Rather than just randomly picking football matches to bet on, there is a recent trend in fixed odds betting to employ a ‘betting strategy’ or ‘betting system’. Almost all systems rely on some sort of points rating scheme whereby a team is awarded a certain number of points depending upon aspects such as home advantage, league position, recent form etc.

The first step in developing a betting strategy is to know the rules and regulations governing the game. This means that you have to develop a kin interest in football. This is certainly easier for those who have previous knowledge of the game whether as a player, spectator, or a tactician. For those without prior knowledge, watching and analyzing football matches can help you learn the rules of the game quite easily.

No system can achieve 100% success; however, some are far much better than others at predicting results. one football season might see one particular system prove successful and another fail, whereas the following season the roles are reversed. For example, many punters study the league table in order to predict results.

One punter might use a system which says that if the home team is 3 or more places higher than the away team, then he would back the home team to win every time. This may prove to be quite correct many times, but over the course of 2 or 3 seasons it would be guaranteed that he would be as effective as earlier. Of course to improve upon this system the punter would need to study current form, goal difference, injury problems in teams etc. and then balance this against the odds which are being offered to him.

PRICE PERCENTAGE

The bookmaker earns his living through what is known as ‘the bookies over-round’. You cannot bet on all three outcomes of a single football match (i.e. Win, lose and draw) and expect to win. The three different odds on offer usually know as price percentage, will work against you and eventually you will lose the bet. It must be remembered that in order to make money at fixed odds betting you must be able to guarantee long term success.
The art of success is to guarantee a long term returns on bets. Successful betting on fixed odds football matches is the equivalent of a sound financial investment advice.

In order to get good returns you need to gain an ‘edge’ over the bookie. 99.9% of amateur punters fail to do this for various reasons. You must have a thorough knowledge of betting and a good understanding of both football and statistics.

The dos and don’ts of betting

• Don’t place a bet just because you ‘fancy having a bet’.
• Don’t waste money on high accumulator bets.
• Don’t persist with losing systems.
• keep a record of All your bets