Prospector Sam's Second Birthday

Well, as you may have wisely gathered from the title to this self indulgent and unnecessary piece of literature (is it literature? I think some real writers might balk at that but screw those snooty assholes) Prospector Sam is now two years old. I’m not sure whether a birthday or anniversary is more appropriate, but neither warrants an article so maybe I’ll just refer to this as my own personal “State of the Union.”

And, to make this even more unhinged and absurd, I’ll lean into a Christmas theme (it’s December and I love the holidays, indulge me) and mirror this piece on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Strap in.

The Ghost of Gambling Twitter’s Past

As I look back on two years of Prospector Sam, one thing is clear: everything has been dictated by Gambling Twitter. When I set off on this journey I had no Twitter account and was simply happy to be writing for Dimers with absolutely zero qualifications or experience (shout out to Dimers, you guys are the best). But, over the last two years, nothing has been more important for gambling media than Twitter and the weird niche we’ve carved out there.

And, to say a lot has changed in those 700ish days would be like saying I’m “a little weird.” When I first got my account, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, I was a guy who loved sports and writing with very little interest in being a capper, while Gambling Twitter was a clusterfuck of chaos where people were trying to claim their space like frontiersmen settling the West.

Over time, though, supply and demand has created a quasi-meritocracy where companies and cappers with genuine value have taken hold. That means paid Discords filled with picks, websites where you can track models or share your gambling record through automated systems, and even people like me doing some weird song and dance between humor and gambling that are (hopefully) enjoyable enough to help get people through the day.

Now, that’s not to say that this place has outgrown its roots. There is still a smattering of childish infighting and accounts promising get rich quick schemes, but Gambling Twitter, ON THE WHOLE, is a bit more dignified than it used to be. A testament to the fact that even the biggest of delinquents can grow up to be a respectable member of society. There may be hope for me yet, Mom.

The Ghost of Gambling Twitter’s Present

With that brief history lesson complete, let’s take stock of where we are now. The simplest answer, as I see it, is “growth.” Money is pouring out of the books from every orifice (every branch? A tree seems like the more appropriate metaphor but I love the word “orifice”) as they try to gain market share over new gamblers with each new state legalization, and it’s flowing down to all of us in the form of ads and promotions and even the pesky boosts that never seem to hit.

Those smart enough to navigate and capitalize on that minefield have built a very nice home and are reaping the benefits, but everyone seems to be better for it. Sports Books and gambling websites are making money from the increased foot traffic, Discords are picking up new members and improving their product (the smart ones at least), and the average gambler has massive amounts of information and value everywhere they look.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. I lose my mind all the time when I see morons claiming to be geniuses after hitting one lucky parlay or watching some of the horrible marketing techniques being used across the board. Hell, I’m somehow not the biggest name on Twitter, which would obviously be true if you people had any taste. But nothing is perfect, and this place certainly is more dignified than it was in 2020. You can decide if the lipstick we’ve slapped on this pig makes it pretty or not.

The Ghost of Gambling Twitter’s Future

Last but not least, we get to the “where are we going” piece of the puzzle. The answer: I haven’t got a fucking clue. I myself have given up on trying to become some internet superstar as I accepted the reality that there is only so far you can go giving out Danish soccer picks and writing silly articles, so I’m simply along for the ride at this point.

I’ll continue to be Dimers’ #1 cheerleader as I have been for two years now (did I mention this account is 2 years old yet?), but I’m carefully watching a few players who I think have a chance to become significant cogs of the gambling twitter community for the foreseeable future (and maybe even, god willing, part of mainstream media at some point). And, as Barstool continues to become less of a sports company and more of a traveling circus, I think there’s room for somebody to step in and grab all these new gamblers who want both advice and entertainment without being told about the latest Tik Tok relationship drama.

I also expect, eventually, that things will condense. The money won’t flow like a river during rainy season forever, and only the best books, companies, and Discords will survive the dry spell as the rest will merge or die. Natural selection is real, and she’s a bitch.

But, on the whole, Gambling Twitter has grown into something meaningful and enjoyable and should continue to thrive. I’ve made some internet friends who I genuinely enjoy following and I’ve watched people create legitimate businesses out of nothing on the back of a pastime we all love - gambling on sports. It should be fun to watch this thing continue to grow, and hopefully my path to world domination takes me to the peak so I can gamble and write for millions of dollars a year (or, you know, maybe just a free round of golf every once in a while).

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