It feels good to be back after so many life draining hardship of life, I have been battling some life difficulty, my mother sicked for a whole year and as the first born of my family I have to take care of my siblings too, it was too much for me, the little BTC I managed to safe in 2022 have all been used to settle bills and buy drugs for my mom.

If you are from Africa and you happen to be first born of a family where there is nothing like richy rich there is a problem, I thought I could escape this mess by starting to invest but I lost everything to responsibilities.

What have I missed? Where should I start from now? Are you the first born of your family? How is the economy treating you and your family?

And the interesting thing about the Champions League is that sometimes the favorites don't necessarily win the UCL. Sometimes, unexpected teams emerge as surprises and manage to advance quite far, eliminating many favorites in each stage.

So, the UCL is more difficult than we might expect. And every team faces an equally difficult task. Bayern Munich may be one of the strongest teams. But in reality, they haven't reached the final and won the UCL title in quite some time.

However, it's not impossible that this season they will fight harder than usual and be able to advance the furthest.

Yes, of course, as a result of Real Madrid being defeated by Atletico Madrid, Barcelona can now replace Real Madrid at the top of the table because they have managed to defeat Real Sociedad. However, in my opinion, Real Sociedad certainly put up a good fight against Barcelona, and in the end, Real Sociedad was able to score a goal against Barcelona. But at that time, I was also worried that Barcelona would not be able to respond to Real Sociedad's goal because Real Sociedad's defense was also quite strong. Fortunately, Barcelona managed to score a goal in response because they continued to attack effectively.

Now, Barcelona must be consistent in winning matches if they want to win the trophy, and of course, the competition between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be very exciting, and Real Madrid still has plenty of time to overtake Barcelona at the top of the standings. However, it's a shame that Raphinha didn't play in the Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad match due to injury. In my opinion, if Raphinha had played, he would have had the potential to help Barcelona score many goals in that match.

In my last topic I shared some basic sports betting terms, but this time I want to do something a little different.
While reading lines and discussions, you’ll notice a lot of short forms or abbreviations being used, and if you’re new, it can get confusing.

Here are some of the most common ones that pop up:

ML – Moneyline
ATS – Against the Spread
O/U – Over/Under (Totals)
PK – Pick’em
SU – Straight Up
PAR – Parlay
RL / PL – Run Line (baseball), Puck Line (hockey)
BTTS – Both Teams To Score (soccer)
HT/FT – Half Time / Full Time
F5 – First 5 Innings (baseball)
VIG / Juice – The bookmaker’s commission
ROI / EV – Return on Investment / Expected Value


These abbreviations are basically shortcuts, but they carry a lot of meaning.
Once you get used to them, you can read betting discussions or sportsbook lines much faster without confusion.
I hope this helps.. 

Questions...
1) For the experienced bettors here: which abbreviations do you use most often in your daily betting?
2)  And for beginners: which ones did you find hardest to understand at first?

Hello every one, I guess I'm not the only one who noticed that a place where we once know as a forum for discussing about gambling and making our selves better in gambling, Is now an advertising forum, I came looking for discussion that will enlighten me as a gambler, but to my greatest surprise I can't see non.
Yes advertising is part of it but it has now overweight the true purpose if the forum. Which in my own perspective it's wrong, I think measures  should be taken to minimise the rate of at which we make advertisement in the forum.

I think this topic can be especially important for beginners who are just starting their gambling journey. The importance lies in the fact that newcomers can often end up on fraudulent sites and most likely face problems with withdrawing funds. To avoid this, I’ll highlight the main aspects you should pay attention when choosing a casino to play in.

Main criteria when choosing a casino:

License from an authoritative regulator.
Although I suspect that very few people think about this when they start playing, the first thing players usually check is reviews. That’s why I’d put reviews as the second most important factor.

Player reviews.
This is probably the first thing we look at when trying out a new casino. Try to find independent platforms with real reviews, look through casino ratings, and pay attention to complaints about payouts, hidden fees, account blocks, etc.

Payouts.
It’s important that the casino clearly states payout timeframes, minimum and maximum limits, as well as available withdrawal methods. And of course, many of us expect crypto to be included in this list.

Game selection.
Beginners often just look for their favorite games, but the more games and reputable providers a casino offers, the more it shows the casino cares about its reputation. The availability of live dealer games is also a strong plus.

Customer support.
At the beginning, it might be difficult to test how good the support is, but at the very least make sure it’s available 24/7. You can also check how quickly they respond, but it’s better not to bother them without reason.

Casinos to avoid (Red Flags):

• No information about licensing.

• Hidden or unclear withdrawal conditions.

• Promises of guaranteed winnings, or very high bonuses with unclear terms.

• Poor or non-functioning support.

Important before registering:

• Always read the Terms and Conditions. Even if it looks too long, don’t be lazy, go through all the points.

• Don’t deposit large amounts right away. Your first deposit should be more of a test.

