Sports Betting Online & Sports Books Reviews

Betting. Skeptics loathe it; participants enjoy it. The truth is, there’s really nothing wrong with betting, so long as you know what you’re doing and do it responsibly. Whether you’re a casino gambler or a sports better, gambling can be lots of fun and might even bring you some fast cash as well. However, as many experienced betters would tell you, a new sports better can lose their shirt if they dive right into placing bets without first gaining some knowledge and information. Doing your homework will make the difference between being a broke and naive better and becoming a smart and savvy gambler.

Here are a few things you will want to keep in mind when placing your sports bets.

If you don’t have it, don’t bet it

Contrary to the popular belief behind an unfortunate and risky sports betting practice, gambling  is not the way to bail yourself out of a tough personal economic situation. Sure, betting might bring you a good sum of money, and that’s great, but it’s no guarantee. Should you lose, you might very well be worse off than you were to begin with. Sports betters can look forward to fun and the adrenaline rush of risk, but gambling can not be taken too lightly or too seriously. As a sports better, you need to find a balance. Be responsible in managing your money and  placing your bets, but don’t bet so high that you take it to heart when you lose, as is bound to happen from time to time. The bottom line? Take care of your responsibilities first: your bills, debts, expenses, savings, etc. Then, any leftover cash that you can afford to spare can be used for your sports betting ventures. However, watch how much you bet. You don’t want to bet more than you can afford to lose!

Know your niche

If you’re going to bet on sports, don’t find yourself haphazardly placing bets on one random event after another. Pick a sport that holds your interest and stick with it. Study up on the sport itself, learn the ins and outs and the odds, and you’ll increase the probability of success as a well-informed and conscientious sports better.

Don’t let a winning streak override your common sense

You’re on a roll! All your well placed bets have paid off. It seems like you just can’t lose. Before your ego inflates much more, let me burst that cozy little bubble of deception: you can and will lose. Even if you’re sports bets are going smoothly and you’re rolling in the dough, eventually, you’re winning streak will be broken. It’s inevitable. There are no guarantees in gambling. It’s all about risk, or more precisely calculated risk. The point? Don’t increase the amount you bet simply because your team has won a few games.. Eventually a team with better skills or better luck is going to come along. Hold tight to your common sense and bet the way you would have before this winning streak. You’ll lose a lot less when the losses come if you choose to be conscientious rather than cocky.

By keeping these considerations in mind, you’ll make smart decisions as a sports better, enjoying your endeavor all the more.

There are many variables involved in the determination of what a point spread, money line or over/under figure will be. The bookmaker must be aware of several important factors before a line is posted.

Point differentials/averages

The bookmaker must take a hard look at the prior outcomes for teams in attempting to determine a future result. The won/loss record for each team should be noted, but a more important factor in determining a point spread involves the margin of victories and defeats for a team. A point differential number indicates the average numerical result for a team over a series of games.

If a football team has played ten games, the bookmaker will evaluate the total number of points that are scored and allowed by a team. He will divide the numbers by ten to calculate an average result. If a team averages 24 points a game while allowing 21 points per contest, the club would have an average point differential of plus three. The bookmaker would then compare the point differential figures for each team for an upcoming game to develop a general idea of the typical numerical difference between each squad.

In the example listed, the scoring averages would be combined to help the bookmaker to determine a total or over/under figure for the game. With 24 scored and 21 allowed, the total average would be 45 for the team in the example. Like the point spread, the bookmaker would combine the total averages for the two teams to roughly estimate how many points might be scored in the upcoming game.

The venue of the game

The site of the game also must be noted by the bookmaker. Generally, the home team will given a field goal edge in football and four points in basketball.

However, there are certain teams that will perform above or below these standard averages. The bookmaker needs to have a general understanding of how important a specific home field or court truly is. Home records and score results from home games should be noted.

Injuries

While sports teams are always looking to play its very best players, there are usually a few key players that are sidelined by injuries. Because of the physical nature of the sport, injuries are common place in football.  In the week leading up to a game, many players will be listed as questionable on the injury report.

