Tuesday night. March 5th, 2019. O’Malley’s Pub. Indianapolis.
Money game. $200 race to 7. Two regulars I’d played with for years.
Game 5. Shooter pocketing final ball. Opponent claims spot: “You owe me one.
Agreed spot was 2 on the 9, not 3 on the 8.”
Shooter insists: “We agreed 3 on the 8. That’s what I’ve been giving you.”
Argument escalates. Voices raise. Other players take sides.
Bar manager intervenes. Demands they leave. Both refuse without settling bet.
Manager calls police. Both players banned from venue permanently.
$200 dispute. Years of friendships destroyed. Banned from favorite playing location.
All because they didn’t write down betting terms before playing.
I’ve played in 200+ money games across 11 years. Witnessed probably 30-40 disputes. Most preventable through proper protocol.
Here’s every betting etiquette rule that separates clean money games from disasters.
Quick Takeaways: Betting Etiquette
- Always write down terms: Stake amount, race length, spot (if any), payout structure before first rack
- Money down before playing: Both players show cash/agree on Venmo before break
- Respect the hold: Once bet is accepted, honor commitment even if you want to quit
- Pay immediately: Loser pays winner within 5 minutes of match conclusion
- Never slow-roll: Refusing to pay or delaying intentionally = permanent reputation damage
Establishing Terms: The First 60 Seconds
Critical Rule:
All betting terms must be agreed verbally AND written down before any balls are racked.
Minimum Required Terms:
- Stake amount: “$50 per man” or “$100 total pot”
- Game format: “Race to 7, 9-ball” or “One-pocket to 8”
- Spot (if any): “Even up” or “You get 2 on the 9” or “7-5 race (you to 7, me to 5)”
- Break rules: “Alternate break” or “Winner breaks” or “Loser breaks”
- Payout: “Winner take all” or “First to 7 wins $100, 6-5 pays half ($50)”
Write It Down:
Use bar napkin. Phone notepad. Anything permanent both players can reference.
Example Written Terms:
“`
O’Malley’s – March 5, 2024
Derek vs. Carlos
Race to 7, 9-ball
Derek gives Carlos: 2 balls on the 9
$100 per man
Winner breaks
Cash payment immediately after
Signed: Derek, Carlos
“`
Takes 60 seconds. Prevents hours of disputes.
Money Down: Show Me The Money
Never play without seeing money first.
Proper Protocol:
Before break:
- Both players show cash ($100 each if stakes are $100)
- Place cash with holder (neutral third party) OR
- Confirm Venmo/CashApp payment ability
Why This Matters:
Tuesday March 12th, 2018. Rack Attack vs. me at Brickhouse Billiards.
$150 race to 9. I win 9-4.
Opponent: “I’ll Venmo you tomorrow. Don’t have cash tonight.”
Next day: No payment. Text ignored.
Week later: Still no payment.
Lost $150 because I didn’t verify money upfront.
Venmo/CashApp Protocol:
Before playing: “Show me your Venmo balance or send $1 test payment to verify account works.”
If they can’t produce verification: No game.
The Hold: Honoring Your Commitment
The Hold: Once bet is accepted and game begins, you cannot quit until match concludes.
Example Violation:
Player A ahead 6-2 in race to 7.
Player B (losing): “I need to leave. Can we call it here?”
Proper Response:
“No. We agreed to race to 7. You’re obligated to finish.”
Acceptable Reasons to Pause (NOT quit):
- Medical emergency (resume within 24 hours)
- Venue closing (resume at agreed time/location)
- Family emergency (resume within reasonable timeframe)
Unacceptable Reasons:
- “I’m losing and don’t want to pay”
- “I have to work tomorrow” (you knew this before betting)
- “I’m not playing well tonight”
Violation Consequences:
Breaking hold = forfeit. Loser pays full stake immediately.
Refusing to pay forfeit = permanent reputation damage. Word spreads fast.
Sharking and Distraction: What’s Acceptable
Sharking: Deliberate distraction attempting to make opponent miss.
Examples of Sharking (Unacceptable):
- Standing in opponent’s sight line
- Making noise during opponent’s shot
- Moving while opponent shoots
- Talking during opponent’s stroke
- Fake coughing or sudden movements
League Player Reality Check:
Tuesday night against Steve at O’Malley’s. February 2020. He stood directly in my periphery vision three shots in a row.
After third shot: “Steve, that’s sharking. Move or I call foul.”
He moved. No further issues.
Proper Protocol When Sharked:
- First occurrence: Point it out calmly. “You’re in my line of sight. Please move.”
- Second occurrence: “That’s sharking. I’m calling foul if it continues.”
- Third occurrence: Call foul. Award yourself ball-in-hand for that rack.
What IS Acceptable:
- Normal conversation between points
- Walking to bar to get drink (not during opponent’s shot)
- Sitting in chair while opponent shoots
- Standing away from table observing
Payment Protocol: The 5-Minute Rule
Loser must pay within 5 minutes of match conclusion.
