Pesapallo could be described as the Finnish version of baseball, but it would be more accurate to say that it is a Finnish development of baseball.

It is a fast-moving, exciting game that requires a range of skills, including technique, strength and strategy, that has long since left the sport of baseball behind. And, more importantly, it offers plenty of opportunity for the shrewd punter to profit.

A specialist’s opportunity

The sport of pesapallo has its devotees, but the general knowledge about this sport among punters outside Finland is virtually non-existent, and this is where the opportunity comes in. Many bookmakers outside Finland will offer pesapallo markets, but almost all of the punters betting in those markets are likely to have only a basic knowledge of the sport, if that. In addition, with relatively little interest in the sport in most countries, bookmakers won’t be too concerned about getting their prices spot on. They may even be offering cramped margins in order to encourage punters to get involved.

Knowledge is the key to profit

In the more mainstream sports, having an in-depth understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the teams is only the foundation of a successful approach, but the relative obscurity of pesapallo means that this knowledge alone can give you an edge.

To begin with, make sure you fully understand the rules of the game. There are plenty of online resources available, and when you think you’ve grasped it, try watching a few pesapallo matches. It won’t take you long to get the hang of it, and the knowledge gained will be well worth the time you invest. When doing your homework on the leading teams and players, if you don’t speak Finnish, don’t let that deter you from visiting some of the dedicated forums and pesapallo pages. There are plenty of translation tools available online and taking the extra effort to translate this information can yield you valuable nuggets that will help with your pesapallo betting.

Focus on Finland

Pesapallo is played in a number of other countries, but the sport has its roots and biggest support in Finland, where the Superpesis league attracts big audiences for both its men’s and women’s incarnations. You will be able to find plenty of information on Superpesis, so it makes sense to focus your research on this area, rather than the even more obscure leagues in Canada and elsewhere.

Value in the Match Result markets

It is a commonplace of sports betting that if you want to find the most value (and as an intelligent punter, you obviously do) then the Match Results markets are not usually the best place to look, simply because those are the most popular markets.

But when it comes to pesapallo, your knowledge of the sport and the teams alone should be enough to give you an edge when betting outside Finland. Put your knowledge into effect by pricing up all of the games that you are considering a bet in, which will give you a feel for the market and sharpen your analytical skills. And where you can, try to watch footage of the game. This may not be easy to obtain, but it is another piece of research that will give you an edge over your competitors.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that pesapallo is one of the most obscure sports that you can bet on, but this very obscurity is what makes it worth considering. If you take the time to get to know this rich and absorbing sport, you will enjoy a significant advantage over your fellow punters and will have the opportunity to turn that advantage into profit.