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Volleyball might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is actually a hugely popular sport around the globe. On top of that, it is played all year round, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to bet on this sport.

Many of us aren’t exactly experts, but if you follow a few basic rules there’s no reason why you can’t bet on volleyball intelligently.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand before you begin betting on volleyball is the importance which different events on the calendar hold. This is the case in many sports, but it is particularly pertinent in volleyball. Throughout the year there are various leagues played around the globe, but often these don’t hold as much authority as the more globally recognised events. The Olympics, held every four years, is unsurprisingly the top priority for many athletes, while other events like the World Championships and World Cup volleyball also take precedence over the leagues.

As a rule, tournaments in which players represent their country generally hold more importance than those in which they represent a team. So what’s the point in all this explanation, you might ask? Basically, stay away from the smaller leagues wherever possible. These will generally be much more unpredictable given the comparative lack of motivation players have to perform to their best, certainly in relation to events like the Olympics.

Another important thing to understand about volleyball is that a team is much greater than the sum of its parts. That is to say, rather than other sports where you can look at the squad and determine fairly comfortably which team is stronger, team performance in volleyball is much more closely linked to the cohesion of the squad in its entirety. As a result, looking at how many matches a team has played together can give you a good understanding of how they are likely to perform, with teams more accustomed to playing together often performing to a higher standard.

A final factor which is particularly important to know prior to betting on volleyball is the impact of fatigue. While it isn’t the most physically demanding sport in the world, it is still extremely hard on the body, and playing a number of games in a short period of time can have a significant impact on a team’s performance. Considering volleyball teams regularly participate in a huge number of games within a relatively small time frame, this can be another area in which you can get a leg up. In the Olympics, for example, teams can play virtually two games every three days over a two week period. Invariably this will impact performance, but given all teams are playing lots of games, it can be difficult to identify who will be impacted the most. At this stage, it’s important to look at things like: how many games have each of the two teams involved played in the last three or four days, how did they perform last game, how much motivation do they have to perform well in this game, and how far have they had to travel?

All of these things can have a major impact on the outcome of a volleyball game, and if you consider them all then you can certainly make informed bets on volleyball. Considering it is a less popular sport than, for example, soccer, there is also the possibility to make money if you’re well informed as the betting agencies will generally have less information at their own disposal. As always it’s key to gamble responsibly, particularly if your level of knowledge of the sport isn’t extremely high, but if you follow these key steps, it is possible to

With its varying forms played all over the world, Pool is one of the most popular cue sports in the planet, with much of its appeal coming from its ability to resonate with the working classes and that most people have indeed played a game of pool.

Elite level pool, is normally competed on the 9 ball table, with many of the world’s leading snooker and trick shot players crossing over disciplines to chase the riches that pool has to offer for players and punters alike.

Here is our guide to how bet on Pool intelligently:-

• Be Cautious with the Fast and Furious Events
As opposed to snooker, the frames over which Pool matches are competed are often frenetic and less tactical affairs with all elite level Pool players being renowned for their potting and ball striking abilities. A pool frame can be won by a player cannoning the 9-ball into the pocket – off the break should they possess the ability – meaning that often each frame is somewhat of a lottery at the elite level and punters should always bet with caution when betting on the shorter formatted events.

• Target the Team Events
Undoubtedly the highlight of the Pool calendar is the Mosconi Cup, which pits Europe against the USA in an atmospheric team event where tempers can often fray between both sides. Unlike snooker, heckling and passionate support is encouraged and the increased TV coverage makes it a fantastic spectacle. With the world’s elite in action, it is often a very entertaining event and bookmakers often offer attributing enhanced odds and specials for punters to bet on the action – another potential benefit for those looking to bet on Pool.

• Utilise the Handicaps
The absence of many big name professionals in the world of Pool can often make picking a winner in any particular match-up quite a difficult task as whilst many amateurs may be relative unknowns, they are often capable of springing an upset on the biggest stage. Bookmakers are often as in the dark as punters when it comes to amateurs and matches can often be a lot tighter than originally predicted – meaning punting on matches to be tightly contested can often be a lucrative tactic for Pool punters.

• Pile up Wins on the Accumulators
Whilst it could appear a little counter intuitive to add more variables to a potential betting slip, the straight win market can often be difficult for punters to win big off a single bet. Adding multiple results in the early rounds of tournaments can bring about big wins with many of the aforementioned amateurs being more than capable Pool players and backing more than three results correctly can bring about big rewards from a relatively limited initial stake.