The bookmaker must be aware of any developments involving key players that are related to injuries. The absence of a star quarterback can have a dramatic effect on the odds for an upcoming game. It is important for the bookmaker to keep pace with the bettors when it comes to finding out the status of a key injured player.

Injuries are also important in basketball because of the limited number of players on a roster. The absence of an elite player from an NBA or college team due to an injury can prove to be worth a few points in the point spread.

Weather conditions

Weather conditions can become a factor in the over/under numbers that are posted for a football game. Heavy rains can affect a game in several ways. The rain can make it difficult for quarterbacks to grip and throw the ball. Rushers and receivers can also have trouble keeping control of the ball. In addition, a steady rain can adversely impact the conditions of the playing surface.

Snowy conditions can have the same negative effects with the added element of bitterly cold temperatures. Even in dry conditions, extreme winds and/or cold temperatures can have a major effect on the total of a football game. Subsequently, the bookmaker needs to keep an eye on any extreme weather patterns that could develop during the week.

Intangible factors

After inputting the basic elements of an upcoming game, the bookmaker must consider intangibles that are not as easy to measure as the stats.

For football odds, key point spread numbers like 3, 4, 6 and 7 must be noted by the bookmaker. Because so many outcomes land on these numbers, the bookmaker must be wise when he moves point spread figures around these numbers.

The bookmaker must also have a feel of how professional sports bettors might view a particular game. There are also certain scheduling elements that can play a role in the odds for an upcoming game. Is the game viewed as a big revenge contest by a team in college football? Clearly, there are subtle elements to booking a game that can’t be ignored, and these intangible factors often play a role in the outcome.

Sports betting lines must take into account a myriad of factors.  With this in mind, it is not surprising that bookmakers each have different lines – and you can take advantage of this fact by finding the best lines for your bets.

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The novice bettor can initially experience trouble understanding the basic elements of a point spread. In reality, with a little explanation, the lines aren’t too difficult to comprehend.

A standard football line

The most common football bets involve wagers on the point spread and the total or over/under. Here’s an example of what a standard NFL point spread might look like:

101 Cowboys +3 (-110)

41

102 Steelers   -3 (-110)

Beginning sports bettors often wonder what the numbers to the left of each team mean. In this example, the 101 and 102 numbers are the betting numbers assigned to each team.

Nevada and online sports books enter wagering information into a computer. These computer systems are designed to track each game through betting numbers that correlate to a specific team on a specific date.

If a bettor wants to place a wager on the Steelers, the ticket writer at a Nevada sports book wouldn’t type “Steelers” into his betting terminal, as these computer stations have a numeric focused keypad. Instead, the writer would enter the number 102 and print up the wagering ticket for the customer.  For an online wager, the bettor is prompted to click on the appropriate betting number.

The next aspect of the line to understand involves the numbers to the right of each team. In point spread odds, the team with the minus number is the favored squad. In this example, Pittsburgh is favored by three points. For the bettor to win his bet on the Steelers, Pittsburgh must win the game by four points or more.

However, a novice bettor may be confused by this type of wager. The beginner will sometimes think that he has won the bet, even if the Steelers win by only one or two points. If a bettor wants to wager on Dallas, the Cowboys must win the game or lose by only two points or less for the player to win his bet. If the Steelers win the game by a field goal, the result is considered a push. When this happens, the sports book will return the original bet amount to the player.

The -110 numbers can also confuse beginning sports bettors. The bookmaker charges a fee to accept these types of wagers. If there is an equal amount of action on a game, the bookmaker is able to turn a profit on the vigorish or juice associated with the losing bets.  To win $100, the bettor must put up $110. If the bettor wins, he will get paid a total of $210.

