It just grows from there. For Mark, another bookie in the area, it was more of a family tradition. My dad is a bookie in California. Mark started his own business when he came to K-State, and he hasn't had many money problems since then, he said. When I go home, I make a few more bucks.
Bookies rely on the media.
The lines come from the big bookies in Vegas. These estimates help to even out the scoring advantage of one of the teams. Bets are usually placed through a coding system over the phone. That makes it easy and safe for everyone, Mark said. Bob also emphasized the importance of the telephone.