We review the best sports betting books to read in 2020 and update our list annually.
There have been hundreds of sports betting books written, but not all of them are high-quality.
In fact, a lot of sports betting books are either completely outdated, provide wrong information or provide zero value. However, there are some gems that should be in every bettorâs library.
Our plan is to regularly update this page and make it a great resource for all sports bettors.
There are great sports betting books for beginners and experienced handicappers. Make sure you select the best sports betting books to read in 2020 based on your skill level.
Some books have complex math and statistical betting models that may be hard for some to grasp at first.
There are also books about the life of a sports bettor and several tell-all books detailing true stories.
Despite the vast amount of excellent sports betting information available online nowadays, itâs still a good idea to pick up and read a book sometimes, especially when the information is valuable.
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Best Sports Betting Books for Beginners and Pros
#1 â Sharp Sports Betting
Author: Stanford Wong
Pages: 380
If you asked a sports handicapper whatâs the first book a new bettor should read â I predict about 90% of them would say âSharp Sports Betting by Stanford Wongâ.
The book was initially published in 2001 and there have been two minor revisions (2009 and 2011).
The book will teach you everything you need to know about thinking like a sharp.
Basic teaser strategy (Wong Teaser) was derived from this book. Most of this book focuses on the NFL, but the lessons learned can be applied to help you become a better sports handicapper.
Stanford Wong is actually a pen name. The authorâs real name is John Ferguson and he also wrote the book âProfessional Blackjackâ, which is another great gambling book to add to your library.
#2 â Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting
Author: King Yao
Pages: 254
This sports betting book is often considered the successor to Sharp Sports Betting.
We recommend starting with Sharp Sports Betting and then reading Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting, which was written by King Yao who has a background in financial trading.
This book will change the way you look at sports betting. Youâll begin to use data-driven, analytical strategies to beat the bookies rather than just gambling and throwing your money away.
While there are no concrete betting models introduced in this sports betting book, the author does a great job explaining the technical fundamentals of being a successful sports handicapper.
#3 â The Smart Money
Author: Michael Konik
Pages: 384
The first two entries on our list of the best sports betting books provide the technical background of sports betting. This next entry is an entertaining read, while still providing a lot of value.
If you bet on sports, youâre going to love âThe Smart Money: How the Worldâs Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions. The book offers a rare inside-look of high-stakes sports betting.
The author, Konik, was an agent for the âBrain Trustâ, which was the most successful gambling ring in America. Konik illustrates how the Brain Trust operated in Las Vegas and offshore.
Step into the world where betting $1 million on a football game is commonplace. Learn about the ins and outs of high-stakes sports betting based on the true stories Konik experienced.
#4 â Sports Betting for Dummies
Author: Swain Scheps
Pages: 464
This is a new sports betting book that has garnered great reviews already.
Sports Betting for Dummies is a book thatâs geared towards complete beginners, but there is also some great insight of developing winning betting strategies for all major sports.
This book starts by walking beginners through understanding odds and other basic concepts.
Sports Betting for Dummies will walk you through the process of gathering and studying data. There are also chapters on managing your bankroll and other important beginner topics.
If you have no knowledge of sports betting, this is the best beginner sports betting book to start with.
#5 â The Signal and the Noise
Author: Nate Silver
Pages: 576
Nate Silver is the founder of FiveThirtyEight and heâs most famous for his near-perfect prediction of the 2012 US election. While this book isnât focused on sports betting, itâs a must-read.
In this sports betting book, youâre going to learn about statistics and predictive analysis.
Silver meets with some of the countryâs best forecasters to evaluate why theyâre successful. He talks with gamblers, a meteorologist and other professionals who make predictions.
A lot of the math in this book is tougher to understand for beginners, but itâs a great read after you have an understanding of the math behind sports betting odds.
There are a lot of real-world examples that are explained in-depth throughout the book.