CHECK OUT everygame’s SPORTS BONUS CODE 3XBOOST50 TO GET 100% BONUS UP TO $150!

The Memphis Grizzlies (56-26) try to overcome a hostile crowd and advance into the next round when they visit the Timberwolves (45-37) at the Target Center in Minnesota on Friday. In today’s game, the Grizzlies emerged as a 1.5-point favorite against the Timberwolves. See more predictions in the Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves odds and picks in FBR’s NBA Predictions series.

BEST ODDS TO BET ON:

  • Underdogs: Timberwolves +1.5 (-110)
  • Grizzlies vs Timberwolves Over/Under: 229 points

For the best odds for today’s games, check out everygame!The Timberwolves (47-40-1 ATS) went 15-5 SU in their last 20 games against an opponent in the Western Conference and are 4-2 ATS in their last six. The total has gone OVER in eight of Minnesota’s last 12 matches played in April, even as the Timberwolves are 4-8 ATS in their last 12 outings when playing at home against the Grizzlies.The Grizzlies (54-32-1 ATS) are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games against Minnesota and 14-6 SU in their last 20 matches, even as the total has gone UNDER in five of Memphis’ last seven outings on the road. Memphis outlasted Minnesota, 111-109,in Game 5 on Tuesday to move to a win away from reaching the conference finals.Minnesota nearly made it two in a row after pulling off a 119-118 victory in Game 4 last Saturday. Rookie Anthony Edwards, who averages 24.2 points and 2.6 assists per game, will join All-Star center Karl Anthony Towns (22.6 ppg, 1.8 apg) in leading the Wolves in trying to force a Game 7 back to Memphis.

Final Predictions and Picks:

  • Spread — 112 Memphis Grizzlies – 109 Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Over/Under — OVER 229 points

A look at last time’s predictions: 

Philadelphia 76ers vs Toronto Raptors (Game 6) Odds and Picks

Joel Embiid collected 33 points and 10 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey had 25, while James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists as the Philadelphia 76ers ousted the Toronto Raptors, 132-97, to advance into the conference finals after a 4-2 victory in their Eastern Conference first round series.

Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz (Game 6) Odds and Picks

Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson scored 24 points each as they led the Dallas Mavericks to a 98-96 win over the Utah Jazz to complete a 4-2 victory in their Western Conference first round series and advance into the next round against the top seed Phoenix Suns.

For more predictions, check out our predictions series where FBR covers the biggest games of major sports!

The growth of Esports betting is now indisputable. Russia, in particular, has a market share that has grown from 5% to 14.5% since 2020, and it includes from 50 to 250 lines to bet. You can no longer ignore the Esports scene because it is growing heavily.

IS ESPORTS HERE TO STAY?

It is true that during the pandemic, the Esports industry grew significantly. During the times when no traditional sports were either on the betting market or on the broadcast, Esports took advantage of this situation.The pandemic helped the industry to grow on much bigger scales than it would have been without it. But it doesn’t mean that betting on Esports will drop to its origins.

WHAT CAN I BET ON?

There are a lot of Esports disciplines that bettors can bet on. For example, CS:GO is one of the largest games and one of the most popular ones for bettors in Russia. The competition is held throughout the year, while players have a long break only during the summer (July-August). For Russian bettors, CS:GO and Dota2 are attractive.
Because nowadays, it is the era of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) teams. Last year, Ukrainian team Natus Vincere won a bunch of tournaments and broke the prize-winning record (around 4 million dollars in the 2021 season) and Team Spirit won the Dota2 Major, winning 17 million dollars. Also, a lot of betting platforms recognize the value of Esports in betting, providing the lines for many Esports tournaments.

WILL ESPORTS OVERTHROW TRADITIONAL SPORTS IN RUSSIA?

For now, traditional sports are a lot popular for Russian bettors, for example, football, basketball, and hockey, among others.But esports betting is rising each year. The upcoming PGL Major in Antwerp is going to be the spike of the first quarter of the year for the CS:GO scene. You don’t want to miss this event!

EASY WAY TO EARN MONEY?

It is true that it is quite easy to bet on Esports games because it’s easy to analyze. The probability of the underdog to win the game is also higher than in football or other traditional sports. Knowing this, you can find a good way to win money on Esports games. One more thing is that sports betting companies are spending 80% of the finances for Esports in general, so the bookies provide better odds for the fans of the game. The Esports scene is one of the fast-growing sports industries in the 21st century. Its capital is growing steadily year after year. This also applies to betting. Not every betting company knows the Esports scene well, so players can take the advantage of this!

