Making a living betting on sports may seem likeš the ideal profession for avšid sports betting enthusiasts. However, if it was easy, many bookies would go out of business. In this article, we will explore the advantages of earning income as a professional gambler while also shedding light on the potential drawbacks.
- 1 Guide To Becoming a Professional Sports Bettor
- 2 What Is Professional Sports Betting?
- 3 Steps To Being a Professional Gambler
- 4 Useful Resources for Professional Betting
- 5 Tips To Becoming a Professional Bettor
- 6 Pros & Cons Of Professional Sports Betting
- 7 Conclusions on How ąµ©Toź§ Become a Professional Sports Bettor
Guide To Becoming a Professional Sports Bettor
There are certain practices for becoming a professional sports bettor that are non-negotiable, three of which we consider ą½§to be the most important:
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1.
Discipline: Discipline is key. Ištās a minimum requirement, regardless of the type of betting and your chosen spź¦ort.
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2.
Learning: Gathering information and š¼educating yourself is paramount when you make this lifestyle choice. You are competing with bookies and other individuals who have made betting on sports their jāØob.
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Patience: Learning, practisinš¦g and then betting within a plan requires patience, so continue with this guide to give yourself the best chance ošŗf being a successful professional gambler.
With these steps in mind, we ršecommend using the following sportsbooks to place your bets.
What Is Professional Sports Betting?
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Unlike betting for fun, professional sports betting is an occupation that is designed to provide an individual with their main source of income.
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It is a job that entails certain skills and requirements that are not suited što every sports bettor's personality or lifestyle.
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In effect, a pro gambler is independent, so they must apply these skills to be commercially viable. In many professions, there are qualifying conditions that areą½§ set in stone. An accountant, lawyer, or doctor must study for many years and pass professional exams. There are trade bodišÆes and societies that offer support and advice. However, as a pro gambler, you are very much on your own, and you donāt require a license to be in practice in this sector.
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There are many sports to bet on professionally and various types of gambling. Professional sports betting is about being selective but gathering information about your sport and betting type. It is very much a numbers game with small margins, which is why a major faą¦ctor in success is eliminating avoidable errors but very quickly leaź¦rning from mistakes.
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You require the discipline of other professions, and there is very little room for error. Strategy and money management are vital in this area of work. You are up against the house edge, which means you are at a disadvantage to the bookie. Therefore, achieving success in this profession necessitates both experience and continual dedication to ongoing learniš ng.
Steps To Being a Professional Gambler
While most people gamble for fun, being a professional gambler involves thinking in terms of business. For one, once your gambling profits pass ša ceārtain threshold, this will need to be reported as part of your tax return to the IRS as āother incomeā.
As with any other form of business, there are risks, and a few profitable streaksš are no assurance against the likelihood of dry spells. While some professional gamblers treat their pursuit as a full-time job, others balance it with day jobs āš and balancing the two can bring a whole new set of stresses.
Professional betting does have a reputation for providing a glamorous lifestyle, but the reality can be different. The rewards are nš¦ot guaranteed, and there are steps to be taken to becoming a pro sports gambler. Let's take a look at the most important steps described below:
1. Lifestyle Decision
Embarking on a career in professional sports betting is a lifestyle decision. You are self-employed, and there is no regular paycheck at the end of the month.
Many years ago, a study in the UK revealed that only about 3% of sports bettors consistently make money over a sustained period of time. Professional gambling is one of the hardest jobs in the world, so it takes a certain mentality to deal with that lack of a secure income. Going freelance is tough in any profession, but sports betting, in particular, has special demašnds.
You must be certain that the job is suited to your lifestyle, including living arrangements and whether you are also providing for a family. Yšou can choose your hours but bear in mind that many sporting events take place at the weekend or in the evening. Anti-social hours are therefore part of the deal, and your lifestyle has to be compatible.
2. Total Commitment
In professional sports gambling, there has to be total commitment to the job and no compromising with the plan. Bšookies do take winning bets, but you must take all the necessary steps to earn your share of the payouts. You must also accept that luck can play a parź¦”t.
You must be 100% committed to being one of the few gamblers that beat the bookie, and this takes dedication, discipline, and the mentality to stay calm after a losing run. There are many pitfalls and common errors, but you can control the level of commitment you put into the job. Itās no goodš¦© taking up this profession with half measures.