• Become Informed through Live Pool Streaming and Bet In-Play
Many of the main events on the world Pool calendar are available on a wealth of online betting providers and punters can follow the action and pick up their own trends and strategies through watching the action. In addition, betting in play on Pool is a wise move, with any player being able to win the frame at any particular time – backing the right player at the right time can bring huge rewards, in what is always simply a two-horse race, minimising the risk for punters.

With much of its popularity confined to Ireland, the betting opportunities associated with Gaelic Sports have grown exponentially with the emergence of online betting with many of the world’s biggest betting companies such as Paddy Power and Bet 365 having links to Ireland.

GAA Football offers a wealth of betting opportunities through its relatively unique scoring system and punters can utilise the varied markets to their advantage – regardless of affordable stake levels.

Here is our guide to how bet on Gaelic Sports intelligently:-

• Target the Outright Results and Build an Accumulator
Much like many of the UK and US markets, GAA Football sees teams go head to head as part of a League season, with each team playing each other twice – home and away. Betting on the outright results of Gaelic Sports matches can be a lucrative tactic as can developing an accumulator bet. Where punters can pick 2 or more matches (with kick off times usually being close together) and sit back and watch if their pre-match picks come in. The huge advantage of accumulator betting is that punters can stake a small amount – to win big – the odds are against them of course.

• Embrace the Anomalies
Whilst continually backing the underdog would not be an effective betting strategy, the amateur nature of GAA Football can often throw up some unexpected results with the game not being professional. Of course, the players are highly trained, highly skilled athletes but deciphering the difference between most of the teams can often be decided by a small passage of play or moment of brilliance and underdogs often beat heavy favourites throughout the course of the season. The physical and unpredictable nature of GAA Football also lends itself to backing the underdog in a head to head market and creating lucrative anomalies that to make the bookmaker suffer.

• Research the GAA Football Calendar
The number of games that each team plays over the course of a particular season can vary massively, with the highly successful teams in the league having to play many more games than some of their less successful rivals. The physical and unrelenting nature of GAA Football means rest is essential and with the players very rarely being professional too, awareness of how many matches a particular team has played is essential when picking which team to back.

• Study the Form Tables and the Rules
As mentioned, outside of Ireland, GAA Football can struggle for notoriety on the world stage. Whilst punting on the nuances of the game can bring about profitable results, lack of knowledge on team selection, form and the actual rules of the game itself can be costly for punters. Detailed research around which teams are in good for and how each team accumulates their points are essential things to consider when betting on GAA Football.

• Bet in Play
With each match being played over two, 30 minute halves; betting in-play on GAA Football doesn’t need to be an impulsive vocation and punters can enjoy watching the match whilst making informed predictions on the outcome. In addition, watching the game can help rookie punters become more familiar with the rules of the game and can once more help all levels of bettor wager on GAA Football more intelligently.

As one of the most popular recreation sports in the Western world, the coverage and attention attributed to elite level Cycling has never been higher and Cycling betting is also becoming a more prominent market for punters.

With Track Cycling and Road Cycling events taking place all over the world, there is a wealth of betting opportunities for all levels of punter to utilise.

Here is our guide to how bet on Cycling intelligently:-

• Go Big at the Big Events
The Road Cycling calendar is an exhausting and hugely demanding schedule for the world’s elite and pushes competitors to the physical limits on a seasonal basis. The key events in the calendar centre round the European summer: Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta de Espana – these three events comprise the ‘Grand Tour’ and are the pinnacle in any road cyclist’s career. As a result, every competitor is in peak physical condition for these events and will be in prime form to prepare for the demands of all three events. Bookmakers often target these events to offer enhanced odds on bets too, encouraging punters to bet on the biggest events on the cycling calendar. Very rarely are any of these events won by somebody ‘getting lucky’ the very nature of long distance cycling, doesn’t facilitate abnormal results too often – allowing punters to bet with the odds on their side in the big events.

