There are five key things not do if you wish to be successful at betting. Follow these and you will be in good stead to win lots of money.

Don't get drunk and bet. Some people feel the urge to gamble the most when they have a had a few drinks. This is one of the worst possible times to indulge in gambling as your judgment is quashed and, well most people get outright reckless. If you like a tipple, then make sure you place your bets first, or limit yourself to one or two drinks. If you have been out for a heavy session, and feel the urge to bet when you get back, then don't. Place a note on your computer telling you to play the X Box and remind yourself that you could end up losing significantly.

Don't let your emotions confuse you. Many people find it difficult to leave their emotions behind before betting and this can seriously hinder them. That 'rush of blood to the head' does not help in any betting situation and the most effective bettors are able to detach themselves from their emotions so as to make clear judgments. Whenever you lose, try standing up and taking a few deep breaths, or you might even want to go for a short walk around the block. It is important if you are prone to making irrational decisions that you give your mind a few minutes away from the computer to reassess the situation.

Don't chase losses. We all have good days, and bad days. We all win some, and lose some. No matter what, do not chase losses excessively as this can lead to the hole you have dug quickly becoming bigger and bigger. The bigger the hole becomes, the more you want to fill it in, and the harder it becomes to do so.

Don't lose more than you can afford to. Leading on from the last point, it is essential that you only put at risk money that you know you can afford to lose. This is one of the most important aspects of betting and separates a degenerate from a sensible bettor. Many lives have been destroyed simply because people have not been able to limit themselves to within their means. Just think to yourself - is it worth losing your house, family, and complete way of life by gambling the money you need to maintain it? Only a real idiot would answer that question with a yes!

Don't stick to one bookie. There are a shed load of bookmakers on the market, each having its own set of odds for different events. These odds dictate the return you receive from a winning bet so make sure you compare betting company's odds before placing a bet. By comparing odds you are able to, in many cases, earn much more money from any successful selections and it is a really simple thing to do using odds comparison software. We are not just talking about improvements of just 1% here. You can literally earn thousands more.