[starbucks]

The beginning of the NFL season is similar to the start of a new year --
providing a perfect opportunity for players to ‘wipe the slate clean’ and
carry out a health-check on their betting, much like the soul-searching on
New Year’s Day that results in life-enhancing resolutions. With this in
mind, Pinnacle Sports has assembled ten Gambler’s Resolutions; but don’t
worry, these don’t involve exercising or giving up beer!

While you may already apply some of these golden rules for improved
betting; others may be new to you. In either case, carefully applying this
set of guidelines, should help you become more successful betting
football.

Top 10 Gambler’s Resolutions

1. Get the best price
If you make only one NFL resolution this year, promise yourself to ALWAYS
obtain the best available price. At PinnacleSports.com, we offer -104
lines on NFL sides saving players up to 60% of the juice other books
charge. Holding an account at Pinnacle will, therefore, save you a fortune
during the season regardless of whether you’re a professional handicapper
or a “weekend warrior”.

Put another way, a player has to win close to 53% of their bets just to
break even at traditional -110 pricing offered by other sportsbooks. At a
low juice sports book like Pinnacle Sportsbetting, you only need to win
just 51% of your plays to break even.

2. Learn conversions
Serious players know how often a 3-point home-favorite will win by exactly
3. If they see a spread of New England -7.5 quoted at -104, they can also
immediately reason what the fair price is for New England to cover a 7
point spread or any other spread for that matter. Knowing these
conversions not only helps you find the best bets, but aids in analyzing
props and other markets such as teasers. Many players are long term
winners despite applying absolutely no handicapping by simply unearthing
opportunities by meticulously studying conversions.

3. Understand the Pinnacle Lean
A lot of sharp players use Pinnacle Sports because of our unrivalled
pricing, and their plays tell us (as well as indirectly all other players)
which side of a game to be on. Time and again we’ve seen players track
“the Pinnacle lean” and win. The concept is simple: compare Pinnacle’s
line to other sportsbooks. If the lines are different, you can beat the
other book. For example, if Pinnacle Sportsbetting has the Arizona
Cardinals -7.5 and another book lists them at -7, the value lies in
playing at the other sportsbook. (For a more detailed explanation, look at
Pinnacle Pulse Issue 08 from last year).

4. Keep good records
Keeping an accurate track record of your plays can reveal areas of
weakness you may not have been previously aware of. You might find that
you win in most markets, but consistently lose money in one particular
area. For example, you may crush the book on NFL sides, but get killed on
totals. A bettor may also flourish at a particular point of the season and
be unsuccessful at another. PinnacleSports.com offers clients a
comprehensive account review facility that highlights these trends, which
can then be corrected, maximized or avoided.

5. Use good risk management
Risk management is perhaps the most misunderstood and undervalued concept
in sports betting. If you bet for fun, the average cost for a bet is based
on the juice or vig. For example, betting $100 on an NFL game using
standard -110 pricing at a traditional sportsbook has an average cost of
$5 per game. If you do no handicapping and just play for kicks, betting
100 games at $100 each, you should expect to lose $500 in a season.
Winning players must understand this too. It’s possible to be a successful
handicapper, but still lose long-term by betting more money than your
advantage dictates. A sensible tactic for winning players is to never risk
more than 3% of bankroll on any given play and to always shop for the best
price.

6. Manage Expectations
Many players bet with no idea of what to expect long term. Some are too
optimistic in assessing their capabilities, especially novice players, who
plan their retirement on the basis of an early winning streak. In major
sports very few players can expect to win more than 55%. If you’re just
playing for fun or excitement, hitting exactly 50% is a realistic
expectation.

7. Select your Sportsbook wisely
Many sportsbooks will offer promotions to encourage new players to sign
up. At Pinnacle Sports for instance, new players will receive a 10% sign
up bonus worth up to $500 just for trying our service.
The general rule of thumb is that if a promotion looks too good to be
true, it probably is. There have been some horrific sportsbook failures
and nearly all were a result of unsustainable promotions. If a sportsbook
gives a large bonus, lets you buy on/off the “3” for 10 cents, or offers a
similar promotion that makes it look “easy” to beat, you’re risking
getting burned.
As a general rule of thumb, stick to solid sports books that have been
established for at least five years. A good starting point for new players
is to build a sportsbook portfolio that includes at least one
reduced-juice book like PinnacleSports.com, which offers up to 60% better
odds than traditional sportsbooks. In the long run playing reduced vig
lines at Pinnacle Sportsbook is worth much more than any sign-up bonus.

8. Limit your bankroll
Bankroll is traditionally defined as the amount of money a bettor is
prepared to lose before they’ll stop wagering. Decide what your bankroll
is before the season begins and stick to it. If you hit a losing streak
(everyone will at some point), reduce the bet size relative to your lower
bankroll. If you haven’t thought about your bankroll before, now is a good
time. By failing to address this fundamental aspect of gambling you could
easily lose more than you ever intended.

9. Define your goals
Whether you’re a professional or recreational bettor, give yourself clear
objectives. If you’re a pro, don’t just focus on hitting a financial
target, think about how you’ll reach it. This might include doing
statistical analysis on smaller markets, making larger plays where there’s
an edge, or just protecting your bank until the season ends. In each case,
be sure to identify and remain focused on the goal.

10. Understand why you bet
Different people bet for different reasons. A minority are skillful enough
to make a living from sports betting, but the motivation for the vast
majority of players is less obvious, even to themselves. Some enjoy the
intellectual challenge of analyzing a match-up, while others bet to add
excitement to watching a live game. Be honest with yourself about what
your motivation is, as understanding why you bet will help you make better
decisions.

Pinnacle Sports Book & Online Betting

Pinnacle Sportsbook is an online betting company providing the best odds
on sportsbook gambling, online horseracing, online casino gaming, and
online poker.

With excellent 24/7 customer service, fast payouts, and secure Internet
betting, Pinnacle Sports Book satisfies all your sports book betting
requirements and game wagering needs.

The Pinnacle Sports Book also offers reduced juice betting so sign-up now
with Pinnacle SportsBook Betting and get wagering today!