How to Get the Most Value Out of Sports Bets

Becoming a profitable sports bettor is a challenge for new gamblers coming into the industry blind. Most sports bettors lose money.

It’s normal for novices to only last a month or two before they realize they’re just bad at gambling. In reality, most of them aren’t bad at gambling, they’re either not trying hard enough, or they’re not placing bets that have legitimate value.

Value in sports betting is someone subjective. If the mass of sports gamblers somehow figured out how to properly define what is and what is not value in sports betting, bookies would be out of a job.

Most experts agree that value comes when a bettor can get an edge on oddsmakers. Identifying bets that have value is arguably the most challenging part of sports gambling.

As football returns, more and more of you are probably considering jumping into the fray and see if you have what it takes to become a profitable sports bettor. If that’s the case, here are 7 ways to get the most value out of your future sports bets.

1 ‒ Gamble on Multiple Sites

The easiest and most common way to get value out of your bet is to search for the best odds. I understand gamblers prefer one gambling site over another for their own reasons.

Some sports betting sites might have a cleaner interface, while others might have faster payouts. As long as a website is reputable and delivers when it’s time to cash out, it’s worth exploring its lines.

When you’re listening to your favorite gambling shows or podcasts, you might hear the hosts say that “the book” or “Vegas” has the line listed at a certain number. But, these lines aren’t consistent across the board, and some books differ from others when it comes to the odds they post.

These discrepancies are often marginal, and usually less than a point. But, that point or half a point can be the difference between winning and losing a bet. I


f one book has a better line than the one you typically use, you must take the better odds. I always advise new gamblers to spread their bankroll throughout 3 or 4 of the most popular websites that work for them to make the bet-selection process easier.

2 ‒ Don’t Shy Away from Heavy Favorites

I understand that you’re most likely gambling to make real money and that sometimes betting on heavy favorites doesn’t have a lot of appeal. If you’re approaching a moneyline where team A is listed at -340 against team B that’s listed at +270, you might feel inclined to bet on the underdog.

If your units are $100 and you’re planning on dropping a unit on this matchup, the amount you could win betting on the dog is staggering compared to going with the favorite.

While you stand to win more money betting on the underdogs, consistently betting on them can easily result in consistent losing. I’m not advocating for always ignoring underdogs and solely focusing on heavy favorites, but smart bets are valuable bets. You have to win to continue to bet, and betting like a hero puts your bankroll in danger.

3 ‒ Avoid Long Odds

Everyone likes a good parlay with long odds or an obscure prop bet listed at some incredible number like 50:1. I’ll occasionally bet recklessly and throw some money down on a parlay with long odds to see if I can get lucky. But, I know going into the bet that there’s a tiny chance of it hitting, so I will lower my bet amount.

New and younger sports bettors who consistently bet recklessly simply won’t last long in gambling. That reckless mindset can seep into other gambling types and be an easy way to destroy your bankroll. Placing longshot bets is a fun deviation from the norm, but it should not be the norm.

Bets that are made haphazardly have little to no value, and unless you properly research each leg of a parlay. They bet have some bit of information that makes you sure a prop bet will win, then you might as well douse your stack of money with kerosene and light a match.

4 ‒ Don’t Make Knee-jerk Reaction Bets

I am a big fan of in-game betting when I am comfortable with the matchup. I’ve been betting long enough to get a feel for which types of bets have value compared to others that should be avoided.

Some gamblers tend to place bets in the middle of a matchup after realizing their initial bet doesn’t have a chance to win.

While it makes sense for you to want to immediately win your money back after losing a bet, knee-jerk reactions are typically just that. Those bets lack proper vetting, which means they aren’t made under the best circumstances. When you’re chasing losses or betting out of desperation, the chances of you selecting a smart bet with value are slim.

Once you’re more comfortable with in-game betting, this point will be less relevant. That will come with time, and in-game betting can be a profitable form of betting.

Before you place a bet in the middle of a contest, figure out your motivation. If it’s merely to chase a loss and recoup some money, your potential bet probably lacks value.

5 ‒ Bet Like a Professional

If you’re a casual sports gambler, this point might make you roll your eyes a bit. There’s nothing wrong with gambling as a side hobby to add some excitement to your matchups

If you’re serious about winning money, you need to approach each bet as a professional would. As I said, sports gambling is incredibly tricky, and winning money is unlikely if you don’t take it seriously.

While most sports gamblers lose money, some can make a living off of it. That’s because they typically employ betting systems that lead to profitable returns on their investments.

No one betting system works 100% of the time. In fact, if you’re winning 52.5-53% of your bets, you’re doing better than most.

Professional gamblers typically approach each day of gambling like you would approach a day at the office. Pros are diligent and meticulous when it comes to scouring the internet for information about potential bets.

They’re making sure they are getting the most value on their bet. Success will come with devoting your free time and energy to researching bets, shopping lines, and following line movement.

6 ‒ Fading the Public

Let me be clear here, fading the public is a strategy that should be considered but is very polarizing in the gambling world. Amateur gamblers who think they know more than they do are known to practice this tactic with mixed results.

By definition, fading the public is merely betting on the opposite side of the public on a given wager. Do not expect to win money by being a contrarian; if winning were that easy, everyone would do it.

Because most gamblers lose money, you might assume that most gamblers are bad sports bettors. The betting public is typically under-informed and base their bets on things variables that have no bearing on the matchup in question. Typically, casual fans will bet on the most popular teams and players and influence line movement.

While I don’t necessarily advocate for always fading the public just for the sake of being different, there is something to monitoring line movement. If you’re thinking of betting on the less popular side of a bet once odds are released, consider sitting on it for a few hours.

Once the public starts heavily betting one side, the line can move, which can add value to a bet you were going to make in the first place.

7 ‒ Get a Sense of Probability and Odds

Understanding the sports gambling industry is the most basic and essential way to gain a deeper appreciation of a bet’s value. When combing through the lines after they’re released, your comprehension of the figures on the page you should be second nature.

Before you consider placing your first bet, make sure you know everything there is to know about the different varieties of bets, odds, and lines.

Knowing the difference between a run line and moneyline in baseball or the spread and the moneyline in sports like football and basketball is crucial if you want to be a successful sports bettor.

Very frequently, you will realize that betting on one has more value than betting on the other. When you can spot that extra value, even if it’s barely noticeable, you will start to make smarter bets.

Conclusion

Finding value in sports betting is subjective, and depending on who you ask about how to find bets with weight, you’ll most likely get a range of answers. The first step is becoming familiar with the sportsbook industry and jargon used to make sure you’re prepared to spot listed bets that have value.

Make sure always to check out multiple sportsbooks or betting sites before placing your bet. Don’t shy away from heavy favorites because the odds aren’t as enticing as betting on a longshot underdog.

Take betting seriously and treat it as if it’s your second job. Over time, you’ll start to understand what value betting is, and it’s essential to stay in the gambling game long enough to spot those types of bets.