We’re all looking to gain a betting edge, no matter how much we wager on sports. There is a good reason why there are so many online sportsbooks in today’s crowded marketplace.

An easy answer would be higher demand.

While that is definitely a factor, it is not at the top of the list.

The No. 1 reason why there are so many sports betting sites out there is the lucrative return on investment for sportsbook operators.

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So many more sports fans are adding betting action to the games these days. The money that these sportsbooks are making is also growing at an expanded pace. These books know that the majority of recreational sports bettors will lose more money than they make.

This concept is actually built into the system.

When you win a bet, you double your money.

However, when you lose a bet, you also have to pay a 10% premium on that amount.

Given the industry standard of 10% commission or juice, you would have to win 52.4% of the actual bets you place just to break even.

Anyone who bets on sports on a regular basis already knows how tough it can be to pick just one winner sometimes. Hot streaks are always followed by losing runs. Even pro handicappers go through rough patches from time to time.

Their overall success is part of a long-term strategy that involves gaining an edge over the books whenever possible.

Nobody bets to lose. Yet, most recreational bettors go out of their way to make it painfully easy for the top sportsbooks to take their money.

Betting with your heart and not your head is an obvious mistake. You should never put money on what you want to happen. You need to learn to bet on what should happen based on the facts, stats and recent betting trends surrounding any matchup.

One of the easiest ways to gain a betting edge on the sportsbooks is by taking all the subjectivity out.

You want to take the bias out of the bets you place. Any game you wager on needs to be evaluated on its own merits. Since you do not have a crystal ball that can tell you the actual result, you need to use the proper data to predict the most logical outcome.

Going back to the pros for a moment, a winning percentage higher than 55% can produce an excellent return on investment. The main takeaway is the simple fact that even the best sharps are going to be wrong more than 40% of the time.

As a recreational bettor, you need to learn how to pick and choose your spots. Another good way to gain an edge against the books is to wager on games that are not on the betting public’s radar.

If you love to bet on college basketball, then focus your attention on some smaller Mid-Major conferences as opposed to the ACC or Big Ten. Stay away from prime time matchups and look for the games that are not attracting a ton of betting action.

Your primary goal is to win the bets you place. Having some action on that night’s marquee showdown should not be one of your priorities.

A great way to gain a betting edge is by taking what the sportsbooks give you.

This includes daily specials, reduced juice options and odds boosters with a higher return. Our sister site recently did an article that focused on the inside scoop on sportsbook bonuses. Go check it out.

Granted, those same books are pushing bettors towards those particular bets. However, sometimes there is some solid value to be found in the overall return.

The bottom line is that it’s not easy to gain a betting edge. Little by little, improve your overall betting strategy and the wins will come.