Today, placing a bet is simple. You head over to the site of the bookmaker of your choice, register an account, choose a sport and a market, and give it a go. But when it comes to placing a safe bet, things are a bit different.
Betting is not like other forms of gambling. Certain bets are safer than others, and so ar certain betting operators. So, let’s take a look at what makes a bet safe.
Table of Contents
Choose the right betting site
The first step to placing a safe bet is to choose a safe and reputable betting operator. Although the market has been regulating itself for years, and the authorities are also doing their part, completely weeding out bad apples seems an impossible task.
So, if you want to get into sports betting, make sure to do your homework: check the site’s license, making sure it’s operating legally in your location. Also, check out its reviews to find out how it responds to user requests and how fast it resolves any issues that may arise. Once you’re convinced that your betting site of choice is safe and trustworthy, you can proceed to register your account.
Take a look at the bonuses
The first thing a betting site throws at you when you register is a welcome bonus. Before claiming it, take a look at what it consists of. The best bonus to claim is a free bet – but bonus funds can also be OK. These can be used as you please, but they also come with playthrough requirements. Whichever the case, make sure to check the terms and conditions before you redeem any.
Choose a familiar sport
If you want to bet, always choose a sport you are familiar with. This allows you to understand exactly what the thing you’re betting on means – and how likely it is to happen. Betting on a sport you don’t actively follow is a lot like a game of chance – you can’t make an informed decision.
No matter how attractive or promising a bet on a sport you don’t know may seem, stick to the stuff you know.
Start with simple bets
Which bet is the safest? In general, it’s the one with the fewest variables. Let’s take a football match as an example. It can have a total of four outcomes: it can be won by the home team, the away team, it can end in a draw, and it can be canceled. If a match is canceled, your bet on the outcome is void – you get your stake back. This leaves you with three to choose from. Less than a third of the matches played end in a draw, so you have a more than 60% chance that one of the teams will win. It takes a bit of digging in their records and statistics to predict which of them is a more likely winner.
Betting on the outcome of a match is probably the simplest football bet – and probably the safest. If you are at the beginning of your ‘career’ as a bettor, sticking to simple and self-explanatory bets is the best choice. Avoid overly complicated bets and long odds
Bet responsibly
Finally, let’s not forget one of the most important things to keep in mind when you are looking for a safe bet: make sure to bet responsibly.
Responsible betting is not just choosing bets that have the best chance of success, and doing so at a regulated and safe online betting outlet. It also includes setting a budget, never betting using the money you can’t afford to lose, and knowing when to walk away – even if you feel as if you have a winning streak.
Final words
How to place a safe bet? First and foremost, make sure to do it at a reputable and regulated betting site. Then, choose a sport that you’re familiar with, so that you can make an informed decision about the probabilities. Stick to simple bets, especially at the beginning of your road, and don’t give in to the allure of large potential returns – these almost always come with high uncertainty. And always bet responsibly, and within your means. If you keep these in mind, your betting activity will be as safe as possible.
