Tips To Win Sports Betting

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Betshoot.com - Betting tips & predictions. Welcome to Betshoot - A sports betting prediction site that helps you improve your betting skills. Experienced tipsters will guide you to have more accurate predictions by providing detailed sports betting tips with the advice you need before placing bets.

  1. Ten More Simple Sports Betting Tips. Learn the lingo. Ignore personal bias. Don’t get overconfident when winning. Don’t get disheartened when losing. Spend time on research. Trust your own judgement. Avoid betting when impaired. Join a betting forum. Take regular breaks.
  2. The first is to help beginner sports bettors understand how betting odds work, including learning about the different types of odds you will see posted at sportsbooks online or on land. The second is to.

As legal sports betting continues to grow at an astronomical rate, so do the dreams of users who are looking to make money off of something they love. After all, there are plenty of stories out there about legendary hustlers beating the books long-term.

Someone has to join them, so it may as well be you — right? Those new to the game will generally come to terms with an indisputable fact pretty quickly: Turning a profit from betting on sports is really tough.

But wait — what about those guaranteed picks and locks of the week that are constantly floating around? How about those simple systems like going against the public that bettors are making serious bank off of?

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when it comes to betting on sports. That’s true no matter how finely tuned a system may be. Those who claim to be able to project it all out with 100% certainty just aren’t being truthful.

So does anybody ever win at sports betting or is it all so unpredictable that you’ll wind up getting nowhere while your money is drained? As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, so you should look at betting as a form of entertainment and wager responsibly.

For those looking for something more than that, it’s possible to build your skills up to a level at which you can turn a profit, but it’s going to take some doing. Read on as we explore how towin at sports betting one simple step at a time.

Let’s define “winning” at sports betting

Picture this: You’re scrolling around social media and come across a pic of a big winning ticket that was recently cashed. That means that the person who made the huge score is a winning bettor, right?

Not necessarily. While you may know the amount of the single wager that person placed, you need more details to determine overallprofitability. How much has that person wagered in total versus that person’s actual winnings since starting out?

The answer to that question can be a real eye-opener. A single big score may make you feel like a winner, but closer examination may reveal that you’ve actually spent more than you’ve won on a long-termbasis.

OK, but what if you’re winning more often than you lose? That means you’re a winner, no? Maybe, but it still comes down to what you’ve made versus what you’ve spent. If your winners are coming at less-than-favorable odds, then you may actually be losing money.

We’ll explain why that is in a bit (hint — sportsbooks are for-profit entities and charge a vig for facilitating wagers), but just know that merely winning over 50% of your wagers doesn’t guarantee that you’ll turn a profit.

On a long-term basis, there just aren’t that many bettors who will consistently beat the books. After all, if it were that easy, books would have some trouble staying in business, no? The well-run ones certainly have no problems on that front, so let that sink in.

To be clear, there are professional sports bettors out there, as well as plenty of folks who aim or claim to be. Getting to the point at which you actually turn a long-term profit is very challenging, and it’s a trick that only a few can turn as a result.

Understanding vig and how it works

When it comes to sports betting, there is one guaranteed winner that you can bank on: the sportsbooks themselves. They’ll make money in the long run, but we can’t say the same for scores of bettors.

Beyond the net hold on losing bets versus payouts on winners, sportsbooks also make money thanks to what’s known as vig. Also known as juice, this is basically akin to a commission being charged for placing bets, and it’s built into the odds you see.

To demonstrate, let’s consider a standard point spreadbet. The default odds on both sides are set at -110, and it may fluctuate from there based on betting action.

  • Baltimore Ravens +3.5 (-110)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5 (-110)

The Steelers are favored by 3.5 points for this contest. The odds are the same on both sides, so you’d make the same for a winning wager in either direction. A winning $100 bet at odds of -110 returns a profit of $90.91.

So why don’t you just double your money? That’s because of the vig. The book is keeping 9.1% of the return in this case as juice. In order to profit long-term, you not only have to win more often than you lose, but you also have to beat thevig.

The amount of the vig isn’t always clear cut, either, such as in the case of a moneylinebet. For these wagers, the numbers can be vastly different on both sides

  • New York Yankees +105
  • Los Angeles Dodgers -125

For a quick calculation, if you bet $100 on the Yankees, you’d get $105 back for a winner. To get $100 back on the Dodgers, you’d have to wager $125. Armed with that information, we can then work through some quick formulas to find the vig.