• Target the Milestone Markets
Road cycling races such as the Tour de France, are comprised of a month’s worth of racing meaning betting on the outright winner market can be a rollercoaster of a ride for punters. Each stage, in each race presents an opportunity for punters to bet on the winner of each stage – which can often throw up some lucrative surprises for the customer. In addition, races of this nature will having varying leaders (wearing the Yellow Jersey) and titles such as the ‘King of the Mountains’ and betting on these markets are often good ways of keeping the bank balance ticking over whilst the whole race is taking place.

• Embrace the All-Action Nature of Track Cycling
The complete antithesis to road cycling, track cycling pits opponents head to head in a race to complete a specified distance on a velodrome track in a high-octane, all action encounter. With a surge in popularity around the World Championships and the Olympics, Track Cycling provides punters looking for a more instant return on their investment an opportunity to win big in the head to head racing market.

• Awareness of Cycling Disciplines
Very few cyclists make successful transitions between track and road cycling at the elite level and both require a very different skill set, with Road Cycling centring on endurance and mental toughness whilst Track Cycling comes down to speed and power. Punters need to be knowledgeable on which cyclists are best suited to their specific discipline. Another key consideration is knowledge of which teams the riders compete for in Road Cycling. Each big race will have a team of entrants, with the lead rider of the team ultimately being protected by his or her team of riders. Picking the rider who has the strongest group of team mates is often an effective ploy when looking to maximise winnings in the cycling betting market.

As opposed to many similar winter sports, Cross Country Skiing generates a strong level of TV exposure – particularly around the World Championships and the Winter Olympics.

The popularity of Cross Country Skiing is generally confined to Northern Europe and Scandinavia and being a winter sport, the Cross Country Skiing calendar is often over quite a short period meaning punters need to be on the ball to get their bets in.

Here is our guide to how bet on Cross Country Skiing intelligently:-

• Keep Tracks on the Tour
The FIS Tour that Cross Country Skiers compete on is an extensive and attritional, multi-race tour that sees competitors battle it out at different venues on a weekly basis. Each race is a real slog and a test of endurance and speed and often throws up some crazy results due to the variables each course and race can provide. Punters must keep an eye on previous results for each competitor, in both the male and female fields in order to make an informed decision on whom to back in each race.

• Target the Big Events
The lack of diversity in cross country skiing enables competitors to target the big events such as the World Championships or Winter Olympics to arrive in their best form. The Winter Olympics in particular are often the culmination of 4 years of planning and training for Cross Country Skiers and is the pinnacle of the sport therefore each competitor will be looking for every possible advantage in preparation for the event.

• Back the Straight Wins
Inevitably, there are always favourites in any race that takes place – in any sport but the unpredictable nature of Cross Country Skiing adds to its betting appeal with often up to 100 competitors taking part in any race, picking a winner can be a very difficult task but a very lucrative one for the punters who makes the correct selection.

The very nature of Cross Country Skiing, with its congested field often allows punters to bet on heavily inflated prices on the straight win market – allowing big wins to take place from minimal stakes.

• Bet on the Each Way Places
With so many competitors in any given Cross Country Skiing race field, the aforementioned lengthy odds can provide lucrative wins for all levels of punter. In addition, many bookmakers offer each way bets for the competitors who finish on the podium but don’t quite manage to get the win. With odds on Cross Country Skiing races often being as high as 40/1 on the straight win market, an each way win (at ¼ of the odds) can yield a handsome profit – for a minimal stake, with limited risk.

• Cross Country Skiing Knowledge is Key
As with most winter sports, knowledge of which skiers have performed well throughout the seasons, awareness of athletes that may be recovering from injury or which participants are part of a strong team, are all key considerations when staking on Cross Country Skiing. In addition, finding specific niches in the betting market can be the deciding factor when looking to win big with bookmakers generally not being too reliably informed on Winter Sports – particularly in the UK and the US.

Few sports in the world have enjoyed the meteoric worldwide growth currently being enjoyed by MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and as a result the accompanying Combat Sports betting market is in the midst of a boom.

With multiple formats in which Combat Sports are competed, with both male and female competitors and the natural variation of fighting at different weight classes, Combat Sports provide a wealth of betting opportunities for all levels of punter.

