10 Keys To Successful Sports Betting
Punters Guide For Beginners
20 Nov 06

On your mark, get set . . . WAIT!

Yes, the beginning of any new sport season (football, rugby, cricket, U.S. football, etc.) brings with it plenty of pent up “betting” energy, as most punters have been hanging out in the shallow part of the pool for a while. But with the launch of this new season, everyone is ready to dive back into the deep end.

Before we do that, let’s go to the sports betting doctor and get a quick check-up and some advice for better health.

There are two ways one can go about wagering on sports. One way is to let it chase you around, the other way is for you to be the boss. When we evaluate why the majority of players lose money, it always comes down to the same few factors: 1) they lack a clear plan 2) Discipline is sadly absent from their wagering habits and 3) they make uninformed decisions.

What we're going to do is give you a checklist that should be required reading at the beginning of each season and even a couple of times throughout the year. Whether you're a veteran of this game or just starting out (especially if you are just starting out), you need to read this.

Below we’ve listed key points that, if adhered to, will provide you with the foundation to make the season a success story. Some of the items on this list are going to be familiar territory for those who have been around for a while, but for many it will be helpful and even a veteran sports bettor needs a refresher.

1) Putting Aside A Bankroll - If you've spent any amount of time at all wagering on sports, then this first rule will not be news to you. It is to establish a bankroll. We simply can't stress this enough and it is often disregarded. This is what sets everything else up. A set bankroll can save you a ton of discomfort down the road.

First, you must put aside a set amount of money you are willing to lose. Yes, we said lose. Not that you will lose it, but one must prepare for the worst possible outcome. If that money is there for the specific purpose of betting, then you know you can afford to be without it. By having a predetermined amount pinpointed for wagering, it is much easier to plan a strategy for the entire season, not just one weekend or a month.

When your bankroll increases, or decreases, it is an uncomplicated process to readjust your strategy. Having an established bankroll also works to keep the emotions in-check, eliminating poor decisions when you're down a few bucks, or celebrating too hard when you're up a bit. This leads us to number two on the list.

2) Money Management - Yeah, this is one everyone talks about, but far too many players pay only lip service without actually applying the principles to their wagering. You ever golf with a guy who hits the ball a mile off the tee, is solid with the irons, and can putt…but still often scores in the mid-80s? They’ve got the game; they just don’t know how to manage the course. The same applies to wagering on sports. We know plenty of people who can pick more winners than losers but after the smoke clears, they’re down on the year. This is the number one reason.

Have a money management system firmly in place before you begin. Once you've set a bankroll, the next step is to institute a plan for turning that money into more money. There are all kinds of systems floating around, but the key is to know the good from the bad. A good one will stop you from chasing losses, while building your bankroll when the winning happens.

We strongly suggest determining a specific percentage of your bankroll (remember what that was, from number one above) and using that as the amount you will wager on every play, betting equal amounts at all times. So you would designate either 1 percent or 2 percent as your unit size, and make all of your plays one unit. When your bankroll is building, the actual dollar amount of each wager will go up and if you’re losing, the amount will naturally decrease (based on playing a percentage of bankroll). Stick with the plan no matter how bleak, or how rosy, everything gets.

3) It Ain’t Easy - Do yourself a big favor and never let yourself believe that winning at this activity is easy. Once you start thinking that beating the numbers is a walk in the park, you and your bankroll are in trouble.

Consistently beating the line takes work, patience and commitment. There are no shortcuts. You must be ready to roll up the sleeves and dig in. Or pay someone who will work hard to find those winners for you. Either way you need good info. No one who is successful beating the odds on their own picks up a schedule, gets the lines, then goes about getting down on the game. Be informed.

4) Shop, Shop - Find at least two (and preferably more) places where you get your lines and can make plays. With the growth of the online sportsbook industry it has become easy to have several outs, and there are many, many very solid books operating online. Over the long haul, having the ability to shop numbers (both the pointspread and the moneyline) is going to have a significant impact to your bottomline.

Take a month or two and chart the number of plays that would have been impacted by getting the benefit of better odds . . . of course you can’t always find line discrepancies, but they are out there . . . while moneyline variations are very common. Be on the right side of the numbers.

5) Parlays Are For Fun - With very, very few exceptions, only play parlays and teasers for “beer and pizza” money (i.e. – fun money). Sure they're sexy, inducing thoughts of great riches from a small wager, but they just don't provide real value. It's tough enough winning a wager on a single play, let alone stacking up a couple of games or more.

6) Trends Alone Are Trouble - Don't get drawn into the handicapping rut of using trends as your sole means of deciding on a play. Trends can be a valuable part of a well-rounded handicapping approach, but on their own, they can be dangerous. You need to evaluate other information that goes beyond these numbers.

Another problem with juicy trends is that any really good one is almost assuredly known by many others, including the guys who make the line. Thus, it’s likely been accounted for by the time the number is posted.

7) Don't Bet The Board - Playing the entire day’s or weekend’s lineup is by no means conducive to wagering success. A good handicapping system should not lead you astray by identifying the entire schedule as possible plays. Take the best ones, and throw out the rest. There is always another day when it comes to betting.

The sign of a successful bettor is one who can take a day or two off if nothing comes up as a strong play. One who doesn't have to have a lot of "action". Don't be one of the suckers who jump around the entire board firing mindless bets down. Those people never come out in front at the end of the day.

8) Never Be Amazed - Never be amazed or astonished with final scores. The saying "on any given day anyone can beat anyone" is true. Good teams lose and bad teams win, and bad teams cover spreads. Keep this in mind when you find yourself constantly wanting to play on favorites and conversely, reluctant to bet on the dogs. Don't let a good or bad performance be what you base your opinion on the next week. No team is as good or as bad as their best or worst outing. Teams play at different levels throughout a long season. The sooner you recognize that, the better off you'll be.

9) The "Flavor of the Month" Club - Don't get sucked in by teams that the media happen to be in love with at the moment. The media talking heads and pre-game shows are notorious for hyping players, stories, matchups . . . whatever; skewing the reality of the situation. The problem is so many sports bettors watch these programs and get caught up in the hype. Fight through the fluff and get to know the real teams. In fact, more times than not, the value will be found on whatever teams aren’t in the “flavor of the month” club. Look for opportunities to play against the media favorites.

10) Injuries - Staying along the same lines as the above guideline, never make a play without knowing what the injury situation is.

Sounds like a no-brainer right, but every week bettors will plunk down their wagers without giving even a cursory look at the updated lineups. This has a substantial influence on the outcome of a game. Yes, the line will usually account for this, but you need to look beyond what the line correction is and see if there is still any value. You need to be informed.

There you have it, a handful of easy to apply guidelines for any new season. This is by no means a definitive list, nor do all of them fit for every player, but the base principles are worth paying attention to. Learn them, stick to them, and we guarantee you will be in the best wagering shape of your life.

Good luck.

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