What Is The Smartest Sport To Bet On?
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
February 1, 2024
When people reach out to us, the two common questions they ask are, “What is the easiest sport to be on for newbies?” and “What is the most profitable sport to bet on?”. You could ask 10 sports betting pros the exact same two questions and come back with ten or more answers. To test my hypothesis, I asked our sports experts as well as my sports bettor friends, and not surprisingly, answers varied widely!
To answer the mentioned questions, I put together this guide, which is the result of my personal opinions, experiences, and sports betting knowledge, as well as my sports bettor fellows and colleague experts. But before we get into the details, let’s get on the same page that the most profitable sport to bet on is the sport that you love the most, you have a great deal of knowledge about it, you are comfortable betting on it, and it brings the most money for you. We will also talk about the easiest sports for newbies that include relatively easier rules and strategies.
How To Choose The Best Sport To Bet On?
Pro sports bettors, seasonal sports gamblers, and sports enthusiasts have very different opinions on the subject of which sports are the best to bet on. This is because varying factors are involved in picking the best sport for wagering. Here are a couple of the most important ones:
- Every person has a passion for different sports. For example, you may be a football person, and basketball may not be your thing. Hence, betting on football would be way easier and more fun than betting on NBA matches.
- Understanding the sport you want to bet on is also crucial for making a bet easy, profitable, and pleasant. If you have a difficult time understanding the baseball scoring system, it is a good idea to spend some time on the sport’s basics before trying to wager on MLB major events.
- Research can give you an idea about which sport to pick for betting. Search for the most popular sports among the betting public. It can be an indication of profitable markets. However, do not blindly follow the public. Be wise and learn from them. Find the most profitable markets, but make sure to choose the ones that best suit your sports knowledge, handicapping skills, and sports gambling style.
- Continuous learning is the key. If you are serious about sports betting, you should know that it is a never-ending learning process, and the more you learn from your favorite sport, or sports betting in general, the easier you can find the value bets in every match and market.
5 Most Profitable Sports To Bet On(Not For Newbies!)
What do we mean by a most profitable sport? It simply means the sport offers more advantages and opportunities to bet and win. There are a couple of factors influencing the profitability of a sport. For example, the volume of games, events, and tournaments. The sport scoring system, rules, timing, popularity, and accessibility are other contributing factors.
With these aspects in mind, let’s look at the top 5 most profitable sports for sports betting:
1. Soccer
For me, soccer is a no-brainer, and speaking of volume; soccer is huge. There are hundreds of national and international matches, leagues, tournaments, and major events to bet on every single day. A big crowd of sports bettors love the soccer major international tournaments like the World Cup, Euro, AFC Asian Cup, etc. Typically, all sportsbooks offer lines for such tournaments, allowing you to shop for the best odds to bet on.
In addition to major events, if you are willing to put the time and effort into mastering soccer handicapping and handicapping the domestic leagues, trust me, it could be your gold mine. Soccer in-play betting offers tons of wagering options with even big payouts. But remember, live betting is much more risky and requires even more practice, focus, and knowledge.
2. College Basketball
College basketball betting offers many advantages compared to other sports. The high volume of games, with over 500 matchups in a typical week, provides ample betting opportunities. The non-conference schedule early in the season is a particularly profitable period, as college basketball tends to fly under the radar amidst the NFL, college football, NBA, and NHL seasons.
Additionally, the unique circumstances surrounding March – with conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament – lead to intriguing betting dynamics. The postseason also allows for new betting angles as teams compete for the championship. Overall, college basketball’s sheer number of games, unique betting options, and special tournaments generate consistent value and money-making potential for sports betting enthusiasts.
3. NFL
Wagering on NFL games offers unique advantages for seasoned sports bettors. With only 16 regular season games per team, the small sample size leads to greater variability in team performance week-to-week. This creates more opportunities to capitalize on overreactions and line errors by the betting market. Additionally, the popularity of the NFL ensures high betting limits and liquid markets. The weeks of preparation between games, along with detailed advanced stats and metrics, allow for insightful handicapping. Weather, injuries, and emotional factors can shift the outlook of a game rapidly. Staying on top of breaking developments is crucial.
Lastly, betting on the NFL requires understanding the diverse styles between teams. Some prefer to run the ball and play sound defense, while others rely on passing shootouts. This diversity leads to matchup-based advantages to exploit. Overall, the NFL presents a unique betting landscape with smaller slates, fluid factors, and varying team strategies. The most knowledgeable and adaptable bettors can harvest more profit!
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4. NBA
NBA betting offers advantageous dynamics compared to other major sports. The high pace of the NBA leads to more possessions and scoring variance game-to-game. Additionally, the star power of elite players creates intriguing player prop markets to analyze.
Injuries, rest days, and travel schedules play a huge role in NBA betting. The compressed 82-game schedule leads to the strategic resting of players by coaches. Staying on top of injury reports and potential resting is crucial. Some teams also perform dramatically better at home versus the road. The NBA also provides a lot of data and advanced analytics to gain betting edges. Understanding team styles, rotations, pace factors, and other strategic nuances is important.
5. NHL
NHL betting presents unique dynamics that skilled bettors can exploit. With 82 regular season games, there are nightly matchups to analyze. The lower-scoring style of hockey leads to close game margins, where a single goal or bounce often decides outcomes. This injects variance and uncertainty into betting lines.
Several strategic factors in the NHL also hold betting value. Team performances vary widely between home and away games in hockey compared to other sports. Some clubs feed off their raucous home crowds. Furthermore, analyzing situational spots like back-to-back games or 3rd games in 4 nights is crucial. Fatigue and travel take a toll.
Injuries and hot goalie performances sway outcomes in the NHL more acutely than in other sports. Roster adjustments also occur daily rather than weekly, like in the NFL. Remaining vigilant to breaking line movement is key. Some NHL teams feature a run-and-gun style, while others emphasize defense. Stylistic mismatches can create betting advantages.
What Are The Easiest Sports To Bet On For Beginner Sports Bettors?
Even if you are a newcomer to sports betting, your passion for the sport you want to bet on is key. The more you are passionate about the sport and know its rules, the higher your chances of placing successful bets. However, never underestimate the power of handicapping skills in sports betting. Make sure to learn the basics of sports betting, practice, and master your handicapping skills, especially for your favorite sport.
With that in mind, Football (NFL and College) and Basketball (NBA and College) are the best options to start with. Here are some reasons why football and basketball are the easiest sports for beginner sports bettors:
- Frequency of games – Daily or weekly games with plenty of betting opportunities.
- Smaller leagues – Fewer teams to focus on compared to hockey and soccer.
- Basic wagers – Spreads, Moneylines, and totals ease the learning curve.
- Statistics – Accessible stats and metrics to break down matchups.
- Resources – No shortage of information, analysis, and advice.
Wrap-Up
The most profitable sport to bet on is the one that best works for you. You must love the sport and also love to bet on it. So, soccer could be profitable for me as I am a die-hard fan, but it won’t work for someone who hates it! Although, according to the factors explained above, some sports like the NBA, NFL, and NHL are profitable, the subject is highly individualized, and you must find the most profitable for yourself.
The same is true for novice sports bettors. The key is passion and not getting overwhelmed. Stick to one sport that you love, learn the basics of sports betting, master your handicapping skills, learn to shop for the best lines, and expand your sports betting journey from there.
Don’t forget the rule: one wager at a time!
