How Poker Players Make Money Betting on Sports

Many poker players are avid sports fans. Ever since the US lifted the ban on sports betting, a lot of poker players have taken up a new hobby — betting on sports. Both of these activities are actually quite similar, meaning poker lovers already have what it takes to be successful in sports betting.

In this article, we’ll explore how poker and sports betting are similar. Moreover, we’ll discuss the options that poker players have if they want to start their betting journey on the web. Read on!

If you are from USA and looking for websites where you can legally place bets then have a look at the list of US legal online Sports betting sites.

Sports Betting and Poker Require Skill

Some casino games, such as online slots, are very entertaining, but what many poker players don’t like about them is that they are simple games of chance. Simply put, there’s nothing you can do to impact slots and increase your chances. However, that’s not the case with poker, where you need to learn and practice a lot in order to improve your skills and knowledge. The more you hone your skills as a poker player, the higher your chances of success. Sure, the element of luck is always there, but it’s less important if you know how to play well.

This perfect combination of luck and skill is what makes sports betting entertaining for poker players. If you want to predict the outcome of a football game and bet on it, you’ll have a higher chance of getting it right if you follow the sport. Yet, you can still make a wild guess based on the odds and rely on the element of luck.

However, no poker player interested in sports betting would make such a move. Betting, like poker, requires being good at thinking in terms of math and probability, which takes us to the next section of this article.

Sports Betting Requires Math

If you’re a professional card player, you probably did your homework way back when you started learning about poker. Even if you’re not that good at math, many online poker sites offer useful step-by-step guides and tools that can help you calculate your probabilities, outs, and more. Every real poker player accepts that poker is all about making the move that carries the highest probability of winning. To make such a move, you have to think in numbers.

Sports betting is not that different, except that you’ll have to do more complex equations compared to poker.

To make successful bets, you should be able to predict trends and understand the basics of statistics. That way, you’ll understand how probability works in sports betting and get the most out of it.

It also requires being more consistent in keeping track of stats compared to poker. You can follow stats in poker during a single game or tournament, but that’s not how it works in sports. Instead, you need to keep following a team for an extended period and be aware of each team member and their statistics during the course of an entire season (sometimes longer). Once you understand how your team performs, you’ll have a better overview of your possible betting options.

Which Sport to Bet on as a Poker Player?

If you’re considering taking up sports betting, you’re probably wondering which sport to choose for placing bets. The answer is — whichever one you like the most. Remember, to be successful in sports betting, you need to know all the rules of a particular sport and actively follow a competition.

However, if you don’t want to take part in sports betting actively but want to try it out, you should probably focus on one of the major sporting events such as the Super Bowl, or the NBA Finals. Once you understand how it works, you’ll be able to explore this type of entertainment further and maybe even make a profit from it.

One thing is vital for all poker players who want to start a sports-betting journey — passion for sports.

Passion for Sports Plays a Vital Role

Would you play poker professionally if you didn’t enjoy this card game? The answer is — probably not. Passion is the force that makes us better at what we do, and poker players are no exception to this rule. Many people think that they are in it for the money, and that’s not entirely wrong. However, almost all players list their passion for the game and the thrill that poker brings as the main reason they keep playing.

Sports betting is not that different. If you want to achieve success, you need to love sports, follow games and results, understand how players and coaches think during the games, and more.

Ultimately, it all comes down to looking at their stats and performances to make the final decision, but every professional sports-betting fan aims to see the whole picture by understanding the psychological and social aspects of sports betting. It’s crucial to acknowledge that athletes are human beings after all and that they too can have their ups and downs regardless of what the stats say.

Where to Bet on Sports?

If you play poker in land-based casinos, you shouldn’t be far away from the sports-betting section of the casino. Therefore, over-the-counter betting is definitely an interesting thing to check out if you want to take your mind off poker while waiting for your next game.

However, if you’re an online poker player, you can always check out a few online sports betting platforms that are available in your area. There are many online betting sites out there, and choosing the right one for you is similar to choosing the right poker site.

The first thing you should pay attention to are the available sports and betting markets. In other words, you want to join a sports betting platform that offers you plenty of opportunities to place bets on the sports you like.

Second, you need to compare the odds offered by several online platforms and select the one that gives the best odds for the bet you want to place. There are several reasons why some betting sites offer better odds than others, but that doesn’t matter at the moment. What matters is selecting the site that offers odds that you think are worth betting on.

After that, make sure that it accepts your preferred payment method and check the deposit and withdrawal limits. For example, if you’re used to playing poker on sites that accept Visa credit cards, you want your sports betting site to accept them as well. Otherwise, you’ll have to adapt to the available payment options, which requires taking additional steps. Nobody likes that.

Since there are so many sports betting platforms out there, they are doing their best to attract more players. One of the best ways to draw new users is to offer welcome bonuses, so make sure to explore and compare them. That way, you’ll be able to narrow down your decision and select the platform that offers the most lucrative welcome bonus. If you’re an online poker player, you’re probably already familiar with this process.

Live Betting Is Poker Players’ Favourite

Live betting (also called in-play betting) is an exciting way to bet on a game while it is underway. You can bet on the outcome of the game, guess the next scorer, or pick any of the various other options available, while you watch a live game, so make sure to explore them as every sport comes with a set of different markets.

The reason some poker players enjoy live betting is that it offers the same thrill and suspense that they get when they play poker. Everything can change in a matter of seconds, and making the right decision requires quick thinking. One can also “tilt” during live betting sessions, so keeping your head cool in these situations is also a poker skill that’s welcome in the world of sports betting.

Final Thoughts: It Takes Time to Profit, but It’s Worth It

So, how do poker players make money betting on sports? The answer is pretty straightforward — by using the same analytical approach they learned while playing poker.

However, there’s one crucial thing that you need to take into account, and that’s actually being interested in sports. If you’re not a sports fan, you’ll need a lot of time to learn how some games work before you can focus on the betting part.

On the other hand, if you like watching sports and playing poker, you’ll have a unique opportunity to combine your two passions into one and make a profit.

Just don’t forget that sports betting is a skill, similar to poker in many ways, so you’ll have to invest some energy into honing it before you can see some positive results.

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