The majority of gambling sites let you place bets while you’re watching TV. However, there are cases where the betting lines aren’t open for business until the game has already started. This can be problematic if you’re trying to bet on a game you haven’t seen yet, especially if you’re not watching the game live.
The practice of keeping the betting lines closed for a portion of the game is known as “opening up the betting.” The reason for this is that the bookmakers want to make sure you’re a serious gambler before they let you open up your account. They don’t want to give you the nickname “Betty” and have you laying waste to their earnings. The fact that you haven’t seen the game means that there’s a chance you might make a prediction and end up having to pay out, which is where the danger comes from.
Since seeing is believing, it’s best to do your homework and find out when betting lines are initially opened up for business, so that you can be sure to get the best odds possible. In this article, we’ll discuss when the various sporting leagues and other tournaments around the world adopt strategies to open up the betting lines.
NFL And NCAA Football
In the United States, the National Football League and the NCAA Football Championship are two of the biggest football leagues in the country. The season for the former begins in early September and ends in late January, while that of the latter starts in early August and ends in December. During this time, the betting lines are generally closed.
The reason behind this is obvious: to make sure you’re not gonna blow out your wad of cash before the start of the season. It wouldn’t be the first time an American gambler has lost a large sum of money on sports betting – what with the dot-com bust and the subsequent implosion of online-poker sites being some of the more recent examples. That being said, the threat is always there, so bookmakers are cautious about giving accounts to new players.
Major Soccer League And Cricket
In the world of soccer, the Major League Soccer and the Australian Cricket League are the top two leagues. The season for the former starts in early spring and ends in early autumn, while that of the latter begins in August and ends in October. During this time, the betting lines for both are generally closed, with the exception of international cricket matches.
The same goes for the NFL and the NCAA in the world of American football. The only difference is that the two sports don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. Major League Soccer is generally considered to be a winter sport, while American football is played mostly during the summer months.
International Rugby Union
In rugby union, the top-tier competitions are the Six Nations Championship in Europe and the Tri Nations in the southern hemisphere. These are played in the winter and feature some of the top international teams in the world. In order to attract fans and players, the participating teams generally open up the betting lines as soon as possible after the start of the tournament. The tournament for the Six Nations Championship begins in February and ends in March, while that of the Tri Nations Championship lasts for several weeks in the middle of the summer.
While you might assume that these competitions are established to allow for more betting opportunities, their actual purpose is to allow top teams to compete in front of large crowds and gain a competitive advantage by getting a leg up on the other sides. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, fans of the various sporting leagues and tournaments have the ability to follow the games remotely, which means that opening up the betting lines might not be the best idea if you’re trying to keep your wagering private.
Tennis
Tennis is another winter sport and one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s widely considered to be a game for gentlemen, and the fact that it requires some physical exertion and skill makes it a perfect fit for the winter months. Just like with American football, to attract top players and keep up with the demand for tickets, the international tennis tours usually open up the betting lines as soon as possible after the start of the tournament. The season for the Australian Open starts in January and continues till the middle of March, while the Wimbledon season begins in June and ends in July.
These tournaments aren’t just about tennis. They’re major spectacles that bring large crowds and attract worldwide interest. Thanks to modern technology, fans are able to follow the games live, which is why keeping the betting lines closed might not necessarily be the wisest decision if you want to keep your wagering private. Imagine if someone decided to follow your every move on the tennis court and reported your every game to a bookmaker – it wouldn’t take long for them to figure out that you’re a cheat. Even if you don’t play games with the intent to fraudulently gain an advantage, there’s always a chance that you might make a mistake and end up getting caught.
Handball
In handball, the top-tier competitions are the EHF Champions League, which features some of the best clubs from around the world, and the Eurohandball, which is the second-tier competition and features mostly top European teams. These two leagues are played in the winter and feature some of the most exciting handball tournaments out there. The season for the EHF Champions League begins in February and continues till the end of March, while that of Eurohandball lasts for several weeks in the middle of the summer.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, fans of the various sporting leagues and tournaments have the ability to follow the games remotely, which means that opening up the betting lines might not be the best idea if you’re trying to keep your wagering private. Imagine if someone decided to follow your every move on the court and reported your every game to a bookmaker – it wouldn’t take long for them to figure out that you’re a cheat. Even if you don’t play games with the intent to fraudulently gain an advantage, there’s always a chance that you might make a mistake and end up getting caught.
Keep in mind that the bookmakers are not always right, so trying to beat the odds sometimes ends up losing you money instead of winning, which is why it’s important to do your research and find out when the betting lines are open before making any wagers.