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Mixed Martial Arts has been rapidly growing in popularity in recent years. Unsurprisingly, that rise in popularity has coincided with a substantial rise in the amount of money being placed on the sport, as many armchair experts begin to develop a sound knowledge of it.

The unpredictability of Mixed Martial Arts makes it an exciting sport to both watch and bet on, but inevitably, with this unpredictability comes a need to be particularly careful when you bet.

Of course, under the umbrella of MMA comes a variety of different fighting practices, but in general the betting practices remain relatively consistent. For example, across all different forms of MMA, it’s vital that you understand the fighting styles of the two competitors involved, as this can influence a number of the markets.

Perhaps the most notable example of this is in bets relating to how long the fight will last. MMA bouts can be won via a number of different methods, and the method of victory which each fighter tends to look for can usually provide significant hints to how long the fight will last. For example, a fighter who likes to take the fight to the ground – i.e. look for a submission – is generally content to let the fight drag on as long as possible. As a result, in these types of bouts, the over market for total rounds is often the way to go.

Conversely, if one of the two fighters involved is a particularly strong striker, the opposite is most likely to be true. In this scenario, there is a good chance that the opponent of this striker will lose on points if the match goes for the full three rounds, and as a result he or she is likely to look for a knockout early on in the bout.

Following a similar theme, the ‘double chance’ markets can also be particularly profitable if used wisely. These markets ask that the punter selects the winner, and has two chances at selecting the method of victory – so, as an example, you could bet that Demetrious Johnson will win by either KO or by decision. If you know that a given fighter doesn’t have much in the way of submission skills, then if he or she wins the chances are that it will be by one of these two methods. On the other hand, if a fighter rarely wins by KO but you are confident they will win, then betting on them to win by either decision or submission can be an intelligent way to bet.

MMA is also a sport in which live betting can be a good way to bet. Generally, the early stages of a fight can give significant hints as to what is going to later unfold, and as a result the live bet markets can be capitalised on. As always, however, this mode of betting requires a cool head and quick thinking, so make sure you know what you’re doing before you go down this route.

MMA is far from the easiest sport to bet on. There is a great deal of unpredictability involved in it, and many followers of the sport are far less knowledgeable than they make like to believe. Having said that, there are certain markets which can be capitalised on, provided you have the required knowledge to do so. As always it’s pertinent to ensure you’re responsible in the way you gamble on this unpredictable sport, but if you follow a few important rules, there’s certainly scope to bet Mixed Martial Arts intelligently.

Handball isn’t the most popular sport in the world. Sure, it has a fairly rich heritage and is played in a number of countries around the globe, but the fact is, from a punting perspective, there are plenty of bigger sports.

You might think I’m trying to talk you out of betting on it, but in reality, betting on a smaller sport like handball can have it’s benefits.

To start with, handball news generally isn’t as quick to spread as other more major sports. Imagine Cristiano Ronaldo rolls his ankle at training; within seconds it’s all over various news outlets, social media, and everybody knows about it. The same isn’t true for handball. A key player might be under an injury cloud, have an illness, or whatever it may be, and there’s a fair chance it won’t be reported in any news outlets – which means there’s a fair chance the bookmakers aren’t aware of it.

This gives you a chance to get a head start on the odds if you do the research. Scour the most highly regarded forums where the most ardent handball supporters spend a lot of time, and this sort of information will soon become readily available to you, before the odds change. Say a key player goes down with an injury at training, you’ll likely be able to read about it and subsequently make an informed bet before the odds change.

Another way to bet on handball intelligently is to follow the friendly matches, rather than the bigger, national ones. This might sound counterintuitive, as generally, the higher profile games will be more predictable. In handball, however, there are often friendly matches in which one side is heavily, heavily favoured to win. We’re talking a +30 point line. In this scenario, often the weaker team will be able to cover this line. Likely they won’t win, but that doesn’t bother you – you just need them to lose by less than 30 points.

