A guide to the best tips from betting experts
Sports betting has boomed in popularity during the 21st century, with online sites offering easy access to wagering opportunities throughout the year.
However, it would be fair to say that beating the bookmakers on a consistent basis is not easy. With that in mind, we have come up with top tips from betting experts you cannot afford to ignore.
Understand betting value
Betting value is arguably the most important element every punter should get to grips with before parting with their hard-earned cash.
In simple terms, betting value is when the odds in a market are too high. For example, if you think Team ‘A’ should be 1/4 to win a game and they are priced at 1/2, this is value.
The principle requires you to develop the skill of successfully framing your own markets on events but can be extremely lucrative if you become adept at this.
Favorites don’t always win
Betting favorites to win every single event is a recipe for disaster and should be avoided at all costs if you want to become a successful punter.
For instance, in many of the top horse racing jurisdictions, the favorite wins an average of 35% of the races. This means that 65% of the races are won by other horses.
By closely studying the form and looking for opportunities where there are ‘false favorites’, you can improve your chances of making a consistent profit.
Don’t be greedy
Whisper it quietly, but bookmakers love taking multiple bets off punters, especially if they contain a significant number of selections.
While it may be tempting to try and land a 12-team accumulator on the football fixtures each weekend, the odds of the bet coming to fruition are remote.
Use the old adage of ‘quality over quantity’ to inform your betting activities and keep the number of selections in any multiple bets to a sensible amount.
Be selective
If you are aiming to keep your betting balance in the black, you must be extremely selective about the events you decide to wager on.
There are thousands of betting opportunities available to you each day and taking a scattergun approach to the bets you place is a recipe for disaster.
Be selective about the sports you bet on and if you are not totally certain about your selection(s), wait for a better opportunity further down the line.
Keep betting records
As we have just mentioned, being selective about the bets you make will help you become a successful punter over a sustained period.
Keeping betting records is essential to achieving this, as they can help you identify where you are doing well and pinpoint areas for improvement.
For example, if you make a profit from football betting but find that tennis wagers are eating into your bankroll, it makes sense to avoid wagering on the latter sport.
Stick to your bankroll
Many betting experts argue that establishing an affordable bankroll and sticking rigidly to it is the key to becoming a successful sports bettor.
The best tactic is to work out what you can afford to lose each month. Regardless of the figure, you should never wager more than two percent of that total on a single bet.
If your bankroll is $1,000, your maximum wager should be $20. Combined with the other tips we have mentioned, this will improve your chances of being a profitable bettor.