Is it really worth considering certain odds values or is it good to look for something else? Does a low odds system benefit you and is of enough interest to you? Find out below the answers to many of the questions you end up asking about sports betting odds.
Betting for everyone
Odds between @1.20 and @1.40 are considered low odds. Many punters have this perception that they share among them. A general approach can categorize sports betting odds as follows:
- Very low odds, odds in the range @1.01 – @1.20
- Low odds, odds in the range @1.20 – @1.40
- Average odds, odds in the range @1.40 – @1.80
- High odds, odds greater than @1.80
It is an empirical classification of odds and is not related to the value concept. Neither the margin of the betting operators nor the variation determined by various factors is taken into account. These odds are just understood by players who have their own criteria and expectations.
A representation of low odds @1.20 – @1.40
Odds reflect possibilities and are directly proportional to the estimated chances of an event participant. Odds, in decimal format, like @1.20, @1.40 represent the inverse of the estimated probability. More specifically, at the odds of @1.20, your team has an estimated 80% chance of winning the game. At odds @1.40, your team has an estimated 60% chance of winning the game. Who estimates? The betting operator, the bookmaker you play at, where you place your bets or tickets.
A punter must have trained abilities: the ability to choose and the ability to analyze. Both are equally important but act differently depending on the game strategies. At the same time, both can lead you to the wrong decisions. No matter how carefully you analyze and choose, at odds of @1.25, for example, errors or unforeseen events may occur. Juventus loses at home to Sassuolo, Bayern Munich concedes 5 goals from Borussia Monchengladbach without scoring, PSG gives way to Marseille and the examples are numerous in just one week.
2 odds of @1.40 gives you a total odds of @1.96. At the @2.00 odds limit with a small disadvantage of 4 percentage points for you. This shows how well you have to choose and how many winning bets you need to have to cover the 4 percentage points. And there would be something else…the betting house margin:
The calculation formula for the bookmaker margin is
1/odds + 1/odds + 1/odds +… – 1
In a match where the odds are @1.40 / @ 3.95 / @ 4.70, the margin is 1 / 1.40 + 1 / 3.95 + 1 / 4.70 – 1 = 0.714 + 0.253 + 0.212 – 1 = 0.179, i.e. 17.9%. You will notice differences by comparing the odds that different operators have for the same match and you will know that the differences appear due to this margin. Even so, each odds per sign 1, X, 2 still undergo changes and adjustments to reduce the gaps. But you will know that a listed share can be substantially different even from the market average. More to the point, this means that you get the @1.34 share instead of @1.40 or @1.27 instead of @1.38 which clearly disadvantages you in the longer term.
What are the most attractive low odds bets?
You immediately think that it is very easy to choose 5-6 matches at average odds of @1.30 and to make a ticket with great chances of success. Unfortunately, this is not the case at all and experience and statistics confirm it. Small odds are attractive to any punter who considers them “safer” but using these odds involves more than luck and random choices.
Orienting yourself only to the value of (small) quotas is a costly mistake. The higher the number of events played at the same time (on a ticket), the lower your chances of success. You have to take into account the betting budget, the amount you have at your disposal, your yield but also the duration you play.
In practice, between @1.20 – @1.40 you can place some types of interesting and easy to use bets:
- Win any half – one of the teams to win any of the halves of a match.
- Over 1.5 goals – at least 2 goals scored in a match, one of the most popular bets in existence.
- Asian handicap of 1.5, 2.5 goals – there are many situations in which the lower ranked team receives a very good odds to play to cover the handicap.
- The home team scores at least 2 goals – often used by punters in matches considered open or where there are clear differences between the value of opponents.
When it comes to strategies, techniques or game systems, the best known is “easy money“, “climber’s technique” or “rolling strategy“. As the names suggest, these are small, consistent steps that use the entire betting budget. How do you actually play? Is simple: you bet small amounts on the entire amount by rolling the stakes and winnings until you reach a goal. And the goal part is essential.
A practical example, you start the strategy with 100 Lei and bet on odds of @1.20 – @1.40. You bet the winnings again and so on. 100 * 1.2 = 120; 120 * 1.2 = 144; 144 * 1.2 = 172; 172 * 1.2 = 207 (with the required deviations). This shows you that if you place 4 winning bets at the odds of @1.20, you double your initial bank and win something extra. It also shows you clearly that you need precise objectives but also alternative solutions. If you lose the first bet, you start with the same amount. If you double your earnings, you can make a profit and start from scratch.
What are the advantages and limitations of this strategy? First of all, it’s about the ease with which you can use and adapt it for yourself. You can make gains quite easily but you have to be patient and respect the goals related to profit and loss. The main disadvantage is that you are exposed to low levels and you need to have a consistent budget in case of failures.
Do not be fooled by the ease of theoretical examples, sports betting wins are not easy. There are many factors that influence a sporting event and odds are influenced accordingly. If you manage to have fun, relax and spend a pleasant time betting, then experiment.
Many players support and promote the idea that you can’t win by playing low odds. It is not a really justified theory because there have been many examples in which a respected strategy has worked. The low odds offer a sense of security that cannot be denied. There are cases when these odds are also valuable and can be profitably combined. It is worth betting taking into account a game strategy.
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