ON BOXES

June 1, 2024

June 1, 2024

Traditional gambling generally refers to the wagering of money on a yet-to-be determined event or outcome that may be dependent on either chance or skill, or both. Casino roulette is a game of chance, while poker is primarily a game of skill. Gambling on athletic sporting events, such as football, basketball, baseball, etc., is generally viewed as involving both skill and chance. On to “boxes,” the title of this article, which are strictly a game of chance.

One of the major sports gambling options is to buy a “box” in a uniquely arranged square, usually referred to as the pool. An example of a pool is shown in Figure 1 for a Giant-Jet football game. As can be seen, there are 100 boxes. If each box costs $10, the total cash pool is $1,000. The individual who correctly selects the box with the last digit of the final score for each team takes home the bacon, i.e., wins the $1,000. If the final score is Jets 22/Giants 7, the owner of the shaded box is the winner. Scores, such as Jets 12/Giants 2, or Jets 22/Giants 37, would also serve as winners for that box.

             N E W    Y O R K     J E T S
N
E
W

Y
O
R
K
 
G
I
A
N
T
S		 0123456789 
0           
1           
2           
3           
4           
5           
6           
7           
8           
9           

      Figure 1: Sample Box

However, employing the format in Figure 1 does not provide each person buying a box with an equal chance of winning. Knowledgeable football fans would immediately realize that the best numbers to select in a football pool are 0 and 7, whereas the worst are 2, 5, and 8; therefore, the arrangement of the boxes as in Figure 1 does not provide each bettor with an equal chance to win. This bias can be removed, and the bet reduced to one solely of chance by assigning the numbers to each team in a random manner after individuals have paid and selected a box. The bias-removing procedure most often used is to write numbers from 0 to 9 (each) on a piece of paper. The 10 pieces of paper are then randomly drawn from a container and sequentially placed along the side of the square – first horizontally and then vertically. The result might look like Figure 2. Had the same box been selected earlier (see Figure 1), the bettor’s last team winning digits would be Giants 2/Jets 0, i.e., 2,0. A final score of Giants 42/Jets 30 would be a winner as would Giants 12/Jets 20.

  Figure 2: Sample Betting Box

              N E W     Y O R K     J E T S
N
E
W

Y
O
R
K

G
I
A
N
T
S		 2309817564 
8           
0           
3           
4           
6           
1           
5           
2           
7           
9           

Many gambling activities are available and legal in the U.S. However, the above form of gambling is not legal, although it is regularly practiced in private clubs, bars, parties, and homes with $ replaced by peanuts (or the equivalent) to legitimatize the activity. For example, the football boxes became an integral part of an annual party that I hosted at our home for the legendary Astoria Killeen’s Tavern basketball team of yesteryear (see also Basketball Coaching 101 by L. Theodore). One of the keys in this betting venture is to ensure that the individual running the box activity does it in a manner that is fair and that the odds are not heavily weighted in favor of the “concessionaire.” Generally, 5 to 10% of the total pool is considered reasonable compensation or takeout for running this “illegal” business / gambling activity. For whatever it’s worth, there was no takeout at our party, i.e., all of the money was returned to the winner.

The box activity has recently worked its way into other sports venues. And, believe this or not, the box activity is also part (recently) of gambling that takes place with the World Series. It’s just a matter of time before it works its way into all sports venues, and then onto casinos. Once again, it is the last digit of the final score of the game for each team that counts. Thus, the key box numbers for a winning final score of 20-3 is 0, 3.

What prompted the writing of this article? The Boy, the Queen and your favorite author recently shared one $10 box on the recent Superbowl at the Boy’s firehouse with the numbers 5 (KC) and 2 (SF). Remember my earlier comment that 2 and 5 are the worst numbers to draw in a football box investment. However, the final score was 25 (KC) and 22 (SF) and we wound up sharing $350.

In any event, football boxes are now commonplace. Now comes the main theme for this article – my thoughts on boxes for the future on other sports. I believe that boxes will soon be available on both basketball (both pros and college) and baseball (pros). Table 1 below provides my suggestions that includes (a) time interval, and (b) award split, based on a pool of $1,000. TBD refers to To Be Determined.

BASKETS:BASEBALL:
(I)(II)             (III)(IV)
ProsCollegesPros
(a) Quarter(b) Award(a) Quarter(b) Award(a)          Min(b) Award(a)         Inning(b) Award
 1/4100102004th200
 1/2200 1/24002020016th200
 3/4200302008th200
Final400Final400Final4009th400
OvertimeTBDOTTBDOTTBDExtraTBD

                                                             Table 1: Futuristic Boxes 

  Note that the awards can be adjusted, e.g., the entire award could be based on the final score.

