1. What are the common mistakes beginners make in sports betting?
Sports betting depends on chance, meaning there is no guaranteed strategy to make you win on every bet. Anything can happen, whereby as great as it may be in rewarding you exponentially, it might also be an avenue to make losses, and big ones for that matter.
By know you should know basic sports terminology, like for example what is the difference odds indicator, but to be on the safer side, you should be aware of the common sports betting mistakes to avoid. This will improve your odds of leaning on the winning side. So, what are some common mistakes beginners make in sports betting? Here are some of them on popular sports like football, basketball, esports, and horse racing:
1.1
Among the major football betting mistakes most novice bettors make is to bet on their favourite teams. Not that it cannot work sometimes, but sports betting requires an objective assessment that may require betting against your team. You might feel that you know your team better to back it, but a good bettor will always maintain a cool head and not use loyalty to a team as a basis for backing it.
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1.2
Have you found a supposed ‘expert’ ready to sell you fixed matches? They have probably convinced you that they already know the next fixed match, and all you have to do is part with some money for a 100% hit. News flash, match fixing remains rare, and that is among other common football betting mistakes to avoid as it will lead you to disappointment and losses.
1.3 Betting on too many games (Basketball)
Let’s look at how to avoid common betting mistakes in NBA betting or other top basketball leagues. As a basketball fan or a pro bettor, one of the top mistakes to avoid when betting is betting on many games. A typical NBA season may feature many games taking place simultaneously, which can seem like a great opportunity for most beginners. But it’s not. On the contrary, it is a losing strategy. Quality over quantity is the best strategy. Better to bet on a few well-researched games than spread your bets on multiple games.
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1.4 Relying only on favourites (Basketball)
A search on what are the most common mistakes people make when betting on NBA games online will reveal that relying only on favourites is among the top. Of course, backing a favourite is the most straightforward strategy and a less risky bet. In most cases, it pays off. However, you should not only rely on the favourites. Statistics show that in the last five years, underdogs in the NBA have toppled favorites 32.1% of the time. This indicates that upsets are regular in the sport, and thus relying only on favourites might not be ideal.
1.5 Poor research (Horse Racing)
Horse racing and other racing sports require a deep understanding before making a bet. If you look at the common mistakes when betting on horse racing, many bettors get it wrong due to poor research. You need to gain an understanding of the event, track conditions, the racing horses, various bet types, jockeys, trainers, and even study past performances. This will help in improving your chances of a payout. Moreover, make sure you are playing with reputable bookmakers, such as bet365. Before joining, you can check the full list of bet365 legal countries where this bookmaker is available.
1.6 Staying updated (Horse Racing)
Horse racing is influenced by loads of factors, which require you to stay updated and informed. These factors will heavily influence the outcome. The mistake most bettors make is not checking the latest news, which may include a change in horses or jockeys in the lineup or weather and track conditions.
1.7 Always siding with influencers’ or streamers’ picks (Esports)
Optics do sell sometimes. One such department where this happens is in Esports, and it's among the top Esports betting mistakes to avoid. New bettors might be easily influenced by the picks made by streamers or influencers. However, their takes should not be taken as gospel truth, as some may be just casual picks, others due to paid brand deals, while others are rooted in emotions, and so on. Bettors should always research aspects such as stats, matchups, and form before placing their bets.
1.8 Not keeping up with game changes (Esports)
One thing about Esports games is that they change rapidly and constantly. Developer upgrades are made, and the team you supported yesterday is no longer at the top. While your team's past wins are some of the factors to look at when betting, it’s important to check on the updates and upgrades made, as they might flip the cards the next day. Additionally, to avoid this mistake, watch drafts, read patch notes, and stay informed about game meta changes.
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1.9 Chasing losses
Other common sports betting mistakes to avoid include chasing losses. Avoid trying to cover your losses by making more bets or bigger ones, as it can lead to further losses. To ensure you avoid this mistake, ensure to stick to your budget, place limits, take your time off, and do not bet with emotions.
