How To Make Money in Sports Betting

Sports betting can be more than just a hobby – it can become a consistent source of extra income if approached the right way. 

If you’re wondering how to make money in sports betting, in this guide, our experts will tell you how to bet smarter and avoid common mistakes to increase your chances of long-term profit, whether you’re just starting or looking to take betting more seriously.

Table of content

Key Takeaways

  • Open accounts with multiple bookmakers to get the best odds.
  • Focus on one sport or league for better betting decisions.
  • Avoid low odds and large combo bets – they rarely pay off.
  • Use live betting only when you spot a clear advantage.
  • Take breaks during losing streaks to avoid emotional decisions.

Have Many Betting Accounts

The more betting accounts you have, the better. You can choose the best odds by having accounts with multiple top betting sites. You don’t need to deposit money into all of them, but be ready to deposit when you find a great odd at a specific site.

This advice doesn’t fit if you don’t bet often. A single bet of 10€ at odds of 1.90 or 1.95 doesn’t make much difference, and you will lose just 50 cents

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However, if you’re placing hundreds of bets per year, those small differences add up. Over time, better odds can significantly improve your profit margin.

Benefits of having multiple accounts:

  • Compare and choose the best available odds for each bet.
  • Avoid betting limits by spreading your activity across different sites.
  • Gain access to more promotions and bonus offers.

Another important reason to have multiple betting accounts is that some sites don’t like winning players. This doesn’t mean they’ll block your account and take your money. Instead, they’ll just limit your bets – and if you consistently make money betting on sports, you might one day find that you can only bet a few euros, even though you used to bet 100€ or more.

Bet on One Sport, Even Better on One League

If you want to make money from online betting, focus on one sport or even one league.

For example, the NBA basketball league is hard to follow alone because there are games daily. Thus, you can narrow it down by following 2-4 NBA teams you like. 

Follow the teams’ social media accounts, where they share injury updates, player availability, and other important information. By following just a few teams, you can place profitable bets when those teams play. However, don’t become too attached to those teams, as it can cloud your judgment.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

  • Follow team news via social media for injury updates and lineup changes.
  • Watch games, press conferences, and post-match interviews.
  • Pay attention to mental and physical cues from players and coaches.
  • Avoid emotional bias, don’t bet based on your favorite team.

Although if you’re a true sports fan and enjoy following all 30 NBA teams, that’s a plus. It increases your chances of finding more profitable bets and helps you better understand how to make money from sports betting over time.

Follow Experienced Bettors

If you’re struggling to make profitable bets and keep losing, follow someone with more experience. Tipsters – including X tipsters and those on other platforms – often share predictions based on research and analysis, providing you with insights into better betting strategies.

SourceProsCons
Verified TipstersReliable track records, expert insightsUsually requires a paid subscription (€30–€100/month)
Free Tipsters (Twitter/forums)No cost, good for learningHarder to verify accuracy or long-term success
Betting ForumsExchange ideas, learn from communityTime-consuming to filter quality content
Facebook/Telegram “Experts”Often easily accessibleHigh scam risk, no proof of credibility

If you succeed using tips from others, you can even start selling your own, as many platforms let users monetize their expertise after proving consistent results.

Forget About Statistics

Many people try to rely only on statistics when betting on sports. Unfortunately, bookmakers see the same statistics and use that information to set the odds.

That doesn’t mean stats are useless. They can help verify information or review past results, but they shouldn’t be the main reason behind your bet. Investment experts joke that:

There are lies, big lies, and statistics.”

This saying can also apply to sports betting. Why do you find thick statistics books in every betting shop? To confuse you.

Instead of just focusing on numbers, consider:

  • The psychology and mindset of players
  • Team morale and coach tactics
  • Real-time information (injuries, motivation, etc.)

The edge comes from understanding the game beyond the data, not from trying to out-calculate a company that lives off odds. 

Use Live Betting

In-play betting allows you to place bets during a match, with odds adjusting in real time based on what’s happening on the field. While it can be profitable, it also carries higher risk, especially if used without discipline.

how-to-make-money-in-sports-betting

Clear In-Game Advantage

Only place live bets when something clear is happening on the field, like a momentum shift, red card, or injury, that isn’t yet reflected in the odds.

Missed Pre-Game Information

Sometimes, you learn something important too late, such as a star player unexpectedly playing. Live betting allows you to make up for it as the game starts.

