Our Story: From an Email Chain to the Arena
A note from John Goslin, Founder of OwnTheLines
OwnTheLines didn’t start in a boardroom; it started because I didn’t want my friend to lose his shirt.
A few years ago, as sports wagering became legal across the country, one of my close college friends told me he was opening an account with a major sportsbook. He started hitting me with questions: “What’s a moneyline?” “How do American odds turn into actual winnings?” “What’s a parlay?”
It was clear he was excited, but it was also clear he didn’t know the rules of the game he was about to play. I told him to start small, but the excitement of “winning big” makes everyone want to start large.
I’ve been there. I’ll be honest: I’m not a legendary gambler. I’ve won a little and lost a little, but like most people, I lost more than I won. I enjoyed the competition, but I didn’t enjoy the dent in my bank account.
I thought, “There has to be a better way to learn this.”
The Defining Moment
I decided to let my friend bet against “me.” I’d give him the results, and he could see how he did, learning the math and the discipline without spending a real dollar.
Soon, our other college friends wanted in. We created our first league. It wasn’t a fancy website; it was an email-based game with a few simple rules:
- No real money.
- Max bets to prevent someone from going “broke” in a week.
- Minimum weekly play to keep the competition hot.
It became an annual tradition. We realized that we weren’t just playing for money; we were playing for pride. We were playing to prove who actually knew the game best.
Why We Are Here Today
I built the web version of OwnTheLines for three types of people:
- The Learner:People like my friend who want to understand sports markets without the expensive “tuition” of losing real bets.
- The Group of Friends: People like my college buddies who just want a fun, competitive way to stay close and talk sports.
- The Alternative: For those who love the game but want to stop the financial loss.
Today, I get my fill of sports wagering entirely through this platform. I don’t have the “hope” of winning a million dollars, but I also don’t have the stress of losing a cent. And honestly? That’s been the biggest win of all.
Welcome to the league. Let’s see what you’ve got.