Article Excerpt:
TWST: What is GWIN, Inc.?Mr. Merrill or Mr. Lynch might have said to potential investors at that time, 'A lot of people are starting to invest in stocks and they're going to need advice. Our company Merrill Lynch will provide that professional advice. I think you would do well to invest in us.' Choosing to invest in a stock brokerage like Merrill Lynch was clearly a good investment at the turn of the century, and I feel the same way about GWIN today. We are the American brand name in sports handicapping, and soon to be the global brand name. We're good at what we do, and have the highest name recognition in the business. To my knowledge, I'm the only sports handicapper ever profiled by CNBC, Fortune, Equities Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Jim Cramer of CNBC called me 'the king of handicappers and the Warren Buffet of his world.' Bill Griffith of CNBC called me 'The Odds King of Vegas.' Donny Deutsch of CNBC called me 'The Oddsmaker of everything in this world.' Jane Wells of CNBC said 'Wayne Root is perhaps the leading sports handicapper in the country.' The Las Vegas newspapers called me 'The Face of Las Vegas Gaming' and 'America's Handicapper.' At the moment, we are a relatively small and young company, but we have a high media profile and aggressive expansion plans.
TWST: Is there any involvement in teaching others how to handicap in a
professional manner?
Mr. Root: Yes and no. When I say 'yes,' I've got a new book coming out
called The King of Vegas' Guide to Gambling. I'm also creator, executive
producer and co-host of a television show called 'The King of Vegas'
that airs on Spike Television. It's a $1 million winner-take-all
competition to find the greatest gambler in the world. The media calls
me 'The King of Vegas.' So I think I understand the psychology of
gamblers pretty well. When I say 'no,' I can tell you that people who
bet on sports tend to have tunnel vision about picking winners. They
want to call a professional handicapper like Wayne Allyn Root. They
want to hear, 'Take the Yankees as a favorite,' or 'Take the Dallas
Cowboys plus the points,' or 'Take the Dallas Mavericks as an underdog,'
and they're happy. They make the bet. They watch the game and if they
win money, they're thrilled. They know how much homework it takes to
handicap and most either don't have the desire nor the time to do it '
that's why, just like investing in the stock market, most bettors choose
to hire a professional. Sure, there are a few who do their own
handicapping just like there are a few who manage their own stock
account. But probably 95% of the large stock investors or big sports
bettors would much rather make a simple phone call and hear, 'Take IBM,'
or 'Take Microsoft,' or 'Take The New England Patriots on Monday night.'
For most men, having a bet on a sporting event is the greatest form of
entertainment in the world. Most sports gamblers wouldn't think of
watching a sporting event if they didn't have money bet on the game.
Those few dollars wagered makes watching sports so much more interesting
' it changes everything. It's four hours of ups and downs, adrenaline
and testosterone rushes, and high-fiving your best friends while
watching Monday Night Football. When it's over, if you lost $500, it has
cost you no more than going out to a Broadway play, dinner, and a night
on the town. You've been entertained for four hours and gotten your
money's worth. But if your team covers the point spread and you win
$500, it's the only form of entertainment that pays you! That's the
beauty of sports gambling ' and that's why online gaming and sports
gaming are growing so fast.
Tickers included in this excerpt: GWNI
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