Back in the day when sportsbooks were real people that you meet in person, people tended to think that being extra kind to their bookie, making awkward jokes from time to time, and always making small talk when making a bet would make them friends and, well, closer people. Some even think that the more you wager on a bookie, they will tend to remember you and perhaps let you in on some insider tips at some point in the future. However, that is never the case. No matter how hard you try, one truth remains - your bookie is not, and will never be, your friend.
The same could be said for almost all modern online betting sites, as they operate 100% remotely via the internet. However, aside from the fact that you can never be friends with your bookie, are there other sports betting secrets your bookie may not be telling you? Here are some of them.
They don't want you to win
This does not go to say that they will cheat you into losing, though. What this means, however, is that bookies are not kind Samaritans that will always root for someone to win. They would love it if more and more people make bad and unstrategic bets.
You may already probably know that the bookies or sometimes the oddsmakers come up with the betting odds and lines. The process before arriving at the final numbers is complex and long, but the core thing in mind in doing all these is that the sportsbook will always have the upper hand on the bettors.
The odds are not about predicting the outcome, but making money
In a technical meaning, the odds are the probability of an outcome happening as opposed to a different one turning out. Rather, the odds and lines that bookies give out are more a way to set the betting "action".
Ever experienced when the odds suddenly shifted from being in favour of one team and then suddenly the other? Or the gap between the two opposing sides suddenly became significantly smaller than it was just yesterday? While it may be due to a sudden change in the pre-game situations like a star player suddenly not being able to play, most of the time it is just the bookies adjusting the odds based on the number of bettors that wagered on a specific side. They do this to balance out the bets and to ensure that they will earn lots of money no matter what.
They love it when you chase losses
Some people think that the more they lose, the closer they are to winning. They call this myth the "due," or "the gambler's fallacy." While there is no truth in this, bookies love it when people who lose keep on betting more and more. After all - that means money for them.
They don't care who wins, at least not like a fan
Most people who bet on sports are also fans of the sport that they are betting on. This means that like every other fan, they have a favourite team or a favourite player that they root for the championship. For bookies, though, they could not care less who wins and who loses. To them, it doesn't matter who gets their way at the end of it all. What is important is that business will keep running well and they will keep on raking in the profits from those who keep on wagering on it.
