A Complete Value Betting Guide

Value Bet

📋Value Betting Info
🔍How to Identify Value Bets
📊Pros and Cons
🥇Beat the Books!

Most people who sign up at an online sportsbook start off by placing simple bets. New bettors often believe the ultimate goal is to choose winners or losers of a sporting event. While this is a sure way to win some returns, there is much more to sports betting. Those who want to be successful when wagering will need to know how to identify a value bet. These are not seen often, but they provide the best opportunities to boost the bankroll.

A value bet is a bet listed at a sportsbook that has a better chance of winning than the odds suggest. By finding value bets at leading online sportsbooks, bettors will be able to enjoy long-term profits. If a sportsbook has odds for a certain event listed higher than true probability, there is a chance to take advantage and earn profits. If there is a good chance of a team winning and the bookmaker has the odds wrong, this is a value bet and is one that should be placed.

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How Value Betting Differs from Traditional Betting

There are some major differences between placing standard bets online and finding value bets. Those looking for better chances to win, frequent returns, and long-term success will want to take the time to search for value bets. With value betting, the focus is placed on probability and chance. Bettors will need to determine the likelihood of an outcome and compare that to the listed odds. When the odds online are greater than the probable outcome, this indicates a value bet.

When engaging in traditional sports betting, most people focus on the quick win and will often search for betting options for single games or events. Value betting has a long-term approach and while this may not occur immediately, there will be steady profits that can be earned by selecting bets with value. Slow and steady wins the race! The same is true when placing sports bets.

It is common for casual bettors to rely on gut feelings or simply choose favorites when selecting wagers. Value bets require much more work and bettors will have to rely on stats and facts. The primary aim is to earn more profits over time. Using updated data to make selections is the key, along with finding discrepancies in markets. By being able to do this, bettors will benefit from regular wins.

How to Identify Value Bets

Being able to successfully identify a value bet is the only way to generate profits. Finding a value bet is not an easy thing to do. Reputable online sportsbooks in the US take time and rely on experts to create the odds. They are seldom wrong. However, there are always cases where value can be found.

Manual Search

This process starts by accessing some of the most trusted bookmakers in the US. These should include BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetRivers. Select a sport and an event at the chosen site. Open that same event at a competing site to compare the odds. It can be beneficial to search for value bets that have just two outcomes. This helps those new to value betting get a feel for the process.

Making use of a free calculator will help save time as this is a fast and sure way to compare current odds at various sites. Finding value bets manually can be difficult and is often time-consuming. When manually searching, do not leave out live games. Online sportsbooks make most of their odds mistakes with these events.

If a manual search is preferred, there are some things that bettors can do to increase the chances of finding value bets. While there is never a guarantee, these useful tips can be great for those just getting started.

The best chances of finding value bets lie in markets that have fast-changing odds
The best markets for soccer include over/under goals, next corner market, and handicap markets
Watch tennis markets, especially over/under games, set winners, or handicap markets
The best options for basketball include handicaps, over/under points, and winners in game quarters or the game half

Value Betting Software

There are various software options that are available, from free versions to paid options. Using free software is a great way for any beginner bettor to find value bets. With software, different sportsbooks will be scanned and all odds will be compared. This is a fast way to locate value bets and will help to boost the bankroll.

One problem with free value bet scanners is that the maximum percentage of return will only be 2%. The value bets detected will be displayed with a 1-minute delay. This puts bettors at a slight disadvantage since odds can start dropping at any time.

Pros and Cons of Value Betting

Value bets sound like a guaranteed way to generate long-term profits, but there are some drawbacks. Before starting to look for any value bets online, take a few minutes to review the advantages and disadvantages of such bets. It will not be an easy task, but locating value bets does present the best way to capture profits over time.

Pros:

Guesswork is Removed – Instead of simply choosing winners or losers, value betting relies on stats and different facts to remove all guesswork. Bettors will not have to be concerned with the likelihood of a bet being a winner and then worrying about the odds.
Increased Profits – By finding value bets, there will be an edge over the sportsbook. This can lead to placing more winning bets and earning more in profits.
Fewer Bets – Since only a single bet is required, bettors do not have to spend or risk more by placing multiple or laying bets at another sportsbook.

Cons:

Difficult to find – Sportsbooks have many resources that are used to ensure there are competitive odds. It can be a timely process to find a string value bet.
Limits for Winners – When placing value bets and winning regularly, betting accounts may be limited in regards to the maximum bet placed. Online sportsbooks have the right to limit bets at any time.
Probabilities Hard to Determine – Being able to accurately determine probability is how value bettors are successful. With so much available data on games and players, it can be hard to determine probability correctly every single time.

Beat the Books!

When bettors are able to successfully find value bets and continue to do so, they will be beating the bookie. Value betting is a great long-term strategy that places the odds in favor of the bettor while reducing the edge the sportsbook has. This form of betting allows for an increase in profits, though it is far from easy.

Value betting is not something new bettors will be able to jump into quickly. It will take time, experience, and knowledge. Those who are looking for their first value bets should stick to sports they are very familiar with. This can help with fact-gathering and using stats to make informed decisions. A complete analysis of teams and players will be required to determine where the value is with any bet.

As with all types of sports bets, there is risk involved. There is no guarantee that a value bet will win. However, taking time to identify value bets is one way to increase the chances of overall success when betting online.