5 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners

So you’re brand new to the exciting world of sports betting.  Thanks to the Internet, entry barriers are low.  You have a real shot at making some money by betting online, and you can do it wearing your pajamas and sitting in your living room with the sports channel on.  Make no mistake, though—sports betting has a steep, challenging learning curve and there's always financial risk involved.  There are numerous different strategies out there for placing bets, and many different ways to bet.  How do you get your feet wet without going broke?  Here are 5 tips that might help you out.

1. Use your knowledge.

There are different angles people come at sports betting from.  Maybe you enjoy gambling, and don’t know much about sports, and thought you would just give it a try.  But maybe not; maybe you are already a huge sports fan, and know a lot about a particular sport.  Use that knowledge to help you place intelligent bets — it will give you an edge.  Stick with games you understand to start out with.

2. Time your wagers to save money.

The odds on different teams and players are fluid; they change over time.  You will often find if you are planning on betting on a favorite, it will be less expensive closer to the game, and that if you are planning to bet on an underdog, it will be less expensive far in advance of the game.

3. Use a strategy.

It may take you a while to find or develop a betting strategy which will offer you reliable results.  A system that is firmly grounded in logic will perform best.  Avoid betting solely on your intuition, or betting on a team simply because you want that team to win.  Be very cautious and bet with your brain, not with your heart.

4. Get the math down.

One of the reasons the learning curve is so steep with sports betting is all the math involved in calculating odds, understanding betting lines, and more.  The stronger your core understanding of the math involved, the easier it will be for you to overcome your intimidation and make intelligent choices.  Go to the library and grab a few books, and take the time to educate yourself.  A lot of gamblers will never take this step, and it will put you that much ahead of them!  Start with simple types of bets and work your way up to more complex bets.

5. Get involved in the community.

Join a few sports betting forums and get involved with conversations.  You can learn a lot from veteran bettors, many of whom will be more than happy to share their knowledge with you.  This is a great way to search for new betting strategies and ask any questions you may have. You might also receive recommendations for good betting websites and which ones to avoid.

Many new sports bettors are surprised to learn the depth and complexity of the sports betting world.  Sports betting is every bit as complicated as investing in the market (another game of skill and chance)—perhaps more complicated.  It can be very fun and rewarding, however, and may even be lucrative if you do your homework, use a powerful and reliable strategy, sign up to a reputable and generous online betting site and place smart wagers.