Sports Betting School – Tutorial Four of Six

A new and exciting growing betting phenomenon is that of in-running or in-play betting. Football punters who have not yet got involved are missing out on some great excitement and the chance to turn their reading of a live game into profit. In-play football betting simply means odds are updated live and move in reaction to events and incidents during a match allowing punters to get involved with a bet, right up until the final whistle. Lots to bet on for fast fingered punters The most obvious way to join in with in-play betting is to wait until a game is underway before assessing which team is on top or creating the better chances, and then have a match bet on your selection at the odds available at that point in time. Bookmakers like Betsson now offer a huge array of in-play betting opportunities from the obvious markets like next team to score, total goals, correct score and sending off, to the more subliminal ones like substitutions. Remember betting in running is a fast-moving medium and bettors need to be able to calculate decisions quickly and have a strategy in place to cope with rapid changes in the game and the subsequent movements in price. You can, if quick fingered and shrewd, guarantee a profit by betting on the alternative outcomes at attractive odds in some markets, as the game ebbs and flows. A betting exchange such as is offered by Betsson provides an additional trading angle as the prices constantly change. Indeed, if you have called it right and backed an outcome at longer odds, say Blackburn Rovers to win at 6 against Arsenal, which then shortens after Rovers score, you are able in effect to “sell” or lay the bet or part of it back to the market at much shorter odds (say 2) and lock in a guaranteed profit. That’s all well and good when you gain an advantageous position but it is important to consider what to do should a position go against you, Important points to consider with in-play betting In-play betting adds a new exciting element to punting, but there are some important points to remember to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with it: Planning - You must be prepared, have a plan. "Without preparation you will fail before you begin". Research, trends and outside influences are important – make sure they are in place. Patience - "You need plenty of patience to become a profitable punter" Wait for the right opportunity and have a proven area of success. Watch and assess the game before jumping in, sometimes just watching pays dividends. Consistency – Specialise in two or three in running markets and get used to the way the markets move and react to incidents within the game – you’ll then be prepared when you enter them. Greed – Don’t get greedy. If you have a set point where you decide to close your position do it, don’t hang on as that will eventually cost you. Incidents can happen very quickly that change a game and the odds turn a winning position into a losing one. Discipline - "Lack of discipline will undermine your progress" Don’t let emotion ruin a good strategy, stick to your rules, see above. Laziness - "It is arguably a natural human characteristic to get away with putting in very little effort" Betting on football is complex, add in play to the equation and it becomes more so. You need to invest time initially and at the very least learn the fundamentals to gain an edge. Mistakes - "Gain a valuable edge and take advantage from past mistakes, by keeping good records" Another area where punters fall down badly is, they fail to learn from past mistakes, and continue to make them over and over again. You should try to improve your performance, and keeping good records will help you to do this. Once again learning how markets move especially in play will help you achieve this. Emotion - "Learn how psychology and emotion can undermine your success" Learning to control the way you think and react to situations that arise in your betting patterns will lead to consistent success. If you stick to a proven plan you won't start to question your judgment or ability. Have faith in your own opinion and be wary of hype and rumours. Don’t get caught up in the game and forget your strategy, sometimes betting on teams that you have an emotional attachment to is best forgotten. TV coverage – Remember that if you are watching a match on television or streamed over the internet, it is likely to be some seconds delayed and it is possible another exchange punter may have a few seconds advantage over you – which could prove costly. The golden rule with in-play betting is keep thinking a few minutes ahead - what will happen if ....? With live trading, you are focusing on what happens next, not necessarily the end result. In-play betting has dramatically changed the football betting landscape forever. It’s fast, furious and fun but make sure it’s profitable by following the rules.