Articles

Pleasers are one of the most potentially lucrative bets punters can make and due to their complex structure can yield huge winnings for very little stake should all of the pre-determined selections come in.

Obviously, the higher the winnings, the less likely each bet is to come to fruition but Pleasers can allow punters to target specific markets where they can hopefully win big.

How Pleasers work:-
A pleaser bet enables a punter to move the line in the sports book’s favour in exchange for enhanced odds should their bet come in. Typically, a pleaser centres round a 6-point margin in any American Football or Basketball fixture and offers the punter the chance to give away points in a fixture for better winnings.

Here is our guide on how to place Pleasers intelligently:-

• Play the Handicaps
The primary purpose of a Pleaser is to wager two or more events off against each other to offer accumulative odds. For example: if the Lakers’ spread is +7 and the Heat is -16.5 punters can play off the difference in points against each other i.e. if Lakers lose by 10 and Heat win by 20 then the differential between the two bets can be spread out between the two teams and their results.

• Become Familiar With How Pleasers Work
Whilst Pleasers are clearly an enticing way of winning big money, they can be quite a complicated proposition for punters to come to terms with. 6 point pleasers normally work on the following pay outs:
o Two Teams – 7.00
o Three Teams – 18.00
o Four Teams – 46.00
o Five Teams – 121.00
o Six Teams – 301.00
Clearly the rewards for betting on big pleasers are very lucrative but ensuring that selections are realistic and relevant to the specific market is essential.

• Understand the Probability
Whilst Pleaser betting is relatively straight-forward process, understanding the lengthy odds associated with a Pleaser is an indicator that winning regularly is highly unlikely. Combination or accumulator bets, multiply the odds in any given instance meaning that the odds multiply if the punter is correct but adding additional lines to any bet make winning a more difficult proposition.

• Sport Specific Knowledge
Due to their high point scoring systems, pleaser bets are predominantly available within American Football and Basketball betting markets. Possessing knowledge of form, personnel changes, injuries, suspensions etc. can all play a huge factor in gauging where to place a Pleaser bet for the punter. Odds are often governed by bookmakers predicting which team will win big on any given day. Pleasers offer the opportunity to look to predict the winning margin in a specific match, giving punters with strong sport specific knowledge an increased chance of winning big.

• Don’t be Greedy
Pleasers are appealing but still work in the bookmakers favour and within their specified restrictions. Finding a subset of bets where moving the spread doesn’t massively influence the winnings available is an effective strategy when placing a Pleaser. Upsets can of course happen in any sporting event but normally an underdog will beat a favourite by a tight margin so work within those restrictions rather than chasing an exciting but ultimately unrealistic pay

Punters are always looking for the easiest way to make big money and simplistically, laying a small amount of money to win big is always an attractive proposition for any level of player.

Parlays (or accumulator bets) present punters with an opportunity to compile a number of betting outcomes, group them together through one stake and if they come in, reap the substantial rewards.

How Parlays work:-
The basic principle of a parlay is the grouping together of individual bets (two or more) that are combined together and in turn create one big wager. The rules are simple and rather cut-throat however, should one individual bet as part of the parlay let the punter down, the entire parlay/accumulator bet is lost. The appeal however lies in the winning potential of a parlay bet, where punters can stake a minimal amount to win significantly.

Here is our guide on how to place Parlay Bets intelligently:-

• Accept the Unpredictability
Parlays are designed to give punters an accumulative betting experience – betting on two or more specific sporting outcomes and combining their stakes together to maximise their winnings. Sport is unpredictable, which is part of its global appeal and therefore any team/player can beat their opponent on any given day. Parlay betting makes life difficult for the punter as it increases the chances of the punter losing – simply by adding additional betting lines to stake on. Therefore accepting the fact that one team out of a possible 10 team parlay could break the parlay down, is an occupational hazard that comes with looking to win big from parlays.

• Don’t Be Greedy
Parlays serve the primary purpose of allowing punters to stake a small amount; in the hope of winning big. With the odds frequently stacked against the punter, chasing huge winnings isn’t necessary as a small stake can often bring about a huge win – provided all sporting selections are correct. When choosing teams/players as part of a parlay bet, look to set a minimum win and choose teams that fit those parameters, rather than choosing three of four outlandish picks that would obviously bring about huge winnings but are ultimately highly unlikely to happen – especially in a combination bet.

