Sports betting is big business in the US. Millions of people put down a few bets every month, and some people are even professional sports bettors who make a living from beating the books. But a lot of people lose money too. Whether that’s casually over the long term, or by failing when they think they have an edge. So what can you do to improve you chances, and what’s really possible?
While no 800-or-so word article can answer that question fully, this piece will look into a few of the basic points that can inform a wider answer. What does “better” look like for most bettors? What’s the best way to study and learn sports betting? And, crucially, what are some of the biggest pitfalls to navigate?
Table of Contents
What Does Better Mean and What Are the Likely Ceilings?
For many bettors, not depleting their bankroll to zero would be a good definition of better. If you’re already managing your bankroll well, building that up to a point that would be significant to money to you and then withdrawing is the best you can aim for.
In the modern day, sportsbook platforms like the Betway app let you conveniently bet wherever you are, with a simple user experience and often with exclusive bonuses and rewards too.
These can be a double edged sword. The convenience and ease is great when you’re on a roll and in the zone, but betting when you’re tired, unfocused or on tilt is a sure fire way to deplete your bankroll. Remember, better often means grinding up to a decent bankroll slowly through disciplined and less risky bets.
Of course, it’s gambling at the end of the day. If you want to risk your whole bankroll on a longshot parlay – that’s up to you. But don’t expect to make any kind of long term profit without getting very lucky.
Outside of grinding out small edges for a decent profit, there’s little chance of anything else. Professional bettors who make lots of money often study and fluctuate losing and winning periods for years, work out complicated computer systems or are simply mathematical geniuses with a rare talent for seeing patterns and stats. Statistically, this is extremely unlikely to be you – but never say never.
You Have to Study, But Sports Knowledge Does Not Mean Betting Advantage
Speaking of study, many people interested in getting better sports betting results assume that watching a lot of sports and consuming a lot of sports media will do the job. It won’t.
Sports betting is a game of numbers. You’re trying to beat the ‘books odds, not other fans predictions. The top bettors find value bets through complicated analysis of odds and sports data that doesn’t always need personal knowledge of the sport in question.
In fact, watching a lot of sports content and sports matches while betting can make you bet emotionally. It’s also very hard to get an edge through team news, as today sportsbooks have automated systems for scouring updates online that update odds in seconds.
The best way to study is by reading systems from certified successful sports bettors. Not taking tips from Instagram rich kids, or even random people on betting forums or websites.
Instead, read books by successful bettors, and understand their math based systems first. It’s boring, but it will mathematically work better than subconsciously remembering the same sports media talking points as every other Joe when you go to pick a wager. If that sounds too hard, you’re probably more suited to casual betting just for fun.
Bankroll Management is as Important as Picks
As for picking bets, once again, its more often about odds and numbers than sports knowledge. Donking your whole first deposit on a single long shot bet might be great if it comes through, but statistically it was unlikely. If you repeated that again, you’d most likely lose.
Look to the process and not the outcome. This is why you bet small, so you can improve the process. If your bet lost – what happened? Was it variance and just pure luck, or did you miss a key tactical or line-up change? Was the edge really as valuable as you thought? Small bets let you make more bets from your initial bankroll so you can start to build a feel for the system you’re using.
Most gamblers also know you should never chase losses. Especially in sports betting where there is some element of skill. Losing can put you on tilt, where you make worst decisions based on hope and impulse rather than reasoned thought. When you’ve just lost, the odds boost on the team your support certainly looks better – but is is really?
Bets and Emotional Triggers You Can Avoid
If you seriously want to grind out better results from your sports betting, you simply should not be betting anything significant for your bankroll when you’re emotionally attached to a sports team.
You should also learn when to call it quits for a session. If you’ve lost three in a row for the day, and there’s an evening game coming up – just put the app down. If a bet isn’t on your roster of good ideas pre picked through analysis or a system, then it’s probably not worth it.
Follow some of these tips, and, no promises, but you might slowly see your sports betting bankroll improve.
