Legal considerations of tipsters in sports betting

The shadow of sports betting tips is ever present. Just as in other sports there is always a risk of intentional tampering, which is (and should be) prosecuted to prevent the competitive and fair nature of sport from disappearing, in betting tips are well known, which can allow a user to receive information before making his prediction and unfairly put himself in a preferential position to win the prize.

But, what do we understand by a tip? What is the relationship with the well-known "tipsters"? Is this figure legal? What should a newcomer to betting know about tips so as not to get into trouble?

Tips in sports betting and tipsters: what is their relationship?

A tip is understood as the passing of privileged information to use it to our advantage when placing a bet. Although it is impossible to reduce the presence of these tips, since the exchange of information is common even among users who decide to enjoy betting with friends or acquaintances, it is necessary to take into account the source of the tip.

Tips in sports betting should always be taken with a grain of salt. Not because of distrust of its origin, but because the information is still a prediction and, as such, cannot be one hundred percent reliable. Although it is almost always interesting to take these data into account when making our predictions, we should not underestimate our knowledge about the sport on which we want to bet if we want to have any chance.

Tipsters have a lot to do in the dissemination of these tips. The tipster in sports betting is a figure who is responsible for providing information to users. Obviously, tipsters are experts in a specific sport, they work in specific markets and the user must know in which niche each tipster is an expert before using his information to place his bet.

Furthermore, not all tipsters have the same degree of specialization. If we add to that the fact that the forecasts are simply an assumption, we must use the data we have obtained from the tipsters with tweezers: as a guideline they can be very useful, but their predictions are not a mantra.

To ensure that all users can have access to information from these tipsters regardless of which bookmaker they place their bets with, it is common to find advertisements from professionals who claim to know everything you need to know to get your bets right, as part of each bookmaker's community. Common sense should always prevail here, since a good tipster will always give his advice so that you get your bet right and will provide you with his knowledge, nothing more.

Is being a tipster legal?

Providing others with your knowledge of a certain sport so that others can get their bets right at the bookmaker of their choice is legitimate, and your figure is recognized by bookmakers. But, as everywhere, there are always tipsters who try to stand out above the rest so that their advice is taken into account.

Here the user has to be cautious and not get carried away by the words of the first tipster he finds. You should always check what kind of events and markets the tipster is a specialist in, take into account that he does not use ambiguities to cover his back in case you lose your bet and that he says things clearly, with specific and corroborated data.

Although many claim to be experts, not all of them are specialists in what they say. We must know how to choose our tipster of reference, and a good way to do it is to ask him specific aspects of the sport on which we want to bet before letting him advise us. It is up to us to take or leave the data provided by the tipster, but we must always keep in mind that, no matter how expert a tipster is and no matter how many filters he passes, his predictions have a margin of error.

Therefore, although the figure of the tipster is legal and bookmakers have their own tipsters to put the experience and background of these specialists at the service of other users, we must be clear that all the information they give us should be used as guidance, nothing more.

Dangers of tipsters in sports betting

Obviously, tips in sports betting are dangerous, especially if they are taken literally. Here is a short list of some of the risks involved in betting tips:

• Margin of error. Obviously, predictions always have a margin of error. Even if they come from experts who are well versed in a particular sport, you should always consider the possibility that their predictions will not come true. Identifying the good tipsters from the false specialists will allow you to reduce the margin of error of their information and make your predictions more wisely.
• Fake tipsters. It is clear that it is a problem that someone who claims to be an expert is not, because his information will be taken into account by users who will place their bets and make mistakes. Therefore, caution is the best ally, not only with tipsters, but in general. You should always rely first on your instinct and your experience.
• Use them in every bet. Using tipster data occasionally for guidance is fine, but betting only with the data they provide is not only counterproductive, but will inhibit your ability to learn. Use them as a mere support, not as the basis of your bets.