2.  Decide on your maximum bet. Placing all your money on one outcome you believe in will not do the trick. Only distributing the risk between multiple games will result in profits. Thus, limiting your maximum bet will increase your chances to win. The “rule of thumb” for a beginner's maximum bet is #200.

3. Choose the correct betting category. Start betting on two basic categories only: Full Time Result and Total Under/Over 2.5 goals. Full Time Result means selecting one of three possible game outcomes: Home Win, Draw or Away Win. Total Under/Over 2.5 means selecting whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be under or over 2.5. Advanced statistical models have proven that betting on those two categories is the most effective. In maths we trust!

4. Understand the outcome probabilities. The probabilities of match outcome are usually defined in the range between 0% (no chance) and 100% (a sure bet). For example, the Full Time Outcome Probabilities may be as follows: Home Win = 60%, Draw = 15%, Away Win = 25%. And the Total Under/Over 2.5 Probabilities: Under 2.5 = 45%, Over 2.5 = 55%. The sum of all Full Time Outcome Probabilities must be equal to 100%, since one of these three outcomes will indeed take place. The sum of Total Under/Over 2.5 Probabilities must be equal to 100% too, since the total number of goals scored during any soccer match will be either under or over 2.5. In other words, the probability of any outcome expresses your belief in this outcome, scaled between 0% and 100%. Probabilities are also widely known as "betting tips" or "predictions", and can be found on the web. Let's explain how you can evaluate them.

Find a good website or betting tips. The best way to find probabilities of match outcomes is by using Internet resources. There are a number of sites that provide free tips. Type "soccer betting tips" in Google and you will find most of them. When choosing your site, check that the tips provided perform well with time by comparing between the probabilities and the real match outcomes. The bigger the difference between the tips and the bookmakers' predictions (will be explained later), the bigger are your profits.

6.  Understand the "Fixed Odds" market. Bookmakers define fixed odds for each of the Full Time and Under/Over 2.5 outcomes. For example, the Full Time outcomes odds can be: Home Win = 1.5, Draw = 3.6, Away Win = 5.8. That means that if you place $100 on Home Win and win, you will get $100 * 1.5 = $150 from the bookmaker. If not, you lose your $100. Thus, odds are basically your stake multiplier, and you interested in the highest odds for the outcome you bet on.

7. Understand the connection between odds and probabilities. Given the odds above, try calculating their inverse: 1/1.5, 1/3.6, 1/5.8, and multiply by 100%. You will get the probabilities of bookmaker for the given outcome: Home Win = 66%, Draw = 27%, Away Win = 17%. Unfortunately, when you calculate their sum as in the previous example, you will not get 100%, but 110%. The 10% difference represents the commissions that the bookmaker adds to the odds. Subtracting 10%/3 from the three above will give you the exact bookies' probabilities: Home Win = 63%, Draw = 24%, Away Win = 13%.

8. Choose your bookmaker. The best bookmaker for you is the bookmaker with the highest odds for the outcome you choose to bet on. Betting tips websites will generally offer you a list of bookmakers and their odds for each game. You may choose the bookmaker with the highest odds and register in order to place your stake.

9. Compare the odds and your betting probabilities. A well known way to compare bookmakers' odds and your probabilities is simply by multiplying among them. If you get a high value for some outcome, it means you have a good chance for profit. However, if your predictions are inaccurate, your calculation of the outcome's potential might be wrong. For example, if the bookies' odds are set to be: Home Win = 1.5, Draw = 3.6, Away Win = 5.8 and the tips you found on the web are: Home Win = 60%, Draw = 15%, Away Win = 25%, then multiplying results in the following potential for each outcome: Home Win = 1.5 * 60% = 0.9, Draw = 3.6 * 15% = 0.54, Away Win = 5.8 * 25%=1.45. You can see that in this case, the potential of Away Win is the highest. Unfortunately, the probability of Away Win = 25% and thus, if you decide betting on Away Win, your chances to win will be only 25%.

10. Find a stake with high winning potential. The "rule of thumb" is: place a stake on the outcomes with odds that are higher than 3 and a probability that is higher than 40%. In this case, the value of the outcome will be 1.3. This is how you calculate the stake: Stake = 1/100 * Budget * (Probability – (100%-Probability) / (Odds-1)). For example, when Odds for Home Win = 3.0, the Probability of Home Win = 40% and Budget = $1000, the stake you have to place will be: Stake = 1/100 * $1000 * (40% - (100%-40%) / (3-1)) = $100. Since the maximal sum allowed is $50, this will be your stake. If the calculated stake is less than 0, don't bet.

11. Choose your leagues. Once you found your best tipping website, you may evaluate its performance for each league by comparing between the tips it provides and the real match results. Choose those leagues, where the site's performance is most accurate, and the difference between the site's and the bookies' predictions is biggest. In this way you will greatly increase your chances of winning.

12. Consider the unpredictable factors. Try taking into account the following factors, which might influence the predictions. Match type: International / national league, a cup, or a friendly game. Cups'/friendly games' predictions are usually incorrect. Match priority: since a team's resources are not unlimited, each team defines priority for the forthcoming matches. Be careful not to bet on the low priority matches. Match time: remember that predictions are usually inaccurate at the beginning and at the end of the season. Players' injuries, illnesses and transfers might change the predictions significantly, especially in the cases of key players.

13. Place a stake with the best bookmaker you have found for selected game. Don't forget to collect your money when the game is over if you have won.

WARNINGS :::::::::::::;;:::>

Only bet if it is legal to do so in your state or country and that you meet the requirements to gamble by law.

If you gamble a lot of money, you can win a lot, but you can also LOSE A LOT. Be prepared to lose but always hope to win.

If you do lose, be prepared to walk away, no matter how tempted you are. You don't want to lose even more than you have done already, which could result in bankruptcy.

If you win, don't get carried away. Enjoy what you've won and come back later.

Gambling is addictive: if you are experiencing a problem with gambling, tell someone or call your local helpline.

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