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 Getting
addicted to anything is usually not a good thing. Moderation
is the key to healthy living in general. When it comes to a
sports betting addiction the consequences can be catastrophic.
For those unfortunate enough to get completely sucked in,
more than
just money is lost. In many cases a sports betting addiction
causes complete financial and emotional peril to include job and home
loss, a wrecked credit rating, a ruined marriage/relationship and a
distressed social life to name a few.
In this article I will outline 7 tips that could help you avoid a
complete betting meltdown.
1.
Avoid betting when stressed out or depressed -
This is no different than someone who eats or shops on
emotion. It clouds good sense and leads to excess.
You develop a "who cares" attitude and may do things you ordinarily
wouldn't do, like make large, reckless wagers. Not good for
you or your bankroll.
2.
Don't chase - Losing is part
of the game, so don't take it personally. When you bet with
anger it causes you to loose focus and make poor decisions.
So you lost a battle, who cares! The idea is to stay in it so
you can live to fight another day and win the war!
3.
Take a brake - Getting your
head out of the game at regular intervals is a good thing. It
gives you a chance to evaluate what you've won or lost and whether it's
time to pack it in. Going hard after anything for long
periods of time, physical or mental, can sap your energy.
When this happens your more prone to mistakes and mistakes in this game
equal losses.
4.
Plan to lose - Sounds like a
defeatist mentality, but before you start a betting session you'll want
to set a stop loss limit on yourself. In other words,
determine an amount of money that, if lost, takes you out of the
action. This is where a sound money
management plan comes into
play. Have the discipline to set it and stick
to it!
5.
Avoid asking for help - This
can have double meaning. First, never bet with borrowed money
either because you didn't have any to begin with, or you lost it all
and feel like chasing. From an emotional standpoint you have
2 strikes against you in this situation. The added pressure
of having to win to pay someone back is pressure you don't
need. Second, from a strategy/system standpoint don't ask
others to help you place your bets. If you don't have a solid
plan you shouldn't be betting in the first place. It's like
having a non-pro help with your golf swing, it usually leads to crappy
shots.
6.
Don't bet your rent or food money
- You should have a household/living budget established anyway, so
incorporate entertainment/fun money into it as well. Again,
follow a strict money
management plan to establish
what
this amount will be.
7.
Bet what you initially picked
- I'm going to guess a fair amount of time was taken to determine the
games you'll bet on right? So, don't get involved in betting
anything spur of the moment just because it looks like a sure
thing. Or, play a parlay or teaser if it's not part of your
normal betting regimen. These "just for the hell of it" type
bets can become habit forming and drain your bankroll.
I hope this article has given you some things to think about.
Following the above tips will make sports betting much more fun and
exciting. In the end it's really about using logic and common
sense. Sprinkle in a bit of discipline, avoid the greed
monster and you're good to go!
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