6 Mistakes Beginners Make When Betting on the EPL
Live betting has changed how fans watch football. Instead of waiting for the full-time whistle, punters can now place wagers as the match unfolds. It’s fast, unpredictable, and full of energy. But that same excitement is what catches new bettors off guard. The Premier League is ruthless, and if you’re not prepared, your bankroll can disappear just as quickly as a two-goal lead at Old Trafford. These are the biggest mistakes beginners make when betting on the EPL.
Not doing research before a match
When it comes to betting on the English Premier League, research is your best bet to placing a winning wager. Some think that betting is just about walking in and placing a bet on their favourite team, relying on luck to bring home the win. But, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Some people do pro betting as a career, and they are actually quite successful. The secret to their success is preparation. What they do before a match has huge implications to the outcome of the bets they place. This is where pre-match research comes in.
Let’s say you’re gearing up to bet on a game between Chelsea and Man United. Before the game starts, you want to consider the player’s history, performance, injuries, and any other data that relates to how they might perform.
Then there’s the team stats too. Consider the team’s performance over the last few games and even in the last season. All these details paint a picture of who may be the most viable choice to place a wager on.
Getting too excited early on
Like most team sports, the game isn’t over until the whistle is blown. The first half might be going extremely well for your team, but the tides can turn rapidly in the second half. Remember Liverpool’s incredible 4-0 comeback against Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League. Everyone thought Barcelona had it wrapped up after their 3-0 win in the first leg, but a seasoned punter takes caution before saying it’s a done deal.
But football has a way of humbling assumptions. Instead of betting impulsively, stay calm and watch how each team adjusts. The first ten minutes rarely tell the full story. If you want to place bets in the first half of a game, try placing bets that are contingent on the first half, like what the score might be at the end of the first half, for example.
Chasing losses
This is a common mistake that people make in gambling, regardless of the form they do it in. When you’re betting, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and place an impulse bet that results in a loss. When this happens, many people try to place more bets in the hopes of recouping the money they lost. The result is that they just lose more, and the spiral begins.
Set a budget before you start and stick to it. Many smart bettors follow the one to three per cent rule, meaning no single bet should exceed that portion of their total bankroll. Discipline is what separates pros from amateurs. Once emotions take over, logic goes out the window.
Ignoring live statistics
In-play stats are gold! They show real-time data like possession, shots, and expected goals. Ignoring these numbers means you’re missing key clues about where the match might be headed.
During a Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle in 2021, United had all the ball and plenty of chances but led just 1-0 at halftime. Bettors who studied the stats saw that more goals were likely coming and cashed in when United went on to win 4-1. Stats like possession and shots on target can reveal momentum long before the scoreline changes.
Over-betting
The range of live betting options is massive, and that’s both a blessing and a curse. Beginners often spread themselves too thin, betting on multiple outcomes in one game and losing track of strategy. Ethan Hughes from NoDeposit.org says that focusing on a single market, league, or team is key for new bettors.
It helps you build real understanding and recognise patterns that others miss. Betting on too many markets at once dilutes your attention and increases the likelihood of mistakes. Focus on one or two areas, such as match results or over/under goals, and master them before expanding.
Placing bets in one area
Now, on the flip side of that, isolating your bets by placing one large bet on a player or a team is risky. While it may increase the potential of your earnings if you’re right, it does the same for your losses. The safer and wiser way to bet is to diversify your bets based on reliable research. Try to bet on multiple factors using a variety of bets.
By doing this, you’re balancing out the risk with the reward. If you lose some of your other bets, the winnings from the others could level out your losses. Again, this isn’t promised, but it does level out your chances.
Learn to read the odds
We’re all for sports betters enjoying the game and winning when they put in the effort to strategise and research games beforehand. Finding a reliable source of odds is always essential before a match. If you’re looking for a place to find this week’s EPL odds, check out the odds on TAB’s website.
Final thoughts
Betting on the EPL should be about strategy, not emotion. The league is unpredictable, and that’s what makes it fun. But those who last the longest are the ones who stay calm, do their homework, and manage their money. Every punter makes mistakes. The smart ones learn from them. The next time you’re watching a match and thinking about a live bet, take a breath. Read the game, check the stats, and trust your preparation. In the Premier League, knowledge wins more often than luck.
