Sports betting is a game in which people bet on sporting events in the hopes of winning money if their predictions are correct. This concept has spread so widely in Nigeria that the number of participants and bookmakers has increased dramatically.
Bookmakers are the companies that run betting platforms and put everything together so that people can participate. They set the odds; the odds determine how much a bettor wins based on the amount staked.
The tragedy of sports betting is that the proportion of people who consistently lose their bets outnumbers those who win. Why? This article addresses some of these concerns.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no 100% sure way to win every bet you place, but there are logical tips and hints that will get you started in the right direction. This is for those of you who have never won anything or have lost more than you have won.
Here are 5 Sports Betting Strategies to Help You Win.
1. Do some research
This is the foundation of success. Not doing it is the root of failure which amounts to losing your money.
I am not saying that it is certain that any time you conduct some research you will win, I’m saying your chances of winning are high.
It is pretty simple, just go online and read up about the team/player you a going to place a bet on; it is not too much to ask except you plan on losing.
In the same way NDLEA cannot raid a drug cartel without intelligence relating to schematics, weaponry, and hostiles involved, likewise it would be unethical and unsafe for you to bet without checking first.
If you are the type that likes to accumulate, take your time to see the stats of all the teams involved, so that you will be able to make a calculative bet not one based on chance.
2. Stake reasonably
Having done the required research, it is now time to place a bet. This is where most people get it wrong and lose their money.
When they see what they stand to cash out if successful they feel compelled to stake higher amounts of money. That is a very wrong idea.
Whether it is what you stand to win that is tripping you or you are very sure that, for instance, Chelsea would defeat Arsenal, stake something within your range.
What I mean by range is this: let the size of your account balance determine how much you spend on a single bet. For instance, if you have N1000 and you have accumulated 3 games you are sure of, don’t let your adrenaline make you stake N800 all in the name of making instant money.
Ironically, you could make an instant loss! Staking N200 is not a bad option, that way if you lose, they’ll be other opportunities to stake and win with the remaining N800 balance.
You see, people who stake extravagantly never really win even when they win because one or two wins may not cover the amounts that have been lost over time. Bet reasonably if you want to win. Bet inordinately if you want the bookmakers to win.
It Might Interest You To Read: Football Betting in Nigeria: 12 Strategies for Winning More and Losing Less
3. Accumulate less
It is another serious problem when you accumulate so many games at a time. The risk of losing is indeed a great one! This is because if one game goes south, every other game is affected regardless of the results.
Some people accumulate as many as 20 games and I wonder if they even had the time to do some research on all of them, or it is purely guess work they did.
Accumulate a sizable number that you can vouch for or be sure of to get you what you want, not something over the top. I have also noticed that the main reason people accumulate a lot of games is because of the high payout, which leads us to the next tip.
4. Don’t be greedy
That you won the last accumulated bet does not mean that you will win the rest; it does not mean you are in your elements that day and that any bet you make is bound to bring huge returns.
That is fallacy! Don’t get so desperate to win immediately after winning, the bookies are simply flattering and encouraging you to spend more cash.
In that state of mind, you hardly make the right choice. So don’t be in a hurry to win again immediately, relax and prepare for the next set of games. And how do you prepare? Conduct research.
5. See It as a business
This last tip does not necessarily embody information on how to go about winning, but it opens your eyes to a fact. Sports betting is like every other business run by entrepreneurs.
Because the goal of every business, first, is to make profits, rest assured, that is the goal of all the bookmakers around.
They may say it is all about you, about rewarding your passion, but that’s not true, their profit is more important to them.
In view of this, go into every betting session flanked by strategy and wisdom so you don’t end up giving them what they want – your money!