Sports Betting Sins

There are seven sports betting sins that can cost you dear if you make the mistake of committing them. Read through our concise guide to each of these sins and you will be better able to avoid losing money from your online sports betting because of them.
 

Sin 1 – Patriotism
It’s all very well being patriotic in general, but you should never place a bet on a competitor just because they happen to represent your own country. Many countries don’t fare very well in certain events (for example, England hasn’t won a World Cup since 1966) so blindly following your country could be a fast track to losses. Feel free to cheer and support your country, but don’t bet on it winning unless it has the form to do so.

Sin 2 – Wishful Thinking
This sin is loosely linked to the last, and involves betting according to wishful thinking rather than according to which competitor has the best form. Whilst we would all like to bet on a rank outsider and land sports betting odds of 100/1, the reality is that rank outsiders seldom win, so leave your wishful thinking at the door and bet sensibly.

Sin 3 – Believing the Media
The media love to hype up certain competitors in big sporting events, but believing the hype instead of the form book is just as silly as betting according to patriotism or wishful thinking. Remember that newspapers are better at causing a stir than they are at picking winners, so take everything they say with a generous pinch of salt.

Sin 4 – Not Shopping Around
If you don’t shop around for the very best odds, you are committing a sports betting sin that could be costing you a lot of money. If failing to shop around costs you 0.25 of a point per week, you’re missing out on 13 points profit per year. The solution? Shop around for the best odds and make a holier lot more money!

Sin 5 – Chasing Losses
Nobody likes to lose money, but it’s part and parcel of sports betting. If you lose, take that loss on the chin like a man (or woman, if you prefer). Don’t compound the problem by chasing your loss with bigger bets, or the chances are that you’ll lose even more.

Sin 6 – Having no Plan
Betting without a plan is like taking a journey without thinking about where you want to go. You’re surely end up somewhere, but the chances are it won’t be anywhere particularly nice. If you want to improve your chances of being happy where you end up, bet according to a plan. That means knowing what you want to bet on, why, and how much you have decided is sensible to stake.

Sin 7 – Showing Off With Risks
The size of your bets should be determined by the size of your bankroll and how much confidence you have in your sports selection. Risking bigger amounts than you ought to because you want to show off to the lady at the bookies office or someone you are chatting with online is a fast way to lose control of your betting and to losing your bankroll itself. Avoid the last of our sports betting sins by showing off your discipline rather than your ability to take silly risks.
 

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