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Casino Games that Make Sports Bettors Better
Casino games can be an unlikely source of inspiration for sports bettors and, when used correctly, help you make better decisions.
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How Casino Games Keep Bettors Sharp Between Matches
Picture this scenario:
It’s 0-0 at half-time in the latest Premier League clash between Arsenal and Chelsea. You can feel the bore draw shutting off your brain, so you start looking for distractions. That’s where online casino games come in.
As entertaining as sports betting is, there are times when it’s easy to lose focus, motivation, and your sense of what constitutes a +EV bet. It’s at these times I like to spark my brain back into life with casino games.
Why? Because there are crossover concepts that can help you think more logically about the potential value of your bets.
Crossover Concepts: The Theory of Gambling
The crossover concept that connects sports betting and casino gaming is expected value (EV). Expected value (EV) is the total amount you stand to win/lose if you make the same bet forever.
In blackjack, for example, hitting on 20 is negative EV (-EV) because, over time, you’ll lose more than you win. Conversely, according to basic blackjack strategy, hitting on 11 when the dealer is showing a 5 is more profitable over time than standing. Therefore, it’s +EV.
It’s harder to calculate EV in sports betting because there are more unknown variables. However, the concept is still relevant. Let’s say Arsenal are beating Chelsea 4-0 with 10 minutes left to play.
In this situation, it’s unlikely Chelsea will win. It’s possible, but in terms of calculating EV, Chelsea are more likely to lose more often than win in this scenario if it were repeated a thousand times.
Thinking like this gives you a better chance of picking +EV sports bets. That doesn’t mean you’ll win every time. No outcome is guaranteed in gambling. However, if you make more +EV bets than -EV bets, you’ll make a profit in the long run.
Casino games allow you to see this concept more clearly than sports betting because you can play hundreds of rounds per hour. More bets generate more results that reveal the true value of your decisions. That’s why playing casino games is a productive use of your time.
Which Casino Games Keep Sports Bettors Sharp?
The two best casino games to play if you’re a sports bettor looking to sharpen your skills are blackjack and roulette. Most players gravitate towards slots because they have the steepest multiplier curve when it comes to payouts.
However, from an EV perspective, blackjack because the right strategy can reduce the casino’s advantage (house edge) and, in some cases, negate it completely. Roulette is another great casino game for sports bettors because of its wide range of betting options. This brings into play the concept of risk vs reward.
Risk vs Reward in Betting
For example, single numbers (straight-up bets) offer the best return at 35:1. However, with 37 numbers on a European roulette board, they’re high-risk bets. The sports betting equivalent of a straight-up bet is an outright bet on the Grand National.
Outside bets, such as red or black, pay 1:1 but are basically 50/50 propositions. Outside bets are similar to each-way bets because you’ve got multiple ways to win. I’m not saying they’re exact equivalents, but they’re close enough in terms of risk profiles.
Knowing this, you can use roulette to develop a betting strategy based on your risk tolerance.
How to Play Casino Games Between Sports Events
The beauty of sportsbooks like Bet Vickers and Best Odds is that they have casinos and universal wallets. This means you can tap the casino tab and use some of your bankroll to play games between events or while they’re in progress.
I recommend using a micro-betting strategy to avoid risking more than you can afford to lose. This simply means playing the lowest stakes possible. Remember, you’re not trying to win a fortune. The aim is to reinforce important gambling concepts.
I also recommend playing live dealer versions of blackjack and roulette. These social multi-player casino games are interactive and, therefore, more entertaining. You can also chat with other players who might be able to give you some useful information or betting tips.
Finally, it’s worth noting that you can stop playing casino games whenever you want. That’s why I encourage you to think of it like the instant cash-out option on sports bets. Stop when you’ve won enough, or you need to cut your losses.
Do these things and think carefully about the moves you’re making, and you’ll go back to the sports betting arena with a clear vision of how to make smart moves, even in the midst of a bore draw.
Chad’s career in the sports betting industry began in October 2013 when he joined Hollywoodbets. During his time there, he wrote football betting content for the Hollywoodbets Sports Blog and contributed extensively to their weekly betting publication, Soccer Betting News. His work and leadership eventually led to him being appointed Editor-in-Chief of the publication in February 2016.