Pros and Cons of Betting On Your Own Team

When you are just getting into sports betting, one of your first impulses will probably be to bet on your own favorite sports team.  You may feel drawn to do this through a sense of loyalty; betting on your own team is a sentimental gesture of support.  It can be extra exciting when your team wins and you win too!  Betting emotionally can be dangerous, however, because objectivity tends to get thrown out the window.  Are there any advantages to betting on your own team, though?  Is it always a bad idea, or are there times when it makes sense?

Here’s why betting on your own team is sometimes actually a great move:

• You do objectively know more about your favourite team than you do about any other team, so that gives you more information about that team’s performance and where they are headed.  You also may feel more motivated to do your homework and analyze the upcoming game. 

• You are familiar with the players and the coaches, as well as the results of changeovers.  You may actually be aware of a fight in the locker room, an injury to a player, or a move on the roster.  A lot of this information may escape public notice.  Just by being aware of these details, you are well-positioned to make smart betting decisions.

• If you actually find yourself betting against your own team, it is probably for a good reason.  Wagering against your favorite team is painful.  If you feel so compelled, you likely have a winning bet.

Here is why betting on your own team is sometimes a really bad idea:

• No matter how much objective information you have on the team, your emotions can really muddy the waters and color the information with subjectivity.  If you find it hard to set your emotions aside and think clearly, you may make foolish decisions, especially at the spur of the moment.

• Betting against your team—whether they win or lose—is not a lot of fun, and may very well ruin game day with your friends.  You may end up feeling disloyal.

• You may be tempted to bet more money than you should on your team to win, which can lead to bad money management decisions, especially if you are looking at a playoff or championship game.

So should you bet on your favourite team or not?  As you can see, a lot comes down to specific situations and specific dispositions.  If you are able to rein in your emotions, you may very well find that betting on your own team (for or against them) is a great idea.  All the information you’ve picked up as a fan can really play to your advantage.  If however you are going to really struggle with your emotions, you may not be able to put trust in your own objectivity.  In situations where you do not feel emotionally secure or certain your decisions are based in logic, you should probably sit the game out.