| At one time or another all of us have placed a bet on | | | | draw. However, it's best to check with your local |
| our favourite football team, or on the favourite in a | | | | bookmaker. In this case you may not win, but you don't |
| horse race, or any number of other sports events. My | | | | lose either. |
| personal favourite for a long time was ice hockey, but | | | | Arbitrage |
| that's another story. Let's face it, the reason that we all | | | | Means to buy and sell for profit, taking advantage of |
| do this is that we want to end up with more money | | | | varying prices in different markets. This is the holy grail |
| then we started with. We all believe that we can | | | | of sports betting as you can literally find yourself in the |
| predict the winners more accurately than the bookies | | | | situation that whoever wins a match, you'll still profit on |
| can; but how many of us are right? | | | | the outcome. |
| Well, I'd like to take this chance to highlight 3 sports | | | | In practice this used to be very difficult to do as it |
| betting strategies that might just give you the edge | | | | meant following a wide range of market prices all at |
| when you next come to place a bet on the outcome | | | | the same time. However, with the advent of the |
| of your sport of choice. These 3 options, properly | | | | internet this is now so much easier. As bookmakers |
| used, can make the difference between walking away | | | | often have widely varying opinions of the outcome of |
| with a profit and just being another wasted bet that | | | | a sports event, and also that they advertise their |
| helps fund the bookmakers next foreign holiday. | | | | prices on their websites, we can rapidly compare |
| Asian Handicap | | | | these prices. |
| This is a little used, but very useful addition to your | | | | If we can find a situation where bookmaker A has a |
| sports betting techniques. Generally there are 3 | | | | better price for one team/player and bookmaker B |
| possible results in a sports event for any player or | | | | has a better price for their opponent, we can back |
| team; win, lose or draw. Using an Asian handicap it's | | | | both teams with each of the two bookmakers and |
| possible to reduce the number of outcomes to only 2. | | | | make money whatever the outcome. |
| Let's assume we're watching a football match. The | | | | Bet in Running |
| bookmaker may quote a handicap line where team A | | | | As any match or sports event begins to unfold, the |
| starts the game with say a 1.5 goal head start and | | | | odds quoted at the start of the event may seem out |
| team B starts with a handicap of -1.5 goals. Now, as | | | | of line with what you're witnessing on the field of play. |
| we can't get 0.5 goals there can only be 2 outcomes | | | | If only you could place a bet knowing how the match |
| and the odds are set with the handicap in mind. | | | | is unfolding. Well, with "betting in running" that exactly |
| If you think team A will win, and so long as they win, | | | | what you can do. |
| draw or at least don't lose by more than a single goal, | | | | Many bookmakers will alter the odds on the event as |
| you win as they had a 1.5 goal head start. Similarly, if | | | | the action unfolds and you can place a bet at these |
| you think team B will win they need to overcome their | | | | "new" odds. If team A score, the odds on that team |
| handicap of -1.5 goals. So, they need to win by 2 goals | | | | winning will shorten, and subsequently the odds of |
| or more. | | | | team B winning will get longer. If you still believe that |
| In sports where the handicap might be equalled, say in | | | | team B will ultimately be successful then these longer |
| basketball where a team might be given a 20 point | | | | odds are your opportunity to place a bet at better (to |
| start, then generally stakes will be returned if there's a | | | | you) odds. |