Millions of sports fans watch games and think, “betting on that must be easy.” Unfortunately, making money betting on sports is not as simple as it looks. In fact, after accounting for the vig (or juice), even the most successful “experts” get less than 60% of their bets right.
That being said, there are some things any sports bettor can do to make it easier to turn a profit. The first and most important thing is to never wager more than you can afford to lose. This is particularly true for those who are living paycheck to paycheck and need their allocation of income for basic expenses such as rent or food.
Another way to improve your chances of winning is to do some research on the teams and players you are considering betting on. In particular, a good time to study is during the summer when most baseball teams are playing 162 games and there are lots of match-ups to consider. Study the nuances of certain pitchers, for instance, or how they perform at home or on the road.
Sports betting comes in many different shapes and sizes, from straight bets (on a team to win) to spreads and parlays. You can also place futures bets, which are wagers on events that will occur in the future. These bets tend to have higher odds—and thus bigger payouts—than straight bets. For example, you can bet on a team to win the World Series or a player to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.