Beginners make several mistakes when starting out in the sports betting realm. These mistakes are easily avoidable, but it starts with knowing what those issues are. Here are the most common (and avoidable) sports betting issues to stay away from.
Unrealistic Expectations
Perhaps the biggest mistake bettors make, whether it be with Arizona online sports betting or elsewhere, is going into the process with unrealistic expectations. Far too many bettors go into the process thinking that they are just one big hit away from being set for life. Others think that they can wager on sports professional as their vocation.
Winning at sports betting and fantasy sports is extremely difficult. Even the “sharp bettors” that we hear about win in the 60-65% range. That leaves a lot of space for losses as it is too difficult to accurately pick winning bets on a consistent, long-term basis. Keep expectations realistic right from the start.
Betting with the Heart
Another very common mistake when betting on sports is letting emotion take charge. Try not to bet on your favorite sports teams whenever possible because there is an inherent bias. Instead of looking at things objectively, it can become all too easy to talk yourself into a wager on the hometown team that might not be necessarily sound.
The sharp bettors look at the data and nothing more. It is important to detach from rooting interests to find the best possible picks. Those biases can create a bit of an imbalance, leading to a few losses that could have otherwise been avoided. Wear your heart on your sleeve watching the game, not betting on it.
Buying into “Guarantees”
Many sports bettors are looking for an expert to tell them what to do. After all, poring through the scores of information available is time-consuming and not nearly as easy as it seems. By choosing an expert to follow, someone else can do the work while the amateurs simply make the pick. Stay away from these guarantees at all costs.
Those “experts” are merely selling a product. They get bettors to put money down to follow those picks but really don’t know that much more than anyone else. They are just as likely to miss on their “lock of the week” as any other player is. Avoid the sales pitch and don’t get suckered in by “guaranteed winners” because those do not exist.
Not Shopping the Lines
Though it might not seem like a big deal, one of the most important things that can be done is to shop the lines. Lines are slightly different from sportsbook to sportsbook and players leave value on the table all the time because they don’t want to take the time to sign up for different sportsbooks and compare each of them.
Shopping the lines can wind up being quite valuable over months and years. Those minor differences might equate to a small change but doing so consistently will help provide the best value. Given a large enough sample size, that can equate to untold value that would have otherwise been left on the table.
Being successful in the world of sports betting comes down to the finer points. No one is going to be able to pick with their gut and be successful over a long period of time.
