I just assume there are spontaneous bookies. I have seen gambling addicts become spontaneous bookies at events. They understand the odds better than most and just build in a big vig to reduce downside liability, espescially if they think there won’t be a lot of transactions.
Comment on How is spontaneous betting (as portrayed by comics and movies) supposed to work?
Deestan@lemmy.world 3 days ago
A bookie is needed. Betting requires odds and bookeeping, plus a prize pool guarantor.
The movies either leave the bookie out of shot for dramatic brevity, or, equally likely, have no idea how betting works but just copy other movies.
Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
Transtronaut@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 days ago
I can’t speak from real life experience, but one movie that actually handles this really well (as far as I can tell) is The Quiet Man, during a fight.
There’s an example of an impromptu, casual bet between two individuals who are understood to trust one another, where they actually set the odds and agree formally, and it all happens very smoothly and naturally so as not to be boring: “Five to one on the big chap” “Given or taken?” “Given” “Taken” Handshake
There is also an example of the more chaotic, mass, unplanned betting, where a character who is already established to be a jack of all trades known to the community pulls out a notebook and takes on the role of bookie. I think they even show the odds being adjusted in real time as the fight progresses, but I don’t recall for sure.