It seems like every year, around this time, the sportsbooks open, offering huge bonus bets on the big games. The excitement and anticipation of the upcoming season is rising, especially as the World Cup kicks off in just a few weeks. As soon as the Summer Olympics finish, the books will be open for business, looking to make a profit off all the bettors’ sudden rush of adrenaline.
But what happens when the games you love the most are the ones you have to avoid like the plague? Would you risk your money on a game you don’t care about or know anything about just to make some money?
This question keeps coming up each year, and each year I give the same advice: unless you’re completely sure that your team is going to win, don’t bet on them. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: unless you’re certain that your team is going to win, there’s no reason to risk money on them.
So how does one go about avoiding the games that they love and avoiding the teams that they are certain will lose?
The Perfect World Cup Bid
The perfect World Cup bid is one where you back the right horse, in the right race, against the right opponent, in the right country. When all those factors combine, you can guarantee a winning bet. Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, you can still appreciate the beauty of betting on sports the right way.
For instance, in France, you would back the home team, Les Bleus, in their annual World Cup battle against arch-rivals England. With England being the favorite, that is a sound investment. If you’re a football fan, backing Les Bleus would be a no-brainer. They are currently undefeated in the last four games between the two countries (winning three and drawing one). Not only that, but you can also bet on the underdogs to shock the world and bring home the trophy for France!
Or perhaps you are a basketball fan and want to throw your support behind the Miami Heat, who you think are going to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship this year. Unlike the French football team, the Miami Heat are not currently favored to win the NBA title. But that is about to change, as the Heat are 9/2 odds to win the championship this year. The Atlanta Hawks are also +9/2 and the Toronto Raptors are +11/2, so if you are looking to make some bucks, backing the underdogs is the way to go. Even if the Heat lose, at least you will come away with some money in your wallet.
The Risk Of Illegal Gambling
Remember: no bookie, no matter how reputable, wants to get involved in any kind of illegal activity. Doing business with a bookie that does not adhere to this simple tenet puts you at risk. These are the people you need to stay away from. They will cheat you, and you will lose your hard-earned money. So if there is even the slightest doubt in your mind that the games you are curious about might be fixed, then don’t bet on them. You will only put yourself in harm’s way, and risk getting your money back if the game is fixed.
Watch Out For Touts
Last but not least, we have touts. These are individuals or groups of individuals who try to entice unwary bettors into placing illegal wagers with them. Touts prey on people’s emotions, typically at the start of a sporting event. As the games progress and the betting lines get tighter, the touts move on to the next set of victims.
Touts can target individual athletes or teams, or they can spread their net wider and offer betting tips on all sorts of sporting events. They might try to convince you that a certain player is going to score a lot of points or that a particular team is going to win a particular game. Remember: if someone is trying to convince you to place an illegal wager, it means they want to steal your money. So watch out for touts, and don’t let them get the better of you.
With the above information in mind, how can you ensure you back the right horse, in the right race, against the right opponent, in the right country? There are basically three ways that you can do this. First, search for a reliable source that offers odds that make sense. Second, find a bookie that is licensed and regulated in your country of residence. Third, make sure to bet on sites that are trusted and secure. While these tips will help you find the perfect World Cup bid, they can also help you navigate the bet landscape more easily once the games begin. So even if you don’t plan on getting any gaming pleasure out of this year’s World Cup, at least you will come away with some useful tips on how to bet properly!