FAMOUS SHOWS BEST BET FOR BOOKMAKERS

The growth of reality TV shows the past decade is something the bookies looked for and eventually convinced them to create Novelty bets for them.

Take a look at “The X Factor” created by British host Simon Cowell, who himself evolved from a judge at “American Idol” to build his brainchild that generated diverse winners who lured thousands of fans the past few years.

Punters predicting the winner from “The X Factor” to “Strictly Come Dancing” to dance-offs like “I’m a Celebrity….Get me out of here” to “Dancing on Ice” have generated a huge following from fans in several countries who eventually fancy betting on their favorite bets to win.

Placing money for betting lines NHL has evolved beyond sports events or tournaments the past few years. The imagination of bettors has grown to non-sports events that generated huge interest for their market to place money on, and sportsbooks simply took advantage that it has established a strong market separate from the traditional sports tournaments.

This is what Novelty Bets are all about. Sports bettors may have wanted diversion from the wear and tear of betting on NHL sports events or tournaments so they tried something new and different that eventually drew a strong following and prompted bookmakers to create betting avenues for them.

Let՛s now dive into what bookies look into creating these Novelty Bets. From political to entertainment topics, these kinds of bets may be something punters place money for fun, but they can still get a big payday if they focus and prepare for it in the long run.

What Is Novelty Betting?

A bet on an outcome that is not sports-related is described as a Novelty bet in sports betting circles. Every day, novelty bets are placed on a variety of events taking place all over the world. The different types of special bets vary from topic to topic. The non-sports topics range from politics, TV shows, movies, award shows, and other random odds and ends.

The concept of Novelty betting may be something bettors place money on for fun. But there’s a career for those who focus on these non-sporting bets and make money on it once bettors get the hang of it.

Unlike in sports betting where bookmakers create electronic simulations on teams involved in major events or tournaments to help guide punters on picking their bets, there’s no solid basis for bookies to determine clear winners for novelty bets.

Sports betting may still continue to command a bigger market share in several countries, but novelty sportsbet offer a fresh perspective that generates lots of interest from people where they must figure it out to win beyond just luck to collect that big payroll.

Novelty Specials- Betting Tips

Read Current Events, Entertainment Sites Helps

Though they don’t have to be, novelty bets can be fairly unpredictable. Political event wagering, for instance, is highly popular, thus familiarizing yourself with the market can significantly improve your chances of success.

Being well-informed, reading about political and entertainment developments, watching the news, etc., can help you develop a distinctive perspective and provide you with the knowledge you need to make an accurate prediction. Social media platforms can also be quite useful because people discuss all topics and happenings there regularly, giving you an understanding of how people feel about certain situations.
If sports bettors tore over lots of statistics and data from simulations offered by bookmakers to major sports websites like ESPN, CBS Sports and Fox Sports, novelty bettors need to brush up on their current events and entertainment news if they want to become successful in this field.

Place Your Bets on Topics You Know Well

A significant portion of novelty bets revolve around specific things that necessitate extensive prior knowledge. Many of those things have a history that is too complex to learn in a short period of time. Furthermore, learning a lot about a specific topic can be extremely time-consuming, making the bet even more difficult.

That is why you should bet on events that are related to topics in which you are already well-versed. This can give you the advantage you need to make accurate predictions and profits.

Look For Established Markets For Novelty Bets

Some bookmakers have been creative; they have already placed their top novelty betting markets to guide punters on events they can earn extra money on the side. This includes the best novelty betting sites that you must check out before you bet.

The US presidential and UK general election emerge as top political novelty bets, while the Oscars, “Britain’s Got Talent,” “Emmys,” “MasterChef” and “Big Brother” come out among entertainment bets.

The concept of Novelty Bets may be to provide fun and diversion for punters while getting a chance to earn an extra payroll on the side. But bettors are still advised to be smart in placing their money on these bets to ensure that their payroll won’t take a hit in balancing their bets with their usual sports events in the long term.

Best websites For Novelty Bets

What started as betting for fun has evolved through the years, something sportsbooks have recognized and prompted them to expand their platforms by placing novelty bets among its features.

While not all bookmakers have offered novelty bets features on their websites, the list has grown consistently.

From MyBookie to William Hill to bet365 and betobet, these bookies have recognized the growing market for novelty bets that generates money for them and lures over more people who might be convinced of trying out their sports betting features in the long run.