3. Prepare for the Pitfalls
Gambling on sports is fickle, and there is no guarantee of a regular and consistent income. There will be spells when you seem untouchable and canāt do anything wrong. However, losing streaks are part of the job, and they can last for days. There will be many highs and lows, but if you can make money over a significant period of time but be aware of the pitfalls, professional sportsā¦ betting could be right for you. You need the mental strength to deal with the good and bad runs in the right way.
4. Learn and Study
Learning how to be a professional gambler is a continuous process. Decisions must become instinctive, and that can be achieved by drilling down on what you know. In effect, the aim is to beat the system and the bookiesā built-in profit margin. Learning ź¦”strategies and systems are always evolving, and the best pro gamblers are ahead of the gašme.
However, a good pro bettor understands the technical elements of the different types of bets. There are singles, parlays, and system bets, so yšou must be aware of all the possibilities. There is specific terminology and Terms & Conditions that are part of the job. In effect, you must know your sport inside out, and that comes from the ongoing study of the nuances.
5. Ignore Emotions
An emotional sports bettor is probably not a successful one ā you have to make hard business decisions based on commerciality and not emotion. It is a fine example of the head having to rule the heart. Every decision has to be made in line with a plan that is designed and modified to win the nāumbers game wź§ith a sportsbook.
Most sports bettors will probably have favorite teams. Fandom is about emotion, so itās probably a good idea to avoid betting on games involving your teams. We also suggest taking a break from sports betting if you are feeling tired, stressed, and under tš·he influence of something else, as you need 100% concentrš·ation with no emotions getting in the way.
6. Types of Betting
There are various forms of betting, š”and it's advisable to focus on just one. š¤ŖGaining experience in one area is not easy, so you should specialize in one of the following types of betting:
Fixed Odds
Fixed odds are the traditional form of betting, as you place a bet and let it run. The bet is on an outcome of a game for which bookies quote odds. There are some pro gamblers who focus on backingā favorites, and others who like to bet on the underdog. With favorites, you require a high stšrike rate as the payout odds are low.
Matched Betting
Matched betting takes advantage of welcome bonuses that come in the form of free bets. Gamšblers place counter bets to claim the free bets. There is no financial risk even though any winnings from a free bet do not include the stake. However, you can only claim a welcome bonš us with a sportsbook once, so there are limited opportunities.
Arbitrage Betting
Arbitrage betting is a process whereby you take advantage of price differences for the same outcome. If you find an arb, there is a guaranteed profit, but the window of opportunity is small.š¼ Arbs soon disappear as the market reactsš„, which means timing is everything, and you must keep records of the bets as the margins are very small.
7. Choose Your Sport
A typical sportsbook allows you to bet on about 20 sports across pre-game, in-play, and futures markets. You canāt keep abreast of the form in so many sports, so you need to be selective.
Every US-facing sportsbook offers odds on the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and college leagues. Other popular betting sports include soāccer and tennis, and there is a wide variety of games.
You can select your bettingš sport and even focus on one type of bet.
š Some online sportsbooks have a dedicated horse racing lobby featuring thoroughbred racing. There are meetings from the US and overseas fixtures and international horse races. Specializź§e in one area or type of race to maximize potential wins.
There is also a range of special bets and novelty markets that can provāide a niche. For example, you could focus on politics, TV & entertainment, and esports. One proviso is that bookies may limit stakes and restrict you from betting in these areas if you win consistently.
8. Accept Luck Can Play a Part
You can have all the best strategies and study the key statistics; however, you have to accept that luck can play a part. A horse may not have any luck in running, and there can be freakish play in sports. Things are not always lš¦©ogical, so you must accept the vagaries of fate as in any other job. Nevertheless, you need tšhe discipline and bankroll to ride out a storm, as nobody can predict the future.
Useful Resources for Professional Betting
Betting professionally as a pro can be a lonely job. There are no colleagues to consult about an idea. Self-motivation is important, as there is no line manager for direction and support. Therefore, išt is important to investigate reą± sources for professional sports betting.
The following options can help you become a moreš ŗ successful pro gambler:
Online Guides
There are many online guidāes to becoming a professional sports bettor, some of which are free of charge whereas others require a subscription. They can be useful in describing the steps to beginning work in pro gambling. Online guides also provide tips and document the pros and cons of betting on sports for a living. Worked examples are a good element of onliš¶ne resources.
Training Courses
Professional sports betting training courses can be found online, or you can attend a course in person. The instructions are often well-organized and present a logical progression from embarking on the work to achieving fiź§nancial goals. Courses will provide practical examples and tests that do not involve risking any money.
