It is generally said that it’s not a good idea to bet on your favourite team, or any team that you are emotionally invested in. The idea is that when your emotions are involved, you can’t make an objective, informed decision. But is that really true? Is emotional involvement always a bad thing when making decisions, and are there any other pros to betting on a team you support?
Con: Subjectivity
It is true that when betting on your own team, it’s hard to be objective. It is probable that you’ll think they are more likely to win than they are. If you know it’s hard for you to be objective when something you care about is involved, perhaps decide to trust the stats for games your team is playing in. Even if your team usually wins, that doesn’t mean they can’t lose.
Pro: Knowledge
Your favourite team is probably the team you’ve done the most research on, and know the most about, than any other team. That’s because knowing that stuff makes you excited. And the more you know about the teams playing, the more likely it is you will make the right decision. As long as you make sure you do lots of research on the opposing team, and aren’t blinded by your love of your team, you’re actually ahead of those who don’t have a personal stake in the game.
Pro and Con: Fun or No Fun
No-one wants to back a team that is playing against their favourite. Particularly, no-one wants to be watching and hoping that their own team loses – it’s just not a good feeling. So if the facts and your own research are telling you that the other team is likely to win, maybe sit the betting out for this one. Or, if you don’t mind losing once in a while, just bet a small amount on your own team. Having a stake on your own team will make you care even more that they win, which will make the game much more fun to watch. But again, don’t let your love for the team cloud your decision making.
Choose the Size of Your Wager Carefully
We have already said you should be careful when betting on your own team. But if you bet a very small amount, even if your team is unlikely to win, you won’t lose that much money. Just be careful not to bet too much money on your team if the stats and your research are telling you they are likely to lose. There’s nothing wrong with betting small amounts on a likely loser if it’s going to improve your experience of the game. But don’t blow all your cash due to your blinding passion for the team.
No Right or Wrong Answer
There’s no real right or wrong answer about whether you should bet on your own team or not. If your team usuallly wins, there’s no reason not to bet on them. Just be aware that they will lose occasionally. And if your team loses often, there’s still no reason why you shouldn’t place a small bet on them. Just be careful not to bet too much. Only you know how much your emotion clouds your sense of judgement – you need to make the call. But it’s definitely not automatically a bad idea to bet on your favourite.