Top 10 Sports Betting Tips For a Newbie
For someone, betting on sports matches might seem very simple — just bet on stronger teams and avoid betting on underdogs. However, it’s not as simple as that. Although winnings at betting are common, it is challenging to hit the target over the long term. So, if you are new to this, here are some valuable tips you want to know before diving into the reality of betting.
- Have a Budget
One of the most important steps when starting placing wagers on sports is to set a budget. You want to decide how much money you are ready to invest in betting, and it’s crucial not to bet more than you can afford to lose! As practice shows, bettors from Nigeria have different bankrolls — from several thousand to tens of millions of nairas.
- Set a Goal
Sports betting can be not only entertainment but also a business. If you’re going to place bets only for fun, then you can root for anything you want. In this case, keep things simple as possible and regard the potential loss of money as the payment for excitement.
However, suppose you’re going to turn betting into a business. In this case, it’s essential to understand — no one would ever give a hundred percent guarantee any player or team will win a match. That’s why you need to select the right betting strategy to get profit over the long term, even when your favorites lose.
- Know Betting Basics
Of course, you want to understand betting rules and basics, and it will allow you to get the most of the betting options and make the process enjoyable. Besides, although most world’s and Nigerian bookies have similar sports betting rules, some of them may still vary. So, make sure you understand all the betting basics to avoid possible issues.
- Bet on Sports You Know Best
If you want to maximise profit from betting, place punts on sports and teams you knack for. To make the right betting decisions, you need to know almost everything — from stats and news to the psychological team’s condition. Therefore, whether you are into football, basketball or tennis, knowledge of these sports will definitely contribute to selecting the right bets.
- Choose the Betting Strategy
Having a strategy is a crucial aspect of betting for any professional punter. Indeed, advanced staking methods can drastically reduce the risks of losing money and simplify bankroll management. The number of betting strategies is vast. Some are used for fast profit, while others focus on small but regular returns.
Many players in Nigeria tend to play with bonuses, as this strategy significantly reduces possible losses. Not all offers allow bettors to derive profit, but prizes like PariPesa Deposit Bonus or 22 Welcome Bonus can make the difference!
There is no one-size-fits-all betting strategy, so it’s up to you to determine which one will work best for you.
- Manage Your Emotions
If you’re a beginner, make sure you know that mastering your emotions in the process of betting is vital. Never let them cloud your judgment whether you are on a winning or losing streak. You can win ten times in a row, and you can lose ten times in a row, and these streaks shouldn’t cause overconfidence, euphoria, fear or anger. Such emotions can dramatically impact thinking and, therefore, betting decisions. So, a good rule of thumb is to bet only with a cool head!
- Learn Betting Markets
As you might know, sportsbooks deliver different betting markets on a single match. Let’s take football, for example. For this sport, most bookies typically offer:
- Home – Draw – Away markets,
- Double chance markets,
- Handicap markets,
- Total score markets,
- Cards markets,
- Corners markets, etc.
Besides, some modern-day sportsbooks like Bet365 or PariPesa provide much more potentially profitable markets. Football betting options there also include:
- Ball possession,
- Shots,
- Shots on Target,
- Interceptions,
- Dribbling,
- Throw-Ins,
- Personal stats, etc.
So, betting on sports provides much more options than just choosing between three outcomes of a single game. And this is great! Take advantage of the Shots or Shots on Target markets if you doubt whether a chosen team will win or draw.
Conversely, if you are confident in a favourite, find a selection with appealing odds on the Asian Handicap market. In such a case, you’ll need more than just a victory — the team should win more than in one goal.
- Never Bet 100% of Your Bankroll
If you want to profit from sports betting over the long term, stay away from betting 100% of your bankroll. Keep in mind there is no shoo-in in any competition or match, and the only stake can lead to losing all your budget. Keep in mind many professional punters bet only 1 – 5 % of their entire bankroll, depending on probabilities and odds.
- Avoid Accumulator Betting
Skilful bettors in Nigeria often bet accumulators, taking advantage of their sports knowledge and experience. This allows them to get higher odds and, therefore, winnings.
However, betting accumulators is not a good idea for beginners — this type of placing bets has higher risks. When a single selection loses in an accumulator wager, the entire bet also loses. Bet singles and have strong chances!
- Be Patient
In betting on sports, it’s essential to have patience, especially for newbies. High winnings will take time and effort — no one starts making money betting on the first day! So, enjoy sports betting and have fun!