A fool and his money are soon parted. The sports betting public is full of such fools. Don’t be shy about it; when you make a bet, you’re trying to take advantage of these people. You do it by being smarter about sports, and by being smarter about betting.

The second area is usually lost on the casual bettor. The Internet drops encyclopedias worth of sports information at our doorsteps every day. There is a huge demand for this; some Average Joes even become sports experts. But how many of them become money experts?

Every account in your name – savings, checking, credit card and betting bankroll alike – requires management. Even if you bet purely for entertainment, you presumably want to get the biggest bang for your buck. Tear yourself away from ESPN8 for a moment and acquaint yourself with the basics of risk and reward. And remember the Golden Rule: Never bet more than you can afford to lose.