|
|
|
Barrel Racing for the Fun of It
BARREL RACING FOR THE FUN OF IT BILL DUNIGAN Here is a sport for everyone. This activity offers to its enthusiasts the relaxation of the outdoors coupled with the excitement of speed and the unparallel connection with an animal many times...
Making the most of your time - Fishing Safety rules everyone should know
By Rebecca Blain of http://www.discount-hunting-supplies-and-tips.com When you are going fishing, whether nearby your home or on a long distance trip, there are many fishing safety rules that you need to keep in mind. These rules can help...
Paul Hamm: Did He Deserve Gymnastics Gold in 2004?
What’s the controversy all about? In the 2004 Olympics, an all-star group of athletes from around the world gathered together to compete for titles in gymnastics. In the spirit of competition, there are always tensions between analysts and...
Running For Weight Loss.......Slow Down
Running For Weight Loss.......Slow Down
You may be out running your fat burning hormones
By Mubarakah Ibrahim CPT
So you've loved running since your track days of high school. It's simple, you can do it anywhere and all you need is some good...
TOP TEN Myths Surrounding the Montreal Expos
10 - That the Expos lost its fan base after all the English left in the early 80’s.
The Olympic Stadium continued to average over 18 thousand visitors per game until 1997. While they were not leaders in attendance by any stretch, it was still a...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Sports Betting as an Alternative Investment
Many will dismiss outright the ability to make good returns on your investment through the medium of sports betting. It is not really surprising as betting is hard work, solitary, and you have to grind out thousands of bets to get your returns.
Of course to many members of society - betting also carries a great big "loser" tag. This is not without justification since the vast majority of sports bettors do lose. I would, however, estimate that the percentage of "losers" would be equally high in the world of stock trading and investment markets if you considered those individuals who entered that environment without the necessary experience. Most people trust their savings and investment income to experts and no doubt if the betting public trusted their income to the 1% or 2% of betting experts who made a profit - the loser label might become less sticky.
So what kind of returns can you expect?
Anywhere between 18% and 22% on betting turnover (that money actually put through the sportsbooks) annually. Of course this could vary greatly - years of 30% and 13% would also be possible. The laws of probability defy accurate annual estimates.
You will notice that I have not stated losing years - this is because they are rare - I have experienced one in my life time, my first. I am always aware of the possibility but I am confident I will never experience one again - partly because of the numerous hedging methods now available on the sports betting exchanges. I wonder how many young people on Wall Street today can confidently say they will only have one losing year? There may be a handful, those engaging in arbitrage and those experienced in 'selling' as well as 'buying' the market - but there won't be many.
So do the sportsbooks close accounts if you are a winning player? Well curiously the answer is 'yes'. I say curiously because if the book is doing its job properly, it is taking the action from both sides of the line (odds on the event) and simply taking the commission in the middle. The sportsbook makes its money whatever the result - they are merely commission-takers. Winning bettors do not win money from a sportsbook, they win money from other losing players. I guess some books simply do not like winners - but many manage the action well and allow big bets. Big bets means big turnover, big turnover means big profits.
The Sports. Very briefly the US pros generally turn to Basketball as a major
source of income simply because of the sheer number of games -
you need to bet high numbers of games to get the returns. Remember a good bettor will still lose around 4.4 to 4.6 bets out of 10. Football (NFL) is big too though game numbers are few. Hockey does not have many takers but the lines are often the best value - the prices can be very generous. Baseball runs somewhere in between. In the UK and Europe it is mainly Soccer and Horse Racing. There is no tax on betting in the UK which is a big advantage and no pari-mutuel system on horse racing. The price you get in the morning is the price you stay with - unlike US horse betting which is subject to starting price odds and heavy taxes.
The key to success in any trading or betting environment is value. If you are not getting a value price, then you will find it hard to make a profit.
You need to indentify the "product" eg a stock or a team - it doesn't matter. If your expectation of that product doing well is higher than the price on display - in relative terms. You "buy" it. Still, if you are not profitable in your betting after say 350 bets or thereabouts - it may be time to say "ok this is not for me" or "ok let me re-think my betting strategy." You simpy cannot tell if you are a good or bad bettor after 10, 20 or 50 bets - with those low numbers you are still falling victim to standard deviation and probability.
Generally I have found that sports betting produces bettor average returns year on year. It is tougher psychologically as you generally act in a lone capacity. No corporate social or support structure, no lunches, no team environment. But then no bosses, politics...you know the score.
Betting is also virtually recession proof, lets face it only a huge war might disrupt the national sports schedule. Sports markets are not influenced by the economy. You worship different gods and your path is one that runs through the wilderness and is not well trodden. You will love it or hate it..
About The Author
Daniel B. King has been a professional sports bettor and trader for eight years, helps advise a number of sportsbooks and is acively involved in the sports betting industry.
www.sbsportsbook.com
www.vipsportsgroup.com
www.betongameday.com
|
|
|
|
|
|