Unlike games of chance, when one is betting on soccer (or every other sport) doing some research certainly pays off. This is because the final results are not entirely random, but are heavily influenced through the skill of the contestants. The better you understand about the strengths and weaknesses of the 2 teams, the more likely you are to make an intelligent bet and win.

Where do you turn to find the information that you need to make informed bets? Being familiar with the game you are betting on is obviously a benefit, although this just isn’t strictly necessary if one is already comfortable with betting through a bookmaker. In that case, the research has already been done, though the information is presented from the perspective of the bookmaker and may be a challenge to use effectively. Professional punters can bet based solely on the line given through the bookmaker, but it takes years of experience to do this well.

To make an informed bet, one must go to the statistics. That means one has to go to the historical record to view how the team has performed within the past to be able to determine its strengths and weaknesses. This research can be a truly overwhelming undertaking as there is definitely an enormous quantity of statistical data around. Therefore, most people that choose to do their very own research choose a number of key statistics that they believe are most important and then create their own betting formula according to these. This does lead to more informed bets but cannot compare to the complex formulas employed by professional punters and bookmakers that use a big number of factors, both past and present.

For the casual bettor which has no desire to become a full-time gambler and thereby become a true expert, the very best option is to get access to expert knowledge. Generally, the true experts are fully aware of the value of their knowledge and try and capitalize on it. For those willing to share their knowledge with others, this is usually done through tips & picks services or by selling systems.

Experts using their knowledge to offer tips (advice on odds or point spreads) and picks (who shall win or lose) often do so through paid services. These paid services can be premium-rate telephone services (09xx in the UK, or playing online football gambling site (Stamford`s recent blog post) 1-900 within the US), subscription sites, subscription e-mail lists, and so on. As the tips and picks are provided to subscribers, the methodology used to make them just isn’t shared. Further, such a service is effectively an additional commission on the bet as the bettor must spend money to get the pick ahead of the bet is even made.

True experts rarely sell their entire system, the methodology and formulas they normally use to make winning tips and picks, but it does happen occasionally. The problem is that the common consumer frequently can not tell which systems were designed by actual experts and which were developed by shysters. There’s no way to get around this problem altogether, but you can find clues that can help you avoid being scammed. As an example, sports betting systems that use progression betting are probably scams since progressive betting was designed for – and is only applicable to – games of chance with roughly even odds. Other things to look for include a solid money-back guarantee and proper customer service, as many scams do not provide these.

To earn money at soccer betting, knowledge is key. You can do your own research and devise your own techniques, but unless you are willing to invest an immense quantity of time and energy into it, you shall always be at a disadvantage. Alternatively, if you can acquire the knowledge of a specialist, you may bet like a professional without going through years of trial and error since several true experts do.