There are two kinds of gamblers… those who lie about their losses and those who don’t. Very few people who gamble come out ahead.

But, winning basketball bets is possible if you’re smart and have a little good fortune.

Sports bettors…those who successfully wager on basketball or any other sport…tend to adhere to a pretty similar set of guidelines. Here are some good gidelines for basketball bettors.

1. Start the season with a plan. Know how much you are going to bet on each game (or at least set a range). Determine the maximum number of games you will bet during the season. And, most important of all, remember that wagering is something that should be done for fun. Never risk more than you can afford, and never increase your maximums, regardless of the circumstances.

2. If you care about winning, be thoughtful and analytical. Choose a bit as you would choose any other investment.

3. Limit your selections to games on which you are the most confident. It is much easier to win if you try to select only a few winners.

4. Do not get too carried away with trends, particularly longterm historical trends. Are statistics from past seasons really important? Decide what data is really relevant.

5. Continue to question and analyze the method by which you select games and winners. Do you tend to select games which interest you instead of games in which choosing a winner might be easier? Too you place too much value on a team’s ability to shoot three pointers? Do you tend to favor teams from tough conferences without deeper analysis? What kinds of games have you been more likely to win?

6. Never underestimate the value of the homecourt in basketball, especially college basketball. In no other major sport is playing at home such a huge advantage.

If you follow the rules above without exception, the odds of your coming out on top against the pros…the online and the brick and mortar casinos…is still pretty low. But, you’ll have a good chance against your friends and in the office pools. And, the bragging rights are even more fun than the few dollars you can win.