To the question

What is a Bookie?

To the question, what is a bookie? From Investopedia: “A bookie, short or slang for “bookmaker,” is someone who facilitates gambling, most commonly on sporting events. A bookie sets odds, accepts and places bets, and pays out winnings on behalf of other people.

Prior to the internet, a bookie had to set all the odds, collect money when a player lost, and pay out money when a player won. The bets were pretty simple and mostly were about which team or person won a game, or won an award, etc.

They were usually portrayed as sketchy individuals who were rough around the edges and dealt with people of questionable character. But as more countries and territories legalize gambling, and the internet and computers make it much easier to gamble, bookies no longer have that unsavory status – at least in most areas.

Gambling sites are regularly advertised on TV, making bookies a standard part of sports.

Tools of the Trade

The tools of a bookie were originally a phone, pencil, and paper. They had to mark down all bets placed and calculate their odds and commissions, also known as juice or vigorish. They had to be organized, keep good records, and understand basic accounting.

Of course, they had to have a healthy love of sports and a good knowledge of the games, players, and teams to be able to set the odds correctly.

Bookie Betting Software

Of course, a lot has changed since that time, long ago. With the introduction of computers, much of the calculations and bookkeeping could be done automatically with the proper bookie software. As those programs came online, a bookie’s offerings expanded.

Depending on the software they use, a bookie could give their bettors all kinds of sports leagues to choose from. It could be North American sports like the NFL or international, like European Champions League soccer, college sports, MMA, boxing, horse racing, and even lesser-viewed sports like table tennis.

The betting could be for the outcome of a game or get more involved for the more sophisticated bettor. Some software platforms even offer liveaction sportsbooks where bettors can make wagers during the game, not just at the beginning.

They could offer non-sporting events like federal elections or the Oscars. Most software companies also offer online casinos of various types, from digital to 3D slots, and live dealers on table games.

How to Get a Bookie

You can’t go to a bookie mart to find one. It’s probably best to start with word of mouth. If you go through a friend, you can have more confidence in who you are working with, how reliable they are, and how good their services will be. You have to consider things like the type of bets they have available to jump on. Is it just the outcome of the game, or can you do props? Are parlays available? What sports and other activities can you bet on?

Being a bookie is a much more sophisticated business than it was when I was a kid. If you’re able to compare a few bookies, you should be able to find one that gives you everything that interests you, plus a few betting options you never even considered before.

How Does BossAction Proprietary Software Improve a Bookie’s Business?

If you’re a bookie looking for a software platform, you want one that will give you all the tools and features you need to keep your bettors on your site longer and placing bets more often. BossAction’s proprietary sportsbook software takes care of the management of your business, including setting the odds on a vast number of bets on 80+ sports leagues internationally and calculating your juice for you. But you have the ability to modify any game lines and player limits you want.

We’ve even taken care of the hassle of money exchange. Our system has all that included, so you can send or receive money without having to leave our platform.

If you’re able to bring people to your platform to bet on games and manage the lines to keep your book balanced, we can take care of almost everything else. That’s probably why bookies that transfer to us see an average 23% gain in profits in their business.

We leverage a great pay per head software platform with fantastic customer service. Our support team is always available to answer questions, help you with any problems, or show you how to get the most out of our software.

And starting in June 2022, we also have online ClubPoker, which is sure to increase your profits even more.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call at 1-800-339-4108 to grow your bookie business and make your life easier as a Boss Bookie.