Does the thought of “Can I bet on sports for a living?” cross your mind? But, what is a sports gambler and how does one become a pro?
Does the thought of “Can I bet on sports for a living?” cross your mind? But, what is a sports gambler and how does one become a pro?
Does the thought of “Can I bet on sports for a living?” linger at the back of your mind? Well, we cannot blame you. Because some professional sports gamblers win a lucrative amount of money over time. But, what is a sports gambler and how to become a professional? What does it take to make a living as a sports bettor? Is such a thing even possible?
Successful sports bettors represent a small percentage of the population. It is rare to find someone who is lucrative in sports betting over time.
Unfortunately, good fortune and a rudimentary understanding of sports can only get you so far. These successful bettors have a few characteristics that help them outperform the rest of the pack when it comes to sports betting.
Sports gamblers are often divided into two groups: sharp bettors and square bettors. Sharp bettors, or professional sports gamblers, are among the elite few who wager on sports for a livelihood.
Besides, they are sometimes dreaded by bookmakers. Square bettors or recreational gamblers are called squares for a variety of reasons. This is because they make up the great majority of gamblers. Besides, bookmakers often favored this group.
Professional bettors, on average, win around 55 percent of their wagers. Recreational players have a lower winning percentage, winning about 48% of their total wagers on average.
What is a professional sports gambler?
Sharp bettors are sometimes known as “wise guys“. They are systematic gamblers who live and breathe sports betting.
Professional sports gamblers often place large bets on many sportsbooks. However, they do it in small increments. Sharp bettors may use a crew of money runners (beards) to place their wagers on their behalf. So, they can stay under the radar and avoid attracting the attention of bookies.
Furthermore, professional sports gamblers are always ahead of the game. They use complex algorithms to estimate betting odds on a range of events before bookmakers publish their pricing.
In addition, pro sports bettors are more likely to gamble on opening odds. As a result, it may lead bookmakers to change the lines after the initial betting frenzy. Also, linemakers may boost the odds to -4 to stimulate interest on the underdog side if a -3.5 EFL point spread favorite is widely bet.
Professional sports gamblers are also notorious for betting heavily on one side to shift the line. So, they may bet even more heavily on each other. Besides, pro bettors have many accounts at various sportsbooks to get the best odds.
What is a casual sports gambler?
Squares, sometimes known as “the public“, are casual or recreational gamblers. They are the ones who most often make impulsive wagers without conducting appropriate research. Casual sports gamblers often bet on teams they follow on a regular basis, regardless of the opponent.
Most of the time, sportsbooks rake in a lot of money from the teams’ supporters in sporting events. Unfortunately, choosing your heart above your mind is rarely a prudent bet.
When placing spur-of-the-moment bets, casual bettors are prone to overlooking important aspects such as:
Additionally, recreational gamblers have a proclivity for taking points with underdogs. Then, bet OVER on game totals. While most public players aren’t high rollers, squares aren’t entirely characterized by their bet sizes. Besides, many “famous” peoples are square bettors. Thus, they are betting large sums of money on major sporting events.
It’s hard to track down sharp bettors since their moves are sometimes unnoticeable. Casual bettors may follow sharp betting line movements at sportsbooks.
Also, casual sports gamblers must pursue a good research track. They also must execute adequate bankroll management. So, they can soar above the usual square crowd. Besides, long-term betting success necessitates both of these factors.
We’ve put up a list of the most prevalent characteristics of successful sports bettors. This list contains the majority of essential characteristics shared by these bettors. It’s crucial to remember that a successful bettor doesn’t need to have all of these characteristics. However, they possess the majority of these characteristics. Let’s get started!
Successful sports gamblers can better understand factors that may affect their wagers. All thanks to their thorough understanding of sports. Pro sports bettors have an excellent awareness of various factors that may influence the result of sporting events. All thanks to their knowledge in the sports they wager on. As a result, this enables them to make more informed wagers than someone who is less knowledgeable about sports.
To be successful in sports betting, you must have excellent mathematical skills. Successful sports gamblers can immediately grasp the value of the data they have access to. Again, all thanks to their strong mathematical skills.
These are the types of bettors that will often calculate some substantial numbers to assist them in deciding which bets to place.
At the end of the day, these gamblers rely on their superior math abilities. So, they can quickly evaluate and understand data to make quick and informed wagering selections.
Another skill that successful sports gamblers have is the ability to manage their money. Moreover, it is hard to have a long and profitable run in sports betting without strong money management abilities.
Besides, if you wind up wagering too much of your money on a single game, it may damage your bankroll. The truth is, most recreational sports bettors commonly do this mistake.
Professional sports gamblers can manage their emotions. In contrast, this is one of the most significant differences between them and casual gamblers.
