Betting personality Bruce Brahn unearthed some priceless gambling wisdom from his grandfather, sportswriter, gambling expert and former ESPN personality Pete Axthelm, on Twitter this week that we could all learn from.
Sharing excerpts from a 1980 Washington Post article titled “Gambling Etiquette is Special,” Brahm took seven gambling rules that his grandfather advocated for and put a modern spin on them for today’s betting audience.
It’s hard to argue with these wise gambling lessons, ranging from how you celebrate a win and deal with a loss to how you treat your fellow gamblers and those playing the sport on which you’re gambling.
You can check out all the lessons in Brahn’s thread below.
Warning: Some NSFW language
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Rooting & Celebrating
Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic
1) Rooting & Celebrating
You can root & celebrate when your bet covers a dinner for four, but only lose your mind if the win moderately changes your life. pic.twitter.com/b32Djq13UN
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Fair enough.
Responsibility
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
2) Responsibility
You, and only you, are responsible for your bets & their consequences. This is obvious, yet important.
“Gambling is a lonely game played in large groups” pic.twitter.com/8huJuwYIGq
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
This is especially important when you take betting advice from some random person who claims their cousin’s partner knows a trainer working on a star player who might not suit up this week.
Advice
3) Advice
Sure, you can ask for advice from better handicappers, but to complain about the loss or brag about the win is like taking a piss in the Gambling Vatican. pic.twitter.com/zUqIVJcip6
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Just because you receive advice doesn’t mean you need to take it, either.
Talking Trash
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
4) Talking Shit
You can always talk shit to somebody as they win and celebrate, but never chirp a losing man, as “his bankroll is eloquent enough”. pic.twitter.com/Co1hF50P4L
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Trashing someone who cashes out a winner early is also acceptable.
Don’t Hate The Player
5) NEVER Berate the Man in the Arena
If you harass a player who lost a game because you lost a bet, you should be instantly banned from every sportsbook in America and publicly shamed through the streets. pic.twitter.com/3Y0Z974rNC
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Not only is harassing players reprehensible overall, but those athletes will never, ever care if you won or lost your wager.
The Jinx
(Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
6) The Jinx/Mush
A popular one today. A jinx while you are on the bet is a misdemeanor, while a jinx when you aren’t on the bet is a felony.
The reverse jinx goes unmentioned, but I believe is only permissible if your wager on the opposite side passes Rule #1. pic.twitter.com/UefpJZWOKU
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Anyone who does this should automatically get booted from the group chat.
Never Tempt Fate
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
7) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, Respect The Gambling Goddess
You must constantly respect the presence of luck and the line you’re walking between fleeting wealth & lasting poverty. The second you think you have it all figured out, you can’t pick a winner.
A quote not mentioned but passed… pic.twitter.com/Gcl9PiIFTz
— Bruce (@brucebrahn) July 24, 2023
Amen.