Online betting has become such a huge deal in Nigeria, with over a third of the adult population said to have placed a bet online at one point or the other.
Nigeria has one of the biggest betting industries in Africa and is amongst the most attractive markets in the world.
Everyday, thousands of Nigerians sign up on betting sites with the hope of making big winnings.
Earning money from online sports betting seems very appealing, but the reality is that placing a successful bet is not that easy.
In this article, we take you through five common rookie mistakes you should avoid during your online betting journey.
Stay away from Unlicensed Betting Sites
Perhaps out of excitement or ignorance, newbies can sometimes fall into the trap of dodgy and incompetent betting sites.
This can make the betting experience very frustrating.
It is true that online sports betting is very exciting, but don’t be too hasty in choosing your betting site.
Do some research about the online betting sites in the country, and ensure that you sign up with a reputable site that has a proper operating license.
If you are too lazy to do your research, you can always check out a number of online guides that can help you find the best betting sites in Nigeria.
Don’t Be Too Expectant
Don’t get too expectant or overconfident about your bets.
You need to understand that online sports betting is heavily dependent on luck; and that success is not exactly in your control.
Many bettors believe so much in their sporting knowledge, and expect this to automatically yield winning tickets.
While knowledge and good research can positively affect your bet, they do not necessarily guarantee success.
So when you place your bet, do not be too confident or expectant. Be mindful of the fact that it all comes down to luck at the end of the day.
This will reduce the heartache and disappointment if you eventually lose the bet!
Don’t Play with Emotions
Another common mistake with bettors is the tendency to play with emotions.
You have to be able to separate your predictions from your emotions.
Don’t back a team to win because you like the team; and neither should you bet against a team just because you don’t like the club.
Let your bets be based on reason and logic, rather than sentiments.
Of course, this doesn’t mean your bets will be successful, but at least, you are giving yourself a better chance of winning.
Don’t Chase after Your Losses
This is one of the all-time classic expressions in online sports betting.
After losing a series of bets, there is always the temptation to place more bets in an attempt to recoup your money.
Unfortunately, you are more likely to end up losing more money if you slip into this betting vice. By doing this, you are also veering dangerously towards gambling addiction.
You must avoid this by all means.
Regardless of how easy or risk-free your prediction may seem, there are no guarantees in online sports betting.
The best way to avoid this problem is to bet with money you can afford to lose, and set yourself betting spending limits. Once you have reached your limit, please take a break.
Avoid Ridiculously Long Accumulators
New bettors also tend to fall into the trap of having numerous games on their tickets. This obviously increases the total odds and the value of potential winnings, but it also increases the risk level of the bet, thereby reducing the chances of winning.
It is important to identify the games you want to play and stick to those games regardless of the total odds.
Don’t get greedy by trying to add more matches. That could be your undoing!
There are many more things to learn about online sports betting, but for starters, try to avoid the mistakes stated above and set a good platform for your betting adventure.
