One of the most overlooked questions in the betting world is deceptively simple: “Am I profitable?” Many bettors assume that because they’ve had a few big wins, they’re on the right track. But profitable betting isn’t about a few lucky hits—it’s about consistent, long-term profit.
How to Know If You're Profitable in Betting
The first step to becoming a truly profitable bettor is knowing your numbers. That means tracking:
All your bets – not just the wins
Stakes, odds, and outcomes
Profit/loss per month
Betting exchange commissions or bookmaker margins
This can be done using:
A simple Excel tracker
A dedicated betting tracking app
Your Betfair Exchange statement
If you don’t know your overall profit/loss, you are not betting profitably—you are just guessing.
Consistent Profits vs. Sporadic Wins
Let’s be honest. A big win can feel amazing. But if you’re depositing money every month and withdrawing once a year, you’re not running a profitable betting operation—you’re funding a hobby.
That’s fine if you’re aware of it.
But if your goal is to make money through betting or sports trading, you need to stop measuring success by your best days and start analyzing your long-term data.
Ask Yourself This…
If you’ve been betting for several years and still don’t show consistent profit:
Option 1: Quit. There’s no shame in it. Betting for fun is valid, and we’ll even write about how to enjoy betting without losing money in an upcoming article.
Option 2: Focus 100%. Commit to treating this like a skill, not a gamble.
But don’t do what 99% of people do: continue exactly as you have, for another 10 years, thinking you’ve “got experience.” Repeating the same habits without results is not experience—it’s waste.
Are you in for money or fun? Is this another income stream or a vice? There are a lot of alternatives to gambling out there.
The Road to Profitable Betting
If you choose to keep going, here’s how you improve:
Start with Study – Learn something new daily. Read articles, watch videos, follow traders who share transparent insights (like we do at Football Trading Academy). We have an entire free course for you.
Practice Intelligently – Use small stakes. Stay consistent. Don’t chase.
Track Everything – Build your own data. No excuses.
Identify Patterns – What works? What fails? Why?
Refine & Optimize – Cut the mistakes. Improve your systems.
Repeat – One step every day. Keep moving forward.
This is how you get experience. And one day – YES, that day will come – everything will seem so easy (you’ll even have time to start a brand and write for others 😃).
Final Thought
Profitable betting isn’t about talent or luck—it’s about reflection, learning, and discipline. You either evolve or you stay stuck. The decision is yours. Just be aware you have options.
