Forget ‘fixed odds’ – Here's why you should sit down and do the math yourself

Sports betting has become the norm in Kenya [Courtesy]

Question

Hi, I am Edward Thuku. I follow your articles on Let’s Bet....I would like to know your take on the many guys online purporting to have fixed odds. Is there such a thing or is it a scam?

My answer:

Hi Edward,

Thanks for contacting me via email. First. Let me give a brief meaning of ‘fixed odds’.

It originates from the phrase ‘fixed match’ which means a match whose result has been predetermined. Such that a few individuals have the advantage of making correct predictions, hence winning big on the particular match (es) on betting companies.

But Edu, fixing a match is a very complex and expensive exercise which involves the entire match organs including players, coaches, club officials and referees. To some extent, it can include even Football Association officials. Huge amounts of money must be spent by the ‘fixers’ in order to achieve their goal.

However, I cannot expressly rule out the possibility of fixing matches in the world, but the exercise is super expensive. It can never be done every day! And the plain truth is that the guys you see online hawking ‘odds’ in the name of ‘fixed odds’ cannot afford the price. It’s a fallacy!

I would, therefore, advise you, and the entire betting comrades, to sit down, do your own analysis and place the bets knowing that there are no fixed odds.

I’m cocksure that once you understand the sport you’re betting on, you will develop a third eye and greatly increase chances of winning bets-on your own. In fact, the people selling the odds in these streets also make predictions like any other ‘investors’ in the industry. They simply pray that the predictions tick in order to gain more trust from their ‘clients’.