Whether you’re a complete novice when it comes to sports betting in Canada, or an old hand who has been there and done that, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to your betting performance.
Of course, it’s impossible to guarantee a winning outcome every time – and you should not set up unrealistic expectations by anticipating one. Having said that, there are some tips and tricks you can employ to give yourself the best chance of getting a return on your investment more often than not. We’ve outlined five of our favorites for you below.
1. Stick to what you know
Although you might be tempted to branch out and bet on a sport or league you’re not familiar with, it’s a bad strategy. By sticking to what you know, you can leverage your existing knowledge to make more accurate deductions about what might happen as the action unfolds. At the same time, don’t rest on your laurels and think you know everything about a particular bet – read up on the form, fitness records, injuries and any other pertinent information about the teams or players involved before making a bet.
2. Take advantage of live odds
Your research shouldn’t stop once the event kicks off, either. Ideally, you’ll only bet on sports that you actually plan to watch, as this will give you the opportunity to participate in live betting. By watching the match itself, you can gauge which way the momentum is swinging and take advantage of incidents as they occur (such as injuries, sin bins or goals) to better inform your betting. You’ll also get the jump on the bookies by putting this knowledge into practice and leveraging the live odds.
3. Look out for promos
The sports betting market in Canada is getting bigger all the time. One recent whitepaper estimated that punters part with as much as $25 billon every year. That has led to surge in the number of sportsbooks and online casinos looking to get a piece of that lucrative pie. In such a competitive field, they each try to outdo one another and entice new custom on their site with promotions, offers and perks. Search out the best ones to maximize your bankroll and keep you betting for as long as possible.
4. Stick to short odds
It’s fair to say that everyone loves a rags to riches story of betting on a 1,000-to-1 outcome and winning big. However, there’s a reason those odds are long in the first place – the scenario is extremely unlikely to happen. Of course, you could strike it lucky, but a much more plausible outcome is that you’ll simply lose your stake. Instead, a better strategy would be to make incremental gains by betting larger (but not too large) amounts on outcomes with shorter odds. It may take longer, but you’re more likely to stay out of the red doing so.
5. Make notes
Keeping a record of all the bets you’ve made in the past is an excellent way of learning from your mistakes – and your successes. Not only will having everything down in black and white afford you better control over your budget, but it will also give you an overview of where you’re going right and where you’re going wrong. This step is especially important for those who employ specific betting techniques, but is just good advice for everyone.
As mentioned above, you won’t win every wager you lay – and it would be foolish to expect to do so. However, you can increase your victories and your earnings by playing it smart and following the five tips above.