If experienced players can add to my points, I'd be grateful.
And if you have any experience to share, how do you choose a casino for yourself, you're welcome too!

I have been able to follow up some stories at the scam accusations sections and this makes me feels so disheartening and disappointed at some point where using some of these casino becomes that hard to me, even though they are offering all manners of bonuses it doesn't attract me anymore because there would be a time where that bonus could turned to something very bad at you.

Of course, people lurk around for bonuses but, I think this is what mostly put us into trouble and also it drains us at the point of trying to meet their requirements you wouldn't know when you would violate their rules where at last it would result you didn't follow up their instructions and they could decide to lock up your account, the funniest one I came across was a case where his winning was locked and they still asked him to do kyc and continue with their casino game while the winning on sports betting was locked. If it was you would still have that mind to make kyc and continue with their casino game? To me is capital "NO"!

I think this is a matter to look into because most of these casinos are really getting into our nerves and there should be at least a form of transparency or do I say regards to  their users irrespective that they are also operating under law or do I say their ToS, that shouldn't mean they wouldn't take it lightly with their users (I know we are chasing money 'both the operators and the bettors'), remember no bettor no gambling site and if bettor decides to quit and move to another casino then they have no options than to fold, so they should treat people with uttermost transparencies than cooking up stories just to withheld their fairful winning.

What is your input towards this matter?
Note: I am not criticizing any casino rather just fairness to their users especially forum users than cooking up drama's to their us in order to deny people their fairful winning.

When I was still new to gambling, I started with games like dice (super popular back then). Honestly, I had no clue what a house edge was. I even tried to “outsmart” the game forcing my brain to find some kind of winning formula, and of course I also gave Martingale a shot. In the end, I still ended up losing.

It was only years later that I really understood what house edge means and why it’s there. Looking back, it’s funny, because the information was already there, but I never took the time to understand it.

How about you guys? Did you go through the same thing when you were just starting out?
For me, it’s just part of the process, and I’m already okay with it now.

If Chelsea isn't able to add any trophies to their cabinet this season, I think they already did enough and shouldn't be bothered. We've all seen their strength and weaknesses, and Tbh, they can't stand most of these teams in the premier league this season.
They'll be made to face Benfica in the champions league tomorrow, and we all know what that means.. If it wears them down too much, they may not be able to compete against Liverpool either in the match ahead; If they lose, they drop points in the champions league. Slot is not risking to lose again after that awful defeat against crystal palace.

When I first started with sports betting, I honestly had no clue about the terms. I thought it was just about picking who wins, and that’s it.
Then I saw people talking about spreads, juice, parlays, and I was like, “what?”

For example:

Moneyline ..  this one I understood easily, just betting who wins.
Point Spread .. this confused me at first. I lost a few bets because my team won the game, but didn’t “cover the spread.” That’s when I realized it’s not just about winning, but by how much.
Over/Under .. also called totals, where you bet on the combined score. Took me a while before I got comfortable with this.
Parlay ... I tried this early on thinking it was an easy jackpot, but the risk is crazy. All your bets have to hit, or you get nothing.
Juice/Vig ... didn’t even know this existed when I started. Basically, the house edge that makes sure the book earns no matter what.

Now it makes more sense, but I wish I knew these sooner.

How about you guys? What betting terms confused you at the start? Any tips for newbies on which ones they should master first before placing serious bets?

Me, I usually stick to basketball - both local leagues and especially the NBA. That’s the sport I actually follow closely, and I feel more confident with my own analysis there. But lately, I’m starting to think maybe I should explore other options, and I’m curious what others here have experienced.

For those who’ve been betting for a while and tried out different sports  ( boxing, soccer, tennis, horse racing, etc.)..
what do you honestly think is the most profitable to bet on?

I don’t mean the “textbook” answers you read in blogs or articles. I’m looking for real experience. Like, in your case, where did you actually see more consistent returns?

Do you stick to one sport you really know inside out, or do you spread bets across different ones depending on value?

It is so annoying seeing people begging for survival it really breaks my heart.
I really tried to figure out why majority of people are so poor to a climax of begging for survival.
I don't know if I am to blame the government or individuals.  Anyways here are the following factors that convince me why majority of people are poor.

1. Health challenge
2. Lack of good education
3. Financial debt
4. Unemployment
5. Ghost names
6. Regional zone

HEALTH CHALLENGE: this means people with disabilities and also people with someone kind of illness that can not permit them to work.

LACK OF GOOD EDUCATION it is really abnormal and annoying to see the kind of failed system of education we have in some countries, because the systems are corrupt majority of the students follow suits, basically stopped attending lectures therefore can't defend themself or their professions, automatically making them self jobless.

FINANCIAL DEBT: their are some individuals who tried to see how they can stand and make things worked for them self, but is so unfortunate that the accumulated debt they have enquire will not allow them grow. (Debt) is a goal to poverty.