Specialist Software
There areš a number of specialist software providers which focus on one area of sports betting. For example, you can buy software that highlights the matched betting opportunities and provides detailed instructions to take advantage of free bets. Some software will also highlight the existing arbs, but šthey soon close.
Blogs and Forums
Professional sports betting is usually an individual pursuit ā typically in an office at home, which can be isolating. Blogs šÆand forums offer a platform for the exchange of ideas and strategies, serving as a valuable sounding board when you are considering a system. However, they are not tipping services but can confirm ā or not confirm ā gambling thought processes.
Mainstream Media
The mainstream media can provide a good source of information. You can watch game previews and keep up to date with injuries and suspensions. Preview shows willį¦ often highlight key statistical trends, but again, taking tips from this resource should be avoided. However, you can glean information to help with your betting decisions.
Observe Winning Pro Gamblers
There are highly successful professional sports bettors and others who make a modest living. Try to research the attributes of winning sports bettors as best you can; while they may not reveal their secreš®ts, you can observe how they go about their business. Conversely, identify the traits that come with aÜ«n unsuccessful pro gambler career and adopt this approach as part of your learning process.
Tips To Becoming a Professional Bettor
We now preš¤”sent some important pro gambler tips that you can adopt into your sports betting:
Good Bankroll Management
Managing your betting bank isź¦ paramount. This involves a staking strategy that maximizes the eš„arnings from good runs and minimizes the losses from poor runs.
Youš should set a budget and have a definite plan for staking in line with your current performance. You can adopt a fixed stake strategy or compounding stakes that involve risking a fixed percentage of your bank.
Look to the Future
You may not see a betting opportunišÆty in a game, but you šcan gather information about future bets.
For example, in a horse race, a horse may have nąµ©o luck in running and not achieve a place the form justifies. You can take note and consider backing the horsešÆ at the right odds in the future.
In other sports, take note of the draft and measure improvements in team rosterź¦s.
Specialize
Therše is a vast amount of online betting opportunities across sports, leagues, and games. It is impossible to keep uą¹p to date with games and team news, so you should specialize.
Your chosen niche area could be graded thoroughbred horse races or games in the NFL or college football. You could also focus onš± one type of bet, such as moneyline, spreads, orš² totals.
Bet Within Your Means
It is vital to keep emotions in check by betting within your means. Donź¦āt gamble with money that you should use to pay bills.
Itās a good idea to use a separate bank account for your betting transactions. However,ź¦Æ you should set loss limits and never deviate from the plan ā it can be too stressful and damaging to gamble with money you cannot afford to lose.
Donāt Expect Overnight Success
Profitable sports betting is difficult. The house eš²dge is a huge obstacle, so you must work to small margins.
Success will not be immediate. You must practice and can paper trade your systems and record the success. However, keep in mind that the learning process takes several months and that this is a long-teš¤”rm š business decision that will not bring overnight success.
Pros & Cons Of Professional Sports Betting
We now present the upsides and downsides to being a pšro sports gambler in brief:
- The appeal of making a career out of a hobby
- High potential earnings and lifestyle rewards
- Can be a cash business if you bet at retail locations
- Legal and online sportsbooks in many states
- Freedom of betting at hours that suit your living arrangements
- Itās not always a grind and does hold some kudos
- Satisfaction of betting the sportsbook
- Winnings are taxed when you place the bets
- The pleasure of watching sports for a living
- The stress of financial insecurity as no guaranteed salary at the end of the month
- Losing runs can affect confidence
- Few understand the pressures and may not be sympathetic
- Grind supersedes big wins
- Successful bettors will have stakes restricted or accounts closed
- Massive investment in time
- The need for research can become a chore
- The risk of losing a great deal of money
Conclusions on How To Become a Professional Sports Bettor
There is no room for shortcuts when it comes to betting for a living. You will need to take time to study the field and ensure that each bet you make is as well-informed as possible; and eļ·½ven then, you can expect to earn a modest salary at best (any multi-millionaire professional gamblers you may have heard about are very much outliers). Money-management must also be taken seriously.
The good news is that there is a host of information and helpful services out there, including in-depth guides, as well as software and online communities of professional gamblers. In this article we have givą¶£en you a thorough set of pointers to help you get started on your pro-betting journey, but the next step is up to you.
Professional sports bettors are on a journey that begins with gambling for fun and ź¦ŗrecreation. Semi-pros realize they can profit from sports betting if they are selective and disciplined. However, they generally have another source of income with a paid job. The final step is making a commitment to betting on sports as a full-tź§ime profession.