Getting Started with Sports Betting, Part 4: Final Words of Advice

In this four-part series, I have provided a guide for getting started with sports betting if you are a complete newbie.  I have reviewed why it is better to wager online than offline, given you advice for selecting a UK betting site, and also offered recommendations for betting markets and types of bets.  Now I want to share a few more quick tips and tricks and cautions:

• Make sure you have everything you need.  This includes a stable internet connection, capital to bet with (it doesn’t need to be a lot), a strategy, and a plan which includes a schedule, money management rules, and more.  You also need to make sure you are psychologically in the right place and you understand your own reasons for betting.

• I recommend you stick with consistent unit sizes between two to five percent.  Varying unit sizes is just asking for inconsistent results. 

• You will be most profitable in situations where you can correctly back the underdog and bet against the public.

• Be very selective about services you buy.  If anyone ever tries to sell you “locks,” run the other way.  “Locks” are supposedly guaranteed picks.  Nobody can guarantee picks.  Even top professionals usually have win percentages under 60%. 

• Always remember that flukes determine a huge number of match outcomes (many experts estimate around 50%).  This is why it is so hard to make a living as a punter.

• Do not get in over your head.  Place a conservative number of bets.  Do not get into a lot of wagers at once, and do focus on only one or two sports to start.  Betting successfully is about developing quality expertise, not taking on a huge quantity of wages.

• Use your own betting strategies.  Whether you develop your techniques on your own or you borrow someone else’s system is not important.  What is important is that you make it your own, adapting it to your style, strengths, and needs.  Use it with consistency for the best results.  Do not rely on someone else to make all your picks for you.  If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it.

And that is it!  Be sure to check out the other articles on our site, especially in the Betting for Beginners section.  There you will find a treasure trove of in-depth articles on a variety of topics that are pertinent to newbies.  Good luck!