1 and she could have the bet.

That was more like it, a real old fashioned betting office but with modern facilities,

A few seconds later a very pretty young lassie with a lovely brummie accent. joined the manager, and the first thing she said was
Would you like a coffie sir.

This was the service I was looking for and had been told did not exist.

It would appear that this firm are growing daily. looking for new sites, and new applications were ever they can.
I wish them well, they are certainly a breath of fresh air, and should be a wake up call for all conglomerates.

I intend to go back again. and spend all day both in the Sports Caffie and Ladbrokes to give both the benifit of any doubt as to were the future lyes.

Good Service will always succeed.over Poor.

But we will see.

Cubone