Aside from the incredibly lucky (or skilled) sports bettors, it’s impossible to make money betting on sports on a consistent basis. Even the best bettors, who understand all of the ins and outs of sports betting and have a mastery of statistics, will lose money on occasion. But there are certain things that can be done to make your wagers more profitable.
One of the most important things that a bettor can do is bet with their head and not their heart. Many people get emotional about their favorite teams or players and that can lead to irrational decisions on the field. By removing emotions from your decision making process you will be able to better analyze the unique circumstances that surround each game and place smarter bets.
Another tip is to keep your bet sizes small. This will allow you to make a larger number of bets and increase your chances of winning while also minimizing your losses. Typically, it’s recommended to risk between 1 and 5 percent of your bankroll on each individual bet.
Finally, be sure to take advantage of special betting opportunities like the summer season when baseball is played. This is when baseball books are softer and it can be easier to beat them with bets on pitchers who struggle against left-handed pitching or certain teams that have poor road records. In addition, there are a lot of statistical anomalies in baseball and you can find some great value by looking for them.