The next aspect of the line involves the number 41 that is at the far right. This is the over/under figure or total on the game. If the bettor places a wager on the over, the two squads must combine for 42 points or more. To win an under bet, the player will need the two clubs to score fewer than 41 points.  At a Nevada sports book, the computer terminals have keys that read over and under. To enter one of these bets, the writer would key one of the betting numbers (either one is acceptable) and then hit either the over or under keys.

Finally, it is important to understand that the team at the bottom of the odds is the home team. In the example, the Steelers are at the bottom, which indicates that the game is being played at Pittsburgh. For neutral site games, a home team will either be designated by the sports league or the bookmaker.  Most sports books will provide information on its schedule of games regarding when a contest is being played at a neutral site.

The NFL example also covers what typical point spreads look like in college football, the NBA and college hoops.

The money line

The bettor also has the option of simply wagering on what team will win a particular game, regardless of the margin of victory. While these bets are available in football and basketball, money line wagers are most common to the sport of baseball.

Here’s an example of a typical baseball money line:

101 Giants    +130

102 Dodgers   -150

Like the NFL example, each team is assigned a betting number and the home club (Los Angeles) is listed at the bottom. To place a bet on the Dodgers, the bettor must put up $150 to win $100, while a $100 bet on the Giants would yield a return of $130. Because there is limited scoring in baseball, the standard bets in baseball involve simply picking the winning team.

While there are many numbers in sports betting lines, they always follow the same format, making it easy for you to read the lines once you understand the fundamentals.

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Even for the most successful sports bettor, there will be both losing stretches and bad beats that will test your resolve.  Despite the emotional rollercoaster, sports bettors must maintain their focus. There are hundreds of football and basketball games to evaluate every year, as well as the daily grind of the baseball season during the spring and summer.

It is difficult to make a living as a sports better, but professionals attribute their success to fundamental principles that guide every decision.  Indeed, it is critical for the sports bettor to build his success on sound fundamentals that are proven over the long-term.

1. You are not a fan

Many novice sports bettors will wager on a team because they are a fan of a specific club or player.  In contrast, the successful sports bettor has no biases, and there are no favorite teams.

While the successful sports bettor can enjoy following and watching sports, there is only one sole focus: finding the right team to wager on to win his bet.

The novice bettor may be a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  If Pittsburgh is favored by a touchdown and wins by three points, how will the novice bettor feel?  Is he happy because his favorite team won or disgusted that he lost money on his wager?

The savvy sports bettor gains enjoyment solely from winning a wager and turning a profit.  Clearly, the serious sports bettor isn’t a fan.

2. Keep emotions in check

Even the very best sports bettors will suffer from dry spells. Over a large volume of bets, a good sports bettor is fortunate to win 55-57% of his wagers. The sports bettor must hit on 53% of his point spread wagers just to turn a modest profit – which means there are many losing bets to manage.

The successful sports bettor must be able to deal with all of the highs and lows of sports betting in an even manner. Winning streaks must be kept in perspective, and the bettor must also be able to properly handle a losing run.

Once a game is over, the focus should quickly turn to the next games, instead of dwelling on emotions. Past results should be evaluated as a tool to help the bettor win future wagers, but emotions are irrelevant to tomorrow’s results.

3. Practice patience

Novice sports bettors easily fall into the trap of constantly needing action, and this need is further amplified when there is a televised game.  It is tempting for the novice sports bettor to get involved in a Monday night football game or a big televised contest in college hoops.

In contrast, a professional sports bettor will only place a bet on a game when he feels a wager can be won. The ability to pass on a game is vital to the success of a sports bettor.

Another common mistake for new sports bettors involves chasing losses. If a bettor loses a few games and falls into a hole, he will try to chase these defeats by placing bets on the next game that is available on the schedule. However, unlike the bookmaker who must book every game, the bettor isn’t obligated to bet on every scheduled game.  Smart bettors take advantage of this fact and do not fall victim to the schedule.

Don’t push the envelope. A sports bettor needs to have patience to enjoy long-term success.

