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Sports Betting: Tight vs Loose Wagering Styles

When it comes to placing wagers there are two styles most commonly used, the tight betting style and the loose betting style, both of which have advantages and disadvantages.

The tight sports betting style is the more disciplined of the two, because people who bet this way are very calculating, and do not take too many risks. This is a very good strategy, because you don’t have to worry about losing all your money, since you don’t make any crazy bets that would hurt you in the long run.

The loose betting style is more exciting, because it is a high risk, high reward type of style. People who place wagers this way tend to go with their gut feelings more than they rely on statistics, and tend to make money on underdogs that someone that uses the tight betting technique wouldn’t, because of the risks associated with placing the bet. This betting style is great for people that are just in it for the fun of it, because it isn’t very practical or sustainable, and they will eventually lose all their money.

The fact that people who use the tight betting style only take calculated risks doesn’t mean that they won’t break the mold every once in a while with an uncharacteristic bet, which they do from time to time. They just don’t make a habit of making wild bets, because they are likely doing this for a living. People that use the tight betting style are the type of people that do a lot of research before placing bets, which increases their chances of picking correctly, which will help them make more money.

 

Some of the risks associated with the tight betting style include:

Overthinking the lines

Some people that tend to be on the tight betting side can do too much research on a particular game that they want to bet on, and over think or outsmart themselves. This leads to them making the wrong decision on the bet, and losing some money.

Missing out on well-paying underdogs

Tight betters don’t usually risk a lot of money chasing underdogs, because they would rather bet on a more certain outcome. This strategy can backfire sometimes, because it makes them ignore certain underdogs that have a chance to give them a very good payout, which most people would bet on, due to their cautious nature.

 

Some of the risks associated with loose betters are:

Impulsiveness

Loose betters are generally known to be very impulsive when it comes to placing wagers, which can either give them a big payout, or cost them a lot of money. Unfortunately, it usually costs them more than it gives them.

Lack of Research

Loose betters don’t tend to do a lot of research when it comes to placing their bets, due to their impulsive nature. The lack of research also hurts them when it comes to making bets.

Chasing Bets

Another problem that arises from being impulsive is the fact that loose betters tend to chase bets, which is also known as throwing good money at bad money. This occurs when they have lost a lot of money, and try to win it back by spending even more money.

 

Some of the advantages of tight betting include:

Knowing When to Walk Away

Unlike their loose betting counterparts, it is almost impossible to see a tight better chase lost money. Whenever they are having a bad day, a tight better will accept defeat, and live to play another day, because they aren’t going to try to win the money they lost back, on the spot.

They Tend to Make More Money

Due to the fact that tight betters are patient, they usually last longer than loose betters, which means they end up making more money than their counterparts.

 

Some of the advantages of being a loose better include:

Getting Bigger Payouts

Since loose betters place a lot of bets on underdogs, they tend to get some really big payouts when the underdogs come through. They also get to cash in on other types of bets that tight betters wouldn’t risk their money on, like parlays and teasers.

They Get To Follow Their Instincts

 

When it comes to betting, following your instinct can help you make some good decisions, but most tight betters don’t do so, because they are more practical and generally use statistics to help them make their picks. Loose betters aren’t afraid to go with their instincts, it isn’t always right, but it helps them pick some winners.

These are some of the risks and advantages of tight betting and loose betting, it is hard to choose which style is better, because each style serves a specific need, depending on your reasons for betting.