No matter how much we scream in the stands or at our televisions, we can’t control what the players on the field do. We may offer them the best coaching advice in the world, they just never listen! It’s one of the most frustrating parts of being a sports fan. You simply have to watch the team you care so much about win or lose, without any ability to influence the outcome.
Sports fans can find an outlet for all of their armchair expertise with sports betting. Sports betting adds to the thrill of watching sports. It can reinforce your claim to being a stats expert or it can give you a dose of the reality of how hard it is for even the best teams to always come out on top.
Sports betting is one of those unique fields where passion meets prediction. It combines the fire and creativity of a love of sports with the need for serious statistical knowledge and a deep understanding of the sport you’re betting on.
Some fans feel comfortable diving right into sports betting without any experience. The ads are everywhere during big games, and most sportsbooks give free credit to new bettors, so what’s the harm in giving it a try? Not everyone immediately feels comfortable with placing bets, though. Doing a little bit of research can help.
Taking betting tips from professionals is a good way to start. Just keep in mind that professional sports bettors have algorithmic tools that the average bettor most likely doesn’t have access to. You’ll have to put in the extra work to make your sports knowledge work for you.
Below are some of our most popular betting tips. They’re great for everyone from beginners to experienced sports bettors.
Find a reputable bookie
Sports betting online is still pretty new in the United States. Up until 2018, sports betting was illegal outside of specific locations like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Since individual states started legalizing sports betting in person and/or online, tons of sportsbooks have popped up to serve all of these new customers.
Not every sportsbook that has jumped into the market has been legitimate. Betting on sports has always had a reputation for attracting organized crime, and there are still some problematic elements involved in modern sportsbooks.
The best way to stay safe while betting online is to use a reputable bookmaker. There are tons to choose from. Most major sports teams or leagues are affiliated with one or more sportsbooks, so that’s a great place to start. You can also consult guides and informational resources to learn all about the available bookmakers that you can trust.
Start with one sport
One of the smartest thing that a bettor can do when they’re just starting out is to stick with one sport. Successful sports betting depends on a lot of good luck, combined with a thorough knowledge of all of the relevant statistical information for every team.
Keeping track of all of that data for a single sport is tricky; remembering it all for more than one sport is incredibly difficult. Choose your favorite sport to start and once you’ve got the hang of it, you can add another sport each year as you improve.
Set a budget and stick to it
Setting a budget is one of the most important steps to being a successful sports bettor. The second step is sticking to that budget! It can be very easy to get swept up in the thrill of betting, or to try to chase a win after a series of unlucky bets. This is how you end up spending too much and turning sports betting into a problem.
Instead, set a reasonable budget that you can afford to lose. Your winnings can be added back to your betting budget or tucked away to spend on something special.
Trust tips but don’t let them rule your life
Tipsters have always had an important role in the sports betting world. For sports such as horse racing, tipsters are the most important source of relevant information. Tipsters, either in real life or on trusted sites online, can be a great way to get the inside scoop.
However, tipsters are people too. They also make mistakes and can’t see the future. If you feel really strongly about a bet, don’t let a tipster lead you astray.
Have fun with it
There are very few professional sports bettors in the world. For most people, it’s just a fun hobby and a way to add an extra bit of excitement to watching sports. It can be very easy to take it too seriously and get too emotionally and mentally involved with betting.
Like all forms of gambling, sports betting shouldn’t be a chore or feel like a job. It should be something you do for fun. If you ever notice that sports betting is adding more stress to your life, it’s time to take a break. Most reputable online sportsbooks have responsible gambling tools that will let you set a time out period.
