Football season is here. That sparked inspiration to write a piece I feel benefits bettors of all experience levels. Love it or hate it, call this our sports betting manifesto just in time for the fall.
Create a plan
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. One of the oldest cliches applies to everything in life, from board rooms to academics and especially the betting realm. Bettors of all ages, genders, and abilities shouldn’t enter football season blindly expecting to catch lightning in a bottle. You can have a horseshoe up your ass for one season but it’s far from sustainable. I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face, the heavy lifting for successful seasons start during summer. Reading, watching, listening, tweaking power numbers and getting out ahead are vital to starting the season strong.
I know what you’re thinking; we aren’t in this full-time so we can’t dedicate countless hours to the craft like you and Payne! I get it, however there are ways to make yourself more informed and transform from a losing bettor to one that breaks even, or a break-even bettor that finally sees small profits. Create shortcuts in a difficult process by sticking to divisions, conferences, and leagues you follow closest. Make a difficult handicapping process easier by eliminating noise wherever possible while staying one step ahead. Work smarter, not harder.
Money Management
Betting sports is always more fun when you’re doing it with someone else’s money. Unfortunately for most of us that’s not always an option unless you take advantage of our Risk Free $1,000 First Bet Promotion at Fanduel.com/BetTheBoard this fall. Going in with a defined bankroll to start the season is important for bettors of all ability levels. Whether it’s $100, $1000, or a far larger number, every bettor needs to identify their proper position (unit for the layman) size. The natural progression of wagering a percentage of your bankroll on each investment allows you to seamlessly raise your bet size as things go well while lowering it during lulls.
We preach responsible gaming at all times so this is a key component to enjoying yourself this football season. Unfortunately the disturbing yet en vogue trend industry wide is to promote long term losing behaviors leading to gambler’s ruin rather than long term success. When you head into the fall knowing that win or lose, money allocated to bet football won’t negatively impact your quality of life you’re already ahead of the game. This is where the legalized boom of sports books in most states allow bettors to maximize a starting bankroll with generous promotions like the aforementioned. As always, read the terms and conditions so there are no surprises upon depositing.
Maximize Outs
We’re team Fanduel around these parts, we don’t hide that in any way, shape, or form. That said, we’re also profitable bettors that understand multiple accounts is vital when trying to get the best number. Every half point matters (some more than others), every penny changes the bottom line. Whether its futures, win totals, or the weekly grind there’s never an excuse for taking a bad price when better options are available somewhere in the market.
Yes, we know everyone doesn’t have the liquidity to post up at 7 different books or have access to other options to ensure saving a nickel with every moneyline wager. However begin looking at sports betting the same way you would when it comes to shopping for any consumer good; buy the right product from the right store at the right price and your bank account will always thank you for it.
Utilize all markets
As sports betting continues to grow, so do derivative markets. The secondary wagering options are ideal for maximizing your edge. The days of only having full game side and totals to choose from are behind us. Take extra time exploring quarters, halves, player props, and the myriad of options available to bettors each game.
One of the luxuries extensive betting menus afford to players is a slew of different ways to arrive indirectly at the same result. We’ve all been there, just missed a number on a game thinking we have no recourse. Thankfully now with in-play betting (among others) you can wait patiently with the prospects of a better line materializing to bet into instead of the prematch price. The era of “betting and forgetting” is over so if you have strong convictions stick to them. Early birds are rewarded in sports betting but persistence pays off.
Don’t get discouraged
Betting is f**king hard. If this craft was easy everyone would do it professionally. Unfortunately, markets evolve, get more efficient, the small edges identified can cease to exist from one season to the next. If this is your first time going into a football season with even modest expectations don’t get discouraged; be realistic.
Try and learn from the mistakes you’ll inevitably make. Do your best not to make the same ones over and over again (easier said than done). Becoming a break-even or winning bettor is a process that won’t happen overnight if at all. We tell new bettors all the time that betting football should be viewed as a hobby; no different than going out and playing 18 holes with your buddies. You budget for that form of recreation so you aren’t filled with piss and vinegar after shooting 108 on the local municipal course.
Sports betting is no different; results come with time, practice, and years of building your experience bank. Try your best to keep a positive mindset all fall knowing this can be a great hobby to enjoy with friends, family, and our Bet the Board team. Keep listening to our shows and come February you’ll find you’ve learned a lot and you’re starting from a much better handicapping baseline.
