Casino & Gambling Information brought to you by casino bonuses and top online ecasinos

The Concept of Value in Sports Betting!


In sports betting you need to make sure that your bets (and trades) are good value in order to make a profit. If you do not do this you will still win bets but profits may be harder to achieve.

Let me explain this last statement. I actually lose more bets than I win - but the prices or odds at which I bet compensate for the losing plays.

If you bet all season long on the NY Yankees (US Baseball) or Arsenal FC (English Premiership) - to win each game - you will probably end up with a fairly good winning strike rate - but it is unlikely that you will make any money. The odds will be 'short' and you may do better to try and predict when these teams might falter - and bet against them at the over inflated prices being offered on the opposing teams. These opposing teams will most likely offer the value - as they are not the popular betting choice.

When we flip a coin, we know that the true chance of it turning up heads or tails is 50% or 'evens' (1/1).

As an example we set up a 'coin flipping' betting event. A neutral party begins to flip the coin. With each subsequent flip there is a definite preference for heads in the betting. The bookmaker or sportsbook takes this in his stride, he has already set the odds at 10/11 (-110 US) for either outcome which takes into account his commission. He knows that this trend is fairly usual as heads is often favored in this type of event. He decides, however, to balance his books a little by reducing his odds on heads to 5/6 and increasing tails to 1/1.

Heads is now an even shorter price and represents no value. Tails now stands at a slightly better price but still only represents the 'true odds' or likelihood of winning at 1/1 or 50% and so is not value.

The event continues and still the betting favors heads. Why? Well the 'average bettor' does not really understand 'value', he does not understand that heads might well be a bad bet or hold no value. He just enjoys betting and since 'heads' is winning - he wants to bet on heads.

The bookmaker balances his books again with a dramatic shortening of the odds for heads to 4/9 and a lengthening to 6/4 (+150 US), on tails.

At this point the professional bettor would step in and begin to place bets on tails. He knows that he has got value at 6/4 for an event where the 'true odds' of success are 1/1.

About The Author

Daniel B. King has been a professional sports bettor and trader for seven years. He offers advice to a number of high profile sportsbooks:

www.vipsportsgroup.com

www.sbsportsbook.com

www.betonenine.com

www.betongameday.com

- all of which are industry leaders in the sports betting and gambling field.

SportsTrade@arbitrage.ws


MORE RESOURCES:

Boston Globe

Mass. House, Senate racing to finish casino bill
BusinessWeek
Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators were scrambling Thursday to craft the final broad outlines of a casino gambling bill in time for ...
Massachusetts Lawmakers Debate Casino LawsMyFOXMaine.com
Gov. Patrick for compromise on casino billWHDH-TV
Patrick yields ground on casino bill, says one slot parlor OKBoston Globe
Wall Street Journal -Boston Herald -Taunton Daily Gazette
all 277 news articles »


Boston Herald (blog)

Countdown on for casino gambling bill in Mass.
NECN
(NECN: John Moroney: Boston, Mass) - The countdown is on for a casino gambling bill in Massachusetts. Just one week left for legislators to hammer out their ...
Mass. gov says compromise possible on gamblingBusinessWeek
Mass. lawmakers gear up for busy end of sessionBoston Herald
Patrick returns from war zone, defends visitBoston Globe
Bostonist -WHDH-TV
all 127 news articles »


Sparks speaks to Democrats
Gadsden Times
By Andy Powell Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks said his campaign is more than a call for a lottery and casino gambling — other top priorities ...
Photo: Associated Press photoAnniston Star

all 5 news articles »


More Women Becoming Addicted To Gambling
KDKA
With the spread of casino gambling, studies show that more and more women are becoming gambling addicts. AP With the spread of casino gambling, studies show ...



Las Vegas Sands Rethinks Macau VIP Strategy After Dismissing Jacobs
Wall Street Journal
... with these intermediaries, long a powerful force for driving gambling revenue in Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. ...

and more »


Panel named to craft final Mass. casino bill
BusinessWeek
Five members of the House and Senate committee named Tuesday back casino gambling. One member, Republican Richard Ross of Wrentham, voted against the bill ...
MA casino bill marches on95.5 WBRU News
Dempsey, other lawmakers work on casino bill behind closed doorsEagle Tribune
Clock ticks on slotsAttleboro Sun Chronicle
Martha's Vineyard Times -Fenway News Online (blog) -Behavioral Health Central (blog)
all 487 news articles »


NY gets $5.5 million for energy-related research projects; Nassau pursues ...
Examiner.com
Instead, Nassau and Suffolk are courting the Shinnecock Indian tribe, which recently earned federal standing after a 30-year battle, to open casino gambling ...

and more »


Online Sports Betting Case Ends In Guilty Plea In Kansas City
Casino Gambling Web
Federal authorities may have a grey area when it comes to online casino gambling, but no such area exists when dealing with online sports betting. ...

and more »


Healthcare, casino gambling petitions come up short
The Detroit News
Groups aiming to expand casino gambling in Michigan also didn't gather enough voter signatures to make the ballot. That means there will be only two ...
Gambling Proposals Fail To Reach Ballot In MichiganCasino Gambling Web
Gambling, health care miss deadlineFOX Toledo Online
Health care and casino petitions fail to collect enough signatures to appear ...Crain's Detroit Business

all 118 news articles »


Casino gambling: What other states are doing, and not doing
The Patriot Ledger
IOWA - No: Bids to expand casino gambling to four locations, legalize sports betting at racinos and casinos, and to end greyhound racing all failed. ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006