We’re going to have a bit of a change of pace for this article. Usually, I focus on some tips for you for the latest big sporting event, but have you ever wondered how I come up with these tips? What the processes are that I follow to try and pick a winner? Why do I find sports betting fun?

Now, I will add a big caveat here and say that any type of betting event, regardless of the odds, always has built into it an element of luck. Any person who tips for a living knows that this is the one intangible that you cannot factor in to even your best-researched bets. No matter what anyone else says, you need luck to run your way in order to land any bet.

That means that there are no guarantees of success. I am not saying that following these methods will see you win a bet more often. I am saying that I believe following these methods gives me the feelign I am making better informed bets and that makes me enjoy things a great deal more.

That is not the same as saying you will be guaranteed to be more successful with your bets.

Anyone who suggests that, or worse still says you are guaranteed to win, is wrong.

So with that in mind, I will give you an idea of the steps I follow to try and be more accurate with my bets and find the markets and options I think have a better chance of success. That doesn’t mean they will all win of course, but I think the effort I put in generally is worth it over the course of a typical year.

The first step is arguably one of the most important, but one often overlooked.

1. Pick The Right Sports Betting Service For You

Finding the right betting site for you that offers the bets you want to make, a great starter offer, In Play betting, live streaming and other options is key. Your betting experience on a site can be enhanced markedly if the site you bet at his promotions and other offers which tally up nicely with the bets you tend to make.

For example, if you usually make football accumulator (parlay) bets, then finding a site that doesn’t offer promotions on this type of bet isn’t a great move.

This is why I always recommend bet365 Sport. Not only does the site have a fantastic welcome bonus for new customers that is worth up to £100 in bet credits, but it has a massive range of promotions, available across the year, for a number of sports. Add to that all the other bet365 sites too and I find this site matches my needs perfectly.

Bet365 Sport Open Account Offer

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365.

Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

If you are based in the United States, then the bestbetusa.com site is a fantastic resource for looking at the different betting options available across all the states that offer sports betting legally, together with regular articles about promotions and offers for those based in the United States.

2. Stick With What You Know

One of my absolute maxims when betting is betting only on what I know. If you bet on sports events where you know nothing about the participants or markets then this is no better than buying a lottery ticket.

The key to betting more accurately is eliminating as many of the lower percentage possibilities as possible. To do that, you need to know your stuff about what you are betting on.

For example, if I blindly wagered £10 on Liverpool and Wolves to draw 3-3 at 33/1, I may be delighted at the odds of that offer.

However, if I know that neither side has scored three goals in a game this season, that both have amongst the best defensive records in the division, that Wolves have their main striker out injured and Liverpool have not drawn a game for 12 matches, that bet looks a decidedly poor one.

Always stick with what you know and then you get to work with point three.

3. Do A Little Research

For me, this is the fundamentals of betting. A little research into a potential bet can go a long way to help you decide whether it has a good chance of success or not. In the example above, a little research showed me that my bet on the 3-3 draw between Liverpool and Wolves was not a clever move given the data I discovered during the research.

I always try to do a little research for any bet I plan to make, even if it is just identifying form, trends or whether key players are playing, or not playing in a fixture. Many sites (including bet365) offer their own stats service which can be of invaluable help when researching your markets.

You can also source plenty of data on many sports events and fixtures online through newspapers, official websites, social media and the like. Additionally, it is great fun to read about the game and what people think will happen. A fresh perspective can help you make better decisions when you do decide to bet.

4. Always Bet Responsibly

Lastly, whenever betting on any event you should always bet responsibly. That means betting no more than you can easily afford to lose, knowing when to stop betting and never chasing any losses you incur.

Setting yourself a budget for your betting that you can easily afford is a sensible choice. That budget differs from person to person and depends on an individual’s circumstances, but it should always be an amount of cash that you won’t miss if it is not there.

Also, remember when you bet, the odds are nearly always in favour of the bookmaker. You are not likely to win. As such, don’t expect to. If you view your bets as money spent, and any winnings you do land as a nice surprise, then that is the right attitude to have.

Betting responsibly is promoted heavily by all top bookmaking sites now and you should make sure you are doing precisely that with any bet.

5. Enjoy It!

Betting should be fun! If you are not enjoying it when you place a bet, win or lose, then you have he wrong attitude to sports betting. Winning is very nice when it happens, but it should not be the sole source of your enjoyment.

It can be great fun to cheer teams or individuals on you normally would not support when you make a bet. So remember to keep a smile on your face and enjoy it, regardless of the outcome!