4. Perception isn’t reality

Professionals know that reality is not tied to perception in sports betting.  In contrast, novice and public bettors will allow their perceptions to influence their bets.  For example, a pro or college team can draw heavy betting interest if they played a great game in the prior week.  A novice bettor will rush to bet against a weak team that performed terribly in the prior week.

In contrast, the professional sports bettor will not automatically jump on the bandwagon of a good team or rush to bet against the weak team. After all, it is just one game out of a schedule of more than a dozen contests. The sharp sports bettor won’t be afraid to go against the grain, trusting his numbers and fundamentals.

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There is certainly no shortage of sports betting advice, and numerous statistics and trends are widely available to help the bettor formulate a plan for an upcoming game.  In fact, there are even sites that track the percentage of bets that are being placed on each team.

However, the barrage of information can be overwhelming to the sports bettor.  To help your odds, it is important to find the important information, while wedding out the advice that is simply not worthwhile.

Beware of hot air

Football is the ultimate television sport, leading to the unsurprising popularity of football sports betting.  With a week between each game, both football bettors and sports pundits have plenty of time to evaluate and analyze every contest.  On ESPN and other networks, there is constant chatter regarding how well the teams will perform, and naturally a large part of these shows involve predictions on the games.

At first glance, these media predictions would seem to have some value to the bettor. After all, many of the former players on TV are in the Hall of Fame, giving them credibility as football experts.  However, there is a major difference between knowing the nuances of the game as a former player and predicting what will happen on a given Sunday!  Most of these sports shows will simply predict the winners without any mention of the point spread, and some bettors become unknowingly caught in the hype they hear on TV.

In reality, these picks have no real value. The point spread wagers are a completely different animal. While the TV pundits will overwhelmingly focus on the best teams who win most of the time, the sports bettor realizes that underdogs cover the point spread just as often as favorites.

Watch out for the trends

It is certainly true that past results are the greatest indicator of future outcomes in sports, but there is a fine line between strong and weak correlations.  Many professional handicappers use all types of exotic trends to seemingly demonstrate their vast knowledge of sports betting, but which ones of these are actually useful?   After all, it isn’t too difficult to run all of the various statistics through a computer program to generate a textbook of trends.

While some trends are legitimate, others offer questionable correlations.  Consider these NFL trends that were listed for a game during the 2009 season: Team A: 6-0 Over after gaining 450+ total yards, Team B: 0-6 ATS vs. teams with winning record.

The trend involving team A could be viable based on some offensive momentum for a team. However, it doesn’t take into account any information about the upcoming opponent.  In addition, the six games in the trend cover a three-year period. Does a result from a 2007 game mean anything in 2009? After all, it isn’t too uncommon for a team to go from first place to last place, and vice versa, from year to year.

The trend involving Team B seems to be a little more credible. All of the six games from the trend are from the current season.  In addition, the team involved in the trend and the upcoming opponent are factored in the trend.

Be cautious of riding favorites

The novice sports bettor is usually drawn to betting on the favored team, and in theory, the favored club is the better squad. The bettor assumes that the better team will eventually overpower a weaker foe to cover the point spread.

However, over the long haul of game, you will not gain any real edge by riding favorites. Instead, the sports bettor should have a greater focus on the leveling balance of the point spread. Once this is done, the player can focus on the ultimate goal of determining which team is better suited to cover the spread, regardless of whether that club is a favorite or underdog.

Clearly, some sports betting advice can enhance your edge, while others simply provide frivolous information.  As you hone your skills, you can improve your sports betting chances by following the real data and disregarding the irrelevant.

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he process of becoming a successful sports bettor can be an overwhelming endeavor for a beginner. However, there are several fundamental concepts that can help the novice bettor to start on the right track.

Develop money management discipline

It can be quite tempting to focus on a game that looks too good to be true, or to wager on almost every game to constantly enjoy action. While sports betting can be a fun activity, the ultimate goal is to turn a profit over the long term.

The beginner should start by determining how much of a bankroll he can manage. The longer you wish to be a bettor, the larger your bankroll must be.  After all, even the most successful professional sports bettor goes through losing periods.