  • Bet $125 on Dodgers to win $100.
  • Total return of $225.
  • Amount of wager divided by total return gives us the implied probability: 125/225 = 55.5%.
  • Bet $100 on Yankees to win $105.
  • Total return of $205.
  • Implied probability: 100/205 = 48.8%.

If we add together the implied probability that we found on both sides — 55.5 + 48.8 — we get a total of 104.3. One side is going to win while the other will lose in a coin flip scenario, so that works out to 50/50, or 100%.

The implied probability according to the odds checks in at 104.3%, so what gives? The amount over 100% equals the vig being charged by the book on the bet, which in this case is 4.3%.

Sportsbooks are in the business of making money. The vig is always there, no matter how well disguised it may be. It’s one the biggest hurdles for consistent and sustained profitability, so understanding how it impacts the bottom line is imperative.

How often do you need to win at sports betting to make money?

Let’s say that you approach the NFL betting season with a plan to place 100 point spread bets over the course of the year with the goal of winning more than you lose to turn a profit. The season plays out, and you post a record of 51-49.

Have you made money? Here’s how the math works out using a wager size of $100 per game and standard odds of -110.

  • Total bet: 100 * $100 = $10,000
  • Winning wagers: 51 * $100 = $5,100
  • Profit on winnings: 51 * $90.91 = $4,636.41
  • Complete losses: 49 * $100 = $4,900

We hit on 51 bets, so the $5,100 laid out comes back to us, as does a profit of $4,636.41 for a total of $9,736.41. The 49 losing bets are gone with nothing to show for them. If we take our total amount wagered of $10,000 and subtract $9,736.41, we have a loss of $263.59.

Even though you had more winners than losers, you still lost money. That’s because you didn’t earn enough to beat the vig. Just to break even against the juice, you’d need to hit 52.4% of yourbets.

If you manage to win more than that, then you’re turning a profit. Those who bet regularly and at a decent amount of volume would be pretty happy with a 55%-56% win rate, while those who are absolutely crushing it are at 60% or more.

When you consider the touts who promise “guaranteed winners” and extraordinary won-loss records, that may not sound like much. On the other hand, that should place it in even better perspective: Those claiming to win at even greater clips are telling some rather tall tales.

What is a betting unit?

A betting unit refers to the amount you are placing in play on a game. In order to accurately measure your results — and to properly manage your bankroll — many successful sports bettors subscribe to the theory that your unit size should be the same for each game.

Additionally, a unit should be in proportion to your overall bankroll. If you have a total of $1,000 to play with, a conservative gambler may only want to place 1% at risk at any time, so the unit size is $10.

For those with larger amounts at their disposal, the unit size climbs accordingly. Also, the ratio of units per bankroll can vary based on your strategy and risk tolerance. For a general ballpark, it’s 1%-2% at the low end and up to 5% for those who are more aggressive.

What is bankroll management?

Your bankroll refers to the total funds you have available for sportsbetting. This can be money that you hold on site, as well as an amount you would be comfortable depositing as needed to replenish the roll.

It’s important to remember that betting on sports is risky. There’s a good chance that you’ll lose, so you should be betting only with amounts you are comfortablewith. If you treat it as entertainment, then the expenditure should be in line with what you’d spend elsewhere.

There is absolutely zero justification for putting funds at risk that you would need for other purposes, such as paying your bills or buying food. If you hope to have anything resembling long-term success, then understand and subscribe to the concepts of responsiblegambling.

How much money should I bet on each sports game?

The answer to this question is based on the total size of yourbankroll. For one bettor, wagering $100 on a single game may work fine, while another may be better served by betting a nominal amount such as $20.

As outlined earlier, your total betting bankroll should be based on what you can afford to lose without issue. While no one wants to think of the possibility of losing it all, it’s not out of the ordinary to have that happen.

That being the case, the level of your bankroll shouldn’t be causing you discomfort. If it does, then you’ve allocated too much for sports betting. When you land on a number that won’t cause you any hardship if you lose, that’s a good starting point for your roll.

For the individual games, it’s a good idea to stick to a certain percentage per wager. This can range from 1%-5% depending on your risk tolerance and long-term goals. For example, if you have a $5,000 bankroll with a maximum of 2% per wager, your unit size is $100.

