Sports Betting Systems That Work
Bettors are always on the lookout for the next great sports betting system that works. Finding a system takes hard work out to have a simple method to select action. The harsh reality is that there is no easy or foolproof way to win at sports betting. Even with a solid betting system, research is required at first to find that system. But, there are hundreds, if not thousands of systems that people tout all over the web. So, we bring some sports betting systems that work and some that don't. Either way, you'll find out what a quality sports betting system looks like.
Fibonacci System vs Martingale System
Some of the most proven sports betting systems are the Fibonacci and Martingale systems. These don't tell you what to bet, only the betting amount you are to wager. Both systems involve adding a certain number to the amount lost on the previous bet.
- For the Fibonacci system, a losing bettor would add their previous two losses together as their next bet size.
- In the Martingale system, it's more aggressive, doubling your last loss on every movement forward.
Watch out for both of these systems as sportsbooks set betting limits on how much you can wager. A bad run on the Martingale system can deplete your bankroll quickly. However, a bad run is hard to come back from using the Fibonacci sequence over a long period of time.
Positive Progression Systems vs Negative
Both of the sports betting systems above are negative progressions, as one would bet more with each loss. However, other systems work on positive progression and increase bet amounts with each win. The most popular of these versions is the Paroli system, in an attempt to hit three bets in a row.
- Step 1: Bet $100 (or any amount) on any betting line (using even odds in this example).
- Step 2: If victorious, bet the $100 starting bankroll + $100 win on another bet.
- Step 3: If a winner again, take the $400 and place one more wager in action.
- Step 4: Pocket the original $100 and keep playing with your "free" $700.
The mindset is to take advantage when things are going your way, but get out before the one loss. Some of these "rollover" bets have made bettors serious money in the past.
Sports Betting Systems That Flip Back And Forth
There are also sports betting systems like the D’Alembert method. This doesn't have bettors winning big or losing large either, as it creates a balanced unit betting approach. For every win, bettors would decrease their bet by one unit. On losses, they increase their next bet by one unit. The idea is to stay as close to even as possible.
2/3 Betting System
More unknown, a 2/3 betting system is a method for those who can string together three winning bets in a row. After a win, it has the bettor place another wager at two-thirds of the last bet size. After another win, the bettor would then wager three times the second bet. In this method, one plays it safe after their first bet but then goes for the slam dunk on bet number 3.
- A bet on the Suns at $100. Bet #2 would be a $67 bet on the Nuggets. Bet #3 would be a $201 wager.
Ways To Think About Sports Betting Systems
Here are some of the methods that some successful bettors have credited for helping them to make smarter wagers. While none of these are proven, they can boost your confidence and awareness of what to do, and when to do it. Knowing what these mean and how to follow/implement them into your own systems will be key going forward.
Following Line Movements + Betting With or Against The Consensus Pick
One of the most commonly used methods for betting on sports is to follow the consensus. Using the consensus basically gives information on all the games available for wagering and which side of the bet is getting more action. The trends will show you in a percentage how many people are placing bets on a specific line. For example: If the game in question was the Eagles vs. Ravens, a betting trend would tell you exactly how many people have bet on each team. Let’s say 80% were betting on the Eagles to win and 20% on the Ravens.
If a team is getting a vast majority of the bets, the bookies will often adjust the lines to make it more in their favor for future bettors and to sway people to bet on the other team. This can lead to juicy lines that can be very valuable to sports bettors. You need to spend some time and have patience when waiting to see the consensus picks as you will be placing bets just hours or less before the game. You have to stay up on the lines and constantly pay attention to them as they can change at any given moment. The work will pay off, however, as you can almost always find a good bet if you’re patient and vigilant.
Only Betting Underdogs
A popular system that many top punters swear by is the act of only betting underdogs. This usually applies to moneyline bets, but can apply to any situation where you are winning more money than you put down. The idea here is that, over time, betting the underdogs will be more profitable thanks to the increased payouts and the added margin for error.
Betting the underdogs means you will get more money than if you were to bet money on the favorites, that much is simple. The edge here comes from volume, where the idea is that one underdog win at +300 odds is the same as three wins at even odds. Over time, you can lose more than you win and still come out profitable by betting the underdogs. The obvious catch is that the underdog has to win, which makes choosing your picks and finding the upset all that much more important.
Arbitrage Betting - Hedging Your Bets
This system is considered to be fool-proof but has a low return on your investment. The idea behind arbitrage betting is to place bets at two different bookies on the same game. The catch is, you will be placing bets on both sides of the game. Let’s say the Eagles are playing the Ravens again. The line is: Philadelphia Eagles (-7) vs. Baltimore Ravens (+7). This simply means the Eagles are favored by seven points. If you placed a bet on the Eagles, they are going to need to win by at least seven points for you to break even; eight points or more for the win.
Using the arbitrage system, you would place a bet on the Eagles at one online sportsbook, then a bet on the Ravens at another bookmaker. The concept is simple, but it’s how you execute this plan is what matters. The key is to find different odds at bookies that will mathematically make you a winner by placing a bet on both sides. If bookie A has a line that pays the favorite $180 and the dog $200. Bookie B has a line that pays the favorite only $150, but the dog pays out $250. You would then place a bet on the dog at bookie 2 and the favorite at bookie 1. You would be placing the same amount on each bet and would win money regardless of the outcome of the game.
Let’s say you had to place a $75 bet at bookie A to win the $180 on the favorite. At bookie B you need to place the same $75 to win with the dog. If the favorite wins at Bookie A, you would net a profit of $105. If the dog wins at bookie B, you would net a profit of $175. Your total wager for both bets is $150. If the favorite wins, you would lose the $75 wager at bookie B, but gain $180 at bookie A. By doing some simple math, we still earn a profit of $30 regardless of the outcome.
This is purely an example only used to demonstrate the method behind this madness. To effectively use the arbitrage betting system, you need to constantly shop for good lines at multiple bookies. It can be a sure thing if you pay close attention to the lines and trends of a game. But, it can also be time-consuming and show little rewards. There is software that you can purchase to take all the work out of your hands and alert you when good lines pop up, which makes the arbitrage system much more attractive.
Should I Be Paying For Picks?
There are many, so-called professional sports bettors who want to sell you their system for a one-time or monthly fee. You need to be wary of what you’re buying as most of the time it's a bunch of baloney. Usually, these wanna-be "pros" simply give half of their bettors one side of the bet and the other half the other side of the bet. If you think you're going to be talking to "Ace Rothstein" (fictional) or "Jimmy The Greek", think again. While there are some good ones out there that have quite a bit of success with their predictions, they are the in the minority and weeding through the garbage is a bit of a hassle.
It’s best to formulate your own plan and go your own way with sports betting. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t be frequenting betting forums to pick on some good advice and maybe get a good line. But, doing the homework yourself and coming up with a solid system on your own, will be your best bet.
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