The line in a sports betting game is essentially the ‘over’ or ‘under’ of the score between the two teams. For instance, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, but the team you support is ahead by a few runs in the ninth inning, you might want to back them (2.0 with odds of 1.6). Or, if your team is ahead by a large margin and the other side looks like they are going to pull off a surprise upset, you might want to lay the points (–105 with odds of +100).
In all cases, your choice of side and the money you are willing to wager will determine your line (also known as a ‘bet’), and there are some key rules that you should know and follow if you are going to be successful at sports betting. These include:
Don’t Bet Against The Public
Betting against the public is a sure fire way to lose your money. This is especially true with daily fantasy sports where you are essentially playing against people with vastly different strategies. Even if you know that you are better at sports betting than the average player, you should still avoid betting against the public. It’s always a good habit to practice ‘favourite team’ betting, where you bet on your favourite team to win, rather than against them. Doing this regularly has the potential to accumulate large sums of money, even if it’s just a few dollars here and there.
Look At The Trends
Always bet on a team that is hot rather than cold. This means that they are performing well, and it’s likely that they will keep on performing well. Bear in mind though that this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will beat every team that they are playing against, especially early in the season when they are still finding their feet.
A good rule of thumb is to always bet on a team that is at least on par with your expected performance at this point in the season. There are several online tools that can help you estimate just how good (or bad) a specific team is going to be at a certain point in the season. For example, if you know that your team is very strong at home, but has been struggling on the road, you might want to lay the points (–105 with odds of +100) against them. On the other hand, if you think that they are going to struggle at home, but have a good chance of beating the teams that they are playing on the road, you might want to bet on them (2.0 with odds of 1.6).
Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Momentum
Everyone wants to bet on a winner and what better way to do so than by building up momentum. However, momentum can work both ways, and it’s also important to remember that it can disappear in an instant if your team happens to lose a crucial game or series. This is why you should never fully invest in any one team or player for the entire season. Instead, you should look for trends that can continue throughout the season, or for a unique event that might change the trajectory of the team or player in question.
Avoid Over-Coaching
No one likes a blowhard, and coaches are no different. Avoid them at all costs and focus on what your players are doing rather than trying to give them advice or instructions. The worst thing you can do is over-coach a player, and it will certainly show in the final product. If you feel that your player is getting a lot of advice from you or another coach, then it might be a good idea to step back and let them figure things out on their own for a while. There will always be another game the next day, and you can be sure that they will learn a valuable lesson playing through mistakes rather than doing them on purpose.
Take Advantage Of Bonus Betting
Many bookmakers offer some sort of complementary wagering scheme, where you can get additional points or rewards for betting on certain events. Most commonly, this will involve additional points for ‘over’ or ‘unders’ events, while some will give you additional rewards for ‘consistent winners’. You should look for these offers when you are exploring different betting opportunities; they can make a big difference in how much you win or lose on any given bet.
Use Technology
If you happen to be a computer programmer, then you can use your ability to automate the process of placing bets. There are a variety of online tools available that can help you automate the process of analysing scores, events, and matchups, and laying wagers accordingly. Many people like to use specialized websites or apps to manage their wagering rather than putting all their betting information into one place on their computer. Doing this provides several advantages, including the ability to access other important information about the team or event that you are betting on, and to keep track of your wagers, statistics, and rewards in one convenient place.
Understand The Psychology Of Gambling
If you are planning on becoming a professional gambler, it is imperative that you understand the psychology of gambling. Gambling is not a game; it is a disease, and it is one that continues to plague the minds of men and women alike. If you want to go into the psychology of gambling then you should study behavioural economics, and learn as much as you can about the subject.
Knowing the psychology of gambling can help you avoid many of the pitfalls that regular people often fall into, as they try to gain some small advantage in a game that seems designed against them. For example, you might want to avoid betting on events that you know that are going to be close calls, as this might lead you to develop an undesired psychological attachment to the results of the wagers you make. It is also a good idea to avoid betting on sporting events and games that are being held outside of your state, as this also puts you at a disadvantage, as you cannot monitor or enforce the rules of the game in the same way that the organizers can.
Take Advantage Of Loyalty Schemes
Many bookmakers will give you special treatment if you are a regular client, and there are a variety of different loyalty schemes that they might offer. For example, some bookmakers will give you additional points for every bet that you make, while others will give you a free bet or match the points of a bet with another of their clients. It is usually a good idea to keep an eye out for these loyalty schemes, as they can make a massive difference in your win-loss record, and in some instances, might even allow you to walk away with large amounts of money.
Watch The Experts
While you will certainly find many people who are very happy to give betting advice, there are a few experts who can actually make a good living off of it. For instance, if you follow the esports betting advice laid out in this article, you can be sure that you are going to make a good living, as much as any professional athlete, investor, or gaming enthusiast. There are several factors at play here, but if you want to be successful at sports betting then you should look to get in touch with these people rather than trying to do it on your own.