Sports betting is available at many online and mobile betting sites, so those who like to take a flutter have plenty of options. Punters can be divided into two broad types: those who like to place one bet on the outcome of a game, and then enjoy the event without further thought to the gambling aspect, and those who want to adjust their bets constantly throughout the game, trying to secure the best possible outcome.
In that binary can also be found the distinction between future betting and live betting. Which method suits you better is a matter of personal taste; it is best to experiment with both betting approaches until you can settle on the one you prefer.
Where Live Betting Scores
Also called micro betting or in-play wagering, live betting is an aspect of sports gambling expected to grow increasingly important as the industry develops. Instead of simply betting on an event’s outcome, an over/under total or the points spread, betting fans can place wagers on any event they predict will happen throughout the game.
This type of betting obviously suits punters who get very invested in sporting contests and want to add some fizz to their every interaction. It also keeps you paying enough attention so that you can bet on truly unusual events, like records being broken or players reaching milestone score totals. But betting like this has drawbacks as well, some of which can be avoided by sensible future betting instead.
Pitfalls Future Bets Help Dodge
One of the biggest pitfalls of live betting is the temptation to get carried away and overspend. Unless you have strict discipline and an ironclad budget on every betting session, a losing streak can tempt you to overspend as the session goes on, trying to win back those losses.
If you’re playing according to an affordable strategy and accept that losses are part of gambling, it is easier to avoid these plunges; time enough in your next session for a windfall that will reverse current losses. In the heat of the moment, however, that discipline can be hard to maintain, and unwise bets can be the result.
It’s a complication that simply doesn’t apply to future betting, which Sports Illustrated defines as betting on “an event that will take place in the near or distant future”.
Other Future Betting Perks
Future betting is generally more considered than in-play wagers. If you are ready to place a bet on the Super Bowl winner when the regular football season starts, you have obviously pondered all the factors that may apply. This tends to encourage conservative betting to begin with, which reduces your risk.
Betting that far in advance also allows you to adjust as time goes on. If a catastrophic injury or red card affects your chosen team’s chances, you still have time to hedge with bets on another contender before the end of the tournament. This may offset or completely cover any losses on your original bet. In some circumstances, it is possible to cancel future bets before the event, for a reduced loss.