Exploring Leverage in Betting: Part 2

In our last installment, I talked about leverage in sports betting, which can take a couple of forms.  You are betting on leverage any time you are controlling a larger stake than you actually own.  This happens when you are betting with a bonus and have not yet met the rollover requirements, because you do not actually own that bonus money yet—but you can use it to win or lose.  It also happens if you use a leverage betting feature on a site like Betfair. 

Betting on leverage like this is a dangerous move if you are serious about making money, though it can be a lot of fun if you are betting just for the excitement.  Why?  Because you can not only win faster and build up your account more rapidly, but also lose faster and blow your bankroll overnight. 

Does leverage always have to work this way?  Maybe not.  A more general definition of leverage would be anything which gives you an advantage.  Not all forms of leverage come with drawbacks, and leverage can go far beyond the money.  Many types of leverage are available to help you win your bets without any risk.  Consider the following types of leverage:

• Research, testing, and strategy.  You can jump straight into online betting without any prior experience or knowledge, but why do that when you don’t have to?  If you take the time to research and test strategies, you are arming yourself with knowledge, and knowledge is power.  If you skip this step, the house always wins.  But if you take the time to learn, you give yourself an edge.

• Lessons learned by other bettors.  Join an online betting community, and you can leverage the lessons learned by others.  There is no reason to repeat the mistakes made by other people when you can learn the easy way instead of the hard way.  This is another form of leverage, and you will probably be surprised how many bettors are willing to share it.  Plus, participating in the community is a great way to meet new friends who share your love of sports betting!

• Your own strengths.  Hone your own abilities and do what you can to embrace your positive traits.  Patience, perseverance, self-discipline, honesty—all of these are traits which can serve you as a sports gambler.  At the heart of any betting strategy is you.  When you choose a strategy that leverages your own strengths, you set yourself up for success. 

None of these types of leverage carry any risk.  In fact, they eliminate risk.  Unlike betting on leverage or betting with a bonus, they cannot cost you money.  They do involve an investment of time, but they will save you time and money over the long run.  So leverage your own experience, the lessons of others, and your strengths.  Come up with a great betting strategy that fits your personality and makes the best use of your abilities, and you will do well as a sports gambler!