No matter what your game is, it’s important to know what sort of better you are. Each of us has certain innate skills which can contribute to beneficial outcomes in the long term (again, whether you’re playing for money or bragging rights). Without understand the kind of betting that you are most suited for, based on fundamental aspects of your personality, you will be unlikely to do as well as you could. Here are a few examples.

The Scholar. From Poker to college football odds, there is a certain type of personality who does well through knowledge and study. Read Moneyball if you want a story to explain the phenomenon. Many sports have internal rules which you won’t see in any rulebook, or in any discussion of gameplay. In games like football, these may be baked into the players themselves: their personal injury histories, their training schedules, their personal lives, their career trajectories. People who are extremely aware of these factors are able to incorporate them into the kinds of bets they make, often doing much better than people who go off of the numbers alone. If you know a lot about sports, and are willing to learn more, this might be you. These players are suited to all kinds of sports betting scenarios.

The Casual Obsessive. There are a bunch of us who love sports, but aren’t ready to crunch numbers on a semi-professional level. If you can’t outwork the competition, maybe it’s important not to put a lot of money on the line. Limit yourself to events you can commit to, like the Preakness, rather than long seasons that you can’t follow for every single play. This will make the personal finance blog reader in you sleep a little better at night, while the sports blog reader in you will still feel a part of the action.

The Fiend. If you are in betting mix for the adrenaline rush above all else, it’s important to measure your participation, especially when finances are involved. A little betting among friends is a great way to enjoy life, but it’s easy to get carried away, especially when you’re not especially good at it.

If you love sports, and like to bet on the outcomes of your favorite events, you’ll likely fall into one of these betting categories. Be honest about which one you are. If you know for sure, you’ll find it easier to have fun and bet appropriately, without getting in over your head. And who knows, maybe luck will be with you, no matter what level you’re at!