What Qualities Should a Good Bettor Strive For?
One of the most popular activities in the world of sports, is betting. Since the oldest civilizations, sports have been a huge part of human culture. For a long time some of the most popular betting sports among good bettors were the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece and Rome, the chariot racings in Ancient Egypt, or horse racing, which has survived the test of time.
Since the late 19th and early 20th century, sports have been growing rapidly in popularity, culminating in the 21st century. Sports today have achieved a popularity never-before-seen. Football, cricket, hockey, golf, horse racing, etc. are some of the highest-grossing, most-viewed sports in the world right now. All of them have a very vibrant and active betting scene, especially on online betting websites, like the PA sports betting sites on BetStation.
The rise in popularity of online betting recently has attracted a large chunk of people to start wagering. Newbies often ask the question, “what qualities should good bettors have?” In this article, we will answer the question.
What Qualities Should Good Bettors Have?
A Willingness to Learn
One of the most important qualities any punter needs to have, is a willingness to learn and do research. Many newbies (and casual bettors) will often put money on their favorites, citing a “gut-feeling”. If you are a casual, low-stake bettor, this might not be too bad (though placing money on a “gut-feeling” is always a mistake), however, if you are looking to become a serious, high-stakes bettor, you must never succumb to superstitions such as “gut-feelings”.
Betting is much more than simply putting money on a team. Good punters must pour through countless statistics, news about teams and players, past games, etc. Sometimes, the statistics may point to your favorite team being an underdog. If you can’t bear to place a bet against them, it is better to sit the game out, rather than place money on a losing team.
Self-Control & Discipline
Apart from research, a punter must have self-control and practice discipline. All great bettors know to control their actions and what they do. More important, they know what not to do. It is safe to say that most punters enjoy sports betting. However, sometimes betting is not worth it. Whether you’ve placed one too many bets, whether you are low on money, or whether you are high on stress, betting can, sometimes, exacerbate existing problems.
To quote one of the most famous songs of the 20th century, sometimes you just “gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run”.
Experience
Like with any activity, people get better at betting the more they do it. Gaining experience is important for anything, and wagering is no different. Often times, new punters will get the advice that they should start out with light, low-stakes bets to gain experience, and once they’ve acquired the know-how, they can move on to bigger and higher-stake betting. Many might not be patient enough for that, however, it is generally good advice, and those who follow it will most likely not be sorry about it in the future.