• Sport Specific Research
Parlay bets are extremely popular in the betting worlds of American Football, Tennis and Football with many head to head matches taking place over the course of a week, punters can compile their bets together in an attempt to win big. It goes without saying, that knowledge of the specific event and the teams or players involved, is essential when building a parlay bet. Factors such as league position, form, injuries and suspensions are all essential elements to consider when making an accumulative bet because if one selection doesn’t come in – the whole bet breaks down.

• Remember to Factor in the Draw/Tie
One of the most frequent downfalls of a parlay bet is the draw/tie, particularly in football betting where the draw is classed as an incorrect selection and will break down an accumulative bet. Sports such as tennis or snooker don’t offer the tie/draw market, meaning they are potentially easier to bet on – but this is often reflected in the shorter odds offered by bookmakers at the start of the event. Negotiating the draw market can be lucrative for punters within parlay betting as it can help players win big but it should always be a key consideration when building a parlay bet.

In any betting situation, having a contingency if one selection doesn’t come in is a strong position for a punter to be in and If-Bets provide just that.

The basic premise of an If-Bet centres round a punter making two correct selections in any given betting scenario but should only one of the selections prove to be correct; the punter’s winnings are altered accordingly.

How If-Bets work:-
In its purest form, making an If-Bet is essentially making two straight bets on two outcomes but instead of betting on each individual outcome – If-Bets allow the punter to combine two outcomes together in one bet – at a cost of course. Instead of being able to collect any profits after a single win (as punters can do with straight betting) the bettor must wait on all of their results before being able to claim any potential earnings.

If-Bets Breakdown:
• If both bets win: Once the first selection wins, the funds are rolled over and wagered on the selection which maximises the winning potential for the punter.
• First bet wins, second bet loses: The winnings for the first selection are earnt (same as straight betting) whilst the second bet losing comes at the loss of just the initial stake.
• First bet loses, second bet wins: The obvious downfall of If-Bets. As the first bet has lost, the stake doesn’t carry over to bet number two – costing the punter any chance of a profit.
• When both bets lose: The wager and the stake are lost.

Here is our guide on how to place If-Bets intelligently:-

 Bet with a capable bank balance
The perils of If-Bets are there for all to see – if the first selection lets the bet down, punters are instantly up against it meaning losing an if-bet is somewhat of an inevitability from time to time. Punters muse factor this into any predictions and if funds are limited – straight betting may be the preferred method rather than If-Bets. On the other hand, having a healthy balance can enable punters to win big through If-Bets and gamble with the added security that not all will be lost if only one of the two selections are part of the bet lets the player down.

Pick the order in which the bets are placed carefully
If-Bets give punters the opportunity to bet on two sporting outcomes with the caveat that if only one lets them down – they won’t leave completely empty-handed. However, should the first bet let the If-Bet down, winnings will be hampered on the second bet as the wager and winnings aren’t carried over from the initial bet – impacting the potential to win through the second bet. So ordering the bets carefully (i.e. Best chance of winning in bet 1, more of an outside shout in bet 2) is the intelligent way to approach If-Betting.

 Don’t chase the big win through If-Bets
Most bookmakers offer If-Bet markets and they are a valuable tool for any punter’s armoury but the hostile nature of If-Bets can prove costly for players laying big stakes in order to win hefty sums and if one selection doesn’t come in – it can be costly. The If-Betting market appeals more to the experienced punters who are looking to keep profits rolling – with the security of being able to get their stake back if one team/player lets them down – rather than a more adventurous punter that is looking to win big off a smaller stake.

Whilst sport is known for its unpredictability, some results are a foregone conclusion and the inevitability of the result if reflected in the betting market with stringent odds being offered on the highly likely outcome.

However, Asian Handicaps offer punters to bet on the outcome of a game – with a handicapped score line prior to the start of a given match – in an attempt to level the playing field before the match kicks off from a betting perspective.

How Asian Handicaps work:-

Asian Handicaps are designed to give both teams/players in any sporting contest an equal chance of winning by giving one team/player an artificial handicap from which the game starts from. By virtue of this, the tie or draw in any given match is taken out of the equation – giving punters the opportunity to bet in the far more simplistic win or lose market.

