As a sports bettor, you’ll find yourself in the same situation many times: You’ve got your eye on a particular game and you’re considering making a wager. But before you place your bet, you need to do some number crunching to determine who is most likely to come out on top.
Here are a few guidelines to help you make informed wagers:
Know What To Bet
The first thing you should do before placing a wager is determine what sports you know how to calculate or analyze. You might be familiar with some sports, like baseball or American football, in which case the formulas are a breeze to implement. But if you’re not sure, take a gander at the Sports Codes and Terms page on the Nevada Gaming Control Board website to familiarize yourself with the basics.
You should also take the time to familiarize yourself with the betting options in your area. Most places offer betting lines, which are basically just opinions posted by sportsbooks on the likelihood of a certain outcome. You might also come across prop bets, which are wagers on specific aspects of the game (e.g., total number of touchdowns or interceptions).
Know When To Bet
While some sports are more volatile than others, all have the potential to swing either way. Based on this, you might decide that some games are better suited for betting than others. For instance, you might consider a Super Bowl bet because it is likely to arrive at a favorable conclusion. But if you’re talking about the NBA, the scores are more apt to fluctuate than in other sports.
However, no matter what sport you choose, the best time to bet is always now. This is because the odds are always in your favor. When the games are now being played, the books will happily accept your wager. As a result, you’ll receive your winnings promptly. But if you decide to wait until the games are over to make your wager, the books will likely reject your bet. This is because they’ll consider the point spread established in the game to be the final outcome. In rare cases, the books might even void your bet if they think you’re purposely trying to skew the probabilities in your favor.
Use The Right Software
The most essential tool to have if you’re going to wade into the world of sports betting is a good bookmaker software. You might also want to consider an iPad app, as these are portable and easy to use. Ultimately, you’ll find that having a quality app makes all the difference. Thanks to advances in technology, many sportsbooks also offer a mobile version of their websites, which makes accessing your account anywhere convenient.
If you’re looking for a free app, you might consider DraftKings, as these guys are constantly expanding their offerings and implementing new features. But if you want to play on the web, BetOnline, Intertops, and Paddy Power are some of the best-known and most-trusted names in online sports betting. Plus, you’ll find several reputable and top-rated bookmakers that accept USA customers.
Get The Most Out Of Your Bankroll
Many people believe sports betting is a game of luck rather than skill. As a result, they wager small amounts of money on unsuspecting games just to see what happens. This is often frowned upon by sportsbooks, as they consider this to be a losing strategy. To avoid this, you should take the time to build up a decent bankroll – at least the equivalent of several months’ earnings. Only then will you be able to make informed wagers with confidence. Most importantly, make sure you never risk more than you can afford to lose!
On that note, you might also decide to incorporate some degree of skill into your betting. This might mean backing the right horse or picking the right team. Certainty is always welcome in any situation, but if you want to be a bit more daring, you might consider trying your luck at picking horses or teams rather than simply following the pre-game lines. After all, if you’re good enough, you might just win enough to cover your wager – with a little bit left over.
For those of you who want to get the most out of your wagering experience, you might want to read the How to Calculate the Winner of a Horse Race guide. This will teach you how to bet on horse races effectively and how to avoid losing your shirt at the race track.
Remember, the best case scenario is that you place a wager on a winning horse. But if you’re smart about it and use the proper strategy, you should be able to place winning wagers fairly often. With a little bit of luck, you might even be able to turn a profit – something that can’t be said about most other activities. As you’ve learned, being a successful sports bettor isn’t quite as easy as it sounds, but it is certainly possible.