The reason this is so often the case is that the stronger team often won’t bring their best performance to these types of games. Handball is a game built on defence, and the best teams generally excel in this area of the game. When a team is a 30 point favourite to win it’s probably because they are exactly that sort of team, but in a relatively unimportant, friendly match, they simply won’t lock in as much as they would for a bigger game. This will leave gaps in their defence, opportunities for the opposition to score a little more than expected, and a good chance that the favourite won’t be able to cover the line.

In a nutshell: to bet intelligently on handball, focus on digging up all the information you can, and look for friendly matches with big lines. The former is the most reliable method, and particularly for punters who aren’t as well versed in handball as they are in other sports, it can be a way to give you a great chance to profit in the long run. The latter is far from a flawless plan, and further research should still be done before placing large sums of money on the weaker team to cover the line. If combined together, however, these two broad betting concepts can help you to bet handball intelligently.

As one of the most popular sports in the world, it’s no surprise that basketball is a pretty popular sport to bet on.

The NBA in particular, the largest basketball league there is, is a cash cow for betting agencies. If you bet intelligently though, you can flip these odds, and give yourself a good chance of beating the bookmakers.

Considering each team plays 82 regular season games in the NBA, it should come as no surprise that there are a fairly significant number of games which end with an unexpected results. Very few teams are able to bring the same level of energy to each and every game, and with many games being decided in the final minutes, it isn’t always easy to pick a winner.

Sometimes, however, there are important clues prior to a game that suggest that one team might not be at their best on a given night. A major example of this is the recent schedules. Often, teams go on extended road trips, sometimes playing five or more games away from home, and often within just seven or eight days. If a team is playing their fifth consecutive game on the road without much of a break, chances are they will be well below their best, and won’t bring a whole lot of enthusiasm with them onto the floor. Bookmakers often adjust for these scenarios, but identifying when a team, particularly a favourite, is going to be below their best can still be a good way to make money.

Player bets can also be a great way to be basketball intelligently. Again, the kind of thing discussed below is something bookmakers adjust their lines for, but often they don’t do so as much as necessary. Take, for example, a player like Andre Drummond, who does much of his scoring in the paint. If his team, the Detroit Pistons, are playing someone like the Orlando Magic, who are seriously lacking in interior defense, the chances are that Drummond is going to put up a decent number of points – and likely grab a fair few offensive boards as well.

Usually in this scenario, Drummond’s points over/under will be a little higher than his season average. Say, for example, he’s averaging 15.7 points per game – in this game, against a team like Orlando, bookmakers will likely lift his over/under points total to 16.5 or perhaps even 17. Often, however, this still won’t be enough, and you can make some good money on the over.

This isn’t to say that whenever Drummond is playing Orlando you should bet on Drummond to score a lot of points. There are other factors, including both his and the opponent’s form, injuries etc. As a rule, however, looking at these kinds of stats can play a big role in making you some money. Many statistics, such as points in the paint conceded by every team, can be accessed on the NBA website, and using resources like this can be a great way to give your betting a bit more reason.

One of the most popular leagues in the world, the NBA can be one of the most enjoyable to bet on. It is, however, also highly addictive, and with such a wide array of markets and so many games played on a daily basis over the course of eight months, it can be easy to lose a lot of money if you aren’t careful. Employing a few of the rules mentioned above, and ensuring that you do the appropriate research before you bet, can have a major impact on whether you lose it all, or make some profit. Do the work and only bet on what you feel comfortable about, and it’s possible to bet basketball intelligently.

Water polo is one of the most underrated sports on the planet in terms of difficulty.

One of the toughest sports there is to play, some of the best athletes there are make it to the top level of this sport. For the smaller events, bookmakers often don’t provide a large range of betting markets, but the larger ones, such as the Olympics and the FINA Water Polo World League, can provide ample possibility to put on some intelligent bets.

As with all smaller sports – and indeed all sports in general – it is key to ensure that you do a whole lot of homework before placing any bets. Many people who bet on water polo aren’t experts on the game in the same way they might be for something like soccer, meaning it can be easy to place ill-informed bets and lose a lot of money.

