Rugby Union - Betting Risks

As with any kind of gambling, it's always important to remember that while you can win, you can also lose. At the end of the day, bookmakers exist because they make money - and no business would make any money if it simply paid out cash to all its customers!

Basically, the greater the odds, the greater the risks. If you're new to Rugby Union betting, and don't want to take a huge risk to start with, win-draw-win betting is probably the safest option. Accumulators and special bets have greater odds and are therefore riskier propositions.

Bookies rely to an extent on a proportion of their customers making bets without doing their homework. Many people make random bets or bets suggested by other people. Researching teams' form and looking carefully at the odds are a good way to stack the odds more in your favour.

Doing research also means that you will have a greater appreciation of the risks, you'll learn more from your losses, and you'll also get much more satisfaction when you do win.

It's also a good idea to set a limit on how much you're prepared to lose. If you find yourself making bets that you cannot afford to lose, then maybe it's time to take a step back. However, if you're sensible then gambling can be a lot of fun. It should be treated as a budgeted expense, with the extra financial bonus of a win now and again.

Don't fall into the trap of chasing losses. If you lose a bet, and there's another game coming up, it's all too easy to try and win back what you've lost straight away. Because they are last minute bets that haven't been fully thought out or researched you will often be less likely to win. This situation can quickly snowball out of control.

Although there is less of a tendency towards gambling addiction with Rugby Union betting as opposed to Horse Racing or Casinos, it's still important to keep an eye on how much you're spending - especially when its World Cup time and the matches are coming thick and fast!

How to get help with betting on Rugby Union

There are several ways to get help regarding the risks of placing a bet on Rugby Union, or indeed any other kind of gambling:

• The National Gambling Helpline: 0845 600 133
• The Gamcare website: www.gamcare.org.uk

See Also

• Gambling Guide to Responsible Gambling