A Guide to Proficiency as an Online Sports Bettor

If you find you are tiring of taking too many beatings at the hands of your online sportsbooks, it might be time to look in the mirror and realize that the issue might be you. There are proficient sports bettors who have shown the ability to consistently beat the books, claiming nice profits in the process. What if we told you that you could improve your prowess if you followed a few simple rules? You can.

Forget about what the professional sports bettors do. They live in a sports betting class unto themselves. We would like to help you move from a novice/recreational sports bettor to a bettor who can hold their head high at the end of an active betting day. The secret lies in following these 12 simple rules.

1. Never Wager with More Than You Can Afford to Lose

First and foremost, you don't want to let your sports betting get out of hand. It's not difficult to go too far and find oneself in financial distress due to gambling addiction.

As a rule of thumb, your sports betting bankroll should never exceed what you can afford to lose without feeling the pain. We would suggest that your bankroll not exceed what we will call your discretionary income. That's the income you will have remaining after you have paid your monthly bills and put something into savings.

2. Pick Two or Three Reliable Sportsbooks

Due to the need for line shopping (see below), online sports bettors should make sure they have access to at least two or three reliable sportsbooks. A reliable sportsbook with possess the following qualities:

• Well established, having been around for at least two years


• Licensed by a viable government agency


• Consistently good reviews by other customers


• Provide access to popular betting markets from around the globe


• Provide betting limits that match well with your betting profile


• Offer good bonuses to new and existing customers

3. Claim Avail Bonuses

Speaking of bonuses, they are there for the taking. They are not something you should ignore. After all, we could all use a little boost for our bankrolls as we enter the sports betting wars.

We would suggest that you shop and compare bonus offers among as many online sportsbooks as possible. It would be prudent to select sportsbooks that offer bonuses that are realistic, potentially lucrative, and carry terms and conditions that favor bettors. You'll know what best fits your wants/needs when you see it.

4. Set Winning Goals & Losing Limits

Before each sports betting session, you need a sense of direction. That should include setting the amount you would be satisfied to claim as winnings, and the amount over which you won't go if your luck is running sour.

If you decide to keep betting after hitting your winnings goal, be sure to set some of those net profits aside for the day. You don't want to get in the habit of hitting your goals, only to stick around too long until the winnings turn into losses. If you hit your losing limits, please have the discipline to walk away and try another day.

5. Money Management - Establish a Standard Bet Amount

Money management is a key component of any kind of successful retail or online gambling. For sports bettors, it's crucial, especially for bettors who like to "bet the board."

The best way to control your bankroll is to set per-bet limits. That should apply to both straight bets and parlays. We would suggest 3% of your bankroll per straight bet and a 1.5% of your bankroll per parley. On good days when the betting gods shine the light in your direction, it's okay to increase your limits by about 2% until you fall back to even.

6. Shop Lines

As we indicated above, it would be a good idea to make sure you have access to at least two or three good online sportsbooks. If you have strong opinions on particular games, you want to make sure you protect your bankroll by securing the most favorable lines possible. This is easier to do if you place straight bets. Before making such bets, check all of your sportsbooks and use the one that gives you the best line or lines.

7. Be Wary of Betting Trends

From time to time, you'll see lines that start moving in a certain direction at a rate that seems odd. This typically happens on games when popular tipsters are creating steam by giving out their "pick of the year" or a 5-star pick.

Your first instinct might be to jump on the bandwagon, thinking someone knows something you don't. Be wary of these betting trends. It's best to compare the action against your own handicapping results and only join the fray if the opinions match.

8. Make Use of Available Handicapping Material

It's never a good idea to bet on games in the blind. That's a surefire way to go home with your tail between your legs every day. There is lots of handicapping info available, both free and by subscription. We would suggest you seek out the following handicapping resources:

• Statistical data - team comparisons and recent player results


• News articles on games of interest - contract disputes, trades, etc.


• Weather reports for ourdoor games


• Don't pay for betting tips, most tipsters know less than you

9. Don't Bet with Your Heart

If you are an avid sports fan, it's likely that you have favorite teams and players in most sports. As a sports bettor, these favs can create blind spots in your sports-betting brain. This is a formula for disaster for sports bettors.

Recommendation: Don't wager on your favorites unless you see handicapping evidence that it's the right thing to do. Maybe you should consider a higher threshold of confidence on games that involve your favorites.

10. Keep Records of Your Wagers

A good sports bettor is typically a good bookkeeper. They know how to track their wager and use the information to identify betting strengths and weaknesses. They also find value in keeping track of their wins, losses, and streaks.

BTW: Net income from sports betting is taxable in the U.S. Should the taxman come, it will bode well for you if you can produce records that support your income reporting choices. Wagers that payout at over 600-1 odds will be reported by the sportbook, and must be further reported by you.

11. Don't Get Emotional

If you want to be an effective online sports bettor, you need to control your emotions. That means not getting too excited about wins or too depressed by losses. The second you start losing control, your ability to make good decisions will go right out the window. If your emotions start running in one direction or the other, you might want to sit out a few games or take a day or two off from the sports betting wars.

Remember, your success or failure should never depend on a single bet. A big win or loss is just one wager in a string of wagers to come.

12. Have Fun

This is a biggie. If you are a recreational sports bettor, then be a recreational sports bettor. It's recreation. That means it is supposed to be fun. If betting on sports ever starts to feel like a chore or a drag, that's the right time to take a few days off and freshen up a bit. Know this: you can always get back into action when the excitement starts to return.