Favourites vs underdogs

One of the biggest factors in sports betting is favourites versus underdogs. Favourites are an athlete or team who have a record of excellence compared to the underdog who is less likely to actually win. Betting on the favourites will mean a far smaller payout than betting on the underdogs. In big matches the odds on the favourites can be as small as 1/1, while the odds on the underdogs are far higher. The South Africa versus Japan match, for example, stood at odds of 80/1 for Japan to win. This meant that if you put R100 on South Africa to win, your payout would be R101.25 if South Africa (the favourites) won. However, if Japan won (as was the totally unexpected outcome), your payout on a R100 bet was R8,100.00!

There is a very good reason why the odds are smaller when you bet on the favourite. The past history, skill, experience and overall results of the favourite usually mean that they are the better athlete or team and are expected to win. Manchester United taking on a 3^rd division South African team would be expected to win. Muhammed Ali taking on an amateur boxer in his first-ever bout would be expected to win. And the odds reflect that.

But the unexpected does happen

One of the most glorious facets of sports is that, on any given day, anything could happen. The South African Rugby team, one of the best in the world, has lost to Italy and Japan, two teams waaaaay down the rankings of international rugby. New Zealand, another top three rugby team, have lost to Argentina, a team that were never expected to do anything but lose by record margins.

There are so many things that happen during a sports event that there is always the possibility of an upset: the conditions, the fitness of the athletes, the way the ref controls the game, the home crowd (a massive factor in sports), the belief of the teams or athletes.

Or maybe it’s something a bit more underhanded?

How cheating affects sports betting

Sports betting is very susceptible to cheating. In an industry worth billions, there will always be someone trying to make a quick (million) bucks.

Sports is all about people and, unfortunately, people are people and people do as people do. When there is so much money at stake, the temptation to make a little extra on the side has proven to be too great for some players.

The infamous Muhammed Ali versus Sonny Liston boxing match is mired in controversy as people claim that Liston ‘took a dive’ and lost due to Mafia pressure.

The ‘Cronje Affair’ is an infamous case where the South African cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, together with two other players agreed to fix matches for Indian bookies.

Tennis, football, NFL, baseball, basketball, motor racing, athletics, every major sports code around the world has been, or has the potential to be, affected by unscrupulous bookies and players.

Even officials have been caught up in match-fixing scandals with FIFA being top of the corrupt dealings list.

Decisions by players and officials during the game are part of what makes sports so thrilling and unpredictable, but they can also be used to change a game’s outcome.

Is sports betting legal?

Sports betting is commonplace around the world but the legality changes from country to country and even from state to state. In America for example, 23 states and territories have made sports betting legal but the rest still consider it illegal. In the UK sports betting is perfectly legal. And in South Africa spots betting is legal.

However, sports betting in any country is only legal when it is done through registered and licensed bookmakers.

Check local laws before you place bets in any country.

Play with the pros

Just like playing casino games for real money, betting on a sports event gives us a feeling of being personally and financially involved in a game. As such, we need to make sure we are doing our gambling in a trusted, professional and licensed environment.

There are hundreds of legal bookies around the world and hundreds of online bookies and apps for the passionate sports and gambling fan. Online casinos are starting to open up sports betting in certain cases so always check with your favourite online gambling partner for when or if they are offering you the odds to back your team.

As always, play responsibly. Check the odds. Don’t bet with your heart, bet with your head. The unexpected is unexpected for a reason so follow the advice of the experts and, maybe, put a small bet down on the underdog just in case.