Secret to a Good Bet

At some point anyone interested in any form of gambling asks the question: “What is the secret to a good bet?” In almost every incidence, regardless of the action, the answer is to “use common sense.” Well, that is not different in betting on sports – not really anyway. While common sense might be the most important factor, uncommon sense also is required.

The issue here is that sports betting requires a lot of research and work. Bettors not willing to put in the hours should stick to something simple, such as slot machines where all the player has to do is drop in a quarter and pull the lever. However, if the gambler wants to enjoy the advantages that sports betting has to offer over other gaming options, the player is going to need a little background information and a little specialized knowledge.

Basics of Sports Betting

At its heart, sports betting is no different than placing any other type of wager – a bettor chooses one of the options available and, if it wins, gets money in return. The difference is that dice can be “loaded” or a roulette wheel can be “fixed,” but – without a large-scale cheating effort – the outcome of sporting events generally can be trusted. Also, when it comes to team competition, sports betting is one-on-one wagering -- one side wins, the other loses. There are no “even money” or “longshot” options to contend with, just one team that ends the contest having scored more points.

These advantages do not make sports betting any easier. There are point spreads and betting lines to be considered that are designed to equalize the chances for the “favorite” and the “underdog.” Also remember that these bets are going through a middleman, the “sports book,” who is trying to arrange the odds so that the money wagered is split about half and half between the two teams in order to maintain the “house advantage” and make a profit regardless of which team wins.

Percentages

Aside from doing homework and researching the teams and conditions of play, the most important part of placing good sports bets is to play percentages and tightly manage your bankroll. The percentages mentioned here have nothing to do with the points spread or the game itself; what is meant is to know the percentages of winning and losing at sports betting.

Experts will tell you that even professional gamblers rarely win more than 58 percent of the time, so sports bettors have to realize they are going to lose bets, perhaps a great many of them. As a consequence, it is advised that bettors establish a betting budget (the amount they are willing to wager and possibly lose), set that as their bankroll, and never wager more than approximately two percent to three percent of that bankroll on any one bet.