New to the world of sports betting or a seasoned pro? Whatever your experience level, betting guides can really help to enhance your sports betting experience, bringing clarity to the numerous betting markets available these days.
In this betting strategy guide we’ll cover some of the most important concepts you need to grasp if you’re serious about sports betting. See how you can implement some of the best sports betting strategies and become a World Champion in your own right.
So, you’ve decided to take a leap of faith and try your hand with your first sports bet. The most important tip this betting school will provide, albeit a very basic one, is knowing how and where to place your first sports bet.
Alright, first things first - you’ll need to pick a sportsbook to use. This can easily be over-complicated, so don’t stress too heavily on the details. Some of the factors you’ll want to keep an eye out for include the sports available, types of bets you can place, deposit limits, payment options and the promotions on offer. Still too complex? Luckily for you we have thousands of sportsbook reviews for you to read here at Sports Gambler.
Once you’ve picked one out, go ahead and follow the registration process by entering your personal details, verifying your account and making a deposit. At this stage be sure to opt in for any welcome bonus available - an awesome strategy to bolster your account when starting out at a new sportsbook. But, more on this later.
Next up, pick out a sport you want to bet on and find a betting market that suits you. Set the stakes for your chosen bet and bang, the odds are fixed and you’re ready to let it unfold. Fixed odds meaning, for all those who’ve been living under a rock, the odds that remain ‘fixed’ at the time of placing your bet. Essentially locking your potential winnings in place.
As previously mentioned, a welcome bonus is the perfect opportunity to get a little more bang for your buck when it comes to placing your first bet. Making it one of the best sports betting strategies for adding value to your sportsbook experience. However, for the average player the long list of different welcome bonuses can become a nightmare to sift through and understans. Luckily for you, you have this betting guide to outline it all for you. Take a look in the table below:
Welcome Bonus Type | Description |
---|---|
Deposit Match Bonus | A bonus where the sportsbook matches a percentage of your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% deposit match up to $500 means you receive an additional $500 in Bonus Cash. |
No Deposit Bonus | A bonus offered without the need to make a deposit. Typically involves smaller bonus amounts between $5 and $20. |
Free Bet Bonus | A promotion that provides bonus bet credits after an initial qualifying bet has settled. For example, place a $10 bet and get $50 in bonus bet credits. |
Cashback Bonus | A bonus where the sportsbook will refund a certain percentage of your losses for a specific period of time. For example, 10% cashback on losses for the first week e.g., if you lose $100 you will receive $10 cashback. |
Enhanced Odds | Acts as an Odds Boost for specific events or markets. For example, bet $30 and receive enhanced odds of 3.0 for the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl. |
Welcome bonuses out the way, next on the menu is the type of bets you can implement into your betting strategy. From the Asian Handicap to in-play betting, parlays, point spreads, Moneylines and prop bets. This list of bet types merely scratches the surface, if I were to include an entire list it would bore you to death, it’s so long. So, let’s put some of my favorites under the microscope instead.
Once you’ve had it explained, the Asian Handicap meaning is actually very simple. Imagine you’re at a soccer game, you can use Asian Handicap betting to give a selected team a virtual handicap over the other. Half-point betting with this type of bet also eliminates the possibility of a draw.
Let’s look at an example. Inter Miami are heavily favored over L.A. Galaxy in their next match. The Asian Handicap may give L.A. Galaxy a +1.5 goal advantage, so you’d be able to take this bet and if L.A. Galaxy do lose the match but by only one goal, your bet will still be a winner, thanks to the handicap applied.
In Play betting explained simply means placing bets as the action unfolds. It’s all about hopping into a game midway through, cheering on your chosen team, and keeping your eyes peeled for wagering opportunities. The great thing about in play sports betting strategies is you get to see potential bets unravel in your head as the game progresses. Like riding a roller coaster, you never know what’s around the corner.
As you watch, you might identify a potential bet to make based on how the game has been playing out. Maybe the Chiefs are losing to the New England Patriots by a small margin, but the Chiefs have been the better team overall, so you could place a bet on them to win based on what you can see happening right in front of your eyes.
The Parlay bet is like ordering a combo meal at your favorite diner, where you bundle up your bets into one delicious package. These bets allow you to pick multiple selections (known as ‘legs’) and combine them into one single bet. Picture this - you could be betting on the New York Giants winning against their arch rivals, coupled with LeBron dropping a triple-double in his next NBA game. You can add a huge amount of individual legs to this bet at most sportsbooks, but beware, if you lose one single leg then your entire parlay bet is lost, making it one of the riskier sports betting strategies.
When you learn how to bet using a formulated strategy and put it into action like a real superhero, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. But there are undoubtedly some super-important benefits you gain from this knowledge, including the ability to stay disciplined and structured in your approach to sports betting. Helping to improve your risk management, while also providing a better understanding of various betting markets.
Here’s a shortlist of the pros and cons associated with following a betting strategy:
Alright, fellow bettors! You’ve now mastered the basics of placing your first sports bet, armed with knowledge from picking the right sportsbook to grabbing those sweet welcome bonuses, and using different bet types like a pro. Make full use of the wide variety of different sports betting strategies from this guide, including parlay bets, in-play betting, the Asian Handicap and many more that you’ll find here in our Sports Gambler betting school section.
So, next time you’re eyeing that matchup or feeling that gut instinct, go ahead, place that bet and let the games begin! You’re now fully-equipped with the knowledge and wisdom you need to implement an effective betting strategy.
Imagine a bustling marketplace where sports fans become traders, swapping bets like stocks! That’s the basis of betting exchanges explained. Here you can bet for or against outcomes, setting your own odds or matching others. It's like eBay for betting, where you can buy and sell bets as the action unfolds. An interesting betting strategy to adopt if you have the nerve for it!
When it comes to bankroll management, it’s all about being acutely aware of the risks of irresponsible gaming and building self-discipline. These are two core sports betting strategies that need to be implemented in your betting style. However, additional tools such as the Kelly Criterion Calculator can provide a strategic underpinning for allocating your bankroll to bets.
Cashing out a bet is a newer betting strategy that punters are finding beneficial. It means you don’t need to wait until your bet is settled to take some of the winnings. You’re able to cash out mid-way through the game or event for a smaller payout, which means you will be offered a lower amount than the value of actually leaving the bet to run, so it might not be worthwhile in some situations.