Once your bankroll is established, you must determine a proper money management strategy.

Whether a seasoned pro or a beginner, the player should only a wager a small amount of the bankroll on a particular game. A basic method could feature a standard wager that is 1% of the starting or evolving bankroll on each wager. If the bettor rates his plays, he could increase the wager to 2% for higher-rated plays. While it can be tempting to load 20% or 30% of your bankroll onto a big play, you must have more discipline to manage your bankroll.

Be disciplined about your wager choices

You must also exercise discipline when selecting the games on which you wish to wager.  Keep in mind that you have a basic advantage, which is often overlooked, over the bookmaker.

The bookmaker must set odds for every single game on a schedule of events for each day. There are certainly games that are difficult to book on a particular day, depending on the circumstances, but the odds still must be posted. In contrast, the bettor has the option to pick and choose. The player can pass on a game, if he so desires.

Many beginners overlook their ultimate goal of building their bankroll by falling into the trap of having action on a game.  The most classic example of this involves the NFL Monday night game.  As the only football game on the card, many bettors rush in to wager.

If a wager is made on the game as part of the natural handicapping process of the week, there is no problem. However, many beginners force a wager on the game, even if it is not appropriate. If the player has a big Sunday, he may try to ride a hot run by forcing a bet on the Monday game. In turn, the beginner may chase his losses from the weekend by loading up on Monday in a desperate bid to get a win.

The player needs to have the discipline and patience to pass on a game when the situation calls for it, regardless of the temptations.

Avoid parlays like the plague

On point spread wagers alone, the sports bettor must hit on about 53% of the plays to turn a very slight profit.  Therefore, picking 51 or 52 winners out of 100 bets will still leave the bettor in the red.  Over thousands of plays, the very top sports bettors are fortunate to win about 55% of their plays.

Indeed, the ability to turn a profit isn’t an easy process. If it were, there wouldn’t be a line of sports books all over Las Vegas and the internet!

The novice bettor will sometimes seek a shortcut to avoid the tough grind of trying to beat a single point spread of a football or basketball game. Parlay wagers lure the sports bettor with a high payout for seemingly little risk. One of the most standard parlay bets is a three-game wager. If the bettor can predict three point spreads correctly, without a single miss, the payout is usually about 6/1.

However, the actual odds of winning such a wager are really about 10/1. Even if the bettor were to constantly hit two of the three plays, which a high percentage of 67%, the player would still lose every single parlay bet. In contrast, a 2-1 record in straight wagers would turn a solid profit.

With this seasoned advice in mind, you can avoid the pitfalls that await most novice sports bettors.  Good luck!

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When the casual bettor thinks of proposition sports bets, he usually associates the wagers with the Super Bowl.  After all, this mega sporting event features hundreds of prop betting opportunities.

Proposition wagers are available to the bettor throughout the year in a variety of sports. These odds can sometimes fly under the radar in comparison to the more popular point spread and money line bets that are placed on games.  However, the specialty bets associated with proposition wagers can provide a great opportunity for the sports bettor.

General props

General props are usually associated with football betting, although they can be found in basketball and baseball too. Many of these types of wagers will only surface for the Super Bowl, but some can also be found during the regular season.

For the Super Bowl, a bettor can wager on whether or not there will be a safety in the game, or whether or not the contest will go into overtime. These types of props aren’t usually offered during the regular season. Instead, the NFL prop bets that are featured in the regular season are slightly more even in nature. An example might be what the first score (touchdown, field goal or safety) of a game will be.

Many of these types of prop bets are too random in nature to attract a professional sports bettor, but these types of wagers tend to draw more action from novice bettors.

Team props

The foundation of sports betting involves whether or not a team will cover a point spread or win a game. However, team props give the bettor a chance to go beyond the typical point spread wagers.

The standard over/under wager involves how many points two teams will cumulatively score. A team prop can enable the bettor to predict the over/under outcome for a single team. This gives the player a chance to find a specific angle involving a particular club that could be stronger than a regular over/under wager.

