Sports and casino betting are now so firmly enmeshed in enough societies that there are people who – whether as a full-time endeavor or a frequent hobby – use them as a source of income. This will be an interesting observation for anyone who recognizes that betting is inherently risky. What makes someone consider betting to be something that they can think of as a profession, and how do these people make it work? It seems to go against logic.
There’s more than a little merit in that question, and for the people who devote a lot of their time to finding casinos online Europeos to place bets, it’s not a straightforward life. However, there are certainly things that differentiate a pro bettor from a keen amateur, and we’ll explore some of those differences below. Word of warning: this should not be considered a manual for professional gambling. When betting, you are taking a risk, and you need to be aware that the entirety of that risk is assumed by you – there’s no HR and no tribunal if things go wrong.
Professionals do an exhaustive amount of research
An amateur bettor isn’t just someone who will put a small bet on the Super Bowl once a year. You can be a frequent user of online casinos and betting sites, using them weekly and even more often, and still be an amateur. A professional, when they are not betting, will often be researching a future bet, comparing odds at different sites, and figuring ways to minimize their risk. This isn’t something you can do without both enough time to wade through mountains of data and a significant initial bankroll.
Professionals keep comprehensive records
Even if you’re a frequent bettor who puts money on games or races at least once a week, there is a tendency to “set it and forget it”, checking on the results or even watching the game, but not going to the lengths professionals do to keep an eye on their money. A pro bettor will keep spreadsheets of their balances with different sites, have a record of open bets and ones that have been concluded, and their profit and loss. They will most likely be able to tell you, from memory, what they have running at any time and what difference a certain result will make to their balance.
Professionals use software and other aids
A professional sports or casino bettor will not let an opportunity to leverage an advantage pass them by. They will often, to that end, use software that can point out opportunities by using algorithms to analyze as much data as possible, as quickly as possible. And here’s the rub; using that kind of software does not go down well with betting sites. They will be able to recognize betting patterns that are consistent with pro betting. And, although these actions are usually perfectly legal, a betting site can absolutely withdraw its services to a bettor without giving a reason – so if you’re doing well enough, they might just block you from future betting or limit what you can bet.
Pro bettors know the risks, and do what they do anyway because they are there to make as much as they can before the ax falls. Unless you have done immense amounts of groundwork and paid out for the necessary software, you won’t be in a position to do the same. So it’s not a great idea to try and follow their lead unless you’ve prepared for the worst and have a safe fall-back plan.