Most people enter sports betting the same way they start a new show on Netflix. Someone tells them it’s easy to follow, then halfway through the first episode, they realize it’s not what they expected. Betting looks simple: pick a team, place a wager, collect the win. But the truth is, it’s a numbers game that punishes overconfidence.

Around one in five American adults placed a sports bet in the past year, according to 2025 data from NerdWallet. Legalization has made it accessible, but easy access doesn’t mean easy wins. The spread of betting apps has drawn in new players at record pace, and while they make placing bets convenient, they’ve also made beginner mistakes much more common.

1. No Bankroll, No Plan

The most basic error is betting without a budget. Many new DMV bettors decide t

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