Here is our guide to how bet on Combat Sports intelligently:-

• Utilise the Controlled Proposition Bets rather than the Straight Wins
Combat sports will always provide a winner – in any contest – so following the straight win market can of course bring about wins for punters but the odds can often be restricted due to the nature of each fight being a straight two-horse race. Adding propositions to each bet such as: Method of Victory or Whether the Fight will ‘Go the Distance’ are lucrative and fool proof ways of winning money for the punter in that they are not subjective or decided by a group of judges. There are no variable factors (other than the performances of the fighters) allowing the punter to place their stake with the odds relatively in their favour. Combat Sports also provide defined methods of victory (e.g. submission/knockout) and these markets often carry heavier pay outs, another huge incentive for punters looking to maximise their winnings.

• Embrace the Underdogs
The very nature of Combat Sports centres around two people fighting and whilst bookmakers are obviously very rarely wrong in their pre-fight predictions, with two highly-trained athletes trying to knock each other out – anything can happen. One punch or kick can catch even the best off guard and multiple champions have been knocked out and dethroned in this way. Often the belt holders or number 1 contenders in any particular weight class are favourites in any fight they undertake but MMA throws up its fair share of upsets so underdog betting (in the straight win market) is often a lucrative and effective ploy for those looking to take a little more of a gamble with their Combat Sports betting.

• Target Value in the Round Betting
All MMA contests are competed over 5 x 3 minute rounds with every second that passes providing a potential knockout opportunity for both competitors. Specifying which round the bout will be won in is often a lucrative market for punters – simply due to the element of lottery associated with it. Most fighters pride themselves on being able to go the distance in any fight, even if they don’t emerge victorious therefore backing fights to last to the later rounds is logical and lucrative if the punter can pick the winner of the fight too.

• Use the UFC Rankings for Research
Prior knowledge and research should be somewhat of a given for any punter, in any sporting scenario and Combat Sports betting is no different. Each weight class and gender has a set of rankings, governed by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) where past performances are taken into consideration to compile a world ranking list. Awareness of which fighters are where on the ranking list is essential for punters who are looking to make an informed decision on their Combat Sports bets.

• Build the Accumulators
UFC events often take place over 4 or 5 hours with up to 10 fights taking place on any particular card, culminating in the main event. Each fight will provide multiple betting opportunities and combining results in an accumulator bet can bring about huge rewards, for a relatively low stake – for punters who are looking to maximise their winnings.

NASCAR is an extremely popular sport and has a legion of dedicated followers who tune into every single lap. It is an exciting and fast-paced sport which has grown in popularity over the past decade and continues to attract interest worldwide.

It stands of National Association for Stock Car Racing and is a hugely popular televised sport. There are plenty of races taking place throughout the season and it offers multiple wagering opportunities for bettors. Bookmakers will often price up the race markets seven days in advance and the prices will change throughout the week, with qualifying and practicing having a big say on the final odds. We take a look at how to bet intelligently on baseball and our advice and tips will hopefully help you make wiser decisions before placing a wager:

Types of NASCAR Bet

Race Winner
The hardest market to predict but arguably the most rewarding. It’s a fairly straightforward way of wagering and simply requires bettors to correctly predict the driver who will be victorious. The NASCAR season is split into two and the races are far more open during the early half of the campaign as the drivers compete for a place in the post-season.

The drivers will simply be listed by the online bookmaker with a market favourite often determined by factors such as qualifying, recent form and performance history at this track.

Odds are often displayed in the money line format.

It is a difficult market to crack but it is hugely rewarding and many bettors may only have to select two of three correct winners throughout the season to make a small profit [depending on the stakes]

Place Markets
As well as predicting which driver will win the race, it is also possible to predict who will finish in the top three positions. It will pay out at 1/5 of the odds although all online bookmakers will have their own, unique terms.

Place markets are a great way of getting involved in bigger-price drivers who have a decent chance of springing a surprise.

Head to Head Markets
A market that has become increasingly popular is the head to head market. This is a fun way of following all of the NASCAR action without having to predict the winner of the race.

Bookmakers will price up a number of head to head market which pitch two drivers against one another. All you need to do is predict which of the pair will finish in the highest position. For example: Driver A vs Driver B

If you have a bet on Driver A to finish ahead of Driver B and he had a disappointing drive, finishing 10th, you may still have won your bet. If Driver B has finished 11th or below, your wager will be a winning one.

The drivers are normally paired together based on their proximity in the betting market but this doesn’t mean that they will finish next to one another in the final standings.

This is a great way of having a wager without worrying about the race winner.

Prop Betting
Prop betting can vary greatly on NASCAR but one of the most popular Prop bets is Over/Under on a driver’s finishing position.