Seasoned sports bettors, also known as sharps, often get the respect of bookmakers, who look up to their thoughts on major bets in big sports events. Before they became renowned sharps, they were also veteran punters who just wanted to get ahead over the bookies for profit․

There are many systems or schemes, for that matter, that punters use and master through years of experience to make it work and give them a major payroll new bettors can envy with. One of those effective systems is the Martingale Betting System, which offers mathematical odds that is the most effective given the right picks at the proper time.

What Is A Martingale Betting System?

The Martingale System is a process where a bet was placed by a sports bettor on a specific team and an expected result. Once the first bet loses, the punter raises his stake on each subsequent bet on the same outcome until he eventually wins.

A bettor wagers double on the stake laid on his previous losing bet – and so on – with each subsequent losing bet until the desired expected result pays out and thus turns into a profit. It is also known as the “no-lose system” as you double your bet stake each time you lose before collecting a big payday with that one win.

Invented by John Henry Martindale, a London casino owner who, according to legend, used the long-standing system in the 1700s, the Martingale System calls for a bettor to double his bets by the time he wins, meaning that if he makes a 10 US dollar wager and he loses, he should go with A 20 US dollar stake in the next one.

With the right choices and proper calculation of bets, a smart punter eventually grows his payroll with a major payday and then manages his succeeding bets under the system to sustain his losses but with another chance of a major payday.

How To Use The Martingale System

If you have a fat bankroll, you are ready to go and try out the Martingale System. But still be careful of your betting tendencies and still practice sound judgment and the right timing.

Let’s say, for example, a bettor has a starting bankroll of 11,000 US dollars, and he has subsequently divided it into 100 units of 100 US dollars each. The bettor will use the Martingale System to an NFL bet to cover the spread through a starting wage of one unit (100 US dollars) on the Dallas Cowboys. And then let’s assume the Cowboys’ odds against the spread are at -110, as is standard with NFL spread bets.

The bettor’s initial Week 1 wager of 110 US dollars, which includes the vig usually paid to the bookmaker, has a potential to win 100 US dollars. If the bet in Week 1 is lost, the system urges him to need to bet again on Dallas in Week 2. He needs to raise the wager to recover the amount he wagered (and lost) in Week 1 plus the amount that he could have won if his Week 1 bet had emerged victorious.

What are the Pros And Cons of the Martingale System?

Mathematically, the Martingale System works since the bettor will win eventually, provided he can ride out a losing streak with a big payroll in his account. The system applies to even bets where the punter, theoretically, has 505 chances of winning.

Punters into short-term bets can thrive on this betting strategy, which gives bettors consistent and small bets compared to doubling their bet amount on consecutive big losses.

This system, besides being effective, is versatile enough to be applied from major European football or soccer matches to sports with long seasons from the MLB, NBA, and NHL.

The system’s main drawback is that a string of losses in a row will cause the bet size to increase until it reaches the table limit. Martingale’s gambling approach is quite legal in online casinos, and no one can stop you from employing it. However, having enough stakes to place small bets consistently is vital. You’ll never be able to predict when you’ll win a bet.

Martingale Variations

Any team in those leagues that have struggled to most of the regular season can still spell a major payroll for a bettor before the playoffs start.

A bettor places his money on an Orlando Magic team with a 15-45 record with a stake of 10 US dollars and will play the Atlanta Hawks and the sports carrying the odds of:

  • Magic to win -105
  • Hawks to win -115

He placed a bet on the Hawks to win but if the Magic emerge victorious, the bettor will still have a chance to recoup his losses in the next game, for example, against the Washington Wizards at the odds of -300.

The bettor, in this situation, would need to wager 7.5 US dollars (10/1.33 US dollars – 7.5 US dollars). He can count on the extra profits if he decides to raise the stakes a bit. Then the Wizards posted a convincing win, meaning the bettor won his bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the Martingale technique?

Probability theory underpins the martingale strategy. Martingale technique is betting strategy players use to increase their chances of winning in sports betting.

  • Is the Martingale system allowed in casinos?

Yes, Casinos accept all Martingale systems because they have no effect on the house edge.

  • Does the Martingale system work?

Yes, but the Martingale systems can be effective in the short term. If you avoid any long losing streaks, it can even work for quite a long time.

  • Is Martingale a good strategy?

Though it has several limitation and considered as a risky way to gamble, the Martingale system is known to increase the chance of winning. It’s built on the idea that you should keep throwing money at your investments no matter what, because eventually the value will rise again. The Martingale System requires a gambler to double a bet after each loss.

  • What strategy is better than Martingale?