There can also be a team prop on how many yards a team might gain in a football game, or how many hits a baseball squad will obtain in a game. These types of wagers can attract both professional and novice bettors.

Individual props

The ability to wager on the performance of a specific player has drawn a lot of increased action in recent years. With individual prop wagering, the bettor has a chance to place a bet on how one of his favorite star players will perform in a particular game.

Popular NFL prop bets can involve how a star quarterback will perform in a game. How many touchdown passes will he throw in the game? Will he throw over or under a specific amount of yardage?

In the NBA, the bettor can wager on how many points a star player will score in a game. These wagers can also involve head-to-head matchups of star players from opposing teams. The bettor can place a bet on whether Kobe Bryant or Lebron James will score more points in a game.

These types of individual prop bets are quite popular among casual fans, but the professional sports bettor can also find an edge in these wagers.

Cross-sport props

There are even some props available that can match up teams and/or individual players from different sports. The cross-sport prop bets are very popular on Super Bowl Sunday, as there are usually major college and pro basketball games in the afternoon prior to the kickoff of the Super Bowl. Bookmakers will match some of the top hoops teams and players against the Super Bowl participants.

The casual fan is usually anxious to find some betting action while he waits for the big game to get underway. While novice bettors will get involved in these types of wagers, the sharp sports bettor can also find some good options.  In recent years, cross-sport props have become more frequently offered on days other than Super Bowl Sunday.

Handicapping props

While prop bets are slightly different than point spread wagers, the bettor should handicap these odds in the same general fashion that he handicaps a game. There are usually a few different prop options available for a game when they are offered.  Therefore, the bettor can lock into a specific prop that is the strongest play or take a pass until the next game.

The popularity of sports betting has spawned a myriad of prop bets that can offer you an edge in your game.

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It is important to understand how a point spread is determined for a particular game or event. The ability to deconstruct how a point spread is formulated can give the sports bettor an advantage in handicapping a game. While the bookmaker is the supposed enemy of the sports gambler, the bettor should have an understanding of how the lines are set to better understand the process of booking a game.

Reading the line

For the casual sports fan, some of the sports betting terminology can be initially difficult to understand.

Most bettors are familiar with basic point spreads that are associated with basketball and football. A typical football point spread might look like this: Team A -3, Team B +3. If you wager on team A, the team must win the game by four points or more for the bettor to cash in his wager. A win or a loss by two points or less is needed for a bet that is placed on team B. In these odds, the favored team is indicated by minus points, while the underdog gets plus points.

The total or over/under wagers are also relatively easy to comprehend.  For example, if a football total is 41, the two teams must combine for 42 points or more for an over wager to be successful. The two squads would need to combine for 40 points or less for the under bet to win.

Accounting for the vig

However, the confusing aspect for many novice bettors involves the vigorish (commonly known as the vig or juice) that is associated with point spread wagers.  With the vig in play, the standard football line would actually look like this: Team A -3 (-110), Team B +3 (-110).  Casual sports fans are sometimes confused when they see the -110 next to the odds. The -110 is the charge that bookmakers implement for taking a point spread wager.

In theory, this is how the bookmakers will make money, if there are equal wagers on each game. The bettor doesn’t bet $100 to win $100. The actual wager is $110 to win $100. The extra $10 or ten percent of the wager is the vigorish. The bookmaker only gets to keep the juice if the bettor loses.

Avoiding the point spread

Some bettors want to avoid the point spread by wagering on simply which team will win the game. A money line wager is made when a bet is placed on which team will win a particular game. The margin of victory doesn’t matter.

Consider this typical game with money line odds: Team A -140, Team B +120. Once again, the team with the minus number is favored, while the team with the plus number is the underdog. A bettor would place a bet of $140 to win $100 on team A, while a $100 wager on team B would yield $120. Because of the limited amount of runs/goals that are scored in baseball and hockey, money line odds are the most standard lines in these two sports.

