You've seen a million different answers because there are believed to be a million different
ways to go about. There are some necessities that can not be avoided though, so that's the
best place to start such a discussion.
For a beginning bankroll I always recommend finding a sport you have a real genuine interest in
and learn everything you can about how to bet it. The important distinction is that you learn
how to BET it correctly first, not handicap it. That should come later once you understand what
the best way to go about extracting money from a sport is and establish that you have the right
resources to do so. Touts and handicappers in general will hate this advice because it diminishes
what they do and stresses the more boring aspect of sports wagering which, for lack of a less-pompous
term, is the art of betting. I know plenty of knowledgeable, well-thought out handicappers and would
not let the vast majority of them bet my chips. Their expertise in the sport itself is sabotaged by
their inefficient betting habits.
Concentrating on learning how to bet efficiently vs learning how to handicap a sport should be the
first priority and it's what this site tries to concentrate on. I always use the analogy of a blackjack
player learning to count cards before he has the fundamentals of basic strategy and proper
game selection mastered. One builds off the other and the fundamentals must always come first.
Several books could be written on how to work your way to self-sufficiency at sports betting.
One thing that is an absolute necessity that is seriously ignored by many of the so-called experts is
resources. You must have as many quality outs as possible. If you find yourself with an opportunity
to gain an out, whether it be by moving to a better location or doing what it takes to acquire more
places to wager, and you decline for reasons of convenience then you're crippling your chances of success.
You have to have resources to make a go of it in a serious way. Having three outs even though you
could have 8 with a little effort means you aren't ready to tackle sports betting at a high level.