No exceptions. No excuses.
Acceptable Payment Methods:
- Cash (preferred)
- Venmo/CashApp (must complete transaction before leaving venue)
- Check (only if players have established trust history)
Never Acceptable:
- “I’ll pay you next Tuesday”
- “Can I pay half now, half later?”
- “I don’t have cash, but I have this pool cue worth $200” (no barter)
Slow-Roll Detection:
Loser claiming:
- “ATM is down, I’ll get it later” (there are multiple ATMs, find one)
- “My Venmo isn’t working” (find another payment app or get cash)
- “Can we settle up next week?” (no, we settle now)
These are delay tactics. Don’t accept them.
Venue Rule:
Winner and loser don’t leave venue until payment completes.
If loser attempts to leave: Call venue management. Explain non-payment.
Management typically intervenes (bad for business to allow bet welching).
Spot Games: Establishing Fair Handicaps
The Spot: Giving opponent advantage to balance skill differential.
Common Spot Formats (9-Ball):
- “2 on the 9” = Opponent only needs to pocket 9-ball to win (any ball-in-hand or legal 9)
- “3 on the 8” = Opponent wins by pocketing 8-ball or 9-ball
- “The 6” = Opponent wins by pocketing 6, 7, 8, or 9
Common Spot Formats (8-Ball):
- “The 8” = Opponent needs only 8-ball to win (not all their group)
- “Two balls” = Opponent starts rack with two of their balls removed
- “Ball-in-hand start” = Opponent begins each rack with ball-in-hand
Critical Rule:
Spot must be clearly established before playing. Not negotiable mid-match.
Spot Adjustment Protocol:
If match is significantly one-sided after 5 games:
Losing player: “This spot isn’t working. You’re crushing me. Can we adjust?”
Winning player options:
- “We agreed on these terms. Let’s finish the set.”
- “Okay, we can adjust for next set after this one concludes.”
Never adjust spot mid-set. Finish current race, then renegotiate.
Welching: The Ultimate Sin
Welching: Refusing to pay bet after losing.
Consequences:
Immediate:
- Banned from future money games with anyone who knows about welching
- Venue may ban you
- Word spreads within 24-48 hours
Long-term:
- Reputation destroyed permanently
- No one accepts action from known welchers
- Can’t rebuild trust even years later
Real Example:
Indianapolis regular (won’t name) welched on $300 bet in 2017.
Seven years later: Still can’t get action anywhere in Indianapolis metro area.
Word spread. He’s toxic. No one plays him for money.
$300 welch cost him thousands in future action.
Dispute Resolution
When Disagreements Happen:
Step 1: Refer to written terms
Step 2: Ask neutral observer what they witnessed
Step 3: If still unresolved, call house rules or league rules
Step 4: If still disputed, declare push (no one wins, return money)
Example Dispute:
“You scratched on the 8-ball. I win.”
“No, I made the 8 legally. Cue ball went in after 8 dropped. That’s loss of game.”
Neutral observer: “I saw 8 drop clean. Cue ball scratched after.”
Ruling: Shooter wins (8-ball pocketed legally, subsequent scratch doesn’t matter).
Push Agreement:
When dispute can’t be resolved and both players disagree:
“Let’s call it a push. Return money. Walk away friends.”
Better to push than end friendship over $100 you can’t definitively prove you won.
Money Game Etiquette: Unwritten Rules
1. Don’t Hustle
Deliberately hiding your ability to get action = scummy.
Play your real game. Let opponent assess skill honestly.
2. Don’t Table Tap
Walking up to playing table mid-game: “I got next for $100.”
Bad etiquette. Let them finish their game. Approach afterward.
3. Don’t Borrow to Play
If you don’t have money, don’t play for money.
Borrowing from friends to bet = red flag you have gambling problem.
4. Don’t Drink and Bet Heavy
I’ve lost $400+ in single nights drinking while playing money games.
Alcohol + betting = bad decisions.
Set betting limits while sober. Don’t exceed them when drinking.
5. Respect Break/Concede Offers
Ahead 6-1 in race to 7. Opponent: “You’ve got this. Can we call it?”
Gracious to accept concession. Speeds up payout.
But you can also say: “We agreed to race to 7. Let’s finish.”
Either response acceptable.
External Resources
For pool gambling rules and betting dispute resolution guidelines, consult local pool hall management policies and [American Poolplayers Association (APA)](https://www.poolplayers.com) code of conduct for sanctioned league betting standards.
FAQ: Betting Etiquette Questions
About the Author
Derek Jones is an APA 7 league player and team captain from Indianapolis with 11 years of competitive experience. After witnessing dozens of betting disputes destroy friendships and ban players from venues, he developed betting protocol systems that have prevented disputes across 200+ money games. His team “Cue the Music” uses the written terms and verification protocols outlined in this guide.
Follow Derek’s league strategy insights and practical equipment reviews at Pool Hall Pros.