Politics are always at the forefront of things in New Hampshire, and they are a crucial part of life for state residents. While this covers the usual range of subjects, it can sometimes impact what we do to have fun in our spare time. Sports betting is a great example and is an activity that was legalized by state officials in 2019.
As a result of this regulatory change, locals around New Hampshire now have the same choice as people in states like New Jersey for sports betting. A good tip for any new bettor is to find out the top US sportsbook promos and bonuses for 2023 and to sign up with a site that offers them. It is worth finding out about common mistakes when gambling on sports, so you can avoid them.
9 common sports betting mistakes to avoid
If you are looking to get some tips on costly mistakes to avoid as a sports bettor, the best people to turn to for help are pro sports gamblers. Here are some of the lessons can you take from them to guide your own gambling:
1. Changing unit size
Managing your money wisely is a great tip to take from sports betting pros. One common mistake to avoid is changing the unit size of your bets. This means never getting too confident and risking more when you’re winning, but also never chasing losses if you lose. Most sports betting pros will instead use a flat rate betting system which involves staking the same amount on each wager and only using up to 5% of your bankroll per bet.
2. Overreacting to recent trends
Although research is key when placing bets, one thing you should avoid is putting too much emphasis on recent trends. This can be tough to accomplish because most gamblers will naturally want to back a team that is on a hot winning streak.
By the same token, most people will bet against a team who lost their last game badly. This is something to guard against though as hot teams are overvalued and teams coming off recent losses are undervalued. It is much better to look at things from the opposite perspective as you will get better odds.
3. Gambler’s fallacy
This is the notion that if an event happens more often than usual over a set period of time, it will happen less often moving ahead. The problem with this idea in sports betting is that events do not follow a pattern and each game you bet on is its own individual, unique spectacle. For example, if the Rays lose the first three games of the World Series to the Astros, it does not mean they will lose the fourth. Gambler’s fallacy suggests they should.
4. Too many bets
Sports wagering pros know that betting for the sake of it is ill-advised and can lead to financial losses in the long-term. Due to this, you should never get into the habit of making too many wagers and you should only bet on sports when you are confident the bet makes sense.
5. Having unrealistic expectations
Any sports betting pro needs to have realistic expectations regarding what can be achieved. New bettors can often have a totally skewed idea of how much they can earn per week or how much they can grow their betting bankroll per month.
If you fall into this trap, you will not only end up feeling disappointed when things don’t pan out this way but also put too much pressure on yourself to hit unrealistic targets. It is therefore a lot more sensible to set realistic targets to aim for, such as trying to win at least 55% of your bets to stay in profit.
6. Buying into touts
Although sports betting markets like New Hampshire’s are regulated to keep gamblers safe, the overall industry does not always have the same assurances. One example to consider is people who set up companies or websites selling picks to bettors.
While there are some honest and legitimate handicappers out there, there are also some scammers that are simply after your money. If you see a handicapper who is promising quick returns, easy cash or has no track record to check out, it is best to avoid them.
7. Choosing your heart over your head
One lesson to take from sports betting pros is to always use logic, reason and factual evidence when choosing which wagers to place. There are a ton of websites now available which provide the latest stats to look over and it is always worth looking at this kind of data when gambling.
This is a much better approach than betting with your heart and relying on gut instinct. If you were to take this approach, you would be far too easily swayed by favorite teams, big franchises such as the LA Lakers or the Toronto Maple Leafs and media coverage. If you choose to use your head instead, you are already one step ahead of most gamblers and stand a better chance of winning overall.
8. Ignoring sharp action
Sharp action is something that the most successful pro sports bettors look out for as it helps them build up a track record of success. This simply refers to spotting reverse line movement when betting on games. This is where the line moves in the other direction from where the betting percentages are heading.
Taking this approach helps you avoid the mistake of betting with your heart and also puts you more in line with what sportsbooks think will happen. As bookies always come out on top in the end, this can’t be a bad thing!
9. Failing to shop for the best line
Whether you live in Windham, Nashua or Berlin, one classic mistake to avoid as a sports gambler is taking the first lines or odds you see on a game, race or event. You do not know if these are the best around to take advantage of and this could result in you losing out in the long run. By shopping for the best lines at multiple sportsbooks, you always get the best value odds and this means you make more cash on winning bets overall.
Where to bet on sports: Best legal sportsbooks
Whether you bet in New Hampshire or any other state where betting is allowed, finding the best legal sportsbooks to use is another tip to take from pro gamblers. This is something you must pay close attention to as it will directly impact how much fun you have, how safe you stay online and how easy it is to access the best lines.
To make it a little easier, we have looked over some of the top platforms to sign up with and can recommend a few of the very best. Caesar’s sportsbook is a fully regulated betting site and one that has an enviable reputation in the sector. It also has superb customer support, great value odds on all major sports and plenty of markets to explore.
Bet365 is another top legal US sportsbook to consider using and features some of the best bonuses to grab. With an intuitive user interface and a range of secure payment options, it is also a well-known brand in the industry.
DraftKings is also a sportsbook which rates highly and has a slick, professional design. Their mobile app is perfect for betting on the move, and they have a quick, simple sign-up process.
Bet like a pro on all the top sports
If you live in New Hampshire and are interested in getting involved with sports betting, the decision by state politicians in 2019 means this is entirely possible. It is worth considering the above tips first though, so you not only bet like a pro but also avoid the costliest mistakes that new gamblers make.
