Betting on sports is getting popular in the US. Ever since PASPA was lifted, many states decided to give this type of entertainment the green light.
At the moment, there are 20-plus states that either legalized or are working on legalizing this type of betting. If you’re a poker player, chances are that you might want to try placing wagers on sports you like.
What both poker and sports betting have in common is that they are a combination of skills and luck. In other words, to be a good sports bettor, you need to know a sport very well and understand all the intricacies of it.
Moreover, you need to be updated on the games you’re betting on and all the little details about them that could prove crucial for you winning the bet.
However, it’s ultimately the element of luck that will decide whether you are going to win or not, as sometimes there’s no analysis good enough that would account for the overall poor performance of the team or the athlete you wagered on.
The point is — the more you learn and put your effort into it, the higher the chances of getting the bet right. It’s very much like poker.
At this point, the question that pops up is rather expected — are there any poker skills that can help you be a good sports bettor?
Observing Trends and Making Logical Conclusions
One of the things that poker players are very good at is spotting trends and making adequate actions based on their observations. When playing poker, professionals tend to see betting and even behavior patterns that their opponents display and understand how to use those against them.
Being able to see trends and read people gives you a huge advantage in sports betting. Although you will not work with people per se but with data, you will still be able to notice some patterns and see how they affect teams’ performance in games.
Know When to Push and When to Stop
Poker players usually know when the time is right to raise the bar and bet more money. Moreover, they are well aware when thing’s aren’t going all that well.
Once you start betting on sports, you will start to understand which games are worth your attention, how to approach different bets, and when the opportunity allows you to invest more.
On the other hand, you will also know when enough is enough and give up for some time before another betting opportunity arises. That’s some basic poker strategy right there.
Managing Your Bankroll
One of the reasons why some poker players are considered successful is that they know how to manage their bankroll. Amateur players usually spend all their money as soon as possible and end up with no satisfaction from playing the game.
On the other hand, professionals know exactly how much to invest and how much to expect (or not expect). Therefore, even if they lose, they know that they tried their best and used their money the best they could.
This principle also applies to sports betting. If you have a budget you want to use for betting on sports, you want to make the most of it and not spend it all by betting on a single line — that’s just wrong.
Controlling Impulsive Reactions
Professional players may sometimes tilt, but much less than beginners who sometimes make rash decisions based on emotions rather than reason.
If you are a poker player who understands how tilting works, you will not have to worry about placing impulsive and illogical bets that are gut-based rather than rational thinking-based.