1.10 Poor bankroll management
Effective bankroll management should be your top priority when betting on sports. If you asked today, what are the top mistakes to avoid in sports betting, the answer you get will include poor bankroll management. Always ensure to use money you are willing to lose and stick to your limits.
2. How to bet without losing
Betting remains an activity heavily relying on chance. You cannot have a guaranteed strategy that guarantees you do not lose a bet. However, you can use these tips to increase your chances of not losing a sports bet or reduce the losses:
- Use matched betting to leverage free bets, bonuses, and promotions to make profits. For example, use our 1XBET promo code when signing up with this brand.
- Use arbitrage betting to leverage the odds differences between bookies over the same event.
- Use the courtside strategy, which involves placing live bets quickly before some ‘slow’ bookmakers update their odds.
- Use the dutching strategy, which involves placing bets on multiple outcomes in the same event to maximize profits or minimize losses.
- Use the best value betting strategy, which involves placing bets on bookmakers with the best odds.
3. Recommended Sports Bets
The following are the recommended bets you can make presently on some popular sports:
-
Football: All major leagues like the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga, and the Netherlands Eredivisie (match result, over/under, double chance, draw no bet, correct score, both teams to score, asian handicap, etc.)
-
Basketball: Top leagues like the NBA (total points, point spread, moneyline, player and team props, futures, etc.)
-
Volleyball: Events like FIVB, VNL, and NCAA volleyball championships (Match winner, handicap, set betting, total sets, race to points, etc.)
-
Horse racing: Events like the Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, Belmont Stakes, and Preakness Stakes (win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, etc.)
4. Sports Betting Mistakes to Avoid in 2025: FAQs
4.1 ⚽ Why is sports betting so hard?
Ordinarily, the market is tailored to favour the bookmakers, but avoiding common sports betting mistakes greatly improves your chances of winning.
4.2 🎾 What is the No. 1 rule in gambling?
The golden rule for gambling is effective bankroll management, ensuring you can bet what you can afford to lose.
4.3 🏀 What is the best strategy for winning sports betting?
The best strategy for winning when betting on sports is to follow our tips and avoid common mistakes. Read this guide to find the common sports betting mistakes to avoid.
Common Sports Betting Mistakes to Avoid
As a beginner, there are common sports betting mistakes to avoid in 2025when making a pre-match or live bet. From mistakes such as improper bankroll management, poor research, chasing losses, and letting emotions take over, our guide helps you avoid such pitfalls and explain strategies that can improve your chances of a payout.
Contents
1. What are the common mistakes beginners make in sports betting?
Sports betting depends on chance, meaning there is no guaranteed strategy to make you win on every bet. Anything can happen, whereby as great as it may be in rewarding you exponentially, it might also be an avenue to make losses, and big ones for that matter.
By know you should know basic sports terminology, like for example what is the difference odds indicator, but to be on the safer side, you should be aware of the common sports betting mistakes to avoid. This will improve your odds of leaning on the winning side. So, what are some common mistakes beginners make in sports betting? Here are some of them on popular sports like football, basketball, esports, and horse racing:
1.1 Betting on your favourite team (Football)
Among the major football betting mistakes most novice bettors make is to bet on their favourite teams. Not that it cannot work sometimes, but sports betting requires an objective assessment that may require betting against your team. You might feel that you know your team better to back it, but a good bettor will always maintain a cool head and not use loyalty to a team as a basis for backing it.
1.2 ‘Fixed matches’ (Football)
Have you found a supposed ‘expert’ ready to sell you fixed matches? They have probably convinced you that they already know the next fixed match, and all you have to do is part with some money for a 100% hit. News flash, match fixing remains rare, and that is among other common football betting mistakes to avoid as it will lead you to disappointment and losses.
