Sports Betting Strategies - Guide to Success

Basic Sports Betting Strategies

Few sports bettors know that even the safest betting strategy can go a long way. But what is a basic strategy? In short, a basic online betting strategy is a wagering approach that anyone can use with little or no preparation. Basically, you try to have more control over your budget and the outcome of your bets by adhering to a few simple betting principles. These principles are super-easy to understand and implement, meaning any bettor can add them to their sports betting repertoire. 

Betting is never easy, and it doesn't guarantee you any kind of certainty - not at least when it comes to winning. But there just might be a chance to increase the possibility to have more winning bets: betting strategies that work can go a long way.

But what is a basic strategy? In short, a basic online betting strategy is a wagering approach that anyone can use with little or no preparation; of course, you need to understand the strategy in order to have the chance of being a successful bettor. But the idea behind having a basic sports betting strategy is this: you try to have more control over your budget and the outcome of your bets by adhering to a few simple betting principles. These principles are super-easy to understand and implement, meaning any bettor can add them to their sports betting repertoire. In this guide, we will go through all of the different sports betting strategies, but here's how you can up your betting game in no time in a nutshell:

Most Common Sports Betting Strategies

If you have never used an online betting strategy before, now is a great time to start. Below we list the most popular betting strategies and tell you how to make the most from each bet type. All you need to do is pick the method you think will work for you and place your bet at the best bookie for it.

Home Winning Moneyline Bets

Backing the home team to win always makes sense and home-winning moneyline bets are the first port of call for professional punters. The loyal fans, home advantage, and familiar surroundings help the home team players to give a bit more than the visitors. So, if the home and away teams are evenly matched, backing the home side might be the best betting strategy. You will get good odds and a value bet. And speaking of good odds, LynxBet has some of the best home winning moneyline odds for that home win you fancy.

1X Double Chance Bets

If you think the home team will win, but want a safety net for your wager, going with 1x double chance bets is a safe betting strategy. Both home win and draw pay, and unlike the x2 bet, you also have the home supporters working for you. Check our Sportsbet.io review to see how it excels at double chance markets and has enticing 1x odds.

Handicap Betting Strategies 

If you want higher odds for favourites or a bit of a helping hand when backing underdogs, you will love handicap betting. Go with a 2-way handicap bet, only home or away win, when you want to narrow down the number of outcomes. This is one of the best strategies for sports betting. In contrast, if you fancy adding the draw outcome to the mix, go with a 3-way handicap and predict the final result that way. Whichever handicap market you choose, Freshbet sportsbook has it.

Draw No Bet (DNB)

Punter love Draw No Bet. With DNB, you back the winner and get your money back if there's a draw. Just like double chance, Draw No Bet gives you a safety cushion if the match ends in a draw, but with higher odds. For the best DNB odds, check out Powbet.

Martingale Strategy on Draw Betting

One of the most popular football betting strategies is to use the Martingale approach to bet on draws. Let's explain. The most common draw odds in football are around 2/1 (3.00). With the Martingale strategy, you bet on draws and every time your wager loses, you double your stake. Let's say you bet £10 and lose. Then you place a £20-second bet on a different match to end in a draw and lose again. So, your third bet is £40. If you win, you collect approximately £120 (40x3), meaning you cover your previous two losses and make a decent profit. The Martingale strategy on draw betting is best used at Betcoco because the bookie has pretty high draw odds.

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

The name says it all. Both teams to score is an excellent market to bet on as you don't have to stress over which team wins. All you need is both teams to score (or not). The great thing about BTTS is that it is a 2-way market, so it's easy to cover both outcomes if you need to protect an accumulator bet, for instance. LeoVegas sportsbook is excellent for BTTS bets as it offers tons of games and enticing BTTS odds.

Clean Sheet

If one of the teams doesn't concede a goal, then they have kept a clean sheet. At Mystake sportsbook, you can bet on that and get the best odds in the industry. Bet on organized and well-drilled teams that have quality goalkeepers and world-class defenders to give your clean sheet bets a better chance of coming to fruition.

Corner Betting

At top-quality sportsbooks such as Bet It All, you can also bet on corners. Corner betting is an excellent market to bet on when you expect a lot of action in front of one or both goals. Teams that like to shoot and defend deep are usually your best options for this market.

Low Stakes Accumulators

Looking for a big win from a super-small stake? Go with low-stakes accumulators at bookies such as Pledoo and get the most bang for your buck. With low-stakes ACCAs, you benefit from the multiplied odds of your bet slip selections which often result in massive potential wins from minimal stakes.

Betting Over/ Under

You don't have to bet on the final outcome of a match to make watching it interesting. You can do the same by betting Over/Under. O/U is an enticing 2-way market that allows you to enjoy a match and possibly profit from knowing how teams play. Two attack-minded teams face off? Might be smart to bet Over 2.5 Goals and wait for the goals to start flowing. A bore fest in sight? It could be a gooda to bet Under 1.5 Goals and then hopefully profit from enticing O/U odds bookies such as Greatwin.

