So you’ve decided to get into sports betting. Congrats! You’re making the right choice, believe it or not. It’s one of the most lucrative and exciting ways to wager. But with so much information available on the topic, you might be wondering, what’s the rotation?
What is the rotation in sports betting?
This is the name (usually in capitals) given to the various combinations of sports teams that are taking place where you choose to make your wager. For example, if you’re betting on the NFL, the rotation could be anything from the New England Patriots against the Chicago Bears to the Green Bay Packers at Chicago or the Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco. The list of possible rotations is endless. You just have to decide what makes the most sense for you and your betting habits.
Why are rotations important in sports betting?
It’s important to understand the purpose of rotations in sports betting. Just because the Atlanta Braves played the first game of a series doesn’t mean the Los Angeles Dodgers will play the next or the New York Jets will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next. When you make a wager on a team other than the one stated in the paid-for lineup, you’re essentially getting “commissions” on teams you didn’t bet on. For example, if you bet on the Patriots and they win, you’ll earn money based on the action of other teams. In most cases, those teams will be winning too, so you’ll earn a little bit more than you would’ve had if you’d simply bet on the Pats in the first place. This is the opposite of what you want from a true betting exchange.
Types of Rotation
There are three basic types of rotation in sports betting: domestic, cross-country, and international.
The domestic rotation is when all the teams in one conference are playing each other. For example, the Big 10 conferences (such as the Big 10, the Mid-American, and the American) regularly have conference games throughout the year. Because the conferences are within one country (or continent), you’ll see lots of rotations in this type of wagering. Some examples of domestic rotations are the Patriots vs. Chiefs, Cardinals vs. Redskins, and Cowboys vs. Giants. You’ll note that none of these games feature the team you selected initially because they belong to the same conference. This is why domestic rotations are sometimes called “in-country” rotations.
Cross-country rotation is when teams from both conferences are playing each other. For example, the Missouri Valley Conference regularly plays the Big 10 Conference, and the Mountain West Conference frequently plays the Big East Conference. As you might imagine, lots of cross-country games happen annually, so there are plenty of opportunities to place bets on those teams. Some examples of cross-country rotations are the Bruins vs. Rangers, Thunder vs. Pelicans, and Jazz vs. Blazers. In cases like these, you’ll notice that the games do involve the teams you selected initially, but they’ll play multiple conferences’ worth of opponents as well. This makes cross-country rotations very exciting for bettors because you might see a game that originally had no meaning at all (two teams from different conferences playing each other in a series of mismatches) turn into a lopsided matchup halfway through the third quarter. Suddenly, the Patriots are playing the Chiefs in a thriller after having been a blowout in the first half. It’s the best of both worlds: an evenly matched game with the opportunity for huge profits if one team hits a big play near the end.
International rotation is when two leagues from different countries are playing each other. These games are almost always fixed affairs because the match-ups are determined by a bookmaker before the season starts. The two leagues might use different rules for placing wagers (or for entirely different sports), so you have to make sure you know how to navigate those waters if you decide to engage in international wagering. Some examples of international rotations are the A-League vs. ETC, NFL Europe vs. NFL Japan, and EuroCup vs. Premier League. It’s worth noting that many of these games don’t settle down into a typical A-B-type rivalry like you’d see in domestic games. For instance, the EuroCup and the Premier League don’t always have teams from the same country, and the NFL Europe and NFL Japan don’t always have teams from the same conference. This makes it difficult to predict how the games will turn out and means you’ll have to do a lot of research before placing a wager. What’s more, many of these games don’t have the spark that comes from playing against an all-star team from another country. Instead, the games are more about developing talent and spreading football around the world.
How Do I Make Sports Betting Profitable?
With so much information available on the subject, it’s not a huge secret how to make sports betting profitable. Just follow these tried-and-tested tips and you’ll be on your way to earning money online fast:
Tip #1
Find a sportsbook that’s well-established and reliable. This is important if you don’t want to lose your money. Fortunately, there are plenty of reputable places online where you can place your wagers. Just be sure to avoid anything sketchy and look for signs of quality control.
Tip #2
Learn the different ways in which a bookmaker will handle your wager. Some of them will automatically apply coupon codes or give special discounts to customers. Others might have specific rules regarding the allocation of spreads (e.g., favorites need to be -110 or better for the house to take the bet) or odds (e.g., teams with 3:1 odds need to win by 7 points or more). Check out the different types of promotions the bookmaker is offering and decide which ones work best for you. You can also contact the betting site directly to find out what their policies are and what types of coupon codes they might have available.
Tip #3
Consider looking for signs of quality when reviewing online casino reviews. There are plenty of terrible casinos out there, but there are also plenty of great ones. Just be sure to look for positive feedback from real players about how good the casino is and how much fun they have there. This way, you’ll be sure to find the best possible casino experience for you.
Tip #4
Use credit cards that offer cash backs and/or sign up for an online rewards program. Many credit cards give you points and/or cash back when you make a purchase. Some examples of this are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express Black Card. You can also get cash back when you make an online purchase with the Citrus Card from Citrus Labs. And remember: cash back and/or point redemption doesn’t have to be limited to debit card users! You can use a credit card for all your online purchases and get cash back – even when you bet online.
Tip #5
In order to maximize your chances of earning cash back and/or rewards from credit cards and/or online betting sites, make sure you’re using them regularly. The key word here is regularly. Many credit cards and/or online rewards programs have “blackout” periods where you can’t make any purchases with the card or get any points/cash back. Make sure you’re aware of when these periods are and don’t use the card around those times. Otherwise, you could lose out on some major points/cash back from the credit card.
Tip #6
There are specific times when it makes sense to bet on sports. For instance, if you’re playing a team that you believe to be in a certain league or divisional race – such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card predicting the outcome of the NFC Championship game – it might be worth your while to wager on that team. However, it is not always the best choice to wager on sports. If you’re not sure whether or not to wager on sports, it’s usually best to avoid them all together. There are just too many variables that could possibly influence the outcome of a game. What’s more, in many cases, the sports book will take a hit when a player who is involved in the game later on is not available for comment because he’s been suspended for violating sportsmanship rules. In those situations, it’s best to leave well enough alone and not risk losing money on a game that doesn’t matter with so much at stake elsewhere.