There is a definite advantage between the Paroli and Martingale systems. The Paroli system is a more cautious betting approach because you can’t predict how long your winning and losing streaks will be, or even if you’ll have any streaks at all.

  • How much money do you need for martingale strategy?

If you have at least a $200 bankroll for $1 bets or a $1000 bankroll for $5 bets, then the Martingale may be right for you. 

  • What is the best gambling system?

The parlay is one of the most profitable sports betting strategies. With this strategy, sometimes known as “letting it ride,” players must increase their bet after a win in order to include both the original bet and the profits.

  • What is the opposite of Martingale?

A trading strategy known as the anti-Martingale, or reverse Martingale, approach includes halving a wager for every trade loss and doubling it for every transaction gain.

READING CURRENT EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT SITES HELPS

The concept of sportsbooks handing out free bets and incentives to its users comes with a reason: to lure more players who will generate more revenues for their platforms.

Punters who want to profit from the free bets and incentives offered by bookmakers use a betting technique known as matched betting. This kind of betting will need more than luck to become successful, as this employs a mathematical equation to gauge a player’s chances of getting a bigger payroll.

Also known as back bet betting, lay bet matching or double betting, matched betting lures many new bettors because these are risk-free bets. Punters would still receive the amount offered in the free bet promotion no matter what the outcome of the event you wagered on shows.

COVER ALL POTENTIAL OUTCOMES THROUGH MATCHED BETTING

The concept of placing money on multiple bets can be emphasized ever clearly through matched betting, as multiple bets are key to cut the risks on every bettor.

Bettors will need to cover all outcomes in a sports event and go back and lay to ensure a win no matter what the match’s result would be. For starters, users must create an account through a betting exchange and one or multiple accounts with a bookmaker.

A qualifying wager must be placed by the bettor with the bookmakers to receive those free wagers. Punters will again use matched betting once the free bets are received. But players are reminded not to risk their funds since they will be playing with free bets.

‘ODDSMATCHER,’ ‘LAY CALCULATOR’ KEYS TO VICTORY

New bettors who have no background of sports betting should be on the lookout for an efficient “oddsmatcher,” especially if you haven’t subscribed to a matched betting service that often provides these features to their customers.

There is also a need to get hands on a “lay bet calculator” to help bettors determine how much they are needed to lay. It also helps that bettors can find a bookmaker with a secure platform that they can trust with their details and information.

Punters must also avoid taking on too many welcome offers from multiple sportsbooks at the same time. Patience is a virtue in learning from different welcome offers and bettors must exude more confidence before taking on more complicated bookie promotions

BACK, LAY BETS KEY TO MATCHED BETTING

When a punter wagers on, for example, Manchester United would win a particular match of the Premier League final, this is known as “backing” or a “back” bet. A bettor is wagering for the outcome to be correct at the end of the match, and if that team does win at the end of the match, he or she would profit and take the winnings related to their stake.

The rise of betting exchanges has led to the concept of the “lay” bet. “Laying” a wager, which is the opposite of a “back” bet, happens when a punter mostly wagers that, for example, a particular football team would lose the match.

Once the team a bettor wagered on loses the match or even if it ends in a draw, he or she would still profit from the wager. It is through betting exchange platforms where punters can place bets like this.

FOOTBALL, HORSE RACING, BOXING BETS MATCHED BETS

It is no surprise that European football, or soccer is one of the best sports for matched betting. Beginners of matched betting can try out their first few bets on football markets due to its steady odds, thus making placing your bets much easier.

Horse racing is another sport to start off a career in matched betting because there are many horse races that lures significant amounts of betting, like The Grand National and Royal Ascot. The liquidity in horse racing doesn’t increase until about 30 minutes before the off, meaning punters can place their bets with about 15 minutes to go for matched betting.

The excitement of a knockout punch in boxing also spells better opportunities to try out matched betting. Sportsbooks are usually high on big boxing matches like the Mayweather vs Pacquiao showdown or a Tyson vs Holyfield from way back, as these lure a huge amount of money while punters can get some huge back and lay odds.

There may be good habits and bad vices, but athletes and bettors are not so different when it comes to what goes in their minds. These individuals, particularly seasoned sports bettors, display a passion that often goes beyond the love of the game.

The mind of the sports bettor goes two sides like the flip of the coin. One of them plays like an athlete, displaying that fire and passion with the right skills and mental fortitude to win with tactical precision and timing. The other plays with reckless abandon and falls on unfounded addiction that makes him lose not just his entire bankroll but perhaps his sanity.

