Sports Betting Tips

The following are a few tips on betting on sporting events. These are generalized tips that can be applied to any game for any sport. If you follow these suggestions then you will find that your wagering will be more enjoyable and, in many cases more profitable (at least less painful).

Limits

Set hard defined limits on how much you wager. No matter how you do it, make sure that you set aside a predetermined amount for betting. Set up a separate banking account, squirrel away money, or let someone hold your wallet. Set up some system where you will know when you have exhausted your wagering funds. Never, ever, bet more than you can afford to lose!

Know the game

Take the time to know the sporting event you are wagering on. If you know professional basketball, then do not wager on college games until you understand how that particular game is played and what the difference are. If you are experimenting with a new unfamiliar game then be cautious. Wager small amount until you are comfortable in your knowledge of the game.

Know the Bet

Make sure you understand just what it is you are betting on. Every sporting event has ‘odds’, a line, or a spread. Know what these odds represent! Try to understand why they have been determined. Some odds can change simply because a lot of people have placed a bet on a particular result. That doesn’t make them right, it only signifies that a great number of people feel that a certain outcome is possible.

Keep track

Follow what is happening in the sport. Read the dailies, look for trends, and keep up with any new rule changes that might affect how the game is played. Take the time to update yourself on any injuries that might affect the game or team that you plan to bet on.

Understand Emotion

Never underestimate the effect emotion might play in a contest. Stay away from highly emotionally charged contests if possible. If you find yourself faced with a ‘revenge’ game or ‘guaranteed win’ then don’t wager, just set back and enjoy the game. These contests are too unpredictable to bet on. Teams should play with emotion, you should never BET with emotion.

The Sure Thing

There is NO such thing! There is no bet, or wager that is 100% guaranteed to win! No matter how good a proposition looks, no matter how much it is ‘in the bag’ the unexpected has a way of coming around and biting you in the posterior when you least expect it! If you are going to bet the house then, be prepared to live in a tent.

The Hunch

If after you have looked at all the information for a particular event, you find that you have a ‘hunch’ then by all means follow it! The human brain is a remarkable organ that can process information at lightening speeds below a conscious level. Intuitive hunches can be the result of this subconscious processing, just be aware that hunches can be influenced by wishful thinking just like conscious thought. Wanting your favorite team, horse, or player to smash their rival can be a strong motivating ‘hunch’ creator. 

By following these simple tips, a person will find that sports betting will become more enjoyable and less painful. 

Remember: wagering on the outcome of a particular sporting event will not change how the game or race was run, only how you enjoyed it.