How to win consistently at sports betting

There’s no one magic bullet that will guarantee that you will find success with betting on sports. Instead, it’s a matter of putting together a lot of different moving pieces as you continuously try to solve the puzzle. To help in your quest to get to that point, there are some tried and true principles that you can lean on.

  1. Understand the importance of bankroll management: If you don’t manage your funds well, then you’ll be replenishing your account an awful lot. Your bankroll needs to be respected and valued. It can help to think of your wagering dollars as soldiers. The idea is to bring them back home safely, and hopefully with some friends trailing along. You should have a strict budget in place for your total roll, as well as for each individual bet that you plan to make.
  2. Instill a strong sense of discipline into your approach: Everyone wants to hit a home run, but there are plenty of singles and doubles hitters who wind up doing quite well, too. For sports betting, the name of the game is to turn a profit. You’ll have a much better chance of doing so if you can impart a sense of discipline into your game. Taking a wild approach where you wing it and constantly go for the gusto is not a recipe for sustained success.
  3. Have a willingness to adapt and constantly improve: No matter how finely tuned of a handicapping system you may have, you’ll take your share of lumps along the way. There may even be bad rough patches in which you can’t seem to get anything right. As opposed to continually banging your head against the wall while hoping for a different outcome, take the time to reassess your plan, educate yourself further and make tweaks where you need to make them.

There is no single magic moment in which you’ll “get it” and have everything fall into place while your account grows to an eye-popping level. Learning how to win at online sports betting takes time, and it also takes constant effort to stay on top of your game. Oddsmakers are very good at what they do, and that won’t be changing anytime soon.

Is live / in-game sports betting better?

Live betting opens the door to even more chances to win as the games play out. The action moves quickly, and you’ll have a number of opportunities to consider for each contest on the docket.

There’s no rule of thumb that says you’re more likely to win or lose with live sports betting. It’s important to use caution with these fast-moving wagers, however. If you get swept up in the action, you can find yourself down more than you anticipated before you know it.

As with all types of betting, it’s important to have a strict budget in place. For example, let’s say you’ve set $50 aside for live betting on a game you’re looking forward to. You need to stick to that amount.

Once it’s gone, enjoy the rest of the game and examine where you may have gone wrong. If you manage to get ahead, that’s awesome. Continue playing with the profits and make sure you walk away with at least your initial $50.

Also, it’s important to know what kind of bettor youare. Do you prefer to make well-thought-out decisions, or are you more inclined to make judgments on the fly? Those in the former camp may not find live betting appealing, while folks in the latter group may love it.

Tips To Win Sports Betting

What are the worst mistakes you can make in sports betting?

Just like in any other area of life, you can enhance your chances of success with sports betting by simply avoiding the big mistakes that can really set you back. There are going to be missteps and bad calls along the way for all of us, but there are some particularly treacherous potholes that we should all do our best to avoid.

  1. Overestimating your abilities: Being well-versed in sports is a great start, but that’s not all that it takes to find success with betting. There have been plenty of newbies who have entered the game with the thought that their knowledge gives them an instant edge. Then the rude awakening happens. It takes time to get up to speed with betting, so start small and don’t be so overconfident that you go all in from the beginning.
  2. Chasing losses: You’re going to lose games that you think are sure things, and victories that appear all but certain are going to turn against you at the last minute. These things happen, and it can sting. It’s important to accept them for what they are: losses. Learn what you can and moveon. You’re not “due” for a win because you had a bad beat. Those who chase losses with that mindset are in line for more disappointment.
  3. Taking too many moonshots: Continually shooting for the stars with lots of risky parlay bets is a recipe for disaster. There’s a reason that sportsbooks will pay out so much if such bets hit. That’s because the chances of it happening are really slim, and the overall hold they keep on parlays more than makes up for it. Feel free to have some fun with a lottery ticket on a small scale, but don’t bank on making regular returns this way.

Each of these mistakes can lead you on the road toward scratching your head and clicking the deposit button much more often than you should be. Don’t let that happen to you. Instead, have some knowledge going in, including the specific pitfalls that you need to keep an eye out for.

Who are the most successful sports bettors of all time?

While we’ve cautioned that turning a profit from betting on sports consistently is a big challenge, there are some who manage to do so. In fact, there are some rather well-known professional handicappers whose accomplishments are the stuff of legends. Here’s a quick look at some of the biggest names in the game.