Upcoming punters should pass through the proper sports betting psychology if they want to survive and establish longevity in the sports betting game. There should be the right balance of tactical smarts, timing and proper research and preparation to make the right moves and establish a winning bankroll and have fun at the same time.

Play To Win, Stick To Game Plan

Playing a game, from contact sports like basketball and American football to mind games like chess to sports in particular, should always be fun regardless of how high the stakes are. But don’t have too much fun, either.

If a bettor has employed a traditional scheme that has worked for him for a long time, from so-called pre-betting “rituals” to checking all the numbers and studying all the possibilities, then he has to stick with it and be flexible enough to make adjustments only if the need arises.

But like players, bettors should have the right mindset of playing hard and trying to go for the win and not play to lose. Some punters may handle losing some thousands of bucks and won’t get angry or disappointed, but missing out on chances for a big payroll by a reckless misstep causes a negative vibe that could hurt someone’s psyche in the long run.

Can Cause A Bettor’s Downfall

If there are three to four sportsbooks which believe that, for example, the Phoenix Suns are 12-point favorites to beat the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA finals. But these bookies miscalculated that newly acquired Ben Simmons has suddenly healed from his injuries and has quietly trained with the Nets for over a month now, chances are the lines will drastically move.

If a player has dominated the game enough to ensure his team’s victory as early as the third quarter and he still wants to go for personal glory — like trying to score 100 points before the game’s over — such a plan is a sign of disaster.

As the adage goes, a win by a point or 100 meant the same thing. For sports bettors, winning by placing the usual bet on a certain bet should be enough satisfaction because it develops good habits that would spell long-term investments.

Don’t be disappointed if you should’ve bet $1,000 instead of a mere $100 after winning a bet. Remember that there will be many chances to slightly raise your stakes, but do it in a calculated manner to sustain possible losses.

Do Not Chase Your Losses

After suffering a loss, the temptation to keep betting in the hopes of recouping your losses can be strong. Not only are you more prone to make hasty choices, but you are also more likely to lose even more money as a result of those hasty choices.

When people believe they have been too unfortunate, that greater forces are acting against them, and that luck is ready for a change, they are more likely to start chasing losses. You’ll see through this nonsense once you learn that sports betting is a numbers game and that any losses you incur are due to being on the wrong side of variance or making poor decisions.

If you want to make sports betting your major source of revenue and a full-time career, you need to learn to detach yourself emotionally from the process. It may be difficult, but if you want to maintain winning consistently, you need to learn to detach your feelings from the outcomes of your wagers.

Betting With A Clear Mind Goes A Long Way

The psychology of sports betting for a bettor should have a clear head and a positive mindset, just like many disciplined athletes. Any distractions – physical or mental – could ruin your strategy to raise a bigger payroll.

Some dedicated players practice for hours – more than beyond the three or four hours coaches ask from them. While the intention is noble, there should still be a balance of getting your body and mind in sync before going into the game. This could also bode well for sports bettors – mentally in particular – to avoid falling into reckless addiction before it’s too late.

Losing a lot of money can be managed by some punters, but some don’t, so know your proper mindset if you can psychologically handle major financial losses – just like players still getting sleep despite their team falling on a 10-15 game losing streak.

Don’t Let Sportsbook Make Your Final Call

The concept of bookmakers are like books or any other reading materials coaches and players use to feed their mental capacity and complement their physical strengths to improve their game. Sportsbooks are created only as a tool for bettors to place their money on their teams and guide them on which to choose, but the bettor should still make the final decision

If there are three to four sportsbooks which believe that, for example, the Phoenix Suns are 12-point favorites to beat the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA finals. But these bookies miscalculated that newly acquired Ben Simmons has suddenly healed from his injuries and has quietly trained with the Nets for over a month now, chances are the lines will drastically move.

The psychology behind sports betting includes not getting carried away by bookmakers’ trends so easily. On many counts the bookies may be right, but make an effort to still do your homework, study all the numbers and possibilities and check out recent team updates before deciding to finally place that bet. In the end, timing could still be everything to get that big payday.

In a digital world where social media has become the norm and any transactions can seemingly be accomplished through mobile apps on everyone’s mobile phones, the concept of a person who physically carries an important package like cash and important documents to an office seems to be unnecessary.

While the definition of a “runner” in sports betting in general and horse racing in particular are different, let’s focus first on the person who still manually delivers bets of old-school bettors who refuse to place their bets on smartphones. This is the reason why some sportsbooks still employ these persons who remain valuable in the age of modern technology as they are still reliable if ever glitches hit the bookies’ digital platforms.

