Whether you’re a fan of soccer, Formula 1, or any other sports, betting on games can add an exciting new dimension to the viewing experience. But making the most of your wagers requires more than just luck or the ability to read a scoreboard well. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your wagers.
The key to winning sports bets is research. Betting lines are set based on decades of experience and substantial human and financial resources that the average bettor cannot replicate. The more knowledge a bettor has, the better their chances of predicting what will happen in a game, and finding +EV bets.
In addition to moneylines and spreads, many sportsbooks offer a variety of prop bets that allow bettors to place a vested interest in a particular aspect of a match or event. For example, a bettor can bet on the total number of points scored by both teams (over/under), or on individual player performance. Some props are purely statistical in nature, while others reflect the eccentricities of a sport.
The most successful bettors understand the importance of searching for expected value – or EV, for short. EV is the mathematical foundation for all smart sports bets, and it’s what professional bettors obsess over. To find EV, a bettor must calculate the true probability of an outcome, then compare it to the odds offered by the sportsbook. EV allows a bettor to bet with confidence and minimize his or her risk of ruin.