For many years, sports betting was something of a hush-hush thing. Millions of gamblers placed wagers on games across all of sports. In recent years, it has become not only more acceptable but commonplace in more and more states.
Whether you are new to the world of sports betting or have been involved for some time, a good strategy can go a long way. Here are a few simple strategies that every bettor should be implementing.
Newcomers to betting may look atNFL playoff oddsand look as though it is in another language. What do all of these numbers mean? Learning how to read and understand the odds is thesingle best strategythat any bettor could implement. While they might seem complicated, they aren’t as bad as it seems. Everything will have +/-odds. A means it is more likely while a + is less likely. The higher the number on either side, the more/less likely it is to happen. A higher negative number means less money in return while a higher positive number equates to a much larger payout.
Another important thing to remember aboutsports bettingis that not all sportsbooks have the same odds. For the most part, they will be within a short range of one another, but those little differences can wind up making a big difference. Even a small difference can add up over time. Shop the odds to find the best value. It might not end up making or breaking your bankroll but there is nothing wrong with getting a few extra bucks on a winning bet. Besides, it will give you a clear idea of how the sportsbooks feel about that particular matchup.
Think about sports betting like this. It is a form of entertainment, the same way that going to the movies, buying video games, or going on vacation is. There is a cost attached to each of those. When you think about sports betting in that light, it makes the inevitable losses easier to stomach. While that might sound negative, consider that even the very best sports bettors lose roughly 40% of the time.
For that reason, it is crucial to manage your bankroll. Doing so will help you stretch the value of your entertainment dollar and keep you from having to make frequent deposits. A good rule of thumb is to risk no more than 1-2% of your bankroll. If you start out with $100, risking no more than a few dollars might not seem all that exciting but it will insulate you against cold streaks that come for every player.
Parlays are all the rage in sports betting these days. It’s easy to understand, too. Parlays have much higher odds, which can result in a huge win on any given day. Plus, it’s exciting to track your wagers as they unfold and see how close you can come to hitting this lottery-type bet slip. It can be fun to put a buck or two down on an unlikely parlay and hope to hit that difference-maker.
The simple fact of the matter is that parlays rarely hit. Even smaller parlays, two or three legs, don’t have great odds of hitting. You can still wager on parlays but limit how much you spend. If you are putting more than a few dollars down on a parlay, it will just shorten the timeline between you and your next deposit. Try to stick with the sharper odds and work on incremental wins.