  • Billy Walters: Walters built up his skills to the point where he was so successful that he had trouble getting enough action. The solution was that he enlisted folks to place his bets. He was even profiled on “60 Minutes” to further cement his legacy, but the story doesn’t have a completely happy ending. Walters spent time behind bars for insider trading.
  • Haralabos Voulgaris: Voulgaris developed an NBA betting system that led him on the path to riches. He had a great feel for totals bets and halftime lines, and got to the point where he was essentially on point with how coaches would react in certain situations. Voulgaris clearly demonstrated that having a specialty can really pay off.
  • Bill Krackomberger: Krackomberger has consistently honed his skills since his younger days. It’s paid off handsomely, as he has been profiled a number of times on major broadcast outlets. One point that he continually stresses is the importance of lineshopping. No matter how much of a handle he has on a game, it comes down to the numbers for him.

The dream of betting on sports for a living has been achieved by some, but it’s a very selectgroup. Be sure to keep that in mind no matter which stage of the game you’re in. There’s nothing wrong with striving to get better. Just know that the odds are against you.

Should you pay for sports betting picks?

If you spend enough time in gambling circles, you’ll be exposed to a good deal of boastful claims. It seems as if everyone has a “lock” pick these days, and there’s a steady stream of folks who portray themselves as sports betting geniuses on social media.

Beyond those attempting to draw attention to themselves, there are plenty who are looking to draw something else, as in your money. There are lots of touts to be found, and far too many of them prey on unsuspecting folks while making outlandish claims.

No one wins all of the time with sports betting. Period. Anyone that tells you otherwise is simply not being truthful. That being the case, why are there touts out there who claim to have ridiculous winning percentages and picks that “never lose”?

Quite simply, they’re looking to attract as many paying customers as possible. Some will stick around, others will catch on quickly, and the cycle will rinse and repeat. For the touts, as long as they have a stream of folks willing to pay, all is well.

There are touts and services out there that do a respectable job for their clients. They’re honest about their results, provide full transparency and legitimately do their best to keep their customers happy.

Unfortunately, the touts who take the opposite approach cast a cloud over the industry. If you’re considering paying for picks, tread carefully and fully vet yourselections. When you come across those with horrid reputations and ridiculous promises, move along quickly.

Do sports betting systems work?

A betting system can help you with your overall decision making. That said, there is no system that’s perfect. There’s no such thing as instant riches with sports betting, so use caution if and when you think you’ve come across the holy grail.

Systems can range from incredibly simple concepts — wagering on rested home favorites, taking streaking home underdogs plus the points, etc. — tocomplex. On the complex side, there can be lots of pieces that you must put together to lead to the optimal decision.

A well-defined system takes some time to put together, but it can be a worthwhile endeavor. You’ll learn a lot along the way, including how to sort through what really matters. However, the fact remains that there is no single system that will consistently beat the books.

You may hear theories that sound great — i.e. just always bet on the favorite and you’ll come out ahead — but further research reveals that there’s some faulty logic being applied. The same applies to the “can’t lose” systems that appear frequently on the interwebs.

A betting system that you devise on your own while leaning on trusted resources can be a step in the right direction, but don’t expect instant results. Even the top handicappers are always evolving and learning as they attempt to consistently beat the book.

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Which sports gives you the best odds/are easiest to pick winning bets?

When getting started with betting on sports, it’s always good to begin with what youknow. There’s no one sport that you should focus on because it’s so easy to beat. If there were, don’t you think the sportsbooks would plug that leak pretty quickly?

Yes, they would. Sportsbooks are not in the business of giving money away. If you want to win consistently, then know that there will be some work involved and that it’ll take some time. As such, it makes the most sense to begin by building off what you know.

For example, if you love hockey but don’t know a thing about basketball, start with the former and stay away from the latter. If you’re a big fan of golf but couldn’t care less about tennis, then stick to the links.

There will always be time to broaden your game down the road if you so choose by learning other sports. Additionally, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking a focused approach by zeroing in on a select few sports.

In fact, many successful handicappers do just that. One other note to keep in mind: Sports that are less heavily bet than others don’t receive as much attention from oddsmakers. As a result, some prognosticators view the lines as softer and easier to beat.

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Sports that fall into this category are generally of the nichevariety, so we would advise using caution before diving into the deep end of the pool. If you don’t know a thing about the sport, then how can you justify putting your money at risk?

How to beat Vegas / the bookies?

Sorry, but there’s no simple answer here, either. Consistently beating the books is far from simple. However, just like you can improve your overall handicapping skills and knowledge, you can enhance your chances of doing so by leaning on some keytenets. Here’s a trio that will set you off on the right track.

