Home Articles The Psychology Of Wagering And Its Biases

The Psychology Of Wagering And Its Biases

MGM Sports Betting (Image: Tom Lianza/Flickr)

Betting is a lucrative type of entertainment. People can place their bets from all over the world, may it be at a casino or online sites.

For any reason an individual chose to bet, may it be for entertainment or to gain profit from it, either way, one will wager a sum of money. Talking about it, bettors must first learn the basics of betting before getting involved in the game.

It is also an advantage analyzing more of the sport’s conditions even to the smallest details such as player’s past issues, as well as their health.

Watching sports events is a form of leisure. As a form of gambling, some people become obsessive with the phenomenon to the point that they become dependent on the betting. Thus, they do not know when to stop and how to do it.

Wagering is a well-known matter in every sports event. Football is still the most prestigious, and thousands of people gather to witness the competition as well as place wagers. The same phenomenon goes to Breeders’ Cup Odds and Picks, basketball, and cricket.

The mind is so powerful and is susceptible to cognitive biases. This thinking will affect decision-making processes and can cause people to imagine irrationally.

Desirability Bias

This phenomenon is among the most usual bias in sports betting, and it is prevalent in football bettors. Because most of the people who place a wager in football are also sports lovers, they often acquire their favorite players and teams.

Desirability bias relates to bettors’ inclination to place bets on what they want to do. In simple terms, it is more like wishful thinking and betting with your heart and not by mind. The bias is a problem for most bettors because these people can’t afford to lose because the main objective is merely to gain profit.

Recreational bettors, on the other hand, are nothing to worry about since their main goal is to have fun. They don’t mind losing money as long as they have the leisure they want to achieve.

Recency Bias

Another phenomenon worth noting is the recency bias. This thing happens when we tend to give more significance to the latest occurrences when we make choices. For instance, if punter made an awful betting decision last season in football and it won, one will be more likely to repeat that. The next time that individual bets in football events, the same terrible wager will take place.

Another example is that if the person placing a bet is in the winning run, then that individual will eventually increase the volume of the stake.

Recency bias is rational thinking based on the concept that something is crucial if that phenomenon is more likely remembered. However, sometimes, it is true, but one must also consider that not all remembered are essentials.

Confirmation Bias

This type of thinking is closely related to desirability bias. The only thing different is that in confirmation bias, people tend to believe based on the conviction they acquire. Unlike to desirability bias wherein, it is a prejudice to a belief that an individual wants to happen.

When bettors place their bets on a football game they tend to depend on their emotions and beliefs. Ultimately, these things are what fuels an individual’s betting choices. Although in reality, sometimes things do not always go the way you believe it to happen. But it is a crucial aspect to have faith in our opinions, especially when we think about it profoundly.

Furthermore, in our daily battles, we tend to have these biases with us, especially in betting. These cognitive biases influence our subconscious primarily, and it can affect the way we deliver our choices.