The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a federal ban on sports gambling made things a whole lot easier for fans of all kinds to place wagers on the outcome of their favorite team or player. But as with anything involving betting money, it’s important to remember that there are no surefire ways to make money. And even if you are an expert at making informed bets, there’s always the chance that your luck will run out and you’ll end up losing a big chunk of your bankroll.
In the olden days (just after dinosaurs roamed the earth, if you’re really that curious), people would put money down on events such as who would win a particular game or how many home runs someone would hit in an inning. These days, bettors can place bets on anything from how many points a team will score in a game to whether a specific player will kick a field goal or make a touchdown. And if the person who placed the bet happens to be lucky enough, they’ll win that money.
It’s possible to make a living betting on sports, but it requires a massive bankroll and near-obsessive tracking of bets. Pro bettors keep nearly-obscenely detailed records of every single wager they’re placing, testing out theories such as “all left-handed pitchers will lose,” or “the Cowboys have a better chance of winning when the line is -7 rather than -6.”
One way to increase your chances of winning is to do your research before you place your bets. This means reading sports betting forums, finding out what other bettors think about certain services and even going as far as to check Better Business Bureau ratings and complaints. You should also avoid any service that promises guaranteed wins.
Gambling is a vice that can cause major problems, not only with your bank account but also with your relationships and health. So if you’re planning to make a living by betting on sports, be sure to set up a separate bank account for this purpose and don’t be tempted to dip into it for anything other than placing a bet.
And most importantly, don’t get caught up in the hype surrounding sports betting. It’s all too easy to be lured into thinking you can become rich quickly by putting down a couple of thousand dollars a month on your favorite teams and players. Just like drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes, gambling is a vice that can destroy your life. So make smart bets with your heart, not your wallet, and you’ll probably have a much better time in the long run. And if you do happen to lose, be sure not to attempt to recover your losses by draining your bank account or taking out a second mortgage on your house. That’s a surefire recipe for disaster. And it’s not just your bankroll at risk; your family, friends and sleep will suffer as well.