Sports betting has become a common pastime for many Americans, with a majority of those who are 21 or older reporting making at least one bet per month. However, it’s important to keep in mind that profitability in sports betting isn’t a guarantee and may take time to achieve. The key to winning is avoiding emotional decisions and making bets based on statistics, research, and analysis.
If you’re looking to make money sports betting, you must understand that it is a long-term journey and will take consistent effort and patience to be profitable. You’ll have to overcome a series of ups and downs, including some that will feel like bad luck. But, you can avoid these costly mistakes by following some basic rules of thumb:
1. Start with a bankroll dedicated to the sport you want to bet on.
Whether you’re new to the sport or an experienced bettor, it’s essential to have a set amount of money that you will bet with every game. A dedicated account will help you keep track of your wins and losses while ensuring that you never risk more than you can afford to lose. This will prevent you from getting sucked into an unsustainable cycle of losing and then trying to recover your losses.
2. Understand the different types of bets.
There are many different ways to bet on a sporting event, from straight bets to parlays and futures. Each type of bet has its own nuances and payouts. Straight bets are simple wagers on a single outcome, such as the winner of a specific game. A futures bet involves placing a bet on a particular outcome for an entire season. These bets can have a very long horizon, and payouts are usually reduced as the season progresses.
3. Learn how to read odds.
Sportsbooks determine their odds by taking into account the bookmakers’ profit margin. This is why you might see a plus sign (plus money) or a minus sign (-money) on a team’s odds. Our brains are wired to think of plus and minus as positive and negative, but this isn’t the case when it comes to sports betting.
4. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your bets.
Using a spreadsheet to record your bets can help you identify patterns and find potential value bets. It’s also a great way to track your wins and losses, and make note of the factors that led to each win or loss.
5. Consider seasonal adjustments to your unit sizes.
Certain periods of the year, such as playoffs and major tournaments, offer more opportunities to place bets but can also have higher variance than normal. You can minimize your risk by adjusting your unit size during these times of the year to account for this volatility and take advantage of your specialized knowledge. This will increase your chances of being profitable in the long run. It’s also a good idea to practice proper bankroll management techniques, which will add an additional layer of financial discipline to your sports betting strategy.