Want to avoid stupid bets? We’re with you on that front too.
Betting on darts can be fun. But there are loads of times that you might find yourself making stupid bets that really, you could’ve avoided.
We’re going to help you on your quest to stop betting in a silly way. Once you avoid stupid bets that you regret making, you can make sure your betting sessions are a little smarter and safer.
1. Think twice
It’s all too easy to just press a button online and make a wager. But one of the most useful pieces of advice we’ve ever heard is to pause before making every single sports bet. Decide what you want to bet. Then take a step back. Make a tea, have a look out the window. Think about it. If you still want to make the bet after a few minutes, then go for it. If you’ve decided it’s not for you, then that’s great. That’s one stupid bet avoided!
2. Don’t bet under the influence
Whether your poison is alcohol or any other mood or mind altering substance, you should certainly not be under the influence while you’re betting. Betting when you’re drunk is going to lead to you make stupid decisions.
3. Always stick to your budget
Your gambling budget should be at the heart of every decision you make at the bookies, whether that’s online or offline. Once you go over your daily, weekly, monthly or yearly limit, every bet you make after that is definitely not worth it. Even if it comes in, it’s not smart to overspend on your gambling budget.
4. Never try to make up money you lost
You made a bet. Things didn’t go your way. What can we say, it happens. The worst thing you can do is try to rectify that situation by betting more. The subsequent bets you make to try and replenish your funds are undoubtedly going to be made out of desperation not out of a sports savvy. Betting more is probably just going to result in your losing more!
5. Keep your mental health in check
If you’re annoyed, stressed out or anxious, you’re probably not going to be thinking straight about anything, let alone betting. Avoid stupid bets by making sure that your head is straight when you’re enjoying a flutter. But as an aside, if you find that betting itself is making your feel anxious (or if you feel bad when you don’t bet), this is a warning sign you might have a gambling problem and you should get help.
6. Don’t spend too long betting
If you don’t keep an eye on the length of your gambling sessions, they can get too long without you even noticing the time go. The longer you bet, the sloppier you become. You’ll get tired, you’ll be less focused. So to keep yourself sharp and avoid stupid bets, you should take a look at limiting the time you spend gambling.
7. Know how gambling works
Sometimes understanding the mechanics of gambling can help you navigate the world of making smart bets a little better. Arming yourself with more knowledge, especially the fact that sportsbook’s main goal is to make money off punters, puts you in a much better position than sticking your head in the sand.
Getting help for a gambling problem
No amount of advice to avoid stupid bets is going to help you if you’re battling with a gambling problem. You need to stop gambling entirely to overcome addiction. And in order to give yourself the best chance, you should get external help. UK-based Be Gamble Aware is a really important resource that you can turn to for practical advice and support.
Here are a few more responsible gambling articles that you might find helpful: