Learning to manage your money properly is certainly an important factor in successful sports betting. Overcomplicating the process and not maintaining consistency are easy mistakes to make. It's your money, you've earned it. Don't throw it away.

The amount you wager on each individual game should be determined by the size of your bankroll, and nothing else. Many amateur bettors take themselves out of the game early by increasing their wager amounts when they are down or feeling lucky, etc. The seasoned professional knows how to ride the waves, maintaining a consistent, predetermined strategy.

Successful sports handicapping is a marathon - not a sprint. Those who get involved to make 'a quick buck' will generally fail. Establish your bankroll and wager sizes by what makes you comfortable and nothing else. Never wager more than what you can comfortably lose. Your betting bankroll should come from completely disposable income! Once you have established what your betting balance is, you should determine an average bet size. Most professionals recommend the average wager to be somewhere between 3-5% of your total starting bankroll. A good place to begin determining the size of your individual wagers would be to rate the games by strength. Try to avoid breaking your strength categories into more than three or four. If you choose to rate your games on a typical star system, set aside a certain level wager for your highest rated games and drop the wager size accordingly for your lesser-rated games. Games you choose to take solely because they are on TV or because you're attending should be given the lowest rating.

We can’t stress enough, consistency and discipline in rating your games is critical. Don't overuse the highest star rating and don't force too many fun bets. Through it all, remember that before you were a sports bettor, you were undoubtedly a sports fan. Sports betting can be very enjoyable, but it can also be a very frustrating experience. By equipping yourself with the right information and using proven money management strategies, you'll certainly increase your chances of making sports betting a profitable experience!