There is a lot of information online claiming to provide "foolproof" methods for instant success in sports betting. However, the truth is, there is no such thing. To become a successful sports bettor, you need effort, determination, knowledge, and experience.

To improve these essential skills, the key is learning which strategies to use and when to apply them. In this article,AT99 has compiled 10 quick betting tips and strategies that will help you grow stronger and more successful over time.

Like anything worthwhile, improving your sports betting win rate requires time and persistence. Sports betting is not the same as gambling, and we advocate for betting with skill, caution, and precision. Don't leave everything to luck!

10 Strategies Every Excellent Sports Bettor Must Master

T9 is here to tell you that If you want to become an excellent sports bettor, you must grasp these 10 simple strategies. Keep reading!

1. Manage Your Bankroll and Set Betting Units

As a sports bettor, it's crucial to decide how much money you're willing to allocate to sports betting. This depends on your personal financial situation. Never bet money you cannot afford to lose.

Once you’ve determined your bankroll, the next step is deciding on unit sizes. We recommend that beginners bet 1-5% of their bankroll per wager.

This is undoubtedly the first key step to becoming a more successful sports bettor. Every "sharp bettor" regularly reviews their bankroll and unit sizes. If you want more information, we've written an entire guide on bankroll management for sports betting. 

2. Understand Your Risk Tolerance and Betting Goals

Different bettors prefer different types of bets. The sooner you determine what kind of bets you like, the sooner you can refine your strategy and start winning.

Some people enjoy betting on big underdogs or highly improbable events. They are attracted to the long odds. These bettors often favor building massive parlays or betting on long shots, like the Browns beating the Patriots on Monday night.

Others prefer smaller profits but more likely outcomes. They bet on heavy favorites, accept low odds, and while the return is small, these bettors typically win more often.

Some bettors think long-term, betting on players or teams' future performances. They invest a lot of time and money in the futures market.

You might place only one bet per week or be very active on sports betting websites, even placing multiple bets on the same game.

Of course, these betting styles aren’t mutually exclusive. Experienced bettors are often active across various bet types, whether long odds or short odds.

If you want to improve quickly, focusing on a particular type of bet is a wise choice.

3. Set Realistic Expectations

A successful "sharp bettor" has a win rate of 54%. The greatest sharp bettors in history have win rates of around 60%. These are the best sports bettors in the world.

Expecting to reach this number right away, or even over time, is unrealistic. We cannot stress this enough.

Even if you win your first 10 bets (which isn’t unheard of), the law of averages suggests that, unfortunately, you will come back down to earth sooner or later. Knowing this and setting realistic expectations can help you avoid making any reckless moves.

Don’t deviate from the strategies and methods that helped you win those 10 bets in a row.

4. Keep Track of Your Bets and Review Them Regularly

This strategy may not seem very exciting, but it remains extremely important.

Reviewing losses is no fun, but if you do it, you may prevent yourself from making the same mistakes again. Sometimes, even if you did everything right, you’ll still lose a bet. Other times, you know you're taking a risk but still place the bet. Correcting this misguided reasoning will benefit your bets in the long run.

Occasionally reviewing your successes and failures will undoubtedly provide a long-term boost to your bankroll.

5. Bet with Your Head, Not Your Heart

Most sports bettors start betting because they’re sports fans. Thus, they may have loyalty to one or more teams. If this applies to you, we recommend not betting on any events related to your favorite team(s).

Loyalty clouds our judgment, and we recommend being rational and cautious when sports betting. Bias can affect us either consciously or unconsciously. Therefore, we suggest skipping the odds where you have a personal interest or emotional investment.

6. Avoid the "Sunk Cost Fallacy"

This tip borrows from a common term in behavioral economics. The "sunk cost fallacy" refers to the idea that the more time or money someone invests in something, the harder it becomes to abandon it. This concept applies to everything from business investments to a bad relationship.

Decisions become influenced by the accumulated emotional attachment associated with the investment. Those who fall into the "sunk cost fallacy" continue to invest more money, even when the project or venture is doomed to fail, simply because they’ve already put in so much. They don’t know when to stop.

This point applies equally to sports betting. If luck isn’t on your side today, stop the losses. Under no circumstances should you continue increasing your bets to make up for a bad losing streak.

7. Focus on One Sport

As Warren Buffett says, "Invest in what you know." This applies to sports betting as well.

If you’re new to sports betting, focusing on the sport you know best is worthwhile. You’re already a step ahead in mastering the methods required to beat the bookmaker, simply because you have prior knowledge of how the sport works.

You already know how to evaluate players and teams and where to gather information about the sport. This is crucial to making the smartest bets.

8. Shop for the Best Odds

Odds shopping means taking advantage of the price differences offered by various sportsbooks for the same event. Finding the best odds will surely have a significant positive impact on your sports betting ROI.

Odds shopping is the closest thing to a foolproof strategy in sports betting. It guarantees you bigger profits and long-term success in sports betting. The sooner you start doing this, the better.

We’ve written a complete guide to everything related to odds shopping and why it’s essential.

9. Hedge Your Bets Smartly

Hedging is essentially a risk management technique that can be applied to sports betting. It’s a way to reduce risk to your bankroll or lock in a profit on your bets.

Hedging is complex and goes beyond the scope of this quick strategies guide, but each hedge you place will be done by betting on a different outcome than your initial bet.

Read our detailed guide to learn how to hedge your bets effectively.

10. Do Your Research and Engage with Other Bettors

In the internet age, it’s easier than ever to engage with the sports betting community. Join sports betting forums, browse Reddit threads related to sports betting, and talk to people in real life who are interested in sports betting.

Not only will you become more familiar with sports betting jargon, but you can also exchange sports betting strategies with friends.

Patience is a Virtue

As mentions, becoming a successful sports bettor takes time. As your understanding and comfort in the world of sports betting deepens, you’ll start to see more significant returns on your investment.

Remember, never become a gambler. Everyone will have a bad day in sports betting, but betting responsibly and sticking to your plan will help you stay successful. Discipline is key to staying calm, enjoying the experience, and maintaining success.