No Pre-Match Value

If you couldn’t find value in the pre-match odds, wait. The odds can shift in your favor once the game begins.

Risk of Addiction

Live betting can be fast-paced and emotional. Set clear limits and goals before you start. Without self-control, you will likely chase losses and make poor decisions.

Don’t Bet on Low Odds and Avoid Combining Bets

Beginners often get drawn to low odds because they seem safer. While it’s true that events with odds like 1.10 or 1.20 win more often, the profit is so small that it doesn’t pay off in the long run. One surprise result can undo the gains from multiple winning bets.

For example, betting €100 at 1.10 wins you just €10. But one unexpected loss means you’re suddenly down €100, and it’ll take 10 more bets just to recover.

Focus on betting with odds of 1.80 or higher. If you can achieve over 55% accuracy, you will likely make a profit from betting. If you bet on odds like 1.05, you’ll need almost a 100% success rate to be profitable, which is impossible.

As a next step, many bettors try to combine several small bets to increase the total odds. For instance, stacking 7 events at 1.05–1.15 might give you odds around 1.70, but one failed result means you lose the whole bet.

Think of combo bets like lottery tickets, the more events you include, the higher the risk of failure.

Expert tip: Avoid combining more than 3 events in a single bet. Sports are unpredictable, and betting companies profit the most from these long-shot combos that rarely hit.

Take Breaks

Take a break if you lose 5 or 7 bets in a row. You might be making the right decisions, but the sports events on the field are unpredictable. It happens sometimes. Do you remember how Greece won the UEFA European Championship?

Sports betting can be hard to predict, so if you’re on a losing streak or your tipster starts giving poor predictions, take a break. When you come back, you can start winning again, and your online betting profits will return.

Also, never bet based on emotions or passion, and don’t increase your bet amounts to compensate for lost money. Only with a clear mind and discipline will you achieve good long-term results.

What should you do if you win 6 or 7 bets in a row? You don’t need a break, but don’t overestimate your skills. Optimism will be high, but be careful. If you want to try other sports, know your limits and only bet on what you understand.

take-breaks-making-money-from-betting-online

Summary of How To Make Money in Sports Betting

Sports betting can be a great way to earn extra money or work from home without the usual office stress. However, without proper betting money management, it can become stressful – always bet only what you can afford to lose.

You’ll face psychological stress if you bet money meant for rent or vacations. Setting aside separate funds for betting gives you an advantage, allowing you to make better decisions and take smarter risks.

Betting is a form of gambling and a business for bookmakers, who profit from losing bets. By following the right strategies of how to make money in sports betting, you will think differently from most bettors and increase your chances of success.

To maximize your profits, have accounts with multiple betting companies, bet on odds of 1.80 or higher, avoid combining bets, and use live betting platforms. If your bankroll drops, top it up using the bonuses betting companies offer.

FAQ About Making Money from Betting

💸 Why should you have multiple betting accounts?

Multiple betting accounts allow you to place bets on the highest odds and access the best offers, increasing your chances of winning.

💸 Which league or sport is the most profitable for betting?

It’s most profitable to focus on your favorite sport. The more you learn and gather information that can influence games, the better. With effort, you’ll find the sport that works best for you.

💸 How do betting companies make money?

Bookmakers make money through commissions from betting exchanges, manipulating odds, and by taking advantage of emotional decisions and lack of analysis from bettors, making it difficult to win bets.

💸 Can you make money from sports betting, and what are the chances?

There is a chance, but it’s very small. Less than 5% of people profit from betting in the long term. Understanding how to make money in sports betting requires more than just knowing the sport—you also need to master betting systems, bankroll management, and have access to reliable, detailed information.

💸 Is it worth betting on low odds?

No, in the long run, betting on low odds leads to losses, so it’s not worth it.

💸 Is sports betting profitable?

Yes, sports betting can be profitable, but only for a small percentage of disciplined bettors who apply strategy, manage their bankroll, and consistently find value in the odds.

Dalius Mikalauskas

Crypto and Sports Betting Expert

Dalius Mikalauskas is a crypto and sports betting expert and Project Manager at SmartBettingGuide, with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in basketball, football, tennis, and other online sports betting markets. Dalius also has a long history as a professional poker player, spending thousands of hours playing live poker in cities like L ..
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