Note that there are four potential box options: Three (I-III) for basketball and one for baseball (IV). Here are some explanatory details: For (I), if the score after a quarter is 32-20, the winning numbers would be 2-0 with a $200 award. For II, if the halftime score is 48-45, the winning numbers would be 8-5 with a $400 award. For III, if the score after 30 minutes is 66-65, the winning numbers would be 6-5 with a $200 award. For IV, if the runs (R) hits (H) and errors (E) after 6 innings total 11 for one team and 7 for the other team, the winning numbers would be 1-7 with a $200 award. Note that both the quarters, minutes, and RHE can be changed, as well as the award / prize.

Folks, I’m fairly certain that it’s just a matter of time before “boxes” will become part of the betting venue at sportsbooks.

That’s it. What do you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and / or

Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

JULY 1:                      On Purely Random, Pristine Thoughts XXXVII

AUGUST 1:                One Sleep Apnea II

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Vertigo

NOVEMBER 1:         On Hello Basketball, Goodbye Baseball

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ON A DYING SPORT

October 1, 2023

October 1, 2023

I could not have said it better than Joe Drape, feature New York Times thoroughbred racing editor, on September 3, 2023, page 25 when he wrote: “It was the 12th horse fatality – the eighth while racing – at the 2023 Saratoga summer meet. Combined with the deaths of a dozen horses last spring at Churchill Down, including two on Kentucky Derby day, the fatalities have brought renewed scrutiny of horse racing and gamblers, trainers, and racetrack executives struggling to reassure the public that racing is safe for its human and equine athletes.  In 2019, 30 horses died at Santa Anita Park in California in a span of six months, creating national headlines and drawing the scrutiny of state lawmakers and animal rights activists.” Perhaps my including the word dying in the title is appropriate after all. But, there’s more. Read on.

No matter how you cut the cake, I can say with near certainty that the thoroughbred racing industry will have difficulty surviving for another decade. Why? Five reasons.

  1. With a takeout of 20%, intelligent bettors simply will not get involved with betting horses. As for me, it is in my blood. It has been a part of my life for nearly ¾ of a century. Not so much with those who came after me. They know better than to get involved with any gambling endeavor that carries with it the aforementioned 20% takeout. It is just as simple as that. It was once the only game in town and a large takeout was tolerated. Unfortunately, the industry has not moved swiftly or intelligently to correct this exploitation and address competition since earlier times.
  2. One of the major concerns of capitalism is GREED. And boy, this industry oozes GREED. It is based on the premise that they should maximize profits for the breeders, owners, administrative officials, etc., at the expense of their patrons. The end result is that the horseplayer has been mercilessly exploited since the industry’s founding. Here’s a simple point – why the $50,000 to $100,000 races and yet charge the patron a $5 entrance fee, a $10 parking fee, $12 for a grandstand seat, etc., etc.? Gouging the patron has become a way of life.
  3. Dog racing has been barred. They are now completely out of business. Why? What basis? Look it up. The same reasons for closing down shops for dogs also apply to horses. Only it’s worse here, as evidenced by the vicious whipping that occurs during every race. (Why not bar jockeys from carrying whips?)  In case you haven’t noticed, the thoroughbred industry is now spending a fortune informing an uninformed public how much they really care about these animals. It’s laughable. Forget about the beatings they endure during a race; you know what happens to these horses later in life. I believe every breeder should be assessed a “tax” for every foal to insure humane treatment later in a race horse’s career.
  4. The thoroughbred industry is subsidized by the taxpayer, particularly here in New York State. They are selling horses at some of these auctions for amounts approaching $1,000,000! Why do they need subsidizing?? One of these days, we will get an honest politician elected who will put a stop to this gouging of the taxpayers.
  5. Last but not least is INCOMPETENCE. You want an example? Look no further than our own New York Racing Association (NYRA) that is anything but the non-profit organization they profess it to be. They are in the process of destroying the most beautiful racetrack (Belmont Park) in the world. The incompetents that man NYRA have yet to figure out how to attract new customers to the industry. (I predicted this in several articles a half a century ago. And, I also provided invited testimony on parimutuel wagering to a Presidential Crime Commission hearing in 1977).

The signs are all there.

You want more? Think about this. This and the harness racing industry have been struggling for nearly 50 years. OTB first bailed them out. They started struggling again and casino gambling at the tracks bailed them out. Recently, ownership via partnerships bailed them out; in fact, on a given day at Belmont or Aqueduct, attendance is primarily these part owners. My guess is that they have run out of bailouts. More recently, attendance at the recent Saratoga meet nosedived, apparently following Aqueduct and Belmont’s example. And even more recently, the unthinkable happened; the premier thoroughbred meeting in the country – Saratoga – wasn’t able to secure the televising of their entire program on many days. What a disaster!

