What Is a Square in Sports Betting?
Sports betting involves various strategies and types of bettors, with “square” being a common term for those new to the game. Identifying as a square bettor isn’t a setback—it’s an opportunity for growth. Curious to learn how? Keep reading our article.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Understand the concept of a “square” in sports betting and learn the common traits of a square bettor
- Explore ways in which square bettors impact the betting market
- Find out how to improve as a square bettor and become a more savvy bettor
What Does “Square” Mean in Sports Betting?
In sports betting, a “square” refers to a bettor who lacks strategy or research, often making predictable decisions based on popular trends or personal feelings.
Square bettors typically display several common traits and characteristics, such as the following:
- Bets on Popular Teams: Chooses well-known teams without thorough analysis.
- Lacks Research: Minimal attention to injuries or weather impacts.
- Follows Emotions: Bets based on personal feelings rather than data.
- Favors Big Favorites: Prefers heavily favored teams despite lower value.
- Predictable Patterns: Mirrors crowd behavior, easily anticipated by others.
- Belief in “Luck”: Relies on gut feelings over data analysis.
- Misconception of Value: Focuses on winning rather than securing better odds.
- Confirmation Bias: Recalls successes, ignores losses, reinforcing poor habits.
A sharp bettor, in contrast, focuses on systematic and profit-driven approaches—very different tactics and levels of discipline compared to those of a square bettor.
Impact of Square Betting on the Market
Squares, or casual bettors, often place bets on popular teams, creating demand for specific wagers. This behavior is enough to impact the sports betting market, prompting sportsbooks to adjust odds to maintain balance and profit.
For instance, if many squares bet on the New York Yankees, sportsbooks might shift the odds to encourage betting on the opposing team.
Sportsbooks target square bettors for several reasons:
- Economic Benefits: Squares provide predictable profits by betting on favorites, allowing sportsbooks to set consistent lines and adjust for balance. With casual bettors forming a large percentage, they offer steady revenue streams.
- Strategic Advantages: Squares are easier to attract with marketing and sports betting bonuses, fostering brand loyalty through user-friendly platforms.
How to Use Insights About Square Bettors to Your Advantage
Understanding your own betting style is key to improvement. If you identify as a square bettor, no problem! That’s your starting point for growth.
Here are five insights about square bettors you can leverage to become a better bettor:
1. Finding Square Trends
I noticed that square bettors normally follow popular teams, big favorites, or well-known players. By keeping an eye on this, I started to see when the public was too focused on one outcome. When this happened, I’d think about betting against them, which often gave me better odds. This simple change helped me make smarter bets.
2. Watching for Line Changes
Before I placed bets, I began to watch how the betting lines moved as the game got closer. If the lines suddenly shifted toward the underdog, it was usually a sign that experienced bettors (sharps) saw something. By following these movements, I found more chances to bet on underdogs and win.
3. Checking Public Betting Percentages
Some sportsbooks show what percentage of people are betting on each side. I started using this to see where the public was putting their money. If everyone was betting on one side, it usually meant that the odds were inflated, giving me a chance to find value on the other side. This strategy helped me avoid bad bets.
4. Focusing on Value, Not Popularity
I stopped betting just because a team was popular or had big-name players. Instead, I began looking at the stats, checking injury reports, and analyzing the matchups. This approach led me to find underdogs with a good chance of winning, even if the odds didn’t show it.
5. Not Being Contrarian Just to Be Different
At first, I was tempted to bet against the public just because it seemed smart. But I learned that’s not always the best idea. Instead, I started basing my bets on research and understanding the game, not just being different for the sake of it. This shift helped me make more consistent and logical betting choices.
Tools and Resources to Enhance Your Betting Strategies
If you want to take it one step further and become a more advanced sports bettor, consider the following tools and resources:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Sports Analytics Websites | Sites like ESPN Stats & Info and Sports Reference offer stats on teams, players, and trends. |
| Advanced Betting Metrics | Metrics like Expected Goals (xG) in soccer or Win Probability Added (WPA) in baseball give deeper insights into performance. |
| Subscription Services | Premium content with detailed analysis, injury reports, and algorithmic betting picks, to be used with caution. |
| Podcasts & Betting Shows | Shows like Beat the Book and The Betting Guys offer insights from experienced handicappers. |
| Betting Newsletters | Provide insights and betting picks from reputable analysts based on research. |
| Following Experts on Social Media | Certain analysts and handicappers are a must-follow on social media for sports betting advice. |
| Odds Comparison Websites | Tools like Odds Shark allow you to compare odds from different sportsbooks for the best value. |
| Line Tracking Tools | Services like VegasInsider track historical line movements, helping you spot sharp money influencing odds. |
| Betting Calculators | Online calculators and betting tools to assess potential payouts and understand the implied probability of the offered odds. |
From Square to Savvy: Your Sports Betting Journey
At TrustnBet, we are committed to helping you transform from a square bettor to a more savvy one. If this sounds like a goal to you, consider exploring more of our Betting 101 guides to further familiarize you with key terms and important concepts in sports betting. You’ll be a much more knowledgeable sports bettor at the end of it.