Sports betting is a big hobby for a lot of sports fans around the world, but especially in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States. It adds an extra level of excitement to watching matches and it makes it easier to care about matches between teams that you don’t care about that much.

 

The move to online sports betting has made it easier than ever to place bet. It’s also made it more accessible to people who might not have felt comfortable going into a betting shop. All the big traditional betting brands now offer online sportsbooks and many independent ones have popped up as well.

 

Once you’ve found the best sportsbook for you, placing your first bets is easy. The best sports betting sites in Ireland offer great odds on all the top sports and fixtures as well as on international events too. The best will also offer odds on the matches of local clubs and GAA clubs.

 

Placing bets based on supporting your favourite team or going with your gut is fun, but you can also try placing smarter bets with a plan. These top tips for pro sports bettors will help you move beyond the basics.

 

Stick with the sport you know

 

Betting like a pro involves a lot of focus and research. Unless you have many seasons of practice, it’s nearly impossible to do this successfully for multiple sports. The best plan is to start with the sport that you’re most familiar with. For most bettors, this is football.

 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can never bet on anything else. If you’re a football bettor, the occasional bet on a horse race that you’re attending or a bet on the Rugby World Cup aren’t a problem. Just keep your focus on your sport of choice.

 

Do your research

 

Sports fans are well–known for their love of team and player stats. Most of the time though, they focus all their attention on their favourite club. In order to bet like a pro, it’s important to follow the stats for every match that you plan to bet on.

 

Since some of the best odds are available in advance of a match, it’s also smart to keep an eye on the sports news so that you don’t miss anything. News about transfers, tensions in a squad or injuries can all be used to inform your betting decisions.

 

It’s also important to research the sportsbook you’re betting with. The best sports betting sites in Ireland will obviously have all of the top sporting events, but some have special offers for particular sports. This can be great if you prefer to bet on a less popular sport.

 

Place a variety of bets

 

Beginning bettors might not be aware that there are number of different bets that can be placed, not just bets on who will win or lose. Straight forward single bets on which team will win are a great place to start, but more creative betting can keep things fun and can provide more opportunities to win.

 

Accumulator bets, sometimes referred to as parlay bets, are a great option for those with an interest in a high risk-high reward proposition. These bets are made up of a combination of individual bets. If each bet in the set pays off, then the entire accumulator bet pays off.

 

Prop bets are another option to keep things exciting and to show off your knowledge of the sport. Prop bets are placed on events that happen during a match, rather than on the result. They are bets on things like who will score first or if a goal will be scored in the second half. Currently it’s possible to place bets on if a player will get a yellow card, but this is being challenged by the FA because it’s too easy to be manipulated by players.

 

Put bonuses to good use

 

Online sportsbooks offer great bonuses for new customers. Experienced bettors can sign up with a new sportsbook when it has a perfect offer. This can make a smart bet even smarter, especially if it’s a bonus that limits the investment that you must make.

 

For example, some sportsbooks will offer a risk–free bet and deposit matching as a welcome bonus. With this bonus, you can place a riskier bet without having to really worry about whether it will pay off. While it’s great to have loyalty to a sports betting brand, it’s also important to be practical and take advantage of special offers and promotions when you can.

 

Stick to a budget

 

Having a budget isn’t necessarily fun but it’s essential. It can be hard to avoid falling into the trap of chasing a win to get yourself out of a hole. However, spending your way out of trouble is rarely successful and it can turn what should be a fun hobby into a source of stress and anxiety.

 

Keeping your betting within a budget helps to keep betting fun and enjoyable. It’s also a smart way to track your bets. Seeing exactly where you’ve placed an intelligent bet and where a bet has failed can help you recognise your betting patterns. Knowing your patterns can help you break bad habits and build better ones.