Bookmakers make money, and they make quite a lot of it. We wrote an article about this, explaining that the bookmakers’ profit reached 30 billion rubles in 2021. Is their software and team of analysts so good that they’re unbeatable? There are plenty of successful bettors who would say that’s not the case. Profit mainly comes from various mistakes: from poor analysis to getting carried away and losing a cool head. To avoid becoming just another line in a bookmaker’s income report, we’ve prepared 10 incredibly valuable, yet ridiculously straightforward tips for you. I hope they help.
1. Don’t rush.
We all know the simple truth that time is money. Placing bets quickly increases turnover and could lead to winning more than with a slower pace. In theory, yes, but in practice, it’s completely different. What’s the key difference? Speed increases the risk of losing. Before making a bet, you need to think it through carefully. When a match seems super easy, it’s time to double-check everything about the team you’re planning to bet on.
For example, Barcelona is playing against Eintracht. The odds for Barcelona are 1.99. It looks very appealing, and we’re ready to bet our entire bankroll right away. But as soon as the whistle blows, we realize that ‘Barça’ is fielding their second string because they’ve already secured a spot in the next round, and they have an El Clásico against Real Madrid coming up, so they’d rather rest their stars. We didn’t account for that, we didn’t check, we didn’t wait for the lineups, and now we have a tough bet that’s likely to lose. As they say, slow and steady wins the race.
Rushing also applies to quickly picking outcomes. For instance, we see a PSG vs. Inter match, and it seems like the Parisians look stronger and could win. The odds are a solid 1.80, so we take it. But why the hurry? Have you seen how many different outcomes are available in the line? Wouldn’t it be better to go for over 2 goals at that odds? Just two goals would give a push… We didn’t check, we didn’t think, we rushed, and now we’re facing high risks of losing.
Remember, every bet needs to be logically justified and backed by analysis. Betting on PSG just because Messi is there is a bad reason. But if we’re betting on PSG because Inter has internal conflicts, arguments with the head coach, no real chance of advancing, and they’re focused on fighting for the Serie A title instead of wasting energy in the Champions League—that’s a solid bet. Every bet must be justified, every single one!
2. Eliminate gambling instincts
Let’s reiterate: only cold calculation and analysis. No gambling! Keep in mind, this is betting, not a casino or roulette. In roulette, you bet on red or black and hope for the right color. In betting, there’s more—you can analyze the situation and play the probabilities. For example, if the odds for a win are 2.00, and based on our calculations, the team has a 65% chance of winning, that’s a good bet. It’s thoughtful, not impulsive.
We all want to win, grow our bankroll, and do it as simply and quickly as possible. But that brings us back to tip 1: ‘Don’t rush’! Haste and gambling are allies, and both are our worst enemies. Don’t chase quick money right now, because that’s what often leads to wiping out your entire balance.
Do you know what professional bettors do after losses? Double their stakes or pile on accumulators? No. They take a break to come back with a clear head, like this lady under a cold shower…
3. Don’t dramatize
Even the most successful bettor goes through winning streaks and losing streaks. It’s normal to have 3-4 losses in a row. We don’t like it, but it’s completely standard and happens to everyone. If you’re not ready to accept that and realize it’s not a big issue, then betting might not be for you. Yes, you’re in a rough patch, it’s disappointing, you’ve lost part of your bankroll, and you’d love to get it back. We will get it back, just not right away. The key is to analyze why it happened. It could be your own mistake or just bad luck, like when your team takes 40 shots but the goal seems cursed and won’t go in.
That’s no reason to feel sorry for yourself, make drastic changes, or rethink your strategy. Chances are, you’re doing everything right; you just hit a bad run. It’ll pass soon, and we’ll recover what we lost.
Of course, we could commiserate with others and complain about our bad luck, how we’re cursed, and so on, but don’t do that—it’s not worth it, and more importantly, it’s counterproductive. Keep your head cool!
4. Don’t get cocky
This is the opposite of the previous tip. Don’t feel worthless, but don’t act like a king after a winning streak either. We mentioned that after a losing streak comes a winning one, and after a winning streak, another losing one will follow. So, don’t get cocky.
Betting boils down to two things: quality analysis and sound intuition. When someone uses both, that’s fine. But when cockiness kicks in, they ditch analysis and rely solely on intuition. They start thinking they’re an unbeatable bettor who can just glance at team names and predict the result. That usually leads to disaster. Don’t let that happen.
It’s especially annoying when you’re talking to someone about your bets and use phrases like ‘I told you so’ or ‘I said it.’ Those can really irritate people and ruin good friendships. Is that what you want? Don’t let it turn out like this:
5. Avoid chasing high odds
This is one of the biggest pitfalls for beginners. I’ve often heard young bettors say something like, ‘The odds for Zenit are 10 against Bayern. I mean, theoretically, they could win, right?’ Theoretically, yes, but what’s the actual probability? Remember, successful bets depend on two factors: the odds and the win probability. If the probability is 50% based on your analysis and the odds are 3, that’s a great bet. But if you see odds of 10, that means Zenit would need to win 1 out of 10 games against Bayern. Is that realistic? Doubtful. So, that tempting ’10’ in odds will likely leave you empty-handed.