UNEMPLOYMENT the rate at which majority of people are unemployed in this country are so alarming, basically there are jobs everywhere but greedy people who has the opportunity are not making this job opportunities available for people, rather they give it to their people who are not really qualified for the job.

GHOST NAMES this might sound some how for those who have not had about ghosts names,
In the civil service commission this is where you find thousands and millions of names that are not in existence probably they are died names, denying people who are alive to work and earn a living.

With all this that have been outlined above I think I am convinced  why the rate of poverty in the country.

Live bet is when you can make a bet when the game is ongoing. Yesterday while watching the Chelsea vs Brighton game on a Super sport a big station in the South Africa company DSTV. I was watching it with a friend so after half time before the restart of the second half he was on his phone checking on the match and it took nearly five minutes into the game on his phone before the second half kicked off on the TV.

I understand some live score can be faster but nearly five minutes is too far between. So sport betting platforms that has live score should have up to date live score to not get caught but is it still a risky for them or it is completely covered.

When it comes to sports betting, one market I always find interesting is the point spread. Unlike moneyline bets where you just pick who wins, the spread levels the playing field. Even if a team is heavily favored, you don’t need them to just win, you need them to “cover” the spread. Same goes for underdogs, where they can still lose the game but make you win if they keep it close.

For me, the positive side of focusing on spreads is that you’re not just blindly picking favorites. You can study stats, margins, past performances, and how teams usually play against each other. It feels more skill-based compared to simply betting on who wins outright. In the long run, I think point spreads give you more opportunities to find value, especially when the public is too biased toward one side.

How about you - do you prefer working with spreads rather than moneylines or totals? why?

Imagine this, a casino glitch adds funds to your balance, you play, withdraw, and the money lands in your account. Later, the casino says it was a bug and demands you return it.

Legally, would you actually be liable if you don’t return it? Or is it fair to say you acted in good faith since you didn’t know?
And what if casinos can just claim “glitch” anytime they don’t want to pay?

With so many restrictions now, some players are turning to ready-made KYC accounts being sold on social media just to get around the blocks and keep playing. On the surface, it sounds shady, but then again, what’s the alternative? For a lot of gamblers in restricted regions, it’s either that or don’t play at all.

If you think about it, casinos are already forcing stricter KYC, regulators are cutting off payment channels, and VPNs are everywhere.

So maybe it’s not surprising that people see buying a KYC account as the “lesser evil” compared to being shut out completely.

So I’m curious...

Is it really that bad if someone uses a sold KYC account just to gamble, especially if they’re not doing anything illegal with the funds?
Do you see this trend as dangerous, or just the natural result of over-restrictive rules?

In recent years, the popularity of gambling, such as sports betting, online casinos, and even casino-style games, has grown significantly, especially with the internet making them easier to access.

Many people see it as a form of leisure or even a way to earn money, while others warn of the risks of addiction, scams, and serious financial losses.

But regarding this subject, I brought some questions for us to address:

Is it just a matter of individual freedom, as long as the person knows how to control themselves?

Or should the government regulate or even prohibit it to protect those most vulnerable?

Is the industry being transparent enough about the risks?

What about young people? Should there be some kind of limit or restriction on this type of content?

I would like to know your opinion 

I want to share something that really messed with my head. There was this game where I felt absolutely certain about my pick. Everything lined up, stats, form, recent performance, even my gut feeling. It was one of those moments where I thought, this is it, no way this loses. I even felt like going all in because I believed the outcome was already written.

But when the game played out, the result was completely the opposite of what I expected. Not just a close loss, but a result that made me feel like I had read everything wrong from the start. It really shook my confidence, because I wasn’t just guessing..  I felt 100% sure and still got burned badly.

so allow me to raise this questions.

---

• Does overconfidence blind us in betting, making us ignore the possibility that anything can happen?
  
• When we feel “too sure,” is that actually a red flag that we’re not thinking clearly?

Among the many gambling games online, I feel sports betting is the one that will never go out of style. Sports are always around -- NBA, football, boxing, MMA,  and fans naturally want to add excitement by betting on their favorite teams or players. Unlike slots or crash games that are purely luck, sports betting lets you use knowledge and stats, which makes it more engaging.

• Do you agree that sports betting has more staying power than other games?
  
• What do you think keeps it popular, and if you bet on sports yourself, what’s the main reason you do it?

Can't predictable how easily Real Madrid conceded 5 goals in single match, poorly performance of defense players after Atletico madrid player easily scoring five goals. Overall all defense Madrid's players last night perform badly can't defend for Julian Alvarez scoring goals, I watches the match fully last night and seems optimistic for Madrid will secure three points after success leading 1-2 indeed have conceded early.
But poorly performance of defense players and how easily for Atletico Madrid scoring goal by goal make Madrid getting the first loss in this season after success winning six consecutives matches.
Unbelievable with Atletico Madrid's performance last night, after losing points in last several games before but success returning back to winning performance by defeating the top standings La Liga team awhile Real Madrid.