A new punter may be surprised that the value of runners remains high aside from its obvious purposes. Let’s explore the many ways why bettors need a runner, and even some groups will still look for them for many years to come.

RUNNERS RISK LIVES TO GET JOB DONE

A runner is described as a person who carries the money and betting slips from the betting parlors to its headquarters, which is called a numbers’ bank. Usually, a betting shop picks one of its employees to become a runner, who is deployed directly to the venue of a sporting event to collect and inform the institution about the change.

The bookmaker also taps the runner as its informer, who can monitor all changes that somehow can have a binding effect on upcoming sports events, before he or she passes them to a betting shop. Runners are also tasked to make corrections and refine the odds if necessary.

Runners are like messengers that they have to go out of their way to get their jobs done, like finding ways to overcome terrible weather conditions to overcome natural-related incidents like heavy traffic or even power outages to deliver the money and betting slips to the bookmaker’s headquarters.

ELDERLY STILL NEEDS RUNNERS TO PLACE BETS

Despite the growth of online transactions, mobile applications and digital technology the past few years, there are still a lot of men and women who remain to use traditional methods and have to embrace these changes.

Several groups of elderly members, believe it or not, do not want to make that transition of using their mobile phones to place their bets for some reason or another. This is where the runners come in.

While betting online ensures bettors’ identities in many ways, there are still bettors who want to place money on their favorite team and have someone else do it for them and still not trust these mobile apps. Call them “old-school” bettors but bookmakers cannot refuse them and they will still accept their bets by retaining the services of runners for such purposes.

RUNNERS ALSO PROTECT IDENTITIES OF ATHLETES, OFFICIALS

There will always be bettors who want to place their money on teams but are careful not to get identified to ensure their safety and not be embroiled in any trouble. What runners can do for them remains effective compared to placing bets online.

From bettors who place their money against their home team to those who want to bet at a casino but are on a “cold streak” to Punters who are banned from a particular sportsbook, these individuals are willing to pay extra to runners to still make bets and get the same chance as everyone to get a big payroll.

A bookmaker’s employee, professional sportsmen, athletes, coaches and officials who are not allowed to bet on the sport they are involved in can use a runner any way to still have fun and bet on any team or player.

Lastly, bettors who place a wager that exceeds the betting limit also rely on runners to get the job done. For example, if a bettor wants to place a 10,000 Euro bet and the betting limit was set at 5,000 Euros, the runner could place the other 5,000 Euro bet on their behalf.

RUNNERS CARRY RISKS THAT BETTORS SHOULD KNOW

Based on the types of individuals who still find the use of runners as useful, except the elderly, it seems — many are convinced that using runners remains illegal in sports betting circles.

These are the reasons why using runners carries big risks for bettors, who should be responsible for their choices. Punters are lucky if they find runners who they can really trust, like a distant relative or a loyal messenger or a family employee.

New bettors, however, should be informed of the presence of runners to make them aware of these kinds of individuals who they may encounter at some point in their young sports betting careers. While the common logic is still to avoid a runner’s services and place the bets yourself or go online, it is important that those who still tap runners should be ready to deal with the consequences if such transactions go awry.

There are smart bettors who want to lower their risk when placing money on teams yet they want guaranteed profit regardless which team or player wins in a game. So how can a punter do that?

This is where hedging your bets comes into play. For bettors who are also unsure of their favorite teams and have a gut feel that the other team may pull off the victory, hedging your bets may be the right decision for you, provided you have enough funds to roll with it.

The concept of hedge betting actually covers a lot of risks if the punter does not do things the right way. Aside from having enough cash in your bankroll, a bettor must properly calculate the numbers, possibilities and yes, even the odds, before hedging bets on two teams so that you don’t go empty handed at the end of the game.

BET AGAINST YOURSELF AND STILL WIN

Hedging is described as a sports betting strategy used by bettors to reduce risks or guarantee a profit when you place your money on a sports event. It can also be defined as a counter wager made against another wager to assure the bettor still gets some money regardless of the outcome of the game.

Basically, hedging is like betting against yourself but still gaining some profit. But, like earlier mentioned, this strategy can only be effective if the bettor calculates the numbers with your trusted sportsbook as a guide or comparing multiple bookies before making that decision.

The concept of hedging beets can be applied from in-game beets or in futures bets and even in parlays. It’s a matter of checking on live updates and finding an opportunity if hedging a bet on a game can ensure profit regardless which team wins.

