Despite the explosion of licensed sportsbooks in the U.S., professional sports bettor and poker veteran Alan Boston explains why many sharps still turn to offshore sites for their action. In a recent interview with gambling author Michael Kaplan, Boston, who has handicapped for Billy Walters and rubbed elbows with Stu Ungar, described the reality of being a high-volume, winning bettor.
The Limitations of Legal Sportsbooks
While 39 states now offer regulated sports betting, Boston says professional bettors often hit walls with domestic operators. “If you’re a smart bettor and win consistently, the U.S. books will limit your bets,” he explained. Sharp players face drastically reduced stakes, sometimes being cut from thousands of dollars per game down to mere tens. This isn’t officially called a backoff, but for a pro relying on volume, it’s effectively the same.
Boston notes that offshore sites in the Caribbean and elsewhere provide the flexibility needed for high-volume wagering. “You can go and get hooked up with a bunch of island sites and bet $5,000 at four different places,” he said.
Sharps Create Their Own Workarounds
For bettors who can’t go offshore, Boston says advantage players find creative ways to access bigger lines, often by sacrificing smaller amounts to unlock long-term betting opportunities. “They dump off a bunch of money, making correlated parlays, total sucker bets,” he said. “Then they can bet whatever they want for months. It costs thousands up front, but it’s worth it.”
The Stakes of Sharp Betting
Boston argues that regulated books often lose out by restricting professional bettors. “They don’t know what they’re doing; they don’t know how to book,” he said. “If you’re a smart bookmaker, you want sharp players. They help you get to the right market price.”
Offshore platforms, by contrast, welcome high-volume sharps and allow winning bettors to operate without restrictions, maintaining the edges that make professional betting viable.
The Bottom Line
In Boston’s view, the choice isn’t about legality—it’s about sustainability. For high-stakes, consistently profitable gamblers, offshore action isn’t optional; it’s essential. “Most people are morons,” he chuckled. “If you haven’t figured that out yet, you will.”
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