Basketball is the second most popular sport worldwide, with 54% of bettors wagering on it. Like every form of gambling, betting on basketball comes with the promise of getting substantial payouts with a small bet. This has led to several myths, including the idea of making easy money from basketball betting. Here, we address these myths, telling you facts you should know about the activity.
The Truth Behind Common Myths in Basketball Betting
Here are some common misconceptions that bettors have about wagering on the sport:
– The home-court advantage
– Betting on the team with the star player
– You need to wager a lot of money to win
– Keep betting when you’re on a winning streak
– Betting on the underdog never wins
– Popular bets aren’t successful
– Tipsters always help you win
– Teasers are for amateurs
The Home Court Advantage
Historically, NBA teams have won approximately 60% of their home games. The win rate for away games hovers around 40%. The imbalance is due to a few factors. For starters, on home turf, teams have better support from both fans and relatives. There’s also the psychological comfort of being on familiar ground.
As a result, there’s the belief that the home team always wins, but this is not the case. Regardless of the factors surrounding home games, the strengths of individual players greatly influence a match’s outcome. So, while the chances of an away team winning are slightly lower, that doesn’t mean that the away team will lose.
Betting on the Team with the Star Player
If a star player like Lebron James is on the court, spectators expect the Los Angeles Lakers to perform brilliantly. Likewise, bettors might favor the Lakers to win the game. Unfortunately, James isn’t the only star. There’s Kevin Durant, Steven Curry, Nikola Jokic, and others. So what happens if LeBron plays against Durant, considering that both are strong players?
This makes it a huge mistake and a challenge to always bet on the team with the star player. Instead, approach your wagering sessions with a good idea of how two teams stack up against each other. Learn how these star players work with their teammates, as this greatly influences the team’s performance.
You Need to Wager a Lot of Money to Win
The larger the bet amount, the bigger the potential payout. Consequently, this birthed the belief that a larger stake is a winning ticket. In other words, high rollers are most likely to leave a Euteller Kasinot with a larger profit than casual bettors.
What you should keep in mind is that your bet amount doesn’t influence your winning chances. Remember that the success of your wager depends on the game’s outcome. So, if your prediction is wrong, you lose the money, regardless of the amount.
Keep Betting When You’re on a Winning Streak
Bettors believe that when they land consecutive wins, especially large ones, all their subsequent bets during that period will be winners. However, like blackjack at instant withdrawal casinos, each wager’s success chances are independent of the previous ones. So, even if your first few stakes bear profit, the same can’t be said for the following wagers.
Betting on the Underdog Never Wins
Odds reflect a team’s likelihood of winning, and underdogs usually have the upper end of the stick. In other words, they have higher odds, which means fewer winning opportunities, unlike favorites with lower odds and better victory chances. This misconception often leads bettors to believe that underdogs are unworthy of consideration.
While such teams usually have a win rate of 32% in basketball, there’s still a good chance that they emerge victorious. Plus, their payouts are higher. Instead of focusing only on favorites, diversify your bets to include lesser teams.
Popular Bets Aren’t Successful
Just as some bettors don’t believe in underdogs winning, a few don’t wager on popular markets. This myth stems from the notion that when too many people back a particular outcome, the odds become less favorable.
While it’s true that odds may shift when a large number of people wager on a particular outcome, it doesn’t affect the game itself. So whether you place stakes on famous or lesser-known markets, getting returns depends on the team’s or player’s performance.
Tipsters Always Help You Win
Basketball experts use their in-depth knowledge of the sport to predict game results. Unfortunately, many bettors place too much faith in these predictions. While such forecasts are helpful, note that they’re not 100% accurate. Remember that basketball, like most sports, has its moments. As such, a losing team might end up winning the NBA title if they bring their A-game.
Teasers are for Amateurs
For teasers, a bettor can adjust the point spread to favor them in exchange for a lower payout. As a result, the saying “Teasers are for Amateurs” is a common sentiment among some experienced sports bettors who tend to favor more complex wagering strategies.
However, this statement oversimplifies the value and utility of teasers in basketball and sports betting as a whole. In reality, teasers can be a valuable tool when used strategically and responsibly, even by experienced bettors.
Final Thoughts
This article has cleared up certain misconceptions you might have had or heard from other bettors. With the information we provided, you understand that the success of basketball betting hinges on the performance of the playing teams. So, instead of believing in myths, understand the game and use your knowledge to make better-informed betting decisions.
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