CHECK ON ANY ‘KILLER PRICES’ FOR ANY TEAM

Let’s cite an example at an NBA game and a bettor picks on a big underdog, like the Orlando Magic, to win the game. The bettor places money on a $100 wager at +360 before the game, meaning he gets to win $360 in profit if his team wins.

If the Magic takes a 20-point lead in the third quarter, the bettor’s bet is looking good to win, but what if the other team, the favorite like the Phoenix Suns, are so good you think they can still come back from the game?

It gets more interesting if a bettor gets a killer price on the other team, the favorite, which is now +400 to win the game based on in-game odds. The Suns may be down but they still got a killer price, creating an opportunity to still gain profit by betting on that team aside from your earlier underdog bet.

Once the bettor bets $100 on the other team through in-game betting at +400, he is guaranteed money no matter which team wins. If the underdog team, the Magic, wins, the bettors get $360 in profit minus the $100 he wagered in-game on the other team to result in a $260 total profit.

INVEST ON FUTURES BETS BY HEDGING

Only a small amount of investment is needed on futures bets and hedging to guarantee profit once the teams are picked right and the numbers are calculated right.

Let’s say the Los Angeles Lakers have a 100 to one shot of winning the NBA title, but you still made the bet on them for $100 and they win, you stand to win $10,000. If the Lakers went on to the NBA Finals against the Brooklyn Nets , for example, and has a total toss-up of -110 odds for both teams to have equal chances of winning,

The odds got better as LeBron James, sidelined for the whole regular season with a knee injury, suddenly was activated for the playoffs. While you already made the bet for the “underdog” Lakers, you also want to place money on the Nets to win.

Once the bettor bets $5,250 on the Nets to win, the scenario goes like this: a Lakers win will have him win his original futures bet for a $10,000 profit but will lose his hedge bet for $5,250.

But a Nets win will have a bettor lose his original futures bet for a loss of $100, yet he would win his hedge bet for a profit of roughly $4,772. The total profit for the bettor if the Nets win is at $4,662, meaning the bettor does not go home empty handed.

FINANCIAL PREPARATION KEY TO HEDGING

Sportsbooks may give the most accurate guide and the best prices in sports events you want, but that does not mean they can do a credit on a bettor who wants to make a hedge bet. Getting that fund ready for a hedge bet that does not allow you to lose is crucial to ensure enough profit and minimal loss.

The money may just be there in the ATM, but you may have to go to the bank ahead of time if there are ATM limits if the need arises for you to get that money for the hedge bet.Online betting transactions may have to take 24 hours to ensure your deposit will be processed on time.

It is easy for even new bettors to have $10 or $20 or even $100 ready for placing money on a team. But not every punter has $5,000 ready that can be used to make a hedge bet. Last-minute looks for those the best prices at sportsbooks will help you get updated and get the best hedging deal but scrambling to get those funds ready would be unwise and should be avoided at all times.

The choices one makes in placing money for a certain team in a sports event often define what kind of a bettor he is. There are no physical stereotypes on what kind of a bettor is, so the only way to spot what level a punter is described by observers in the industry – even on those who bet online – can only be gauged on what patterns or trends (if any) he or she is using.

If a newcomer in any sports team is often called a rookie, or “rook,” and fresh drivers as novices, upcoming punters are called “squares.” A square is an inexperienced player who is incapable of thinking outside the box in placing his or her bet.

For punters who are looking at their sports betting career on a long-term basis they begin their journey as novice bettors, or squares, before evolving into sharp bettors sportsbooks will eventually look up to.

CASUAL, SQUARE BETTORS USUALLY LOSE BANKROLLS

One glaring sign of spotting a square is if the bettors place their money on a certain team due to sentiment, knowing that their bet is the home team that they believe can win the game.

The Orlando Magic are hosting the Phoenix Suns in a regular-season NBA matchup, for example, and square bettors place their money on Orlando just because of its home court advantage in the match. Even if the positions were changed and the Magic are the dominant team, the squares hardly consider what the other team has to offer before making their decision.

The novice punter disregards the fact that Phoenix is leading the Western Conference in particular and the entire league in general and is coming into the matchup with a five-game winning streak. This series of trends lures newcomer bettors to take the bait, and before they know it, they stand to lose a lot of funds in their bankroll in just a few days.

NO TIME FOR GUESSING GAMES IN BETTING

Like coaches, seasoned bettors, or sharps, usually employ a system or a scheme that they have mastered through years of playing experience, and their vast knowledge of trends and numbers has earned them the respect of sportsbooks in the long run.

Unlike sharps, square bettors bet for fun without thinking clearly of the consequences of one or a series of losses on wasted bets. They place their money on a whim and hope luck goes their way and earn some easy bucks.

