What makes live betting so popular? Customers of the best online bookmakers think it’s more fun than pre-game betting because odds and lines can change quickly depending on how the game goes.
However, if you don’t know the necessary tips and tricks, efficient live betting isn’t easy. Check out arguably the biggest mistakes a punter can make while betting live!
Betting on events you know little about
‘No knowledge, no wager’ is the rule of thumb in betting in general and live betting in particular. Experienced punters know how vital it is to pick events and markets where they boast specific knowledge.
On the contrary, rookie bettors tend to decide their wagers based on just odds and general knowledge.
For instance, a newbie can see 9 offsides per game priced at 2.56, which looks good enough. Moreover, every football fan knows offsides are generally frequent in football. Is it time to bet your hard-earned money on 9 offsides happening in the game you are following? Not quite so. Suppose both teams are playing low block: in this case, so many offsides are less likely to happen than they seem, and losing money is rather possible.
No matter how tempting the odds might be, sticking to markets you know well is better if you seek betting efficiency. Another tip is to focus on one or two markets instead of betting on everything.
Here are some match events ranked by their probability level:
| Type of event | Level of probability |
| Corner-kicks | Medium |
| Yellow and red cards | Medium |
| Fouls | Fouls |
| Offsides | High |
| Free kicks | High |
| Penalty kicks | Low |
| Goals by specific player | Medium |
Ignoring changes during matches
Perhaps the only time an inexperienced punter pays attention to a specific player is betting on a team’s biggest star to score. For instance, if it’s Manchester City playing, placing a wager on Erling Haaland to find the back of the net looks like a no-brainer.
However, it’s vitally important to see the bigger picture, read football news, analyse the entire matchday squad and follow all changes in the line-up during a game.
Suppose favourites lose their main goalscorer due to an injury, or their first-choice goalkeeper is sent off for a reckless challenge, and a benchwarmer has to step up. These changes can radically affect the outcome giving hope to the underdogs.
Here are some tips:
- Analyse the starting XI and the substitutes
- Predict upcoming subs based on yellow cards and overall players’ display
- Pay close attention to injuries
- Don’t miss tactical changes from managers
In other words, watch the game thoroughly and decide your bets accordingly.
Emotional betting
How can emotional betting be bad in such a passionate game as football, you ask? Passion rules the game indeed, but it can ruin your betting strategy.
Suppose you place a wager on a team to score first but instead, they concede an early goal. When it happens, many punters tend to make another quick bet hoping to recover losses. However, this is a clear example of poor decision-making. What you really should do after you lose a bet, is take a deep breath, keep a cool head, and see how the game goes on before making the next betting decision.
The same rule applies when your bet wins. Placing bigger money on a goalscorer to bag a brace or a hat trick is tempting. Moreover, it is a rather common scenario but seriously, how often do hat tricks happen? Even Leo Messi hasn’t been scoring them for fun.
Placing too many bets on one match
Much wisdom can result in much sorrow, the Bible says, and more often than not, this rule can be applied to betting. Many punters who believe they know the playing teams and football in general perfectly like to place numerous bets on a single match.
It’s hard to resist the temptation when there are hundreds of markets available. Even when it’s a minor league fixture, bookmakers usually offer their customers plenty of opportunities to bet on.
Here is a minimum of markets available for most football fixtures:
- Outcome
- Goals total
- Team goals
- Handicap
- Match events (fouls, bookings, free kicks, corner kicks, penalties, etc.)
- Correct scoreline
- Players to score
However, giving up to choice overload and excessive betting on a single match increases the difficulty of predicting all possible outcomes. Of course, two or three bets may land but seeing a dozen or more predictions coming true is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The best way to avoid losing too much money is to focus on one or two key markets. This will help you to stay focused and eventually, even if you lose, your knowledge of these markets will improve.
Ignoring responsible gambling practices
‘Play responsibly’ is a general rule applying to bettors and casino enthusiasts alike. Unfortunately, many punters give way to emotions and sometimes ignore common sense and recommendations.
There are two rules every bettor should not forget:
- Spend money you can afford to lose and not a penny more.
- Always remember that betting should be fun, so prioritise it over money.