  1. Stick with legal sportsbooks: First and foremost, you should always be taking your business to sportsbooks that are legal and regulated in your state. There may still be a black market for sports betting, but that doesn’t mean you have to go there. Legal shops will keep your funds safe, pay out on time and provide clear-cut steps to resolution if problems arise. The same can’t be said for unregulated offshore operators.
  2. Fully understand what the lines are telling you: When getting set to bet on sports, one of the most important steps you can take is gaining a full understanding of what the numbers are telling you. The odds board can point you to the more likely outcome (at least in the eyes of the oddsmakers), show you where the public money is heading, and reveal what you would get for a winning bet. Be sure to take the time to understand all three of those components.
  3. Shop around for the best odds: All sports betting lines are not created equal. While the leading operators may be in the same range on games and events, you can find ticks of difference on the odds, spreads and totals. It may not seem like much, but it can all add up and impact your results. If you take the time to lineshop, you can spot these discrepancies and identify the most favorable spots to wager on the contests you’re interested in.

Additionally, keep in mind that you should use sports betting for entertainment purposes. The ranks of those who find long-term success are small. If you want to join them, know that it takes lots of work and effort to get there. Instead, approach sports betting with an eye toward fun while working toward developing your skills and improving your game.

Pro tip: Take advantage of sports betting bonuses & free bets

There are some outstanding ways to build up your bankroll without much effort required. That’s especially true as legal sports betting continues to enter new markets. Each legal state attracts some of the top names in the game, and they all want you as a customer.

In order to gain consumers, sportsbooks aren’t shy about offering up special deals for new users. Known as sign-upoffers, these are incentives that are there for the taking. Here are some examples of what you’ll see.

  • Deposit bonuses: After you create an account, many operators will match your first deposit up to a certain amount or percentage.
  • Risk-free bets: There are books that will allow you to place your first bet risk-free, which means you get a refund of site credit if the bet is a loser.
  • Free bets: A few operators will offer out free funds for you to use on the site just for signing up. Any winnings you get from the sportsbook’s free bets are yours to keep.

We’ve assembled the best of the best free bet offers here. When you’re ready to try out a new spot, be sure to click on our exclusive links to get the ball rolling. By taking this step, you’ll be in line for the best possible bonuses out there.

One other note to keep in mind: Once you’ve signed up, be on the lookout for featured promotional offerings from the operator, such as odds boosts and parlayinsurance. These are additional ways to get some extra benefit and keep that bankroll growing.

Importance of line shopping in sports betting

Sports betting is a numbers game, and we don’t just mean with the gobs of stats you have to consume or the volume you should bet to have a chance to win. The most important numbers are the ones that oddsmakers dish out for each game.

If you’re new to sports betting, then you need to devote some time to understanding the odds board. Sports betting odds point you to the most likely outcome in the eyes of the oddsmakers. You can also determine potential winnings and which side the public likes.

It takes time to get up to speed on those points, but it’s time well spent. Understanding the odds is one of the most important steps you can take as you work toward finding success in sports betting.

Once that’s under your belt, digest and understand this tidbit: All odds aren’t created equal. The numbers major sportsbook operators offer may be in line for games and events, but they won’t always be exactly the same.

To find the bestprices, you can engage in what’s known as line shopping. This simply means that you are checking the odds at multiple books to find the most attractive ones. By shopping, you can find ticks of difference here and there.

Tips To Win Sports Betting Odds

While it may not seem like much at first glance, it absolutely adds up in the long run. To demonstrate, consider the potential payouts for winning bets at the following odds:

  • $100 bet at odds of -105: potential return of $95.24
  • $100 bet at odds of -110: potential return of $90.91

The difference here is only $4.33. However, if you multiply that amount out over the course of 100 winning bets, that nominal figure turns into $433.00.

Line shopping takes just minutes in the modern world, so be sure to take the time to do it whenever you’re ready to place bets. Your bottom line will thank you in the long run.

There are two popular goals when it comes to sports betting. Bettors obviously want to turn a profit, but they also want to be entertained in the process.

These work together, because entertainment aside, you’re going to be enjoying yourself if you’re winning. Whether you like a certain sport or the teams/players associated with it, you’re going to be smiling at the end of the night while you watch a winning bet bring home some fat stacks.