Avoiding the trap of high odds is tough because the potential payout is so enticing. But there are ways to fight it. One key method I’ve used myself is analyzing the match without looking at the line first. You open the game on a neutral site, study the stats, understand the players’ motivation, check injuries and suspensions, and form a picture of how each team is playing. Then, you conclude that the first team will probably win or the total will likely be over 2.5. Armed with that, you go to the bookmaker and bet on one of those options.
Chasing odds isn’t just about single bets; it applies to accumulators too. You should know that bookmakers build a margin into the odds—a small commission that ensures their profit (instead of 2×2, they offer 1.9×1.9). This margin is usually between 2% and 12%, depending on the bookmaker, outcome, league level, and other factors. When you make an accumulator, you’re paying that margin on each leg, which increases risks for not much extra value. Sure, accumulators can hit sometimes—I once landed a 130x one—but more often than not, they’re a path to losing it all.
In the pursuit of golden mountains, we might end up crushed by that gold…
6. Keep developing
Learning is crucial. It’s not about mastering some magical strategies that guarantee a ‘100% win.’ It’s about the fact that even experienced bettors make mistakes from time to time. But that’s why they’re experienced—they’ve paid for those lessons with a few lost bets. Every loss provides that experience, and it’s important how you handle it. There are two approaches:
- Forget it and move on.
- Learn from it and move on.
Obviously, our goal is to learn and keep going. Striving for growth and understanding new concepts is what brings profit in the long run. With consistent effort, someone who regularly places bets can turn into a pro for whom betting is a main, comfortable source of income.
As a beginner, you need to tame your ego, admit your mistakes, and listen to more seasoned bettors. Sure, they can be wrong, but that’s the exception, not the rule. If an experienced person tells you that Manchester City and Liverpool, despite their strong attacks, don’t always go over the total, then that’s likely true—meaning both teams have powerful offenses but also stellar defenses and great goalkeepers. Learn to listen and follow examples, like this kitty.
7. Don’t bet with your heart on your favorite team
Nothing is more subjective than evaluating something we love. We can’t objectively see the pros and cons of a girl we’re in love with. We can’t acknowledge the flaws of our favorite team because we’ve been fans since childhood. They’re our darlings, our boys, they’re the best… But no!
Again, we’re talking about betting on your favorite team’s win just because it’s your favorite. If you can set aside emotions and sometimes bet against your team, that’s great. As a fan, you know the team well and can think clearly, but you have to switch off the feelings. If you can do that, go for it—bets on wins, totals, handicaps, and anything else are open to you.
Don’t let it end up like this…
8. Don’t bet on a whim
Oh, that great Slavic ‘what if’… It’s ruined so many lives and continues to, including in betting. This is another common issue for newcomers who just signed up, see a ton of options, and in their desire to ‘make quick cash,’ start betting randomly with thoughts like ‘maybe they’ll win.’ These bets often go on sports they don’t understand, teams whose current form they know nothing about, or outcomes they might not even grasp (like Asian handicaps).
Remember, you’re responsible for your own bankroll. Yes, it’s your money, and we won’t try to count or save it for you, but if you’re not in betting for the money, then why are you here? Be responsible, please, not like this family…
9. Don’t exceed your maximum bet limit
We’ve written several articles on bankroll management, like how to handle your bank and what bet size is optimal for your balance. You can easily find them on our site by searching for ‘bankroll management’ or ‘bankroll.’ Setting your bet size is a key trait for success. Financial literacy in betting is essential. At least, if you follow bankroll management rules and still manage to lose everything, you’ll realize betting isn’t for you…
Once you choose a financial strategy, stick to it. Sure, for a Champions League final or World Cup playoff, you might want to bet more because the match is thrilling and important. But remember, that match is crucial for the players; for you, sticking to your strategy and profiting from betting is what matters—don’t mix them up. Anyone who doesn’t get that or thinks it’s nonsense is like the poster for this movie:
10. Stay in control
I think most readers of this article are young folks who know the term ’tilt’ all too well. That’s our biggest enemy. Self-control is something you can’t do without in betting. Don’t tilt, because it leads to a string of mistakes, and all your knowledge becomes worthless as your brain starts throwing bets left and right, mindlessly draining your bank.
The state every beginner should aim for is complete emotional detachment. You sit, read the info, study the matches, review the stats, and evaluate the teams based on the data. That’s it. Pure facts and nothing else. If you can reach a state of full emotional calm during betting, it’ll be a huge boost for doing truly quality analysis.
And on that note, we’ll wrap up today’s article, and we’ll end it without a picture. Let the last words here be about self-control, since the final ones stick the most…
