Courtesy freedigitalphotos.net
When I was living in Morocco, from my balcony I could see what looked like an abandoned running track. I wondered for a while what it was, especially since it would be illuminated at night, and deserted most of the day. Turns out it was a dog race track, and people were coming to bet on the dogs three times a week. It was pretty interesting to watch the whole show from my window, as you could feel the tension surrounding the races and the bets. It is amazing how people get caught, not so much by the tremendous efforts dogs are making but by the potential windfall if they win.
What is fun with general sports betting is that unlike playing roulette in a casino for example, you really have a show surrounding it. If you bet on a football game, then you will be entertained for 90 minutes, and waiting until the last moment to check on the outcome of the game. With roulette, the ball is thrown, and 30 seconds later, it is over. If you are betting small sums, just for the fun of it, that can be pretty cheap entertainment. A few recommendations though:
Stay safe. Always use reputable companies, like sport betting dime, a quick online search will help you with that.
Only commit money you can afford. Set a budget for that kind of entertainment, like you would a movie night or a restaurant. If you spend $25 every Saturday on drinks out with your friends, when the money runs out, you say goodbye and go back home. Same here, set a fixed amount, and don’t get caught to go over your limit.
Make it a fun event. The money shouldn’t be the center of it all. It is a way for you to get together with your friends and have a good time. You can prepare a few snacks to watch a game at home, or choose to go out to a bar instead. In any case, it is a moment to bond and have fun.
Don’t get bitter. If you planned for both outcomes, losing shouldn’t leave you with remorse. That is ok, you went out, had fun, and the cost of fun was expected. Now you can decide if you want to give it another go. But you can’t make up for the past, and it is ok.
Remember the taxman. Depending on where you live, tax laws are different for your gaming earnings. Be sure to include them in next year’s tax return and to pay the adequate tax on it. They are part or your annual income, like your salary or your rental income from properties.
Have fun!
I used to bet on basketball games when I was younger but I think I’ve gotten over that hobby of mine. I think everyone somhow goes through that at one point in time in their lives but not everyone can control the greed that comes with it. It can get really crazy sometimes.