Asian Handicaps Example:

Manchester City to beat Huddersfield Town with -2.5 Asian Handicap:- In essence for purposes of the bet, Manchester City start the game 2.5 goals down so therefore would need to win by at least a 3 goal margin in order for the punter to win the bet. If Manchester City win the game but only by a 2 goal margin, they are still -0.5 down in the game and the bet is lost.

Here is our guide on how to place Asian Handicap Bets intelligently:-

Tactical Research and Planning
Asian Handicaps work on the basis that one team will beat another and centre more around the score line meaning tactical research is essential when betting with an Asian Handicap. The benefits are obvious in that whilst the result maybe a foregone conclusion, betting with a handicap allows punters to level the playing field somewhat. Picking teams that score lots of points/goals regardless of their league standing is usually the best way to approach betting within the Asian Handicap system.

Reign in the Ambition
Asian Handicaps are designed to even the playing field in any given fixture so therefore its essential punters don’t get too ambitious with their picks. For example: backing Manchester City to win with a -2.5 Asian Handicap may level the playing field to around an Evens bet. Backing them to win with a -3.5 Asian Handicap will obviously increase the pay-out but the risk can often be greater than the reward with Asian Handicaps so ambition must be tempered in order to maximise winning potential for punters.

Back the Underdogs with Caution
One obvious benefit of the Asian Handicap system is the ability to back the underdog in any given sporting match-up without the penalty if they are plucky in their performance but ultimately only manage to get a draw or lose by the odd goal/point. Plucky underdogs are the most common winner within the Asian Handicap markets as they give punters reward for picking a player/team for getting closer to their opponent than the bookmaker originally predicted. Always remember though, the underdogs are generally longer odds for a reason and that the bookmakers are rarely wrong with their pre-match predictions so respect the bookie and back those underdogs wisely.

Remember No Team Plays to Lose
Whilst underdogs may fare well in sporting contests and lose by fine margins, no sports team or player enters the field of play to lose. So the if an underdog is only a goal or a few points down with minutes to go, they may adopt a more attacking style – which is great if they score as it secures the punters position but in turn they leave themselves more exposed defensively – which could cost the punter dearly.

Badminton is a sport that doesn’t get as much attention in the betting world as many other big name sports do. Thankfully, if you’re a badminton fan, there are still many betting opportunities to take advantage of.

In this article, we take a look at the best tips for learning how to bet on badminton games more intelligently.

Look at Previous Recent Performances and Past Rivalries

One of the easiest ways to make smarter bets in Badminton is to look at the past rivalries between two players.

A quick search on Google for two players will often turn up some good results. You can find a post match analysis from many sources, read up on the results, and get a strong idea about how the match may turn out.

Another thing to do is to look at the recent performance for both players – do either players have any notable changes in their recent games? Are there any signs that they may be under-performing or over-performing?

The key to betting smartly is to take all of the information you can get and use it to your advantage. Even just a small amount of evidence to back up your bet will put you at a higher chance to win than those that just blindly bet based on their gut feeling.

Consider Home & Away

Is a match up looking close and you’re not sure who to bet on? Consider whether each player has had to travel for the match. Traveling can take an unexpected hit to a player’s performance, so it’s something to consider.

Keep in mind that many veteran players are used to traveling for events, so this may or may not have a weight on a player’s performance. You can find out by looking at each player’s past matches and take note of any trends when they play particularly far from home. Notice a trend? Take advantage of it.

Don’t Be Afraid To Back The Favorite

Most people look at the small return from betting on the favorites and are immediately turned away. However, the favorite bet is often overlooked because of this. You should instead focus on any research you can dig up about the two players facing off and use that as a basis to bet.

If you feel the favorite has even more of a chance to win than even the odds suggest, you should put down a bet.

Know the Risks

Professional badminton players are constantly training and constantly practising. On top of this, there’s always the potential for an injury to happen. This means that whilst the odds may seem to be massively in your favor, there’s always the chance that your bet falls flat.

Because of this, you should be logical with the amount you bet on each match. If you plan to make a long term profit from betting on Badminton, set out a specific balance and make sure that if you lose a bet, you still have enough of a betting balance to pull back your losses over time.

Curling is a sport that got popularized thanks to the Winter Olympics. Whilst you’ll still see most of the hype surrounding curling during the Olympics, there are still curling events that get played out internationally throughout the year.

