One of the biggest problems with sports betting services is that they influence casual bettors to think that they can maintain win rates above 80-percent over the course of months or even years. The reality is that even the best handicappers in the world will only win about 55 to 60-percent on average.
The majority of handicapping sites produce winners at around a 56 to 58-percent rate so in order to build up the profits they need to hit on their value picks that produce the bigger payouts.
Here is a look at what the professional handicappers expect and the magic of the 55-percent winner in sports betting.
The Outlook Of The Professionals
The best handicappers in the world understand that they can build up their profits with the right betting strategy if they are hitting at 55-percent or better. The key is to shop around the best sportsbooks and find the best possible value on every single play. The best handicappers in the world will shop a number of sportsbooks in order to find the best available line based on the line they want to bet and that can make a substantial difference in the bottom line.
For example, if Sportsbook A has an underdog listed at +115 while Sportsbook B has them at +120 and Sportsbook C has them at +130, it obviously makes sense to bet on that underdog at Sportsbook C where you will get the best value. The biggest difference between the outlook of professional handicappers and the casual bettors is that they professionals will find the best value out there in order to improve their bottom line with every winning wager they hit on.
Avoiding The Losses
Another important tip to remember is that any system that you use to avoid substantial losses is also a key to improving your bottom line. The same rules apply to the favorites in terms of finding value. For example, if Sportsbook A has a favorite listed at -120 while Sportsbook B has them at -140 and Sportsbook C has them at -150, it obviously makes sense to bet on them with Sportsbook A where the risk is as minimal as possible. On a wager that potentially pays out $400, the difference between the risk amount for Sportsbook A and Sportsbook B in the example above is $120.
Anybody that bets on sports wants to win every single wager they make but by limiting the number of losses they incur as well as the amount of money they lose on every wager they can really improve their overall margins.
Outlook
While there are sports betting services that want to convince you that you can hit at a much greater percentage, you should only expect to win around 55-percent of your wagers at best. By setting that benchmark, you can evaluate the wagers you make based on the expectation that you will only win so many of your bets.
If you can condition yourself to expect to hit at around 55-percent, you can change your perspective when it comes to finding the best value out there. You can become a more stingy sports bettor. That is the magic of the 55-percent rule and how it can positively impact your approach to betting on sports.