Playing sports online and winning: some tactics

July 21, 2011 11:15 | Going Out
Ladbrokes online games

Even the most seasoned sports fanatic would be forgiven for admitting that virtual sports betting can be a bit of a minefield. Like many other aspects of life, it’s not the complexity; it’s the abundance of choices on offer that can create confusion.

These online games offer everything from virtual greyhound races, darts games to penalty shoot outs from the comfort of your own home; however, once you’ve selected your game of choice, then comes the tough part: offering up your change to chance. With real-life bets, many players rely on the tips of people they trust or simply go with their instincts. With online sports betting, the possibilities have evolved, and so too should potential players.
 
To help ease the transition to virtual sports, there are five simple tactics on offer to help boost your chances of grabbing the big win. Read on to see how you could skill up to become a sports-betting mogul.
 
Know Your Teams Inside Out
 
Many of the football-centric games require an extensive knowledge of current football news. Before betting on a team, check to see where they’re placed in the league tables. Have there been any serious team injuries? Significant player transfers? Game losses? Even though the game is virtual, the state of the real-life players will have an impact on their performance in the fantasy league.
 
Don’t Lead With Your Emotions
 
Although gut instinct is important for many life decisions, for online betting, it’s best to leave your heart strings at the door. It’s essential to research, assess and examine the odds before placing a bet, picking a horse just because its name references your favourite film is a slippery slope. Above all, don’t bet on your football team out of loyalty alone. Remember, this is virtual sport, so you won’t be betraying your idols.
 
Analyse The Odds
 
It may sound obvious, but estimating your own odds is the best possible way to source a ‘good’ bet. Opting for fairer odds might not leave you with the hottest betting option, but it is less likely to leave you out of pocket. Games such as virtual football leagues offer more desirable odds than fast-paced games like online horse racing. Another essential tip is to beware of websites offering ‘tips’ or ‘virtual betting loopholes’ in exchange for money. These are risky ventures, and many are simply con sites.
 
Slow The Pace
 
If you’re new to online betting, you may be tempted to throw yourself into the quick-fire games; however, this is a fast track to losing your stake. While adjusting to online gaming, try betting with slower games such as online penalty shoot-outs to acclimatise to the process. This will likely lead you to a win quicker than throwing money at a series of virtual greyhound races.
 
Taking the time to experiment with skill-based games can greatly increase your chances of a big win, and can be all the more gratifying when you succeed. Games such as Soccershots, where the player aims for the virtual goal, involve learning a new skill, rather than leaving everything up to chance.
 
Get Creative With The Virtual Football League
 
One clever method for an ongoing win involves checking past seasons to highlight which teams finished in the bottom three. Choose one of these teams and bet on them to lose a series of matches. By starting with smaller stakes, such as 10p and following that losing team, you could be in for a series of wins that build up in pay outs over time. Although Rooney may not agree, sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.
 
With this arsenal of tactics, online betting can be more than just an exciting past time, offering an innovative opportunity for a series of cash-wins too.
 
Sponsored feature from Ladbrokes
 


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