New To Betting? Here's Some Important Advice
Beginner bettors often make the mistake of thinking that all they need to do is pick a winner to make money from betting. Betting is not that simple. To succeed at betting, you need to have a sound strategy. Almost every successful bettor has a strategy that they follow. There's no surefire way to pick winners 100% of the time, but having a solid strategy can help you increase your chances of winning in the long run. Here are some important pieces of advice for those new to betting:
1. Have a Strategy
Having a sound betting strategy in place is crucial for long-term success. There are several different betting strategies you can use. Some popular strategies include value betting, arbitrage betting, and matched betting.
Value betting is when you bet on an outcome you believe is more likely to occur than the odds suggest. For example, if you think there's a 50% chance of a team winning, but the odds are only 2.00 (1/1), then there's value in betting on that team.
Arbitrage betting is when you bet on all possible outcomes of an event to guarantee a profit. For example, if you think Team A has a 50% chance of winning and Team B has a 50% chance of winning, you can bet on both teams and be guaranteed to make a profit no matter which team wins.
Matched betting is when you bet both for and against an outcome using free bets and bonuses from bookmakers. Check out a guide to matched betting for beginners, so you know how to take advantage of bookmaker offers. This is how many people make a risk-free profit from betting.
2. Manage Your Bankroll
Your bankroll is the amount of money you have available to bet with. It's important to manage your bankroll carefully. Many beginner bettors make the mistake of betting too much money on each bet. This is a surefire way to lose money in the long run.
It's important only to bet a small percentage of your bankroll on each bet. This is known as flat betting. For example, if you have a $100 bankroll, you should be betting $10 per bet. This gives you a lot of room for error and ensures that you won't go broke if you have a losing streak.
3. Shop Around for the Best Odds
One of the most important things to do when betting is to shop for the best odds. Bookmakers all offer different odds on different events. By shopping around, you can ensure you get the best possible value for your bets. This is easily done online. Several odds comparison websites allow you to compare the odds from different bookmakers. This makes it easy to find the best odds on any given event.
4. Stay disciplined
It's important to stay disciplined when betting. Many beginner bettors make the mistake of chasing their losses. They will increase their bets to win back the money they've lost. This is a surefire way to lose even more money. If you are on a losing streak, it's important to stick to your betting strategy and not let your emotions take over. Chasing your losses will only lead to more losses in the long run.
5. Know When to Walk Away
It's important to know when to walk away from betting. This is especially true if you're on a losing streak. It can be tempting to keep betting to win back your losses, but this is often a recipe for disaster.
If you consistently lose money, it might be time to take a break from betting or switch to a different strategy. There's no shame in admitting that you need help. Several professional bettors and handicappers offer their services online. For a fee, they will provide you with picks or advice on improving your betting strategy.
6. Take Advantage of Promotions and Bonuses
Bookmakers are always offering promotions and bonuses to try and attract new customers. These offers can be very lucrative if used correctly. Many bookmakers offer sign-up bonuses, giving you free money to bet when you open a new account.
There are also several ongoing promotions that you can take advantage of. For example, many bookmakers offer cashback deals, which refund your stake if your bet loses. There are also reload bonuses, which give you a bonus when you deposit more money into your account.
By following these five pieces of advice, you'll be well to becoming a successful bettor. Always research, manage your bankroll carefully, and exercise caution when betting online. And most importantly, be patient. You can make a lot of money from betting on sports with little time and effort.