What Does ‘Betting Strategy’ Mean?
A “betting strategy” is simply a disciplined plan or system you use to make your bets.
Think of it as the difference between just randomly guessing and having a consistent, long-term approach. The goal of a strategy isn’t to win every bet (that’s impossible) but to make more informed decisions and manage your money so you have a better chance of being profitable over time.
A good strategy always includes a plan for bankroll management—how much to bet and when.
Common Types of Betting Strategies
Here are a few popular examples, from simple to advanced:
- Bankroll Management (The “Unit” System): This is the most important strategy. You decide that your standard bet (one “unit”) is a small percentage of your total betting budget (your “bankroll”), usually 1-3%. This stops you from losing all your money on one bad day and keeps your emotions in check.
- Value Betting: This is a “buy low” strategy. You try to find a bet where you believe the odds the sportsbook is offering are wrong, and the team’s true chance of winning is much higher. You’re looking for a bad price tag on a good item.
- Betting Against the Public: A simple strategy where you bet against the team that is getting the vast majority of the public’s bets. The idea is that the “public” often bets with their heart (on popular teams and stars), which can skew the line, creating value on the other side.
- Arbitrage Betting (“Arbing”): An advanced, math-heavy strategy. This involves finding different odds at two different sportsbooks for the same game and betting on both sides. If done correctly, you can guarantee a small, risk-free profit, no matter who wins.