Late Goals Betting Strategies

Do you know teams that always score in the dying minutes of matches? Why not bet on late goals then? Different bookmakers offer different types of late-goal markets, so you will have no shortage of options. Check our BetSofa review and see an example of what professional bettors frequently visit with a plan to profit from last-gasp winners scored in so-called Fergie-time.

Betting System 1-3-2-6 Strategy

1-3-2-6 is a positive progression betting system that you only use on even-money bets such as Odd/Even goals. With it, you first decide on a base unit you will stake. Let's say it's £5 (that's the 1 in the system). If your first bet wins, you have £10. Then following the 1-3-2-6 betting system, you place a £15 bet (that's the 3 in the system (3x£5)). If that bet wins too, you place a £10 wager (that's the 2). Lastly, if your next wager is a winning one, you bet £30 (that's the 6 in the system). For best results, use the 1-3-2-6 strategy at a reputable bookie like BetOBet.

Kelly Criterion Formula

The Kelly Criterion formula tells you how much of your funds you should bet on odds that are higher than expected. Many seasoned bettors and investors swear by the formula and say it has helped them get an edge over different bookmakers. For them, the Kelly Criterion calculator is an essential tool that transforms the sportsbook's edge into a player advantage. See if the Kelly Criterion strategy works at MyStake, a bookie with super-small odds margins and perfect for this betting approach.

The Fibonacci Betting System

With the Fibonacci betting system, you follow the naturally occurring Fibonacci sequence and increase your bet stake every time you lose. This is a negative progression betting system and is as follows 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc. Basically, when you lose a wager, you move one number to the right and stake that many units. In contrast, when you win, you move two numbers to the left and go on from there. Try the Fibonacci system at LynxBet and see if it works for you.

Surebets / Arbitrage Betting Strategies

To profit from sure bets, also known as arbitrage bets, you need to wager at different bookmakers and find the best odds. In short, you bet on 3-way or 2-way markets and cover all outcomes that different bookies offer. Sportsbooks with high odds and tons of bonuses are the best for arbitrage betting.

Sports Betting Dutching Strategy

Dutching is the best sports betting strategy. It is when you back more than one selection from a single event. Even though it was first designed for horse racing, it can also be used in many other sports. As with sure bets, bonuses can go a long way when you are using dutching strategy so picking a generous bookie like BetSofa is a must.

Cash Out Strategy

Picking a bookie with a cash out function such as Rizk is a lifesaver. With cash out, you take your money before all legs in your bet slip have been settled. That means lower, but guaranteed profit, and many early wins.

Fixed Odds Betting

Simply put, it means that the odds won't fluctuate after you have placed your bet, so you know instantly how much the potential winnings are. Most sportsbooks use fixed betting odds, but in some cases, like with horse racing, they might use a method calledng price or pari-mutuel; in these instances, you will know the final odds when the market closes.

The Best Strategy in Sports Betting

The only way to have a cost-effective betting adventure is to utilize a betting approach. Most punters turn to wagering strategies because they make the process more objective and methodical. However, to get there, you need to pick the best strategy in sports betting that works for you. Here are some key things to have in mind.

Build Your Own Method

Many betting strategies promise profits either instantly or in the long run. However, before you go for one, try to use the knowledge we have given you and come up with your own method. That method can be a combination of bankroll management, improved bet research, and some of the strategies we list.

Master a Specific Betting Type and Competition

Do you fancy Over/Under bets more than anything else? Do you think you are really good at half-time/full-time wagers? Then why not specialize in them? And why not specialize in a certain sport, league, or competition as well? Mastering one or several bet types/sports/leagues often results in more educated bets and more frequent wins.

Research Best Odds Across Bookmakers

A punter is only as good as the bookmaker he chooses. That's why it is paramount that you pick a bookie that gives you great odds and works with minimal edges. At Betpack, we tell you the odds margin of each sportsbook, making it super-easy to find the one with the best odds.

Read About Different Strategies and Choose Your Perfect Match

The ideal betting strategy is the one that suits your betting style the most. Our advice is to read about different systems, or even better, try them, and then settle on the one that gave you the best results.

Follow Your Bets Live and Take Advantage of Cash Out Feature

Once you place your bet, follow it live. That way, you will be able to sense if a favourable situation will inevitably turn sour. Most of the bookies listed on our website offer live bets and cash out options. So, if you sense things aren't going your way, take the early cash out or place a new bet that reflects the action on the pitch.

Conclusion for the Perfect Betting Strategy

Want to find the perfect wagering system? You are now closer to the best strategy for sports betting than you have ever been. All you need to do is take the info we have given you and settle on a betting approach that will work best for you.

Sure, betting strategies have their flaws, and you often have to be able to absorb losing streaks before getting a winner. However, in the long run, most of these popular betting strategies might just be successful in your hands. In short, if you want to improve your chances of winning, our time-tested betting strategies are your best bet.