In this article, we offer some tips to help you to make intelligent decisions when betting on curling.

Pick The Likely Winner

Underdog bets are a fun opportunity because they offer a higher return, but with curling, you don’t necessarily have to bet on the underdog for a good payout.

With curling, you can choose a handicap bet to increase the odds. With a handicap bet, the winning team must have a certain threshold of points higher than the losing team. As the handicap threshold increases, so do the odds.

A great strategy for betting on curling is to find matches where the favorite is almost guaranteed to win. We’re talking about the kind of matchups where a world favorite goes up against a very low tier team.

In this case, you can increase the handicap by 2-3 points and get a much higher payout for still betting on the favorite.

If you aren’t comfortable with taking the risk, start with a small handicap, or you can still just bet on the winner outright.

Make Small Underdog Bets

Sometimes, the underdogs may be undervalued. You will need to do your own research to find out how each team matches up against each other, but with the right research, you may find that a small underdog bet is worth the risk.

You won’t win many underdog bets, but if you make very small, educated bets regularly, eventually you’ll have an underdog win that’ll pay for your losses and then some.

Do Your Research And Get Involved

Because curling isn’t anywhere near as popular as most other sports when it comes to betting, you will need to put in the extra effort to do your research.  You’ll need to dig deep into the past results for previous cups and events to see how each team performed on your own two feet.

As you gather more information and make more bets, your knowledge for curling will grow. It’s also important that you actually tune into the curling matches you bet on.

The more curling you watch, the more you’ll understand about the sport, the competition, and how each team performs against one another.

Unlike sports like football and rugby, which have thousands of resources and outlets online offering betting advice, curling takes more of a personal approach. You really have to get invested in the sport as a fan to understand when and why to make bets.

The betting markets are also often limited to outright wins or handicap wins, so you really have to be confident about the bets you place.

Start small and then over time start to increase the amount you bet with. Curling is certainly a hidden opportunity within the sports betting world, but it takes time and lots of research to fully understand.

Want to know how to bet on field hockey intelligently? You’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we will be offering a number of tips you can use to make sure your next bets on field hockey are smart, educated, and offer a good chance for a high return.

Like with all sports betting, the goal is to do research and find insider knowledge to get the best edge on all betting opportunities. The key is to spread your betting balance across multiple bets so that if you lose a bet, the remainder of your bets can make up for it.

Getting Started With Betting On Field Hockey

Despite ice hockey being seen on North American media far more often, field hockey is perhaps the most popular international version of the sport.

In field hockey, players are on solid ground instead of ice. The rules and overall game aspect remain very similar.

If you are a fan of ice hockey or like to bet on ice hockey, you’ll get to grips with the field hockey market very quickly.

Start With Reading The Latest Predictions

Field hockey is a popular sport which means there are many resources online to take advantage of.

If you want to make a bet on an upcoming field hockey game, start by searching for that match on Google. Look for past results and recent prediction posts.

The key here is to find educated information from as many sources as possible. Read up on the prediction posts that provide facts to back up their suggestions and those that share history between the two competing teams.

Once you’ve read up on as many predictions as you can find, you should have a good consensus about what kind of bet should be made.

But wait – if everybody is using these predictions, surely the odds won’t come out in your favor? This is true, but only if you bet on one single game.

If you use the above strategy to research every bet you make, you’ll be placing your field hockey bets more intelligently.

The overall goal here is to be smarter than your average bettor – most casual bettors will put a bit of money on their favorite team without thought and leave it at that. More serious bettors may put more effort into their bets, but they may still find themselves throwing money on occasionally for a bit of a flutter.

The only way you’ll have a proper chance at coming out on top when betting on a popular sport like field hockey is to research every single bet you make and carefully distribute your betting balance across all of them.

Stick to the facts, don’t leave anything to your gut feeling and don’t make any bets that aren’t backed by hard evidence or strong fact-based predictions.

The markets you can bet on depend on which bookmaker you use and what event you are betting on. Sometimes you’ll only be able to bet on the outright winner, but in other instances you may have the opportunity for handicap bets or access to other markets.

The initial research we mentioned earlier should help you to decide which markets are worth betting on.

We hope these quick betting tips for field hockey will prove to be useful.