With sports betting now legal in several states, it’s time for fans to learn how to make a profit from their passion. But this is no ordinary betting market – it’s a seismic shift in the way Americans consume sports that hasn’t been seen since television emerged from the shadows. From the deluge of gambling-related advertising to betting elements likely to be incorporated into broadcasts, sports fans will face an unfamiliar array of new betting opportunities.
The first thing anyone betting on sports needs to understand is that there’s no such thing as a guaranteed win. That’s the truth no matter which sport you bet on and no matter how skilled you think you are at analyzing odds. The law of large numbers slowly, but surely eats away at profits over the long haul. This is why you need to use a mathematically proven profitable strategy.
Those who want to win consistently will need to study the game they bet on and become a student of statistics and probability. That will allow them to spot value and make bets with a much better chance of winning than the sportsbook’s odds would suggest.
It’s also important to remember that you should always bet with your head and not your heart. Betting on your favorite team is fine but you should be able to remove yourself from the result you want and pick what’s most likely to happen. Those who bet with their heart will eventually get burned.