The stuff below is based on some Q&A services and social media we have researched.
1. Always bet within your means and make sure you can afford to lose.
If the fun stops – stop (when was the last time you thought of betting as fun?).
2. Consider betting in-play rather than pre-match, so you don’t get that pre-match tension and can take a considered view on the prices available based on facts (yellow cards, goals) rather than best guesses.
3. Lower your stake money. If your usual bet size right now is £5, start placing £1 on 5 different events. You will diversify your risk and your anxiousness will go away.
4. Expect a loser. A winner is a nice surprise.
5. Schedule your activities around the bet. For example, if I bet on the weekend, my workout is scheduled around the time when the most bets are. Or I go grocery shopping. This technique heavily improved my nervousness and now I don’t have to use it anymore.
6. Try to see your gambling sessions as a whole (sometimes you win, some lose, but the net amount is that counts). When you win, try to keep a part of the money so when you lose, you won't be financially stressed.
7. Take your betting money from other non-essential activities or entertainment. A bettor's experience: I put my video games money into sports betting. I didn't buy any video games last year, because honestly, I don't play them much anymore.
8. Stop being a fan. The most successful bettors tend to be the ones that have no inclination to try and "pick the winners," nor have any interest in the actual event (ironically).
9. Specialisation is key. On specialising in a certain type of racing: don’t overload yourself, find a race type you are good at or enjoy and learn everything you can about it.
10. Record ALL your bets and every possible detail you can about them, whether the horse was a favourite, the odds, the race type, the trainer, the jockey etc. etc. This allows you to plug the leaks in your betting and develop a much better strategy.
11. Practise detachment. If your reaction to a losing bet is to blame the jockey, the trainer, the tipster first rather than just shake off a losing bet and move on, then you need to practice detachment. Lift some weights or go for a run to take your mind off things, as you will make poor decisions if you base your betting on emotions.
12. Reduce importance of what is happening. Think of some chores (make them up if necessary) that you will have to do in case you win your bet, e.g. clean your car or call your mother-in-law to ask her to visit. This will create the illusion that you are not that keen on winning, sometimes it can make a great difference!