Many sports fans think that betting on sports must be easy because they are surrounded by so much information about players and teams. Unfortunately, it is not easy to be consistently profitable as a sports bettor, even for the best experts. In fact, after accounting for the vig (or juice), sports bettors must hit 52.4% of their bets in order to break even.
The first step to becoming a successful sports bettor is to develop a good strategy. This includes keeping track of bets on a spreadsheet – this will help you see how your winning bets are adding up, and can help you make sure that you’re not chasing losses in an attempt to get back your money. It is also important to focus on one sport competition rather than trying to wag on a whole range of events, as this will help you learn the nuances of each sport and make better bets.
In addition to straight bets, many sportsbooks offer a variety of other wagering options, such as over/under bets. These bets are based on a prediction of the total points scored in a game, and bettors place bets on whether the final score will be higher or lower than the predicted amount.
Another strategy is to watch as many games of a particular sport as possible, and take notes on player transfers and injuries. This can help you identify potential value bets on a team or individual.