Here’s more on NYRA, Saratoga has become its premiere race meet. It features the senseless 30+ minutes between races, shocking calls (and non-calls) by stewards that deserve investigation, disseminated cards, cancelled races, small fields, and horses breaking down (and dying). It’s the in-place to be according to NYRA. However, it’s also the in-place to get gouged. I attended the races late in August and got treated to a $10 entrance fee, a $25 grandstand seat, a $20 parking fee, a $9 program, and some truly outrageous prices on food, drinks, souvenirs, etc. Naturally, the local businesses have adopted NYRA policies; $300 a night room accommodation with no maid service, dinner prices that are something to behold, drinks, etc. There was a good crowd that day but many of the grandstand seats were not occupied. Thank you, NYRA!  Obviously, the locals chose to stand in tight quarters, packed together, rather than being bilked. Meanwhile, the state officials, who support NYRA and the thoroughbred industry, look the other way. I must add that breakfast at the Triangle Diner just outside of town, is one of the few remaining highlights. Mercifully, the horses returned home for the Aqueduct race meet . . . but not before the NYRA brain trust brilliantly decided to close the track for 11 beautiful prime Fall days.  I kid you not.

Can industry survive? Of course, but the probability is low. How? Here’s my 4-point program:

  1. The takeout must be reduced to something at or below 2%. That’s right! At or below 2%. And, yes it can be done … but it will require some innovative thinking on the part of responsible people in the industry.
  2. Dissolve NYRA and replace it with a group of competent individuals who are sympathetic to the patrons.
  3. Come up with a program that will attract new patrons.
  4. Stop the phony concern for the horses. Call for industry donations and put in place

 horse retirement costs as an integral part of the industry’s business plan.

Maybe intelligent, responsible individuals will come along and save the day. But I wouldn’t bet on it. Let me know what you think. 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

and

Basketball Coaching 101 @ Facebook

NEXT POSTINGS

NOVEMBER 1:         On Begin the Beguine

DECEMBER 1:          On Goodbye Baseball, Hello Basketball

JANUARY 1:             On the Biden Chronicles

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ON PURELY CHASTE, PRISTINE, AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXXVI

June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022

Back to another one of our four favorites…here are 20 comments that may (or may not) tickle your fancy.

  • The recent baseball strike can best be described by one word: greed. Both parties were guilty but the players more so.
  • My virology book is finally in publication, due out in late November. Hopefully, this one will sell.
  • I may go forward with a book on hydrogen energy – a hot topic.
  • The recent March Madness tournament was but another reminder on the level of NCAA corruption.
  • I’ve now lost almost all of the players of my basketball team of the 1955-65 era. Unfortunately, death continues to pay us a visit.
  • Can the Mets finally do it??? Let’s go Mets!
  • It was 80 years ago at this time that 76,000 American were subjected to the 60-mile death march by the Japanese invaders in the Philippines.
  • COVID-19 and the Ukrainian war are beginning to take a toll on my mental state.
  • I keep asking colleagues, friends, foes, relatives, etc., about the $20 they owe me…to no avail.
  • My files continue to mount. I’m going to have to get rid of them one of these days.
  • I really believe potable water is the major problem facing society. Unfortunately, my book and two patents on water have yet to be favorably received. I’ve modestly titled one of the patents, “The THEOGEO Process.”
  • I often think about the millions of people our nation has saved.
  • I continue to feel that no group of people have impacted civilization more than the Greeks (my forefathers).
  • I’m making fewer and fewer trips to Astoria, Queens (my earlier abode) which is home to some of the best Greek restaurants.
  • My earlier years in Hell’s Kitchen during the Great Depression is slowly becoming a fleeting memory.
  • Recently returned from Florida after a one-week vacation (our 48th) at the beautiful Sandcastle Resort in Sarasota, Florida.
  • Taking a beating in the stock market – invested in Draftking’s (ugh!). Thankfully, I’ve only a few thousand invested.
  • Finished reading the 2020 book “The Henna Artist” by Alka Josi. This is a must read for those from India, particularly women.
  • I’m unfortunately looking forward to the visit to Saratoga Springs for the races for the 77th (straight) year this August.
  • Both the winters and summers seem milder than what it was nearly a century ago.

I return early next year with another “rambling” article.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS

JULY 1:                      On Great Eats V: Pastrami

AUGUST 1:                On the Constitution

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Aging

OCTOBER 1:             On Water

 ——————————————————————————————————————–

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Try to avoid inbounding the ball in the corner if the opposing team is pressing.
  2. Try to avoid dribbling or passing toward one of the forecourt corners when the opposing team is pressing.
  3. Players should practice their offensive skills whenever and wherever possible.