For example – Driver C – Over/Under 11.5

If you wager on Over 11.5 and your selected driver finishes in tenth position, your wager will be a winning one. If they finish twelfth, unfortunately you’ve lost. Positions 1-11 would be winning ones.

Again, this is perfect for reflecting on individual driver performance and helps take the remainder of the field out of the equation.

How to Improve Your Chances of Winning on NASCAR

Focus on Tracks
The phrase ‘horses for courses’ springs to mind when betting on NASCAR. The majority of tracks have their own unique features and idiosyncrasies and this will greatly affect the outcome of the race.

Some drivers will regularly drive well at particular tracks and with seasoned competitors regularly returning to NASCAR, it’s always advised to check a drivers past history at the track. Some drivers will have happy memories of a particular whilst certain cars will profit from narrow/wide corners.

Always check their past history at the track but it’s also worth taking note of their performances in practices as well. Don’t place a wager until you’ve seen the latest times from practice/qualifying earlier in the week.

Some tracks [Martinsville, Bristol Motor Speedway] are notorious for their tight corners and those single-groove tracks make overtaking incredibly difficult and it’s advised to look favourably on any driver who qualifies well and is able to start at the front as the drivers behind will find it difficult to get past the leaders. This isn’t the case with all tracks however.

Drivers who have finished down the pecking order in every single race leading up to a particular event can often rip up the formbook and finish well at their favourite track. This is always something to be wary of.

Focus on Alternative Markets
Savvy NASCAR bettors will explore their different options before placing any wagers. It is simple and easy to bet on the race winner market but it is far more profitable to bet on alternative markets such as Head to Head and Over/Under.

The Head to Head market is particularly useful as you don’t need to pick a race winner and you can use each driver’s previous performance at a track as a barometer.

Online bookmakers are cottoning on to the increasing popularity of NASCAR and they are always creating new markers so it’s always advised to look out for alternative ways of getting involved. Don’t just stick to the obvious options.

Be Patient
NASCAR markets will be priced up around 5-7 days prior to the race. Some bettors will seek early value and place their wagers early before the market reacts but it’s advised to be patient and wait for the practices and qualifying to take place.

This will give you a great indication of how the car is performing and a driver who excels during practice is also likely to put in a confident performance when it comes to the race itself.

Qualifying will also help shape the starting position of each and every driver and this is vitally important. The aforementioned tight tracks will help those who are positioned in front whilst wider courses will assist top drivers who are further down the grid. If you wager pre-qualifying, it can be risky and your driver may suffer a disappointing drive thus reducing their chances of success.

Don’t rush into your bets. Big name drivers will always attract the weight of money and the market is likely to move several times pre-race but don’t let this affect your judgement or force you into rushing your NASCAR wagers.

Do Your Research
If you are having a wager on the weekend’s race, it is always advised to watch the final practice and pay attention to the driver and car performance. That will be the team’s last chance to perform admirably and their final opportunity to get used to the track’s turns.

Also, interviews will be provided by media companies which usually feature both the driver and team manager reflecting on performances earlier in the week. Whilst many of the participants are likely to remain coy, it is often possible to read between the lines and garner vital information about the confidence in the camp.

Very small details can help shape your wagers and they can make the difference between a winning bet and an unlucky loser.

Don’t Completely Dismiss Recent Form
Whilst track history is very important, recent form can also be an important factor. Confidence is a huge factor in all sports and NASCAR is no exception. If a driver is confident, they may try ambitious manoeuvres and they can often pay off.

Pay Attention to Weather Conditions
The weather conditions can play a huge part in shaping the outcome of a race. Always check the forecast and ensure that you do this regularly. Some climates can be interchangeable and this can often have a last-minute effect on the finishing positions.

Warm weather will lessen the grip of the tyres and drivers are more likely to skid or potentially crash out of the race. Cold conditions will aid grip and could help particular teams. Always check for drivers and cars who have impressed in wet and windy conditions as this may give you a clue about their ability to cope with adversity.

Pit Stalls
Pit stalls will play a small part in potentially shaping the outcome of a race. Some of them can be extremely narrow and get congested mid-race whilst others offer more room and won’t particularly have an impact. Drivers who qualify in front will get the opportunity to choose their pit stall and the front position is often their preference.