Squares commit the usual mistake of guessing which team to bet for, whereas sharps make their decisions on their bets based on numbers, trends, and data they have studied and researched for a period of time.

SPORTSBOOKS RELISH THE RISE OF SQUARE BETTORS

If bookmakers have their way, they are hoping all novice bettors remain as squares, and for good reason. Every wrong or a lost bet by square bettors leads to more profits earned by these bookies.

Squares simply lack the discipline to control their funds; they place their money without a betting pattern, and if they win on the first bet, they are most likely tempted to double their next bet even if the odds against them seem daunting.

The impulsive habits of these novice bettors empower sportsbooks more, as bookies will no longer feel fear or discomfort about what these squares do. The thinking of squares that betting comfortably in a recreational market like sports betting often spells doom for their bare pockets and bankrolls.

CHANGE NOTHING TO LOSE’ MINDSET

The problem with most square bettors is this misguided notion that they have nothing to lose. This trait can be useful to underdog teams in a do-or-die match against a top-seeded team, but not to punters who stand to lose a lot of money due to their no-care attitude.

Since they are just starting off in their sports betting journey, squares are not conscious of protecting their reputation or any record for that matter. This is unacceptable for sharps, who are often tactical and efficient in making their moves to sustain the stature they have protected and developed through many years.

True, not all square bettors can reach the sharp bettor status even after several years of experience. But the average bettor should at least have that self-respect to develop their betting habits and employ a system that works for them to sustain a long-term sports betting career.

They say the language of sports betting often applies to all sports, events, and tournaments around the world. But there are some terms that are used solely for particular sports like horse racing.

The concept of tissue price evolved into a technical sport like horse racing, which developed particular terms due to the growing demand from sports bettors. Bettors pick their horses based on probability figures to raise their chances of winning.

Bettors picking tissue price are faced with the challenge of a calculated estimation of chance. Therefore punters should further study the numbers, the risks, and consequences of making the right decisions to enhance durability in a potential long sports betting career.

PICK HORSES BASED ON ACCURATE PROBABILITY

A set of prices that are constructed from ratings converted to probability is called tissue prices. It is a set of odds where the rating is converted to a percentage, thus making calculating the tissue price easier.

The way of pricing up a race to create a bettor’s own odds for each horse can be done by creating his own betting tissue. Punters can then compare the odds with sportsbooks and pick horses that may be overpriced.

(For example, if a bettor calculates that a horse should be around 2/1 and it is on offer at 7/1, then he or she has earned a value bet.)

PRINTED TISSUES OFFER DISTINCT EDGE

The history of tissue prices goes way back to when printers created single sheets of tissues to supposedly give bettors a key advantage when they placed their money on a certain horse or when these punters took the bets off others. Racing newspapers called The Tissue, among others, were even published by enterprising individuals for this cause.

If a horse has a 20% chance of winning based on a probability figure, for example, then that is also known as 5/1. Once a horse is calculated to have a probability figure of 25%, then such equates to around 4/1.

A Racing Post is described as a guide to a tissue price, or a betting forecast that is provided based on their estimation of chance that can be found at the bottom of the race card for each race. Bettors also get to see in the guide what the race reader defines as “fair odds” for each runner, which is shown in a fraction form.

TISSUE PRICES GIVE BETTOR CLEAR PICTURE OF CHOICE

Bettors can get a clear idea of making the right choices of horses for their bets by having a good set of tissue prices, which can give punters a long-term profit.

However, prices provided by bookmakers do not assure giving punters the most calculated chances of a certain horse, as the market – or bookies in particular – only serves as a guide, and the bettor should still make the final call.

Punters are reminded that making a long-term profit is about taking high risks following moves by the market since tissue prices are so prohibitive. By the time a bettor is on the edge, being punted has long been gone, as the market can only point to the direction of a winner on some occasions.

FIND VALUE BETS THROUGH TISSUE PRICES

A horse that is 5/1 on a bettor’s set of tissue prices, he can then back it at 10/1, thus enabling him to create a major advantage over the market. This is why tissue prices are effective in helping spot value bets.

The main objective of a smart bettor is to make a substantial profit over time – and this can be done by getting 5/1 shots than collecting several 10/1 shots of winning horses. Bettors should learn to pick horses that are way overpriced and punting them odds that will benefit them more than the sportsbook.

Remember, punters who wipe out the bookie margin and place the profit potential firmly in their wallet go a long way in developing long-term habits that can lead to consistency in winning.