There are, however, ways to ensure you’re ahead of the curve. There are plenty of ardent water polo fans in the world who are always on top of the latest news, and you can find some of these people amongst various well-credentialed water polo forums. These are the people who will be first to know when a star player is under an injury cloud, a cold has made it’s way through a team, or anything else which may have a significant impact on the outcome of an upcoming game. If you can find your way to this information before the bookmakers – something which certainly isn’t impossible given they won’t be dedicating as much attention to this sport as they will many others – you’re a good chance to find some markets in which the odds aren’t what they should be.

Another thing to focus heavily on in water polo is the goalkeeper. Of course, everybody knows the value of goalkeepers in a number of different sports, even if they don’t always get the credit they deserve. In water polo though, it’s a whole different story. The goalkeeper is the single most important player on a team, and quite a way ahead of second too. The strength of the goalkeeper is a fairly reliable indicator of the strength of a team as a whole.

Aside from guarding the net, obviously an important function in and of itself, the goalkeeper is also the extra eyes for the defense, calling out any gaps that may have appeared which can be exploited by the opposition. On top of that, saves can quickly turn into goal-scoring opportunities, with the best goalkeepers able to pass the ball over the defense and into the path of a teammate in an offensive position. For this reason, if you have a look at water polo stats, you’ll often notice that the goalie racks up a fairly high number of assists.

Of course the bookmakers will also pay attention to the quality of the goalkeeper, but if you really do your research you can find out a lot about the likelihood of one team winning against another. Combine that with significant research, and you’re a good chance to get ahead of the odds. If you’re really lucky, maybe you’ll find out about an injury to the star goalkeeper of one team before the oddsmakers do, in which case you’re a great chance to make some money. Of course, if water polo isn’t a sport you follow closely, ensure you bet responsibly as these aren’t guaranteed rules for success. They are, however, reasonably reliable indicators which can help you to bet water polo intelligently.

Wagering on motorbikes is hugely popular with petrol heads around the world betting and watching all of the action from a number of events.

It can be extremely gripping and exciting to follow your favourite competitors around every turn and with an increase in betting markets available, having a wager is a great way of adding to the excitement. Bookmakers even allow bettors to wager mid-race and you can change your mind several times during the contest. Whether you’re betting on World Super Bikes, British Super Bikes or Moto GP, there are plenty of opportunities every month to place a wager. We take a look at how to bet intelligently on Motorbikes and our advice and tips will hopefully help you make wiser decisions before placing a wager:

Types of Bet

Race Winner
Easily the simplest and most popular market available is predicting the race winner. This is the usually the first market displayed by bookmakers when you visit their site. Similar to all other motorsports, this is simply predicting which rider will cross the line first. Most events have a crowded field and it can be hugely unpredictable hence some of the larger prices available.

Occasionally, favourites will start at a prohibitive price. It is not uncommon for popular riders to dominate the market but alternatives can be found. If a rider is priced up at short odds, it usually means the remainder of the field become larger and this allows each-way betting to come into play.

Most bookmakers will offer 1/5 of the odds for the first three riders home however it’s always advised to check before placing a wager. This means that your chosen participant could come third and have a disappointing afternoon but you will still make a profit. When betting each-way, it is always best to look for larger prices as this will help increase returns.

To place an each-way bet, your stake will be split into two. However, if you aren’t keen on that, there are many other markets which may be preferable.

Podium Finish
If you fancy a rider to finish in the top three, you don’t just have to bet each-way on the race winner market. Podium Finish market is available on a large amount of races and this is simply predicting the rider to finish in the top three.

This is a great way of finding competitors who may not have the quality to win the race but shouldn’t be far behind. Some riders perennially occupy the places and these are the ones to look for.

Head to Head
This is a great market which permits you to simply focus on just two drivers. The head to head market offers bettors the chance to predict whether Rider A will finish ahead of Rider B or vice versa. You don’t need to predict the race winner in this market. If you’re chosen competitor wins the race, your head to head wager will definitely have landed.