Of course, you’re not always going to win. This is why considering the entertainment aspect is key. That sometimes means not placing wagers on genres that you normally don’t pay attention to, or aren’t going to get excited about.

This isn’t an exact science, and really, it’s just the start to formulating your personal (winning) sports betting strategy. The point is that you want to win and you want to be entertained – ideally both at the same time.

To help make that happen, we’re going to go over several basic sports betting strategies and tips that should make the process a little simpler for the casual sports bettor.

Long-winded intro aside, it is certainly important to be realistic with yourself and decide whether sports betting is purely for fun, purely for profit, or if you think you can handle both.

Making sports betting both entertaining and profitable can be tough, but it is more rewarding when you can wager that way. Regardless, the real reason you want to decide this is so you can gauge how much money you’ll be betting on a regular basis and how seriously you’re going to be taking the entire process.

Odds are that if you’re reading this right now, you care about winning, so we’ll proceed as if profiting takes precedence over being entertained.

2. Bankroll Management

The first step that you as a sports bettor looking to make a profit should follow is to know how much money you have to work with.

Whatever amount of cash you decide to bet with starts out as your base bankroll, and ideally serves as the amount of money you are willing to (and can afford to) risk over the course of any given week, month, or year.

You can even go down as far as limiting your daily spending, as well as how much cash you lay down on any one bet. A great rule of thumb is to never put more than 10% of your allotted bankroll on the line at any given time.

Adhering to these rules can be restrictive and even annoying, but there are going to be bad beats and off nights.

Having a set amount of money that you are willing to play with (and are okay with losing) is very key in making sure you can keep on betting beyond a couple of unlucky runs.

Another good idea beyond choosing your starting bankroll is deciding on a backup bankroll. What happens if you start with $100 and run through it in a week or a month? Do you have the money to go right back in with another $100?

Make sure you know your limits here, and think ahead enough so that you can reload safely if you initially experience a lot of losing. That, or you can go big at first (maybe double it to $200), and be very strict with the percentage you play on a daily and weekly basis.

We touched on this briefly in the bankroll section, but your betting style is going to be pretty key in deciding how you operate as a bettor.

There are several sports betting styles to consider, and also some that you simply want to avoid. Here are the three we’ll go over:

  • Kamikaze
  • Fixed
  • Varied

Kamikaze, the big one to avoid, is simply betting thoughtlessly on any game for any amount at any time.

You want some structure in sports betting. That starts with the amount of money you’re playing with as a whole, but it also extends to each individual bet.

Make sure there is logic behind every bet you target, whether it’s a favorite at home, a player prop bet, or a steep underdog with serious upside. Never place a bet just to bet, and avoid this kamikaze mindset that can quickly ruin your betting experience.

A better angle is the fixed bet, where you know how much you are putting on the line every time out, regardless of wager type. You’re only going to get so much back if you only bet $10 on every single bet, but for each bet, you’re also only losing a maximum of $10.

This is small stakes, but this will get you going in the right direction, and once you start finding success, you can adjust things. That will open the door to fattening up your bankroll, and in turn will allow for bigger bets.

Another method is to vary your betting and bet harder on favorites or “sure things,” and bet a smaller amount of cash on underdogs or wagers that provide big payouts. This contributes to the “grind” theory, where you can keep winning (and keep playing) as long as you’re only assuming so much risk.

It’s true that you can only win (roughly) what you put in, but you can only lose that same amount, too. In reality, if you’re successful, you can turn $10 into $20 in most of your bets, and when you nail the upset picks, you’re tripling or quadrupling your money.

There are more sports betting styles to consider, but these are the three to keep in the back of your mind at all times.

Avoid kamikaze strategies, generally stick with fixed betting, and loosen the straps a bit so you can double down on favorites every now and then.

Before you place a single bet, it’s going to be extremely important to know about the sport you’re placing money down on. You should know the sport front and back, whether it be the players, how the game is played, the matchups, trends – the list goes on.

Anyone can win a bet with blind luck, but to win consistently and sustain success, you need to know what you’re doing as a sports fan and as a bettor.

Perhaps you fancy yourself a sports guru and you know a lot about several sports. That may be true, but there are a lot of nuances and changes during each sport’s season. Taking breaks to bet on this sport and then shift to that sport can create unnecessary confusion with how you bet.

There is something to be said about truly having one sport down at an elite level, too. In addition, the idea of finding your betting groove cannot be overstated.

