Many sports fans think that betting on their favorite teams and players must be easy. They may have success some weeks, but the long-term results will probably be a loss. This is because after accounting for the vig or juice, sportsbooks only make money if they hit 52.4% of their bets. Even the best “experts” get less than that percentage correct.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve your chances of making a profit by placing bets. One important thing is to do adequate research before betting on a game. This can include weather forecasts, staying current with injury news, and looking at past performance against an opponent.
The next thing to consider is how much you want to wager. For most people, the best bet size is 1-2% of their total bankroll per play. This allows for the possibility of a bad streak to occur without blowing up their account. It also gives them enough cushion to place a larger bet if they are on a good run.
Another factor to consider is the sportsbook’s handling of the action. The handle is the amount of money wagered on a particular game, and can help identify which side of a line has more action. Keeping the lines balanced is a major goal of sportsbooks, as it ensures that they can profit on any bet. This is possible thanks to the fact that pushes are refunded by most sports books.