The great news about wagering in this market is that your driver could come 12th but still finish ahead of their rival. An off-day is permitted as long as their rival performs equally as poorly.

Top Six/Top Ten Finish
These will vary depending on the bookmaker but motorbike bettors can find a variety of markets which allow them to predict a driver who will finish in the top six or ten of the race. This will vary depending on the amount of competitors. Once again, this is a market in which it is advised to look for outsiders as these will offer decent returns. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your chosen driver sneak into the top ten during the latter stages of the contest.

Things to Consider
There are a number of different motorbike events taking place across the world but the most popular events are race-based and it’s these contests which are generally priced up by the bookmakers. We take a look at what to look for before placing a wager:

Weather Conditions
In some regions, weather conditions can be hugely variable. These can often have a significant effect on the outcome of any race. Teams must decide which tyres to use for a particular race but some drivers have been known to return to the garages early in order to make a change and this can skew the results.

Always consider the conditions before placing a wager and look for teams/drivers who typically fare well in wet and windy conditions. Likewise, extremely hot and tropical conditions can also affect a race.

Track Layout
In Superbikes and Moto GP, most tracks have a similar layout and riders can accurately plot their path throughout the race. However, older circuits have idiosyncrasies and aren’t always kind to certain drivers/teams. Always check a rider’s past history at a track. If you’re deciding between two drivers, it’s always best to opt for the experience, particularly if it’s a difficult track. A rider who have ridden a circuit twenty times is far more likely to anticipate a difficult corner than a newcomer.

Tough spots are present at every track but always ensure that you read up on each circuit before placing a bet. Some tracks may have corners which require riders to brake suddenly and these are likely to cause more problems for inexperienced competitors.

Also, tracks such as the Circuit of Americas have greater elevation than any other circuit and this can also be a determining factor.

Riders Who Excel at Particular Tracks
Like any sport, certain competitors will have their preferences when it comes to riding circuits around the world. Most will prefer their home track but others will inexplicably ride successfully at a particular venue for no apparent reason.

Always check a rider’s previous history at a track. They don’t have to win every time but if they routinely finish in the top ten, this could be a pattern to follow. Some participants will suddenly hit form as they approach their favourite part of the season and it’s always advised to watch out for these riders and they may be worth some investment.

Rider Wellbeing and Focus
Finally, in the age of social media, it is easier than ever before to check on your favourite riders. Most sportsmen and women will post regularly on sites such as Twitter and Instagram and there are various fan pages on Facebook too. This is a great way of getting an insight.

Most of the time, there will nothing to affect your judgement of a race however occasionally, they may reveal that they’ve been feeling under the weather earlier in the week or that they have had some travel disruption ahead of the contest. This may be a warning sign and they could be worth avoiding in the betting.

Other aspects such as becoming a parent for the first time or a potential fall-out with other riders/team members may also affect their judgement of the race and affect the outcome.

These factors should not be dismissed lightly.

Friday night sees George Groves and Callum Smith put it all on the line in the final of the super middleweight World Boxing Super Series.

It’s been a long road for the both of them, starting out in the quarter-finals last autumn.

Groves’ route to the final has been explosive. A fourth round KO against fellow Brit Jamie Cox was followed by a dominant display against Chris Eubank Jnr in the semi-finals; The Saint has shown his maturity in the competition and has underlined why he is the WBA (Super) super middleweight champion of the world.

Smith’s route was less direct, and less dominant. It took the Liverpudlian twelve rounds to see off a game Erik Skoglund, getting the nod on the scorecards 116-112, 117-110 and 117-111. His semi-final was then changed in the week leading up to the bout after Jurgen Brahmer was forced to pull out injured; kick-boxer Nieky Holzken was his replacement, and the Dutchman was dispatched of comfortably in twelve rounds by Mundo.

So the final is here, and with the WBA (Super) super middleweight crown also on the line, the stakes are mighty high in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for this all-British contest.

