The notion of betting tipsters is nothing new. Several major national newspapers still offer up tips for major sporting events. There is often a focus on horse racing, but football tips are also included, and no doubt many of us have that one mate who is convinced he knows who is going to win the big game.
The internet has changed just about every area of life, and unsurprisingly, sport and, in particular, betting are no different. The vast majority of bets are now placed not just online, but using a mobile device. And when it comes to tipping, the process for sharing tips is now far more democratic.
One does not need to own a national newspaper or a sport-specific daily in the modern world. Betting tipsters can now reach a wide audience for free via social media or for a nominal cost of time and effort by setting up a website of their own. But what exactly is a tipster? What do they do, and how do they work? Should you pay for them? Are they any good, or is it all just a big scam?
What is a Tipster?
A tipster is, quite simply, a person, site, or social media account that publishes betting tips. These are suggested bets that the tipster thinks are good value, which is to say that the odds are higher than they should really be based on the probability of the selection winning.
That really is all there is to it. After that, everything else is just a variation on the same theme. Some tipsters may cover just football, while others will provide betting tips for other sports too. Some will specialise in particular markets, such as BTTS, bet builders or straight match odds, others may focus on specific leagues. Tipsters also differ in terms of how they make their money and how they make their tips available.
Where do I Find a Tipster and Get Tips?
There are various football tipsters out there, and we take a look at some of the best. If you simply search for tipsters, football tips or anything similar, using either a search engine or via social media, you will find a range of sites and accounts offering tips.
Some of these will simply allow you to see their tips when you follow the account or sign up for an account. Others may require you to pay a fee, typically on a monthly basis or each year. Some tipster services may offer a free trial, and others have different levels of membership.
For example, the most expensive, premium tier of tipster service may cost £25 per month and provide tips across a range of sports with full, unfettered access. Cheaper options may be limited to a single sport, or only offer a set number of tips per day, week or month. Alternatively, those on a cheaper plan might get all the same betting tips, but premium subscribers/members might get access to those tips earlier. This typically makes it easier to get bets placed at the best possible price, especially where the tipster is more successful.
Are Tipsters Any Good?
Tipsters, as with just about everything in life, vary in quality. There is no doubt about it that there are some tipsters out there who provide good betting tips. Equally, it is safe to say that there are a lot of very poor tipping services offered, many of which perform no better than simply picking your selections entirely at random.
Beating the bookies is hard, as any punter knows. Betting sites have the odds stacked in their favour, quite literally. Assessing the probabilities, researching the matches and compiling odds, as well as taking the bets, is what they do. They have a team of experts, vast experience, technological and mathematical expertise, plus vast financial resources, working almost 24 hours a day. The average punter, on the other hand, has the odd hour to look at some generic stats when they find the time.
Even allowing for that gulf in time, money and expertise, the bookies have another huge advantage – the overround. The odds do not exactly reflect the oddsmakers’ assessment of an event. Instead, the odds have a margin in favour of the bookies. In theory, this allows them to cover costs, make a profit and also protect themselves somewhat when their predictions are not as accurate as they would have liked.
Overcoming this is incredibly difficult, especially on a regular basis. That is the hard reality of the matter and why, for almost everyone, betting should be about fun, and punters should only risk what they can afford to lose. You should not expect a tipster to deliver winners to you every time, nor assume that their predictions will definitely win. And you should not think they will deliver the goods in the long-term.
But Still Worthwhile
That said, using tipsters can still be a good option for many. This is especially the case with free tipsters. Their tips and suggestions can be a good way to back up your own research, point out something you might have missed, or simply give you ideas for different angles.
This can also be a good option if you find yourself watching a league or team you are less familiar with, perhaps with friends. You might fancy a bet on the game, but not really have much idea about where to start. A tipster could be a good call, though we would recommend sticking to relatively small stakes.
What About Paid Tipsters?
Using tipsters is a good addition to your own research and knowledge. They can also be useful in areas of betting where your own expertise is limited. However, paying for tips is different. We have already said that the odds favour the bookies as they have an in-built margin. When you pay for tips, you effectively add to the margin that you have to overturn.
A total outlay of £25 a month is not a lot if you make lots of bets or stake decent sums. But even then, it is £25 you need to win before you even start. Be wary of glowing reviews about paid (and unpaid) tipsters, as such reviews and scores are very easy to manipulate. This is not to say that paid tipsters are a definite no, but rather we advise extra caution.
If you feel it is worth trying for a month, or even a year, we recommend logging all of your bets, using smaller stakes than normal and keeping track of all wins and losses carefully. If, after your trial, you are happy with the tips you have received and are doing well, then great, you can start increasing the number of tips you follow and the stakes involved. On the other hand, if things go less well, you won’t have lost too much.