When betting, which is better? Sports betting or poker? Are you good at playing poker or do you think you are better off analyzing the odds in sports betting?
It’s an interesting question with many factors. I once read in a book on professional gambling that successful sports gamblers make more money than any other type of gambler, including poker players. That is of course a bit short-sighted. Some people are better at playing poker (인싸포커) than they will ever be at football betting for example. So what could be better?
Similarities of Sports Betting and Betting on Poker
1. Sports betting and poker require professional gamblers
The biggest similarity between sports betting and poker is that you can do it professionally. Playing on online slots or roulette, on the other hand, cannot be done professionally.
A huge number of poker players are actually making their living from playing poker. The same goes for sports gamblers. Poker players who intend to play to earn profit lose money most of the time. Therefore, the percentage of real poker professionals is really small. Sports gamblers on the other hand may have the same percentage however there is no real data to support the theory. Although there is a possibility that there are more who makes a profit in sports betting than poker.
2. Both will require a bankroll with enough money to support the game
Another similarity between sports betting and poker is that you’ll require a bankroll with enough money to support the game. The outcomes of both sports and poker are unpredictable so you will need a huge amount of money so as not to go bankrupt. Whenever you are dealing with a mathematical advantage in gambling, it is a long-term expectation. Anything can happen in the short term. When you play poker, you should never buy more than 5% of your bankroll. This means that if you are going to buy into a table for €100, you must have a minimum of €2000 in your total poker bankroll.
When betting on sports, you should never wager more than 1% of your bankroll on any one game. If you are really aggressive and confident you risk 2% of your bankroll on a single sports bet. This means that if you want to bet $100 per game, you must have a bankroll of $10,000.
** A bankroll is money that you have set aside for gambling. It should be money that you don’t need for any other purpose.
Read also: The Difference Between Sports Betting And Casino
Final Thoughts
What’s a better way to gamble? Poker or sports? There is no definitive answer because the answer varies from person to person. If you’re bad at poker but good at sports betting, it’s obvious what kind of gambling you should be doing. The reverse also applies. If you’re good at both, you should do both. Many professional poker players are also professional sports gamblers.