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What are the most common mistakes sports bettors make?

 - How to avoid the most common mistakes in betting

 - How important is the bookmaker you choose?

 - What impact do cognitive biases have on bettors?

Learn what are the most common mistakes sports bettors make. How to avoid the most common mistakes in betting.  How important is the bookmaker you choose? What impact do cognitive biases have on bettors?

While Betting Insights aims to arm bettors with comprehensive knowledge from the basics to advanced predictive strategies, certain pitfalls persistently snag bettors, impeding their betting efficacy. This piece demystifies the typical blunders bettors encounter and presents strategies to eschew them. Continue reading to elevate your betting acumen.


Failing to understand the concept of value

Understanding value extends beyond selecting a football squad on a hot streak with attractive odds against a team in a slump.


True value lies in comprehending the implications of betting odds, formulating your own odds based on probability assessments, and then identifying discrepancies between your odds and the bookmaker’s.


A prevalent fallacy among bettors is the belief that skilled bettors invariably win. This is a myth. Proficient bettors experience losses, albeit at a lower frequency than wins. The essence of identifying value is not rooted in subjective opinion but in the analytical application of data, statistical models (such as expected goals), and historical performance (e.g., handicap outcomes) to craft predictions more precise than those offered by bookmakers.


Understanding value is the precursor to calculating the expected value for any wager, a fundamental metric indicating potential profit or loss over repeated bets.

Not choosing the right bookmaker

The plethora of bookmakers available to bettors can be overwhelming. Despite the varied approaches across the industry, with each claiming supremacy, a thorough comparison reveals significant disparities in what bookmakers provide.


Numerous bookmakers entice customers with bonuses and free bets that seem lucrative. However, unbeknownst to many bettors, these offers are balanced by increased margins, adversely affecting the odds.


Bookmakers that draw in customers with grand marketing schemes and unfounded promises often restrict winning bettors, either by drastically reducing their betting limits or shutting down their accounts entirely.


Opting for a bookmaker merely for a free bet is an oversight bettors can ill afford, especially when alternatives like 7x7Bets offer superior value odds without imposing restrictions on successful bettors.

Not using a staking method

Gaining an edge over bookmakers is crucial for profitable betting, which might stem from insights into team news, weather changes affecting NFL games, or other factors not accounted for by the bookmaker.


However, any edge is nullified without proper money management. Implementing a staking strategy is indispensable for profitability in betting, and neglecting this can be costly.


Failure to manage betting funds means running the risk of depleting your bankroll. An "all in" approach may be tempting, but it rarely leads to consistent profits.

Not being aware of cognitive biases

Our perception of having control over our decisions is challenged by cognitive biases, well-documented in psychology and behavioral economics, which skew our rational judgment.


Confirmation bias, for example, influences bettors to favor information that supports their bets while ignoring contradictory evidence.


Similarly, anchoring, or focalism, is the tendency to overly rely on initial information, which can be particularly detrimental in the dynamic context of betting.


Acknowledging these biases is crucial, as their influence can lead to decision-making based on subjective opinions rather than analytical reasoning.

Being too concerned about losses

The tendency to prioritize avoiding losses over potential gains, known as loss aversion, is another cognitive bias prevalent among bettors.


Contrary to the misconception that successful bettors never lose, they do incur losses but manage them through effective staking strategies to protect their bankroll.


Recognizing the role of randomness and luck in sports betting is essential, underscoring the importance of not overly focusing on avoiding losses.

Betting because it’s convenient

Despite being aware of strategies to avoid common betting pitfalls, the lure of convenience can still undermine diligent efforts.


Betting for entertainment might render the timing inconsequential, but for profit-oriented bettors, wagering should be strategic, based on having an edge and positive expected value.


The ease of placing bets, facilitated by online platforms and mobile apps, should not tempt bettors into making convenience-driven decisions.


Discipline and adherence to a well-informed strategy are paramount for long-term betting success, transcending the allure of immediate, convenient profits.


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