J.R. Miller
Legendary Professional Sports Betting Pioneer, Handicapper, Strategist and Author
J.R. Miller, the founder of this platform and service, is widely recognized as one of the most successful and legendary sports bettors and handicappers in history.
J.R. Miller moved his young family to Las Vegas in the late 1970’s to play blackjack and bet on sports professionally. He quickly learned that sports betting – not blackjack – was where the magic happened. J.R.’s younger brother, R.J., soon followed with his young family. Next, came cousins and aunts and nephews and nieces. The Millers would become Las Vegas’ premier sports betting family.
J.R. was also an author and television writer. Among dozens are articles penned for a variety of publications on the subject of sports betting, he wrote the best-selling book How Professional Gamblers Beat the Pro Football Pointspread.
J.R. discovered many sports betting breakthroughs and developed betting systems and formulas that are widely used today. He famously debunked many sports betting myths.
J.R. was the first professional sports bettor to suggest a betting unit should be no more than two percent. Prior to this, the universally advised bet size was around five percent of bankroll. He was the first person in the industry to expose progressive bankroll management systems as frauds. He also fought against efforts to make sports betting pari-mutuel wagering.
In 1997, J.R. launched this platform – the world’s first sports handicapping website. Shortly after launching this website, J.R.'s son, JV Miller—who was already a successful sports bettor—joined the family business dedicated to helping other sports bettors in the trenches.
J.R. was invited to speak at COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY and he was selected to Las Vegas' WALL OF FAME for his contributions to the pool of sports betting knowledge. He was named "...the best all-round handicapper on the planet..." by the DAILY SPREAD, and his how-to writings first appeared in the early 1980's in such respected publications as the original GAMBLING TIMES magazine. He was featured as a handicapping expert on countless radio & television shows, online, in newsletters, magazines & newspapers. He lectured on sports betting at Clark County Community College, Las Vegas, been the featured speaker at many gambling seminars, and helped write the 2-hour TV special GAMBLING IN AMERICA for Cinetel Productions. He also served as consultant for several other TV shows about Las Vegas and gambling, including HIGH ROLLERS' LAS VEGAS. He was a columnist for CASINO magazine, LAS VEGAS SPORTS & GAMING, GAMING SOUTH magazine, WINNER'S EDGE, PLAYER'S CHOICE, and several other respected publications. In the 2003-2004 NFL football season he bested 135 other top handicappers in the Ultimate Handicapper's Challenge. His work has been endorsed by the most respected names in the gaming industry. J.R.’s book is the only book of its kind recommended to libraries as CORE READING MATERIAL by Jack Short, past president, AMERICAN LIBRARY TRUSTEE ASSOCIATION.
J.R. Miller’s contributions to sports betting have been applauded by such respected Las Vegas insiders as Sonny Reizner, Lem Banker, Howard Schwartz, Bob McCune, Peter Ruchman, Donald Currier, Jack Painter, Mort Olshan, Buzz Daley, Heath Boutwell, Marty Mendelsohn, and many others.
The Millers have a colorful history in Las Vegas. In 'civilian' life, J. R. wrote hundreds of TV shows, including the comedy classic Hee-Haw. (Yes, fellows, he helped audition the Hee-Haw girls! Tough work, but somebody had to do it.) That's Gunnella Hutton ("Nurse Goodbody") and Gordie Tapp in the photos with J. R. J. R. wrote six books in total and was awarded Kentucky's highest civilian honor, the rank of Colonel, in 1991. He wrote the screenplays Jailbreak and Promiseland.
J.R. insisted on giving credit where it was due. He believed that Howard Schwartz, former proprietor of Gamblers Book Club (Gambler's General Store), was solely to credit for J.R.'s success in the sports betting industry. Mr. Schwartz was the first industry insider to recognize J.R.'s book, and the first establishment to sell it.
J.R. also credited great sports betting pioneers like Bob McCune and Sonny Reizner, for whom he had tremendous respect.
J.R. retired in 2013 and turned the family business over to his son, JV Miller, who operates the business very successfully today.