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ON ZZZABUU VI

May 1, 2022

May 1, 2022

You were reintroduced to Zzzabuu one year ago. He had arrived earlier in 2003 from the planet Zzokki in a faraway galaxy, having been dispatched to Earth on a fact-finding trip involving politicians in the United States. More recently, Zzzabuu had been selected once again for a special assignment by The Superiors in 2021 to determine details (both pros and cons) of gambling investment opportunities on Planet Earth. As per instructions from the Superiors, Zzzabuu met with a retired, often confused, outspoken, nefarious chemical engineering professor (who shall remain nameless) in order to obtain background material and guidance prior to preparing his report on this assignment.

As promised, this third of five articles on gambling is concerned with casino gambling. This piece is particularly appropriate since New York State is now expanding casino gambling. In any event, here is my take on this betting activity.

Let’s proceed directly to the bottom line. For me, there are four modes of gambling in casinos: slots, roulette, dice, and blackjack. Before discussing each of these games, I should note two factors: all are games of chance (unlike pari-mutuel wagering – see August 1, 2021 article) and thus all chances of winning are a function of the takeout. Remember, the takeout represents the amount of money returned to the bettor after the result of the bet has been determined, e.g., with a 5% takeout, the casino returns 95% to the bettor and retains 5% as profit. In any event, here is the lowdown on each of the 4 above games of chance.

SLOTS. Depending on the casino, the takeout here ranges from 1-10% with 3-4% a reasonable norm. Although it is the most popular game, I rarely – if ever – play the slots. Why? The takeout is simply too high. The game is easy to play: you simply press a button after inserting your money and wait for the results, hoping for a lot of noise.

ROULETTE. Once the game of royalty, the takeout here is approximately 3.5%. This one is also not for me. The game is easy to play: you put money on red or black and a number ranging from 1 to 35. The roulette wheel is spun and you hope for the circling ball to fall in the right slot.

DICE: My game. Some refer to it as craps. I just love playing dice; it is all I play when I am in a casino. The takeout here can be as low as 0.5%; this effectively means you have close to a 50-50 chance of winning. Here is how I recommend you play. Put your money on PASS and roll the dice. If a 7 or 11 comes up on the first roll, you win and the game ends. If a 2, 3, or 12 comes up on the first roll, you lose and the game ends. If a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 doesn’t come up on the first roll, then 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 must come up, and the game continues. Whichever number amongst these six numbers come up on the first roll becomes “your number.” You then continue to roll the dice until either a seven (you lose) or your number (you win) comes up. The game then ends. However, after the first roll, you are provided the option to double your bet on “your number.” You should definitely avail yourself of this opportunity since the takeout on this latter bet is 0%. For example, if you roll a 4 or 10, or 5 or 9, or 6 or 8 on the first roll, the odds of winning become 2 to 1, 3 to 2, and 6 to 5, respectively. That’s it. Do not get involved with any of the other available bets on the dice table.

BLACKJACK. Often referred to as 21. Not my favorite; but it is the game of most of my gambling degenerate friends. The takeout is close to 0%! Many years ago, a group of MIT students started winning at the casinos by “counting.” A book describing their approach makes interesting reading but essentially involves counting cards. In the game, the dealer gets two cards (with one face-up) and the bettor gets two cards. You may request additional cards in an attempt to get as close to 21 as possible, BUT not go over 21. Whoever goes over 21 first loses. If no one goes over, the winner is the player closest to 21. Counting? If a lot of high cards come out during the game, the bettor is at a disadvantage the next game. If a lot of low cards come out, the bettor has the advantage and should increase the bet the next game. How do you count? Here is a simple method. I suggest assigning a -1 to discarded cards that are 2, 3, 4, or 5, and +1 to those that are 10, J, Q, or K. If your total is in the negative regime, increase the bet the next game.

I leave you with this: A day at a casino is a great day out, particularly for seniors. Follow my suggestions and you almost certainly will not get hurt. You want more? Go to the library and pick up a book on casino gambling or simply go on the Internet.

Contact me if you have any questions. Once again, just remember that LOTTO has a 50% takeout, and is therefore an ideal game for those poor in arithmetic.

I return later this year when Zzzabuu will report on sports betting.

P.S. For those readers residing in East Williston, remember to vote NO on the school budget this month.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS

JUNE 1:                      Purely Chaste, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXXI

JULY 1:                      On Great Eats V: Pastrami

AUGUST 1:                On the Constitution

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Aging

OCTOBER 1:             On Water

 ——————————————————————————————————————–

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Practice strategies to employ for offense(s) near the end of a game.
  2. Practice strategies to employ when attempting to gain an offensive rebound following a foul shot.
  3. Drive to basket at the end of game if trailing; in effect, help the official blow his whistle.

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