Sports betting has emerged from the shadows and into the mainstream of American culture, allowing millions of sports fans to make wagers on their favorite teams and events. With legal sports betting booming across the country (13 billion dollars was bet in 2018), many sports fans are considering entering the industry for the first time. But where to start? Here are 12 things every sports bettor should know before making their first bet.
Develop a Systematic Betting Plan
In order to be successful at sports betting, you need a systematic approach that involves developing a system that aligns with your own style of betting and investing. This requires time and dedication, but it can increase your chances of profitability.
Determine Profitable Sports or Leagues: Look at past performance and identify the sports or leagues where you have the most success. This will help you focus your efforts on those areas and maximize your potential for winning bets.
Perform Team and Matchup Analysis: Conduct thorough research on each team and matchup in a given game. Look at the past results of each team in a game, the players that have been involved, and any other factors that may affect the outcome of a particular bet.
Set Bet Sizes and Stick to Them: A common mistake that bettors make is increasing their bet size after a loss, trying to recoup their losses. This is a dangerous strategy that can lead to big losses. Instead, bettors should set a limit for their bet sizes and stick to them, no matter how confident they are about a specific bet.
Practice Bankroll Management: It’s important to manage your money and set a budget before you begin placing bets. A good rule of thumb is to only bet 1% to 5% of your total bankroll per play. This will ensure that you don’t risk more than you can afford to lose and prevent you from losing all of your money if you have a bad day.
Understand the Logic of Odds: The odds on a sports bet are calculated by multiplying the probability of winning by the amount you are willing to bet. For example, a team with a 70% chance of winning will have odds of 1.4 to 1, while a team with an 85% chance will have odds of 1.5 to 1.75.
One of the most important things to remember when betting on sports is that you are going to suffer losses. The key is to minimize these losses and build a profit over time. This can be done by employing sound money management techniques, conducting objective research, and focusing on value betting. By doing this, you can ensure that your bets are based on facts and statistics rather than emotions, which is the best way to make money over the long term.