1.3 Betting on too many games (Basketball)
Let’s look at how to avoid common betting mistakes in NBA betting or other top basketball leagues. As a basketball fan or a pro bettor, one of the top mistakes to avoid when betting is betting on many games. A typical NBA season may feature many games taking place simultaneously, which can seem like a great opportunity for most beginners. But it’s not. On the contrary, it is a losing strategy. Quality over quantity is the best strategy. Better to bet on a few well-researched games than spread your bets on multiple games.
1.4 Relying only on favourites (Basketball)
A search on what are the most common mistakes people make when betting on NBA games online will reveal that relying only on favourites is among the top. Of course, backing a favourite is the most straightforward strategy and a less risky bet. In most cases, it pays off. However, you should not only rely on the favourites. Statistics show that in the last five years, underdogs in the NBA have toppled favorites 32.1% of the time. This indicates that upsets are regular in the sport, and thus relying only on favourites might not be ideal.
1.5 Poor research (Horse Racing)
Horse racing and other racing sports require a deep understanding before making a bet. If you look at the common mistakes when betting on horse racing, many bettors get it wrong due to poor research. You need to gain an understanding of the event, track conditions, the racing horses, various bet types, jockeys, trainers, and even study past performances. This will help in improving your chances of a payout. Moreover, make sure you are playing with reputable bookmakers, such as bet365. Before joining, you can check the full list of bet365 legal countries where this bookmaker is available.
1.6 Staying updated (Horse Racing)
Horse racing is influenced by loads of factors, which require you to stay updated and informed. These factors will heavily influence the outcome. The mistake most bettors make is not checking the latest news, which may include a change in horses or jockeys in the lineup or weather and track conditions.
1.7 Always siding with influencers’ or streamers’ picks (Esports)
Optics do sell sometimes. One such department where this happens is in Esports, and it's among the top Esports betting mistakes to avoid. New bettors might be easily influenced by the picks made by streamers or influencers. However, their takes should not be taken as gospel truth, as some may be just casual picks, others due to paid brand deals, while others are rooted in emotions, and so on. Bettors should always research aspects such as stats, matchups, and form before placing their bets.
1.8 Not keeping up with game changes (Esports)
One thing about Esports games is that they change rapidly and constantly. Developer upgrades are made, and the team you supported yesterday is no longer at the top. While your team's past wins are some of the factors to look at when betting, it’s important to check on the updates and upgrades made, as they might flip the cards the next day. Additionally, to avoid this mistake, watch drafts, read patch notes, and stay informed about game meta changes.
1.9 Chasing losses
Other common sports betting mistakes to avoid include chasing losses. Avoid trying to cover your losses by making more bets or bigger ones, as it can lead to further losses. To ensure you avoid this mistake, ensure to stick to your budget, place limits, take your time off, and do not bet with emotions.
1.10 Poor bankroll management
Effective bankroll management should be your top priority when betting on sports. If you asked today, what are the top mistakes to avoid in sports betting, the answer you get will include poor bankroll management. Always ensure to use money you are willing to lose and stick to your limits.
2. How to bet without losing
Betting remains an activity heavily relying on chance. You cannot have a guaranteed strategy that guarantees you do not lose a bet. However, you can use these tips to increase your chances of not losing a sports bet or reduce the losses:
3. Recommended Sports Bets
The following are the recommended bets you can make presently on some popular sports:
4. Sports Betting Mistakes to Avoid in 2025: FAQs
4.1 ⚽ Why is sports betting so hard?
Ordinarily, the market is tailored to favour the bookmakers, but avoiding common sports betting mistakes greatly improves your chances of winning.
4.2 🎾 What is the No. 1 rule in gambling?
The golden rule for gambling is effective bankroll management, ensuring you can bet what you can afford to lose.
4.3 🏀 What is the best strategy for winning sports betting?
The best strategy for winning when betting on sports is to follow our tips and avoid common mistakes. Read this guide to find the common sports betting mistakes to avoid.