Thread Title may sound like a regretful expression but it's not. Actually, I love making mistakes. It's a great way to learn. Making mistakes and losing is the foundation of success. I made many mistakes in my professional betting career and I'm so glad I made these mistakes. I realized and analyzed my mistakes and changed my mentality and betting strategy.
So Let's Start!
1# Staying strictly with +A Books
First, I was happy and I thought it was a good thing to stick with A+ books but then I realized that I was leaving a fortune on table. A+ book means no payout problem, no limit problem (or higher limits) and good customer service but what you get in return? Sharp lines, sharp odds.
You can beat Betsson with ease, you can beat Bwin with ease (Thanks to soft lines and sleepy oddsmakers) but Pinnacle? Not easy to beat these guys.
I can hear you sayin', but hey A+ books have reduced juice, so better odds! You don't like better odds?
Well, A+ books' odds are not higher then ordinary books, actually it's worst. A+ books' Reduced Juice sounds amazing at first glance but it doesn't matter much since "winner side" is usually juiced. Let me show you with an example.
Dortmund 1,65 at softbook. Napoli +0,50 is 2,20.
Dortmund is 1,53 at pinnacle. Napoli +0,50 is 2,75 at Pinnacle.
If you like Dortmund, why pick it 1,53 at Pinnacle? You can get it at much better price. And guess what? If you pick Napoli, you lose..and this is not only one game. It happens all the time. You're doomed to lose if you're picking other side at a very "high price" in A+ book. They offer you winner side at bad odds (so you don't bet it at there) and loser at high odds. Very smart!
But Softbooks are safe?
Softbooks will limit you, some of them are not reliable, you may have payout problems, that's right. But at the end of the day, still it's worth of the risk. Just make your homework and stay away from scam books. When you're limited at one book, switch to another. There's lots of books..
My second mistake was,
2# Staying away from Bonus offers
I was very strict about bonuses, never picked any bonus in my early pro years. I was a pro after all! Pro players don't make bonus hunting. A Pro Handicapper should not be a bonus whore after all, right? Well, I'm working in a brothel now, lol. I'm not a bonus hunter, I'm not even a bonus whore. These words are not enough to describe me. I'm a bonus vampire. I'm a Bonus Lich. I suck bonus, I eat bonus, I drink bonus. Now, I take advantage of every bonus opportunity.. It's free money after all. Make sure odds are not terrible, rollover conditions are not ridicilious (x30 and min. odd req 2,00? Thanks, Bye!) and bookie software is good. Even if you offer me %200 bonus, I wouldn't play at a bookie which uses Everymatrix software.
3# Using a Sick Rating/Unit System instead of Flat Betting
Actually, I'm not against stake/unit systems with a narrow range such as 3-4-5. But if you're betting 1 unit on one game and 20 unit on another, if you have showy, big stake sizes like Lock Of The Month, Play Of The Month, then Good Luck to you! I remember times when I hit %60 ATS and failed to make any profit. Guess why?
4# Lack of discipline, Not keeping record of bets
Can't stress it enough. I was a very messy handicapper. Now, even my desk is tidy. I'm keeping excellent records, it let me see my progress and p/l. I love excel, lol.
5# Not taking advantage of trade opportunities
Arbitrage betting, pregame trading or inplay trading/betting..Whatever! Extra profit is always welcome! Many people don't take advantage of free money opportunties and take unnecessary risks. If I ask you, would you choose a guarantee 50$ or risking 330$ to win 300$, which one you would choose? First one, right? Then why you always pick the 2nd option when you're betting? Because many people are too degenerate, they're so obssessed and addicted with the rush of gambling. Most people are not "betting", they're gambling.
So what's your favourite mistakes? Shoot!
Thanks for reading!
So Let's Start!
1# Staying strictly with +A Books
First, I was happy and I thought it was a good thing to stick with A+ books but then I realized that I was leaving a fortune on table. A+ book means no payout problem, no limit problem (or higher limits) and good customer service but what you get in return? Sharp lines, sharp odds.
You can beat Betsson with ease, you can beat Bwin with ease (Thanks to soft lines and sleepy oddsmakers) but Pinnacle? Not easy to beat these guys.
I can hear you sayin', but hey A+ books have reduced juice, so better odds! You don't like better odds?
Well, A+ books' odds are not higher then ordinary books, actually it's worst. A+ books' Reduced Juice sounds amazing at first glance but it doesn't matter much since "winner side" is usually juiced. Let me show you with an example.
Dortmund 1,65 at softbook. Napoli +0,50 is 2,20.
Dortmund is 1,53 at pinnacle. Napoli +0,50 is 2,75 at Pinnacle.
If you like Dortmund, why pick it 1,53 at Pinnacle? You can get it at much better price. And guess what? If you pick Napoli, you lose..and this is not only one game. It happens all the time. You're doomed to lose if you're picking other side at a very "high price" in A+ book. They offer you winner side at bad odds (so you don't bet it at there) and loser at high odds. Very smart!
But Softbooks are safe?
Softbooks will limit you, some of them are not reliable, you may have payout problems, that's right. But at the end of the day, still it's worth of the risk. Just make your homework and stay away from scam books. When you're limited at one book, switch to another. There's lots of books..
My second mistake was,
2# Staying away from Bonus offers
I was very strict about bonuses, never picked any bonus in my early pro years. I was a pro after all! Pro players don't make bonus hunting. A Pro Handicapper should not be a bonus whore after all, right? Well, I'm working in a brothel now, lol. I'm not a bonus hunter, I'm not even a bonus whore. These words are not enough to describe me. I'm a bonus vampire. I'm a Bonus Lich. I suck bonus, I eat bonus, I drink bonus. Now, I take advantage of every bonus opportunity.. It's free money after all. Make sure odds are not terrible, rollover conditions are not ridicilious (x30 and min. odd req 2,00? Thanks, Bye!) and bookie software is good. Even if you offer me %200 bonus, I wouldn't play at a bookie which uses Everymatrix software.
3# Using a Sick Rating/Unit System instead of Flat Betting
Actually, I'm not against stake/unit systems with a narrow range such as 3-4-5. But if you're betting 1 unit on one game and 20 unit on another, if you have showy, big stake sizes like Lock Of The Month, Play Of The Month, then Good Luck to you! I remember times when I hit %60 ATS and failed to make any profit. Guess why?
4# Lack of discipline, Not keeping record of bets
Can't stress it enough. I was a very messy handicapper. Now, even my desk is tidy. I'm keeping excellent records, it let me see my progress and p/l. I love excel, lol.
5# Not taking advantage of trade opportunities
Arbitrage betting, pregame trading or inplay trading/betting..Whatever! Extra profit is always welcome! Many people don't take advantage of free money opportunties and take unnecessary risks. If I ask you, would you choose a guarantee 50$ or risking 330$ to win 300$, which one you would choose? First one, right? Then why you always pick the 2nd option when you're betting? Because many people are too degenerate, they're so obssessed and addicted with the rush of gambling. Most people are not "betting", they're gambling.
So what's your favourite mistakes? Shoot!
Thanks for reading!
