Sports betting has been a daily pastime for millions of people for decades, if not centuries, in its most primitive form. That period of time provided fertile ground for countless popular myths not only to take root but also to flourish fully in the mind of the average gambler. If you like sports betting or are just a football fan, you can't help but listen to some of them at least once or twice. So, without further ado, let's take a look at the ten most popular sports betting myths.
Nobody wins in the long run.
This is the most widespread myth of all. You will find millions of bettors who can confirm you. Every culture has a say in gambling and losing money. Of course, this myth does not come from divine revelation, because the vast majority of players lose much more often than they win. If you think this is not the case, check whether the bookmakers win or lose money every year.
The truth: let's go straight to the beginning. Betting has nothing to do with gambling. Sure, you need luck on your part, but winning at sports betting comes down to many other things. There is a big difference between gambling and slots, roulette or even blackjack: the chances don't come from math, they come from real people and we all know it's human to be wrong. It is up to us to exploit these mistakes with discipline and intelligence and to take advantage of the stakes.
Fixed games bookmaker.
A typical myth, developed mainly by conspiracy theorists: there is a global betting management, which handles virtually all games to offer as few winnings as possible. Any extraordinary comeback is irrefutable proof that "everything has been resolved" or "how the hell would FC Barcelona lose a home game against Getafe?". When you lose on a rollover, it's easy (and somewhat convenient) to think the game has been fixed.
Truth: Bookmakers don't fix games because they don't have to. They make huge profits from surcharges, which means that the only thing that matters is the increase in the amount wagered on each game.
Easier to win.
This myth is the most widespread, when all the favorites have won their games. The conclusion is well known: if you had bet 1,000 euros on Celtic's win at 1.20, you would have won 200 euros without sweating. Obviously, it is easier to win than to bet on a loser at the price of 5.00 (or to build a parlay with the same odds) where a bet of 50 € would have given the same profit (200 €). After all, it's simple math. Then you fall into the notorious abyss of self-loathing, knowing all the time that professional gamblers are wasting their huge funds on random favorites to claim their weekly prizes.
Truth: Profiting from a large bankroll is as difficult as betting on a small bankroll. If you are a high roller, the risk is much higher, because losing a bet can have a serious impact on the money needed to cover your daily needs. You have to be very careful when you play with a lot of money, because it can have a serious impact on your physical and mental health.
Best. I know best.
bookmakers self. This becomes more appropriate when an extremely popular bet with high odds is not confirmed. He almost tends to think that bookmakers can predict the future, or maybe they have inside information inaccessible to the regular bettor. Another common belief is that they have high-tech software that allows them to analyze the latest statistics and figures and gives them the right advice. It's almost as if the bookmakers are ready for any result long before the game starts.
The truth is: bookmakers are human, and like all of us, they make mistakes and make false assumptions. On some occasions, they do not pay attention to critical details, which can really help to predict a more accurate match result. If you are looking for a league (especially a less popular league), you will notice that this happens almost every day of the game. Although it may sound cliché, betting is a clash of minds - it's the betting cashier against you. Of course, the bookmaker has experience, knowledge, software and market knowledge, but it can also be used by a smart and dedicated bettor.
Following a good informant is the safest way to gain
knowledge, it is best to trust professionals, right? Anyone who reaches a level where they are paid to share their predictions (whether it's a website or a prediction service) is sure to be more successful than the average player. It is much easier and better to sign up for a professional prediction service. These guys make a living from this. They are totally dedicated and focused when it comes to betting, and because they are always in the eyes of paying customers, they always think twice before predicting a match.
The truth: The professional informant is neither better nor smarter than you. Their only advantage is that they can spend more time because it is their daily work. In addition, they are normal people, with their ups and downs and their successes and defeats. If you have enough time to look for the right bets, you can easily become like them.
Popular bets rarely win.
This is an interesting myth and a direct counterbalance to the "biggest bookmakers" mentioned above. It can be described as follows: the more money a given result receives, the lower its chances of confirmation. This is another favorite of conspiracy theorists, as bookmakers are said to hold a few selected matches to split a huge pot between them.
The truth is, there are hundreds of games overloaded every week, and most of them are favorites. But that contradicts the whole theorem, doesn't it? We are inherently suspicious, so it makes sense to focus on patterns that make someone feel like they are playing with us.
You can't win at high odds
are often considered a "fun bet". You can bet on a newly promoted team to win the championship. Don't expect to win with bookmakers betting at or near 5.00. High odds betting is very risky.
The truth: High cost profit is as difficult as low odds betting. It all comes down to the chances and frequency of winning. For example, if you bet at 4.00 and you have a 30% chance of winning, you make a profit. On the other hand, if you win half of your bets at 1.80 , you will lose money.
Online bookmakers will ban or limit you if you win. Bookmakers love losers and hate winners. If he finds out that someone is winning in the long run, he will start setting limits or even banning them. The limiting process is a grim attempt to show that they continue to play right. If the bettor continues to win, he is kicked out, usually with a weak excuse.
The truth: Sure, bookmakers feel like us when it comes to losing money. They can cope with this event for a short time, but if it becomes normal, they will try to reduce the losses. However, bookmakers can NOT forbid you simply because you win in the long run. They will be watching you, they can even check the backgrounds of other betting companies, but if you don't cheat or click, they can't close your account without your permission. Sure, there are some ugly apples, but it's up to you to choose a reliable betting site.
Goal totals are easier to predict than match results.
In sports betting, it's a purely mathematical myth: you have more theoretical chances of winning when you have to choose between two possible outcomes instead of three. If you choose a winning team, your chances are 33.3%, while an Over / Under bet technically gives you a 50% chance of winning. This is a significant increase in quotas, which will definitely make a difference in the long run. The numbers always tell the truth, so if you want to bet just to make money and you don't trust your instincts, choose the higher percentage.
Truth: In theory, this is true. But even if you are just starting out, you should be very aware that the idea has nothing to do with theory. To be completely honest, it doesn't matter if you choose one of the two options or choose from 12 possible outcomes. The same rule applies to any type of bet: find bets that exceed your chances of winning.
You lose more games than you win because of late goals.
This is definitely another popular myth. Every gambler has a story to tell about losing a small fortune to a late goal. It seems that the universe has conspired against this option. And it doesn't happen once or twice. It's like you're always at the end of a delayed goal.
Truth: Of course, luck is tough, but if you want to improve as a player, you have to face the truth. There were also many occasions when he won a bet due to a delayed goal. Unfortunately, losing at a slow pace leaves a stronger impression than luck. Your style of play also plays a role in this: if you regularly bet on foreigners or you like to bet less than 2.5 on teams, you are much more likely to lose on a late goal.