These are very real facets to sports betting, and to win on a regular basis, you should consider both every time you start betting on a specific sport.

Eventually, you can diversify your betting and branch out, but when you first get going, sticking with (and mastering) one betting genre is a great practice. In fact, as fun as betting on every sport can be, once you find the one that brings you profit, it’s not a bad idea to just ride it out with that sport until it’s out of season.

5. Find the Right Site

Before you can ever place bets, you’re going to need to find a place to wager. You have your bankroll, you know how you want to bet and which sport you’re wagering on, but you don’t have your sports betting site decided on yet.

This is actually huge for your entire process, as the right sports betting sites are going to offer a collection of criteria you won’t want to ignore. Here are a few to consider when picking a site to bet at:

  • They Pay
  • Safe and Reputable
  • Good Wagers and Odds
  • Great Bonuses and Promotions
  • Good Customer Service
  • Longevity

Make your personal list if you need to, but for all intents and purposes, this list will do the trick. Rule number one when picking a sports betting site to place wagers at is they need to pay you.

Read reviews, go to gambling forums, or even test the waters yourself with small amounts of money. You wouldn’t blindly put your money into a bank you don’t trust, so don’t do the same with your cash when you plan on betting with it.

There are a lot of betting sites that will gladly take your cash, but then conveniently run into problems once you win and want to withdrawal.

Avoid this! Find a collection of sites that you love that are never catching heat for slow payments or failure to pay.

If you can find a site that pays and is also safe and has a good history, all the better. Sites that have been around for a longer period of time tend to have a good reputation and also have stout customer service – two more things you’ll want in your go-to sportsbooks.

Albeit coming in as secondary necessities, you’re also going to want upside with your books. One path to that is finding books that offer really creative and unique wagers, as well as competitive odds. There are some powerhouse sports betting sites out there that are safe and pay you your cash, but they don’t have creative wagers, or they offer weak odds.

Hunt for that value when picking your site, and do the same for bonuses and promotions.

Ideally, the perfect site(s) will have a good combination of all of these criteria. The best sports betting sites are called that for a reason.

Bovada, BetOnline, and Bookmaker are some of the best that we’ve come across, but don’t just take our word for it. Get out there and discover which sites meet all of your demands and expectations.

Value was touched on for a second, but this certainly isn’t confined to just which sites offer the most playable wagers.

Once you have picked your favorite sites to wager on, it’s then up to you to hunt out the top value bets every single day across all of your favorite sites.

The trick here is that value is fairly subjective, so you’re only going to know it when you see it. One good idea is to start your day by looking at every site’s opening lines and start gauging where the best value resides.

The easiest way to see the value is to just compare the same exact bet between sites. If Bovada is offering the Patriots as -265 favorites, but BetOnline is giving you that same favorite at -225, it’s obvious which site you should be placing your wager at that day.

Hunting for value isn’t as taxing as it sounds, and it is absolutely necessary if you want to maximize your earnings.

7. Tilt Vacation

We could probably go on and on about sports betting tips to consider, but one of the most important strategies is to not have a strategy at all.

Win or lose, sometimes the best thing you can do when betting on sports is to simply take a break. Those big losses can put you on tilt, which isn’t just a poker or gambling term, but truly an actual feeling.

When on tilt, you’re vulnerable to betting more than you’ve agreed with yourself, or you will look at value and wagers in a biased manner.

Instead of going into a new day with a warped betting perspective, just swallow the loss and take a day or two off.

Once you get your bearings right again, you’ll be completely refreshed and ready to take on a whole new slate of bets.

This can also be something to think about after a big win. Often when you take down a huge prize, you can feel invincible, or make silly bets because you talk yourself into betting with “free money.”

How To Always Win Sports Betting

That’s a dangerous game, as you start working against the betting tendencies that got you into a successful pattern, and you start making obscene bets.

This can have you tricking yourself into seeing value that doesn’t exist or betting more money than you should based on your predetermined bankroll rules. That might not always backfire, but it absolutely can, or at a minimum, it can get you off of your current path and mess up the way your process operates.

Anytime you suffer a big loss or reel in a big win, embrace it the best you can and take a small break.

Doing so sharpens your focus and keeps everything in perspective.

Following these sports betting strategies and tips don’t guarantee a thing. However, these tips collectively should help you play at safe sites, get the most bang for your buck, and prolong your run as a sports bettor. Whether or not you’re successful at an elite level during that time is up to you.