Chris Eubank Jnr also returns to action on the undercard against un-fancied JJ McDonagh. Eubank Jnr was the first reserve for the final incase of injury, but instead of the main event, will contest ten round tick-over fight. The Brit is a 1/33 shot to win the fight with BetVictor, with limited value found in backing the Brighton-based fighter.

Where can we find value from Friday’s card?

George Groves to beat Callum Smith @ 8/11 (BetVictor)

There always seems to be value when George Groves in fighting. With a record of 28-3, the Hammersmith fighter has taste defeat to Carl Froch and Badou Jack in the past; maybe Callum Smith’s unbeaten record gives him more of a chance in the eyes of the odds compilers.

This being said, Groves has the game to add a ‘1’ to that column on Smith’s record. He has a quick and stiff jab capable of negating the reach that Smith will have over the world champion, and along with the experience of the biggest stages in boxing, Groves won’t fold over the twelve rounds.

Smith hasn’t been tested in his professional career and is still fairly green. An early KO against Rocky Fielding remains the best name on his CV, with his two WBSS fights showing his vulnerabilities. Groves has the power to trouble the challenger.

8/11 is a fantastic price for a fighter who is, and should be considered, a big favourite in this final.

George Groves vs Callum Smith over 9.5 rounds @ 4/9 (BetVictor)

Big stakes are on the line in Jeddah, and with the lack of a vibrant adrenaline-filled crowd, this fight may take a while to get going. With this is mind, the over 9.5 rounds market looks sensible, with this one looking likely to be decided on the scorecards.

The first few rounds may prove hard to split, and as the contest rumbles on, Smith may be left looking for the knockout in the latter rounds. Groves will be comfortable in dealing with this scenario; he negated late Eubank attacks with ease in their semi-final contest.

Baseball is hugely popular in both the USA and Canada and it also boasts a number of dedicated followers around the world. It is a sport which is featured prominently by online bookmakers and bettors enjoy regular opportunities to make a profit on the game.

There are thousands of fixtures taking place throughout the season and with a quick-fire schedule part and parcel of the regular MLB campaign, it’s a great way of capitalising on current form and it also presents several opportunities to make money on a regular basis. 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:

Baseball Betting Markets

Money Line
This is the simplest market to exploit and is where the majority of baseball bettors begin. This is a case of predicting which of the two teams will win the game. Each team will be priced up according to their chances and there often tends to be a bias towards the home side. Many baseball punters use these money line prices in a parlay bet as this provides a greater return on investment. Short prices are commonplace in baseball, particularly for sides who have decent form in front of their own fans. Your chosen team must win the match in order to receive a pay-out.

Game Totals
This market is also extremely popular and it is a great way of placing a wager without picking a team to win the match. Totals is predicting the number of runs in the game and this will usually be a pre-determined line by the bookmaker. It will usually be set around the 8.0/9.0 mark although a game contested by two low-scoring sides may see the line reduced accordingly. If two in-form, big hitting sides are playing one another, wagering on overs on the totals market is a good way of getting involved.

Run Line
Bettors can often be put off by the prospect of taking short or prohibitive prices on selections and the run line market is a great way of narrowing down the outcome of any given match. This market is used for predicting the amount of runs that a team will beat their opposition by. If it’s a one-sided clash, taking -1.5 on the run line market allows some room to manoeuvre.
It also allows underdogs to be given a chance. If you believe that the market has been priced up incorrectly and that the outsiders have been underrated by the bookmaker, +1.5 is a great way of predicting a close game.

Example:
Team A @ Team B – Team B are the short-priced favourites

Team B -1.5 on the run line market – They would need to win by two clear runs in order to receive a pay-out. 5-3, 6-4 or 3-1 would all be winning score-lines.

Team A +1.5 on the run line market – They would to keep within a run of their hosts in order for you to receive a pay-out. 5-4, 3-2 or 2-1 would all be winning score-lines.

