In betting, we are often asked about the value of a specific product or service when there is so much uncertainty involved. For example, what is the value of a house? Or, how much is a bottle of wine worth? Or, how many points will the Lakers score in the next game? Or, how much will the Patriots win by in next week’s Super Bowl?
When it comes to betting, there are three uncertainties that always come up:
1. The amount of money that you are trying to win or lose.
2. Which side of the bet you are on. (The term ‘side’ refers to the probability that you will win or lose the bet.)
3. The quality of the product or service. (Sometimes it’s hard to judge a book by its cover.)
Many people think that they can remove the uncertainty from a bet by simply saying that they are either ‘for’ or ‘against’ a particular team or club. However, this is rarely the case. Sure, you might be able to look at a particular team or club and say that they will either beat or lose to another team or club. But, in most cases, this is still a very imprecise way of thinking about a bet. (If you are new to betting, it is always recommended to go with the 3rd party sites that specialize in taking care of the financial side of betting for you. It removes all the uncertainty.)
Making Sense Of It All
When you are considering a bet, there are usually four fundamental questions that you have to answer:
1. What is the objective of the bet? (What do I hope to gain from this bet? What do I expect to happen?)
2. How much will I need to win or lose to make this worthwhile? (How much money am I willing to risk?)
3. How much can I afford to lose? (How much money can I risk?)
4. How much can I afford to win? (How much money can I make?)
Once you have answered these four questions, it is easy to determine how much sense it makes to bet on this issue. Here are some examples:
- The objective of the bet is to make money. So, you should choose a sport or event that you know you can afford to lose. For example, if you already know that you will be able to win $100 or more at dice or cards then you might as well roll the dice or pull some cards for fun. (This isn’t a strategy that will always work, but it is a strategy that can be relied upon when needed.)
- The objective of the bet is to get even. This is different from making money. Sometimes you might want to bet on something simply because you want to even out your bet. For example, if you have wagered $100 that the Giants will lose the Super Bowl, and they somehow win, you would win $200. You didn’t make any money because your objective was to even out your bet. (This is usually an undesired consequence of betting but it can be a useful tool in certain situations.)
- The objective of the bet is to experience sports or games. You might want to bet on a sporting event or a game because you enjoy the competition. For example, if you enjoy watching the Patriots play, you might enjoy gambling on their games. (In this case, it is important not to expect too much. Enjoy the experience of betting but don’t get attached to the outcome. That is what makes it dangerous.)
- The objective of the bet is to feel confident. Sometimes we are so close to an event that it can feel like there is no way that you can lose. For example, if you bet on the Super Bowl and the Patriots win, you might feel that you had an excellent chance of winning. Maybe even excellent enough to make it worth it even if the Giants did end up winning the game. (In this case, it is important not to let your pride get in the way of what is practical.)
The Psychology Of GambleAwareness
GambleAwareness is the term that psychologists use to refer to a heightened state of awareness that you enter into when you decide to bet. While in a normal state of awareness, you might focus on all the different things that you have to do to get through your day, when you decide to bet you increase your attention to every detail. As a result, things that you would normally ignore become magnified. For example, while driving to work, you might listen to music but it will be completely drowned out by the roar of the bus engine. However, if you are in a state of heightened awareness while driving then every bump in the road will feel like it is an F-35 coming after you. (This is also why it is best not to text and drive. It is well known that people who do this are more dangerous behind the wheel than people who text but don’t drive. So, even if you are just taking a short break from texting, it might be a good idea to pull over until you can bring your mind back down to earth.)
When you are in a state of heightened awareness, it can be difficult to resist the constant beckoning of the sportsbook or betting site that wants to get you to place a bet. Even if you try to stick to your original plan and not give in to the siren song, it will be difficult not to be drawn in. (This is one of the reasons why it is recommended to take a deep breath before you hit that ‘place your bet’ button. If you ever feel like you are losing control, then stop and walk away. You will come back stronger.)
Now, some of you might be wondering how you would feel if you had a gun to your head and the choice was between losing your life or betting on the Giants to win the Super Bowl. In that case, you would choose to bet on the Giants because, although it would be a shame to lose your life, at least you would still be able to make some money. It just goes to show that we have all seen the worst sides of human nature but even these flawed creatures can be better than we think. (Unfortunately for the Giants, this was not a good choice. Despite their valiant effort, they were ultimately no match for the Patriots.)