Regrettably, this is not something that many casual bettors are aware of. Emotional control is easier said than done because it is a hard habit to develop.
However, if you can’t put your emotions aside, you’ll never be a successful sports bettor. Oftentimes, emotions get in the way of making sensible betting judgments based on data alone.
Do you want to become successful in sports gambling? If so, then you’ll need to gain emotional control. So, you can start making judgments based on evidence rather than feelings.
Another characteristic shared by successful bettors is the ability to shop their lines. Oftentimes, they shop their lines across many bookmakers. Moreover, they ensure that they are receiving the most bang for their dollars by shopping around. On the contrary, casual sports bettors normally stick to one sportsbook only.
How to become a successful sports bettor?
Successful sports bettors have a high level of discipline. Moreover, they are able to stick to a strategy. At the same, they can stay focused on the ultimate long-term aim because of their excellent discipline. Unfortunately, the bulk of recreational bettors lacks this quality.
If you want to be successful at sports betting, then, you must have strong discipline. Usually, professional sports bettors are using their strong discipline in areas like:
Then again, emotions can influence bad discipline judgments. That is why these successful bettors have good emotional control and discipline. Otherwise, it will be too easy for you to get out of track with these traits.
A professional sports bettor will be able to recognize and evaluate value. When it comes to recreational gamblers, they seldom consider the odds of a wager. Instead, they’ll just select a winner. Then, call it a day for them. Successful bettors, on the other hand, will consider the whole value of a wager before deciding if it is worth the risk.
Furthermore, wagers with a high value are what successful sports bettors seek. A perfect wager will have a large potential payoff while posing a low risk. Besides, the purpose of these bettors is to not risk a large sum of money in exchange for a tiny overall profit.
Additionally, successful bettors strive to get the most bang for their money by understanding the concept of value. Thus, they will come out ahead in the long term by looking for this extra value. Unlike recreational gamblers, they don’t look for the expected value. Instead, they’ll just place their bet on whatever side they want to.
A sports gambler has strong analytical skills to get ahead of the game. When it comes to sports betting, there is a great deal of data to consider. Therefore, you must be able to analyze and evaluate historical statistics, bookmaker odds, and much more. As a result, it is difficult to achieve long-term success without these abilities.
Successful bettors develop their own methods to assist them in analyzing all of the data that is relevant to them. Their objective is to evaluate and analyze as much information as possible. So, they can make the best decision possible.
Unfortunately, data analysis is not something that many individuals are naturally good at. Not unless you are a financial analyst. Oftentimes, casual sports gamblers don’t have any formal data analysis training. Some of them rely on their gut feelings.
It’s comforting to know that if you’re ready to put in the effort, you can improve your data analysis skills. On the other hand, if data analysis isn’t your strong suit, there are plenty of resources and studies on the internet. It can assist you to start honing your analytical skills.
Strong organizational skills are another important characteristic of successful sports bettors. Then again, when it comes to sports betting, there is a lot of data.
These bettors are able to arrange and categorize this data in a way that makes sense to them. Besides, it makes no sense how much data you have if you can’t categorize it. Then, used it to make informed predictions.
Strong organizational skills are helpful when it comes to keeping track of your bets. Besides, bankroll management requires you to keep track of your bets. So, if you can’t keep things structured, your money may rapidly become a problem.
Also, a good bettor will keep detailed records of all bets they placed, wins, and losses.
One of the most significant advantages of sports betting is that it does not rely just on luck. The more you know about a sport, the better you’ll be at making predictions. Not only that, but those who are willing to go deeper can get an advantage.
Is sports betting a game of luck?
Another appealing aspect of sports betting is the variety of alternatives offered. You may, for example, select a sport about which you have inside knowledge. Someone who has genuinely played serious golf or football will be able to see things that others won’t, giving them an advantage. You don’t have to wager on team sports, and some of the uncertainties are removed.
It is simple for people to grow overconfident and believe that they have a sure-fire winning strategy based on their expertise and facts. These individuals can then take on more risks than they should.
The fact is that anything may happen during a game, and betting might cause you to lose a lot of money quickly. This is why, no matter how clever you are, you must maintain strong discipline and a sound bankroll management technique when betting.
Sportsbooks usually have the upper hand.
Bookmakers are operating a company that has been fine-tuned for years to benefit them. Thus, they wouldn’t exist if they didn’t generate a profit. Instead, they’re not just generating money, but they’re thriving.
Sports betting may be a fantastic way to blow off steam and have some fun with friends. In addition, you can put your knowledge to good use. It must, however, be addressed with care. Also, you should always take incremental steps before fully investing yourself in it.
If you think you possess some of the traits we mentioned above, you can try your luck at top sportsbooks in Singapore. You will never know, you have the inert of becoming a professional sports gambler.