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

---

Poker Tournaments for Beginners

As the game of Poker is scaling new heights, casinos... Read More

The Fine Print Behind Online Gambling Bonus Offers

If you have never opened an account with an online... Read More

The Secrets of the Field

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of the... Read More

Roulette System: Confession of the Roulette Dealer on Dealers Signature

Roulette System: Confession of the Roulette Dealer on Dealer's signatureThis... Read More

Learn to Play Poker Online in Order to Make Money - Pot Odds

For most people, there are only two real reasons to... Read More

Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Strategy - Starting Hands

Welcome to the fifth in my Texas Holdem Poker Strategy... Read More

The Concept of Value in Sports Betting!

In sports betting you need to make sure that your... Read More

What Your Poker Table Says About Your Personality

Who does not have tables at home? Such a queer... Read More

College Football Betting - Totals

Betting totals in college football is very different than betting... Read More

How to Handicap Football Like The Pros

Hello my name is Chris Liput professional handicapper with Fast... Read More

Poker Can Be Played for Money from the Comfort of Your Living Room?Legally!

Poker is one of the world's all time favorite gambling... Read More

4 Poker Tips the Pros Wont Tell You

In the past few years, professional poker playing has exploded... Read More

The Secrets of Hop Bets

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of hop... Read More

Online Poker

Online poker is a very popular virtual casinos game where... Read More

Slot Machines - Good and Bad Locations

Although no one will ever truly know where the casinos... Read More

Texas Holdem Poker - Today

The Texas Holdem poker phenomenon has taken the country by... Read More

The Secrets of Laying the Fives and Nines

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of laying... Read More

Discover YOUR Online Poker Room

As all the poker sites on the internet call themselves... Read More

Understanding Different Types of Online Slot Machines

We'd be wasting your time if we attempted to categorize... Read More

Online Poker --- Is It Safe? --- Is It for Me?

Online Poker RoomsRapidly Growing in PopularityPlaying online poker is fast... Read More

How to Win Free Online Poker Games

Online poker is very popular, but not everybody plays for... Read More

Compulsive Gamblers Guilt Affects Their Gambling Addiction Recovery

When a compulsive gambler is in recovery, feeling guilty is... Read More

Earn Money Playing Slots...or not

Yay, what a life would that be - sitting behind... Read More

The Day I Decided To Stop Gambling With Gamblers Anonymous

Everything was going perfect for me in life. Good job,... Read More

Pyramid Solitaire: A Strategy Guide For Beginners

Pyramid Solitaire is a fun solitaire game, with a very... Read More

How to Play Video Poker Slot Machines

Video Poker is a game that requires some skill to... Read More

4 Tips to Improve Your Online Poker Game

Online Poker has increased in popularity exponentially over the past... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Seeks Alternatives To Stop Gambling

Compulsive gambler's life was devastated by gambling and now seeks... Read More

2005 AFC East Football Preview

In the AFC East I expect to see the Patriots... Read More

The Silver Club Casino

The Book is run by Leroy's Sports Book and is... Read More

The Joys Of Playing Internet Poker

I started playing poker on the internet about six months... Read More

Poker Hand Rankings

Poker hand rankings are one of the most important aspects... Read More

Fancy Winning A Million Pound Jackpot?

Slot machines have become over the last hundred years, one... Read More