Gambling - JoVerto's Golden Rules

What is the biggest mistake made by gamblers? Betting more than you can afford to lose!! This is the single biggest mistake gamblers make, and it’s why I promote money management principles day after day.

Of course, that isn't the only mistake gamblers commonly make that cost them money. An educated Player is a smart Player. Let's review JoVerto's Golden Rules of Point Spread wagering:

Rule # 1 – Control Your Emotions

You’ve got to control your emotions off a big loss on a particular team. Just because “Team A” doesn’t cover for you don’t hold anything against Team A when wagering on or against them in the future.

Rule # 2 – Never Chase Your Money

When you lose – or are mired in a losing streak – pull back and don’t chase your money. Instead, choose to live and fight another day. This is where money management comes into play in terms of bankroll allocation – knowing how much you can afford to lose in a worse-case scenario in a given time period.

Rule # 3 – Always Stay Confident

Stay grounded in your handicapping principles. Don't doubt yourself. When gamblers and handicappers start to lose - and believe me, we all go through losing streaks - stay with what you know is successful and remain confident. The tide will eventually turn.

Rule # 4 – Don’t Give It All Back

This is a huge mistake that all gamblers make, building their bankroll only to give it all back by stepping out big on one game. Resist that temptation. Understand this is a journey. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

Rule # 5 – Bet With Your Head, Not Your Heart

We all have our favorite teams. Lord knows I do and it takes every ounce of energy I have to remain objective and not wager on them because I love them. We are in this to make money and if my favorite team is not the "right side" of the game, then I must go against them.

Rule # 6 – Don’t Be Afraid of Totals

An Over/Under play pays the same as a side selection. Don’t be afraid of betting a total if you find that the over/under is the stronger percentage play. Trust me, there are times the total is the best play on the board so don’t be shy about betting it (especially in College Football). A win is a win whether it be for a side or total.

Rule # 7 – Shop ‘Till You Drop

Many of you play through offshore sportsbooks. To have only one account limits your options. I recommend having at least two, if not three. Remember, the linemaker is looking for even action and often the lines on offshores are based on the size of their customer base. That means you can shop around and find variations because there are huge variations in the size of different book’s client bases.

Rule # 8 – Find a Good Dawg

Anybody watch S. Carolina lose to Vanerbilt the other day? The Gamecocks were 10 point favorites! Imagine the MoneyLine payout for Vandy to win. Joe Public loves the Favorite. This fact alone should tell you where your money needs to be. A bet on a strong underdog can make up for any losses you had earlier in the day.

Remember........Scared Money Makes No Money!

JoVerto