Sports Betting Online: The Pros And Cons

Sports betting isn't anywhere near as easy as some people think it is.

20:05 08 May 2019

Many people look at those who work in sports betting as a career and think “that must not be a lot of work”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sports bettors must be smart, sharp, and quick-witted if they’re to survive the often cut-throat and competitive industry that is sports betting. You won’t rise to prominence as a sports betting master if you’re not the best of the best.

If you’re a novice, you might be reading this and thinking there’s no hope for you. Luckily, that’s not true either. Just because sports betting takes dedication and commitment doesn’t mean you can’t pursue it as a career successfully (or even as a hobby if you’re that way inclined). Even so, you should know and understand that sports betting online has its pros and cons just like any other form of betting. Here are some of the pros and cons to look out for during your online sports betting journey.

Pro – Lots of choice / Con – Lots of choice

It’s tempting to think that all betting sites are essentially the same, but that’s a falsehood. Betting online is a minefield of offers, payouts, incentives, and terms and conditions. The truth is that every online sports betting site is vastly different. Some might offer completely different odds on the same game to others. Some might have long-term rewards in place for loyalty, while others might have better guides or tutorials on how to be a better sports bettor. It’s crucial to make sure you’re going with the right betting site before you bet on sport, because you could be losing out on money or betting with a shady site. You should find yourself a good comparison site that takes everything into account and tells you exactly which websites are best for sports betting. If you’re looking for a great site to get started, click here and discover how you can become a sports betting master with the right tools and approach.

Pro – Entertaining and enjoyable

Whatever sports you love to follow, you can guarantee there will be a solid online sports betting following for those sports. Whether you’re a football nut or a basketball rules lawyer, you’ll find plenty of places to throw down in the name of Manchester United or the Los Angeles Lakers. The benefit of this is that it makes sports betting incredibly enjoyable. You’ll be sharing your passion with hundreds of thousands of other deeply committed sports fans, which will make the whole endeavour feel sociable and companionable. Because there’s lots of choice, you’ll never feel like you’re hurting for work (or fun, if it’s a hobby). In addition, there’s just something fundamentally satisfying about placing a bet on an outside chance and raking in the cash because you made a good call. The fast-paced nature of online sports betting means there’s rarely an opportunity to breathe, but that just jacks up the rollercoaster pace and makes you feel even more invested.

Con – It might just not be for you

This is rule number one: when the fun stops, stop. Gambling addiction is a serious problem, and if you know you’re just doing it because you need to rather than because you want to, that’s a good warning sign. A good way to make sure you’re doing this is to take regular breaks. Go out for a walk (if you work from home) or do something to take your mind off a loss or a win streak. Your head needs to be in the game one hundred percent, but you also need to enjoy yourself. If you gave up a 9 to 5 career for this, your brain – and your loved ones – won’t thank you if you’re just as irritable and grumpy as you were when you were conventionally employed. Sports betting at its best is exciting, varied, and highly involving. If you’re not feeling this, and if you’re not certain this is for you, there’s absolutely no shame in giving up and moving on to something else. Life’s too short not to love what you do, so make sure you’re into it.

Pro - Character-building

One of the most important things about being an online sports bettor – whether professionally or as a pastime – is to accept and deal with losses. You are going to lose. That’s a fact of sports betting that you will need to be OK with. While it’s true that many sports can be predicted to a reasonable degree of accuracy and that individual games can be examined for patterns, you’re not always going to win. Sometimes, a team can just turn around what looks like a guaranteed loss and turn it into a victory. When that happens, the only thing to do is to dust yourself off and try again. In many ways, coping with loss and failure when you gamble is very similar to doing so in any other job. You need to figure out what went wrong and fix it, without making excuses and without placing the blame on external factors. Only when you learn how to deal with your low moments can you truly enjoy the high times. All of this will go together to make you a better person; dealing with failures means you’ll be more prepared when they come next time.

Con – Right choice isn’t always obvious

If a game is coming up in which the champions are facing undeniable underdogs, it might be tempting simply to bet on the champions and be sure they will win. Don’t do this – you could be swindling yourself out of cash. Instead, look at recent form. Do the champions seem complacent? Have they been winning their last few games? By what margin? Are the team they’re against hungry, and have they recently acquired any new signings? Any indication of an upset in the ranks could mean massive money for you. Don’t simply bet on the favourites because they’re the favourites. Instead, take a look at the surrounding circumstances. Put your detective hat on. Could you feasibly make a deduction here about an outcome that others haven’t predicted? Even if you’re expecting a draw rather than a win, you could stand to make a lot of money where other, more safe bettors would fail.

These are just some of the pros and cons we’ve identified when you’re an online sports betting fan. Some of these may apply to you more than others, while some may not be applicable at all. In the end, only you can dictate the quality and pace of your online sports betting journey. We wish you the best of luck!