We like to think the functioning of a casino is a lot like that of a human body.

Yeah. Bear with us here.

The business owners are the brain, evaluating the overall process and making decisions that affect the various functions. The card dealers are the central nervous system, sending signals to the brain and making the body work together. The security is the immune system, targeting and eliminating threats in the form of angry losers.

Still with us? The casino itself is the body, with the money running through it like green blood. At the center of it all is the heart, and that's you—the resident bookmaker (or bookie, which we prefer because it sounds less like a librarian and rhymes with the best food ever). 

Yes, in the anatomy of competitive betting, the bookmaker is the heart, taking in bets and pumping out winnings. The money needs to flow, and the activity of the bookie creates the pulse of that flow.

Makes sense, right? And don't worry, that's as science-y as we're going to get today.

There was once a time when bookies could become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. Often, that meant everything they were doing was incredibly illegal. If you want to go legit as a bookie, you're looking less at a criminal empire and more at a meager $20,000 and change per year (source). 

 

Not really an ideal location for your business. (Source)

Some of the top Vegas bookies can make a better living, but the internet and popularity of casinos have basically trashed the mid-level race-runner. It doesn't seem like a lot, and to be honest, it isn't. 

So recognize that the wide world of gambling is not necessarily the most lucrative career choice. On the bright side, that's $20,000 more than you can earn behind bars.

In the good old days, when your parents were gambling away your college education, bookies were the alpha and the omega of betting on competitions; they were the beginning and end of the process. The reason for this was an imbalance in information: they had all of it, and it allowed them to set the price and see the return they were interested in. To bet well, you had to know what you were betting on.

These days, even a kangaroo hopping around the Outback could know the inside line on the Packer's defensive injuries, so long as she has a tablet and a decent Wi-Fi setup in her pouch. The access to information has made bettors smarter (or at least more knowledgeable), which means as a bookie you're going to have to stay ahead of the odds if you don't want to go broke on any given Sunday.

If you're wondering what sorts of things a bookie might keep bets on, a shorter list might be things people don't wager on. Sure, you know there's horseracing and occasionally greyhounds, along with the multitude of professional sports. But the gambling doesn't stop there. Sometimes, you may end up running small stakes games like Bingo or Keno, so look out for that shady geriatric crowd.

Any kind of competition creates winners, losers, odds, expectations, upsets―all the necessary ingredients for placing bets. This includes award shows, elections, and even video game throwdowns. That's right, not only can you spend your time watching other people play video games, you now have the privilege of losing money while you do it. Isn't the future amazing?

A good bookie typically learns their skills on the streets instead of in the classroom. Many upstart bookies learn the trade by gambling, so if you want to know about gaming, you have to experience it firsthand (when you finally turn eighteen, that is, and not a minute before). If you're hired by a fancy casino, they'll take the time to train you (source). 

 

You down with OPP? Yeah, you know I'm too young for this reference. (Source)

The important areas to focus on are math, organization, and communications; you'll be expected to know the odds, tabulate the wagers, pay the winnings, and keep the mass of needy gamblers from plowing you down. 

You really don't even need to be into sports, but it's probably a good idea to know the differences between BA, WHIP, OBP, and OPP.

Finally, you need to do everything you can to stay above the law. That's right—even a hundred years after the heyday of organized crime, there are still lots of situations in which legality, morality, and ethics come into play. Bookmaking has evolved into the shiny new toy of both online fantasy players and family-friendly mega-casinos, but there's still the seedy underbelly of gambling that can grab the unsuspecting young upstart.

And may the odds be ever in your favor. We're not joking—you're going to need all the luck you can get, or else you might end up playing The Hunger Games: Home(less) Edition.

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