Super Bowl pools

[Zeppcoustic]

Any participants out there?

Our department does the standard 100 box grid at $5/box.

[zeusrock1]

Yup, same here. I got two boxes, $10 total investment

Go 49ers!

[crowd79]

Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning

[Kevin21]

Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning

It's a good investment, because it makes the game more interesting.

[Mill]

Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning

It's a good investment, because it makes the game more interesting.

Especially if you get some decent numbers. 3-3, 0-0, 7-7, 3-7, 0-7, 0-3, 7-3 ect.

Ive decided that 5-5 box is the worst.

[Random Musings]

With most pools paying out by quarter, chances of winning are more than 1% (before one receives what there numbers are). Expected payout, of course, is 1%.

Odds based on numbers drawn - 1994-2005 (there is a link for an app with current info) It looks like 2,2 was the worse in the article, don't know if the app with current info has come to a different conclusion based on current NFL info.

For $5, not a big deal. I'm sure everyone on this board would be critical about some aspect of how people spend/save their money.

RM

[Kevin21]

I suppose I have a decent shot at certain points. 3rd quarter looks particularly good.

1st quarter - 3,1 ; 1,9
2nd quarter - 3,8 ; 9,4
3rd quarter - 4,4 ; 6;0
Final score - 0;8 ; 9,3

If I win, I am going to try and resist buying more Ibonds --- daddy needs a refurbished mac-air!

[stickman731]

Won $10,000 in $100/box pool in SB XXI in 1987. Thank heaven for George Martin safety on John Elway. This year numbers Ravens 2 Niners 1.

[bottomfisher]

I have 0 (Balt.) and 3 (SF). Good numbers; but I don't have good luck... that's why I invest in index funds

[pennstater2005]

No Super Bowl pools, now March Madness pools….that's another story

[ks289]

No Super Bowl pools, now March Madness pools….that's another story

count me in.
how about a "bogleheads group" on one of the popular sports websites that runs the march madness pools?

[Beantown85]

Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning

In terms of gambling options, it's actually great. Total payout is 100%, the house takes nothing. Can't get that in Vegas.

[dianna]

I thought the SuperBowl was played on turf, not in pools?

[TomatoTomahto]

I don't know if they do it any more, but years ago a (now deceased) friend of mine worked in the commodity pits. They had a pool, $10,000 per box, $1,000,000 to the winner of the final score, no 1099

For a while, I played poker in that crowd, but after a while I figured it was just easier to mail them a check I was the fish; they were professionals.

[skibbi9]

Very poor investment option. Risk $5 and likely lose it all with a 1% chance of winning

In terms of gambling options, it's actually great. Total payout is 100%, the house takes nothing. Can't get that in Vegas.

yes, before the numbers are picked your expected return is 1 for every dollar you put in (save for some customary tipping to the pool operator for organizing and facilitating). its not gambling in the sense that one side has an edge

[prudent]

I don't know if they do it any more, but years ago a (now deceased) friend of mine worked in the commodity pits. They had a pool, $10,000 per box, $1,000,000 to the winner of the final score, no 1099

For a while, I played poker in that crowd, but after a while I figured it was just easier to mail them a check I was the fish; they were professionals.

No 1099, but almost certainly a CTR and/or SAR!

I have to wonder how they choose who is going to hold the money until the game is over. $1m in cash could seriously tempt some people to just blow town.

[TomatoTomahto]

I don't know if they do it any more, but years ago a (now deceased) friend of mine worked in the commodity pits. They had a pool, $10,000 per box, $1,000,000 to the winner of the final score, no 1099

For a while, I played poker in that crowd, but after a while I figured it was just easier to mail them a check I was the fish; they were professionals.

No 1099, but almost certainly a CTR and/or SAR!

I have to wonder how they choose who is going to hold the money until the game is over. $1m in cash could seriously tempt some people to just blow town.

These guys were accustomed to paying and receiving lots of money on the basis of a hand signal. They also understood that leaving town was at best a one way ticket, at worst...worse.

[NYBoglehead]

I find myself correcting my family and friends on the word "investment" all the time. Purchasing a box in super bowl pool is an expenditure. There is a chance you could win, but it is by no means money that you set aside with the purpose of growing it for future use!