Understanding the spread

With a basic understanding of how to read a line, the bettor then can begin to understand how a bookmaker develops a particular number for each game.

In football and basketball, scoring averages for each team are noted. The average point differential figure for each squad is also important. The scoring averages are a tool to determine the over/under figures to be used, while the point differential helps to determine a point spread. Where the game is being played is also a factor. Generally, a home team will be given three points in football and four in basketball.

In addition, bookmakers need to be aware of any injuries that could have a significant impact on the outcome of an upcoming game. A team playing without its starting quarterback in football could affect the line by several points depending on the circumstances.

Typically, bookmakers will set their lines with the professional bettor in mind.  However, the NFL can be an exception due to the vast public interest in the sport. Key numbers are important in football lines as well. Because of the unique scoring aspects of football, there are certain numbers that are critical in the odds. The numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13 and 14 are the most common in football lines because these are the most frequent margin results in games.

Finally, there are the line moves that occur leading up to a game. This gives the bettor a feel of which team is gaining the most support in betting circles.

With all this in mind, you can now fully understand and read the point spread in sports betting!

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Any sports fan who wants to become serious about sports betting must develop a game plan, and there are several facets that you must consider. Here’s a look at the key elements to creating a profitable sports betting game plan.

Money management

It is critical to have a set bankroll with which to work in the beginning. This will help the novice bettor to start on the right foot.

Once the initial bankroll is set, the player should determine a basic wager amount to place on each game. Some bettors will wager the same amount on every game. Others will rate their plays to determine how much to bet. Regardless of which strategy that is used, the player should formulate a basic money management plan.

Remember that sports betting is a marathon and not a sprint. The bettor wants to be able to participate over the long haul.  Improper money management strategy can lead to a bankroll that disappears quickly.

Finding the right sports books

Once a basic money management plan is established, the player must find a sports book. There are dozens of online sports books from which to choose.  However, some of these books aren’t credible businesses.  The bettor should conduct basic research to narrow down the list to a few books that have established credibility.

While the player can use one sports book, it is better to have a few options. With a few different accounts, the player can get the most favorable odds for the teams on which he will water.  It is also a good idea to look into the bonus options that online sports books offer to new players. This can help the player maximize his profit potential.

Betting sports

While football is the most popular sport to bet on, there are many other sports that can offer lucrative wagers.  Many online sports books will offer dozens of sports from around the world, and it is important to make a list of sports in which you would like to participate as a bettor.  As part of your game plan, you should only focus on sports for which you deeply understand.

Type of bets to make

You have your initial bankroll, as well as your sports books.  You know which sports on which you wish to wager. Now, you must determine what kind of bets to make.

While you can place a wager on who will win or lose a particular game, there are many other betting options from which to choose. The most popular wagers involve point spread bets on football and basketball games. There are also over/under wagers on the totals of games. In addition, there are all types of proposition bets that can be placed.

While it can be tempting to try to place a wager on many bets, the player should narrow down his choices to enhance long-term success.

Time management

Unless a sports betting service will be used, the player will need to devote a certain amount of time to handicapping the various sports on which he will be wagering. This is just as important as money management.

Even for the most seasoned professional sports bettor, the ability to consistently win is a difficult endeavor. It is a time consuming process to evaluate so many games.  For example, on a typical football weekend, there are more than 60 college and pro games to evaluate. There are over 300 college basketball teams at the highest level of play in the sport. Professional baseball teams play 162 regular season games in a period of 180 days.

Clearly, it can take a significant amount of time to analyze all of the games and teams in these sports.  You must understand and analyze the past results for these teams to help predict future outcomes.  You should also be aware of any injuries or news that could have an impact on the upcoming games. With work and family responsibilities, it can be difficult to find enough time to properly handicap the games.  Subsequently, it is important to develop a style of handicapping that will fit into your schedule.

By following these basic steps, the novice sports bettor can begin to feel a little more comfortable in the daunting task of becoming a successful sports bettor!

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…