Just about thirty days ago, I embarked on a journey to transform from a recreational sports bettor to someone who could live solely off their betting profits. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but the allure of a lifestyle untethered from the 9-to-5 grind was too enticing to ignore.
Did I make the decision to quit my day job and try this out, no. I was fired from my 9-5 for the most ridiculous reason anyone has ever been fired. It was at this point that I realized I am not cut out for working in the confines of a workplace job.
So, now I sit one month in, the experience has been a whirlwind of emotions, financial fluctuations, and valuable lessons. Here’s a look at what the first 30 days have taught me about the highs and lows of trying to make a living through sports betting.
The Wins: Chasing Highs and Finding a Rhythm
The thrill of winning a bet is unlike anything else. In those moments, you feel like you’re on top of the world, and every decision you made was genius. My first few wins came quickly, and they gave me a much-needed confidence boost.
I started my journey with a small bankroll of $1,000, applying a disciplined strategy, focusing on bets with value, and sticking to sports and leagues I was most familiar with.
August was a perfect month to start betting as I am very good at soccer/football betting. With the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue One all kicking off during this month I confident in my ability to have a profitable month.
There were a few standout moments, like hitting a massive HR parlay that gave me a $900 profit off just a $1 bet. These moments reinforced my decision to give this a real shot. The adrenaline rush of watching games with financial stakes and seeing my predictions unfold correctly was incredibly satisfying.
However, winning wasn’t just about the rush or the money; it was about learning to trust my process. I discovered patterns in my decision-making that worked well—like focusing on certain types of bets (e.g., over/unders or point spreads) and avoiding more volatile options like parlays unless they were part of a calculated risk.
I set up a very disciplined and rigorous daily routine in which I would only make 3 bets a day at 1% of my bankroll. Knowing that parlays and underdog bets would drain my bankroll quickly I also limited myself to the $200K Challenge.
Winning though as exciting as it is cannot happen all of the time. In fact the best sports bettors in the world only hit about 56% of their bets. It is very humbling and actually a relief to know that information. I think the typical recreational bettor gets discouraged when they do not win consistently.
The Losses: Humility in the Face of Setbacks
With every win, there’s the inevitable loss. And losses, especially early on, can sting. In the first 30 days, there were more than a few moments where I questioned my strategy, my choices, and even this entire endeavor.
I went through a rough 5 day stretch where I had a losing day and it just seemed like any betting strategy that I used was just not working. This is exactly the situation that a sports bettor needs to be aware of as it is especially important to stay disciplined when these days, weeks, or even months occur.
Losses, however, have been the greatest teacher. I learned the hard way that emotions are the enemy of success in sports betting. There were days when I wanted to chase losses, letting frustration cloud my judgment.
I have found a few coping mechanisms to help me out when I have lost a few in-a-row. The most noteworthy is talking a walk around the block with my daughter. The focus of being outside and enjoying the sounds of the world along with watching my 8-month old daughter enjoy the new atmosphere makes your forget about betting.
It also help you not place bets impulsively. The worst thought a bettor could have is thinking they could quickly recover their money, only to fall deeper into a hole. If you have never experience it as a recreational bettor it is a humbling experience, and it makes you realize that if you want to make this work long-term, you had to treat it like a business, not a hobby.
Losses taught me to be patient, disciplined, and, most importantly, to accept that they’re part of the game. No bettor wins every time. The key is managing those losses, staying within your means, and knowing when to walk away.
The one thing that I am going to start doing here in month two is keep a detailed record of every bet, win, and loss to analyze my mistakes and learn from them, which helped me refine my strategy moving forward.
Lessons Learned: Strategy, Discipline, and Adaptability
If I could summarize the lessons learned in one word, it would be discipline. Sports betting, at its core, is a game of probability, but it’s also a test of mental fortitude. In the end I only made about $1000 in my first month of betting.
Is this going to pay the bills all the bills? No. But, it with a larger bankroll it allows me to stay within my perimeters of betting only 1% of my bankroll at a higher bet level.
I’ve also learned the importance of adaptability. Sports are unpredictable; the unexpected happens. Injuries, weather conditions, and last-minute lineup changes can all throw a wrench into what seemed like a sure thing.
I’ve had to learn to stay flexible and adapt my strategy in real time. This has meant sometimes abandoning a bet altogether if new information comes to light that changes the equation.
Final Thoughts: A Month Down, Many More to Go
One month in, I’m still standing, and that’s a win in itself. It’s been a roller coaster ride of triumphs and disappointments, but I’m more determined than ever to see where this journey takes me. There have been moments of doubt, but each win feels more rewarding, and each loss has made me smarter.
This journey is far from over. I’m learning to manage risk better, stay disciplined, and remain humble in the face of wins and losses alike. The next 30 days will bring their own challenges and opportunities, and I’m ready to tackle them with the same passion and determination. After all, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
Here’s to the next month of betting—may it bring more wins, fewer losses, and countless lessons learned.
Day #33 of Sports Betting
Today’s Starting Bankroll: $1,904.16
Bet Size: $19.04
I went 1-2 yesterday but the challenge bet was a winner. This will put me at Level 1.3 which has been a hurdle I have yet to get over. Labor Day is a awful day for sports for some reason other than MLB but I will try and find three bets.
$200 ➡️ $200K Challenge Bet: Gleyber Torres Over 2.5 HRR
- Despite Torres going 1-4 in a game that featured 21 runs. He did manage to get 2 RBI’s and a single that the bet to cash.
Genoa vs Verona Over 2.5
- This was a + odds bet so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The first half was a direct reflection of that with both teams heading into halftime tied 0-0. Verona scored in the 55′ and then added another in the 64′ to take a 2-0 lead and I actually though there was hope that this would hit. Genoa despite having 1.59 xG could not get a goal and Verona was content just running this one out for an easy victory.
USC +4
- The more you watch Brian Kelly at news conferences after losses as a ND fan makes you appreciate the fact we moved on from him. Kelly and his LSU Tigers trailed for the most part till the 4th quarter where the game went back and forth. Tied at 20-20 with just minutes remaining I was just hoping it didn’t go into overtime. Luckily USC score a TD with just 8 seconds on the clock and this bet ended up winning outright.
- With a 6-1 Guardians win this total fell just short. The Guardians had 13 hits against the Pirates who had Keller on the bump as the starter. The Pirates just had 2. More on this bet in today’s “What I Learned”.
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI’s
- Jonathan India: 3-4, 1 RBI
- Matt Chapman: 1-3, 1 RBI
- Bryce Harper: 2-4, 0 RBI’s
Day #32 Profit/Loss: -$18.90
What I Learned:
- Don’t Bet On Your Own Team: This should be betting 101 and I know this, but yesterday I really loved the over of the Pirates and the Guardians game. The reason you do not bet on your own team, or really against your own team is because you are way to much invested emotionally already about the outcome. In a pennant race I really as a sports fan am more concerned with the Guardians winning than betting the over. I will learn from this and stay away form my own team. Well…until the Browns play, just kidding!
Day #33 Best Bets Today
$200K Challenge
Level 1.3 ($8 ➡️ $16): Nolan Arenado Over 1.5 HRR (+115)
#1) MLB: Billy McKinney Over 1.5 HRR (+180)
#2) MLB: Ty France Over 1.5 HRR (+105)
#3) MLB: Teoscar Hernandez Over 2.5 HRR (+125)
Parlay of the Day: 2+ RBI Milestone (+26900)
- Adley Rutschaman
- Willy Adames
- Will Smith
