Finding The Right Handicapping Service
If you consider yourself an avid sports fan while also being an avid sports bettor, you are always looking for ways to improve the overall winning percentage of the bets you place.
Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done.
There is a reason why the online sportsbook industry is a multi-billion-dollar operation. As more and more sports fans start adding some betting action to the games they watch, this industry will continue to expand and grow.
Many avid bettors have turned to professional handicapping services to improve the overall return on investment of their betting bankroll. Even with the added cost of buying picks, the boost in that overall winning percentage can offset the cost.
The key to buying sports picks is using the funds in the best possible way. This starts with finding a professional handicapping service that best meets your betting strategy, habits and style.
Just like finding the right online sportsbook for your betting needs, turning to a professional handicapping service requires some due diligence on your part. The goal of this search is twofold.
–First, you will want to find a reputable sports handicapping service with a proven track record of success. Not every pro is on the up and up. Checking and double checking credentials is a must.
Many sports bettors start selling picks to support their own betting habit. They may get hot from time to time. However, most will end up posting a negative return over longer periods of time.
The good news is that there are some excellent pro handicappers and handicapping services that offer solid value in the fees they charge.
You can also turn to reputable sports betting sites such as ScoresandStats.com for help in the search process. This popular site has a whole section covering Handicapping Site Reviews.
–Second, you need to find a service that fits your particular needs. While there are literally hundreds of options to choose from, only a few will be tailored to what you are looking for.
If you are a high-volume bettor looking for a wide array of weekly picks, you may want to employ a proven handicapping service. These are designed to produce long-term gains over an extended period of time through a variety of betting options. You have to be willing to ride out a few dry spells to maximize your return over the long run.
If you are a specialty bettor tied to one or two particular sports, you will need to gear your search in that direction. If your sport is football, the search could be rather extensive. If your sport is ice hockey, the list of viable choices will be far more narrow.
The majority of today’s sports bettors probably fall into the category of recreational betting. You would be considered a recreational sports bettor if you:
– Maintain a modest betting bankroll at one or more online sportsbooks.
– Place most of your bets on NFL and NBA games on the pro level along with college football and basketball games.
– Mainly bet nationally televised contests.
If these traits describe your approach to betting on sports, then your search might cover quite a bit of ground as well.
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One basic tip for finding the right professional handicapping service is to start small and grow from there. Remember, there are no guarantees the picks you buy will win. Pro handicappers tend to have an overall winning rate somewhere between 55 and 60 percent.
Understanding the Role of a Professional Sports Handicapper
The overall sports betting industry is expanding at a rapid pace, especially in the US market. More and more sports fans are starting to place wagers on their favorite sports and sporting events.
While adding some betting action to all the action on the field, court or ice is exciting and fun to do, it still involves cold hard cash that is easier lost than won.
The US sports betting industry can be divided into three primary segments:
– Offshore Sportsbooks offering online betting
– US-based sportsbooks operating in individual states
– Private bookmakers offering a sports betting service
An added component to sports betting is the sports handicapping industry. This is filled with sports betting professionals that are willing to offer their expertise for a price.
The average recreational bettor is lucky if they break even with their entire betting strategy. Winning half of your bets as an amateur is quite an accomplishment. However, given the standard 10 percent commission (juice) charged on all losing bets, you will still register a net loss on your sports betting activity.
If you are betting $5 or $10 a game and it is money you can afford to lose, sports betting remains a form of entertainment.
However, if you plan to get serious about earning a positive return on your betting investment, you may want to consider using a professional sports handicapper to place your bets.
One very important thing to keep in mind is that even the best pro handicappers are shooting for an overall winning percentage that remains consistently above 60 percent. At that rate, they can still make a decent return on their investment.
To supplement that income, many pro handicappers sell packages containing their betting picks. These packages are available for every major betting sport. They are normally sold on a weekly and/or monthly basis. However, there are ways to buy daily picks.
ScoresAndStats.com is a very popular sports betting site providing comprehensive coverage of the entire sports betting industry. When evaluating a professional sports betting handicapping service, it takes into consideration the follow five important factors:
– Profitability Record
– Value in the Pricing Structure
– Long-Term Success
– Industry Reputation
– Overall Customer Service
Of the five factors listed above, long-term success carries some added importance. Anyone can get hot in the short term. Some pro handicappers will turn in a stellar performance for one sport over one season. There are pros that knock it out of the park for their entire sports betting portfolio in a given year.
The true pros that earn their handicapping fees day in and day out are the ones that have been doing this for years at a high rate of proficiency.
There are more than enough choices out there when it comes to professional handicapping services. The best course of action is to perform your own due diligence when searching for one that best meets your needs.
This is not the kind of service where shopping for the cheapest price makes sense. You need to find a selection package that meets certain criteria as well as your budget.
There are high-volume handicappers that excel over an extended range of picks. You need to stay onboard for the whole ride to maximize your return on investment. Other handicapping services that offer smaller packages that may better fit your betting style.
By taking your time to review everything out there, you will give yourself the best chance to actually make money betting on sports.
