Betting is a great way to add life and excitement to your sports viewing, but it can also be addictive. Make sure you select a reasonable amount you’re willing to lose and never bet more than that. Otherwise, you’ll quickly go broke and have to stop playing.

Bettor units are a great tool to help you determine your level of success. Many bettors, handicappers, and experts will talk about their wins and losses in terms of unit profit. Basically, a unit is a percentage of your total bankroll. For example, if you have a $10,000 bankroll, 1 unit would be $100 (1%).

When betting on sporting events, there are many different things to consider. Whether it’s the weather, who has momentum, or just what feels right in your gut, there are always intangibles that can affect the outcome of a game. While this may seem like common sense to seasoned bettors, it can be difficult for newcomers to grasp.

One of the most important concepts for new bettors to understand is value. Betting on teams that have a high chance of winning will usually lead to profitable bets in the long run. However, if you bet on teams that nobody else believes in, you will be subject to some very big losses. A popular strategy for avoiding these losses is called ‘fading the public’ and it involves analyzing line movements to see which team the majority of bettors are taking.