1st Innings
You don’t always need to wait until the conclusion of the match in order to receive a pay-out. Punters are able to have a wager on which side will be leading after the first innings. Assessing whether a side have the tendency to make a quick start or take advantage of inexperienced pitchers are often factors which can help in this market.

Anytime Run Scorer
There are many prop markets available on each and every MLB game. Predicting which player will score a home run is one of the many ways of wagering on an individual’s performance. Players often score runs against particular sides or go through purple patches and this is key to making a profit on this market.

Things to Consider When Betting on Baseball

Starting Pitcher is Vital
When assessing a game, it is imperative that you focus on the starting pitcher. With a heavy schedule throughout the MLB season, many teams will rotate their starting pitcher and inexperienced players can often help shape the game. Experienced starting pitching usually excel at home and it’s also important to check their stats during away fixtures. NEVER place a wager until you know who the starting pitcher is.

Another factor to consider is how the starting pitcher copes against left-handed/right-handed opponents as this can also help skew the stats. If they struggle against lefties and the majority of the opposition’s line-up will be batting right-handed, they are likely to dominate.

Statistics are widely available on a pitcher’s ERA and it is usually worked out on an average of nine innings. Don’t underestimate the importance of a starting pitcher and how they can help you shape your bets.

Weather Conditions
Weather conditions play a vital part in shaping the outcome of a game. Strong winds will certainly have an effect and they will definitely have a say on the result. Pitchers who have the wind behind them will certainly benefit from it whilst a designated hitter is likely to want a strong breeze in their favour.

It may seem like a lot of work but if you’re going to profit from baseball, you can’t afford to underestimate the power of the weather.

It isn’t just wind that will heavily affect the outcome of any given match with high temperatures often reducing the pitcher’s ability to grip the ball whilst a low sun can also prove problematic. It isn’t always possible to access a full and detailed forecast but if it looks variable, it may be worth adjusting your stake accordingly.

Not necessarily directly related to weather conditions but air density can also play a part with Coors Field in Denver located a mile above sea level and this is always something to consider when backing against the hosts.

Previous Head to Heads
Like many sports, there are rivalries in baseball. Some teams do not like playing a particular opposition and traditionally struggle to see out a series against them. There are other head to head records which have stood for many years and it is always advised to keep this in mind when placing a wager.

Home advantage is also vitally important. If the visiting side go 2-0 up in a series, they are unlikely to maintain that lead throughout the remainder of the contest. Teams are rarely swept aside in the MLB and a comeback of some sorts is likely.

Bullpen Can Also be an Important Factor
Whilst it is recommended to focus on the starting pitcher, a decent bullpen can also help shape any given match and a coach with this at his disposal is at a distinct advantage. These relief pitchers can be called upon at any stage and it is always advised to keep an eye on which players are beginning their warm-up tosses.

Tips and Advice

If you have any doubts, don’t wager
With an abundance of baseball games taking place on a daily basis, it is possible to be selective. If you have any doubts about the starting pitcher or you are unsure of a side’s ability to close out a series, it is strongly advised to look elsewhere.

There are many more wagering opportunities that may prove to be safer options.

Do Your Research
You may believe that you are knowledgeable about baseball but there is always more research which can be carried out. Form is only temporary and teams can change their approach overnight. Watch as any highlights as possible and always attempt to second guess the tactics of the two sides involved.

Try and Plot the Flow of the Game
Certain sides will play the game in a particular way and they will often set-up in a similar fashion. Coaches can be creatures of habit and many of them are also stubborn. They will often replicate their tactics and this offers bettors the opportunity to analyse each aspect of the game. If you can work out how the game may play out, this can be hugely advantageous and it also lends itself to in-play betting.

Look at a Team’s Schedule
The MLB season can be full throttle and there is very little rest time for teams. Pitchers will be rotated and injuries will be picked up. Always analyse a team’s schedule. Are they facing a punishing schedule which includes long trips between stadiums? Are they playing back-to-back matches? How did they cope the last time they had such a punishing schedule? All of these factors can help determine the outcome and should be considered.