Betting on sport? Click this to win ›

Betting on sport? Read this first.

Nobody can promise you a win: not us, not a tipster, not a bookmaker. These simple rules help you bet smarter and keep more of your money.

3 things you should know

  1. Most bets lose. Bookmakers set the odds so they make money over time. Most people who bet lose money in the end.
  2. Strong teams lose to weak teams. Sport is unpredictable. A team we give 70% still doesn't win about 3 games in 10. That is normal.
  3. Odds are a price. 1 ÷ the odds = the bookmaker's chance: 2.00 = 50%, 1.50 = 67%, 1.25 = 80%. Add up the chances for every result of a game and you get more than 100%. The extra is the bookmaker's profit.

3 don'ts

  1. Don't bet money you need: rent, food, school fees, transport, bills. Only bet money you can afford to lose.
  2. Don't put more than 3 games in a multi. Each extra game makes it much harder to win. Three games at 70% each all win only 34% of the time. Five: 17%. Ten: 3%.
  3. Don't chase losses. After a loss, don't bet more to win it back. That is how small losses become big ones.

5 do's

  1. Set a budget for the week before you bet. When it's gone, stop until next week.
  2. Bet the same small amount every time, for example 5% of your budget. Never double up after a loss.
  3. Compare our % with the odds. If the bookmaker's chance (1 ÷ odds) is clearly lower than ours, the price may be good. If it's higher, skip it. We can be wrong too.
  4. Check team news before you bet. Injuries, line-ups and rested players change games. Our match pages show them.
  5. Write down every bet: the game, the bet, the odds, the amount, the result. After 50 bets you'll know if you're really winning.

5 things that can work in the long term

  1. Stick to one sport or one league. Learn the teams, the coaches, and how they play at home and away.
  2. Follow one team closely. Track its results, its form and who is injured. Tap ☆ on its page to follow it here.
  3. Pick one kind of bet and learn it: over/under 2.5 goals, both teams to score, total corners, or a goalscorer. One bet you know well beats ten you guess at.
  4. Check your record for that bet. After 50 or 100 bets, look back. Keep what made money and stop the rest.
  5. Be patient. Judge yourself over months, not one weekend. A good method still has bad weeks.

Betting should be fun. If it stops being fun, stop. 18+. Free, private help: gamblingtherapy.org.

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