Sports Betting Basics


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Categories : Gambling

sports betting

If you like to make bets on sports, you’ve probably heard of Over/Under betting, which is a popular way to wager on the totals of games. In this case, you’re betting on the number of points scored by each team throughout a game. This bet type can be placed while the game is currently in progress, such as “Over 42.5 points at halftime, Rams over Seahawks.” You can also place futures bets, which are bets on future events.

Moneyline bets

Moneyline bets are based on the implied probability of the outcome of the game. The lower the probability of a team winning the game, the better the moneyline odds will be. However, sportsbooks have to make money somehow, so they must include the vig in their betting odds calculation. This vig is an amount they charge for accepting your bet, and it allows them to keep some profit even if a team wins the game.

Point spread bets

Point spread bets in sports betting are different from straight up bets, and they require more thought and planning on your part. Point spread bets increase the odds that the underdog team will win, while they make the favorite’s win more difficult. This in turn makes the payouts bigger for the underdog. This betting strategy is best for predicting upsets in big games, and for betting on underdogs. Before making a point spread bet, however, be sure to compare payouts and odds for both sides.

Middle bets

Middle bets in sports betting are wagers where the bettor places a bet on both the favorite and the underdog of a sporting event. Middle bets can be very profitable because they minimize the risk of losing the entire wager. This type of betting is legal in most states, but you should know that you will be able to get more money if you bet on games in multiple sportsbooks, where there is less juice on the games.

Player props

In sports betting, player props are odds on players to score a certain number of points during a game. Most player props incorporate an over/under in the total. For example, if Stephen Curry is expected to score 31.5 points, his over/under is -115. Conversely, if Curry is expected to score less than 31.5 points, his over/under is -105. Player props are different from game props, which focus on the performance of the entire team.

Futures bets

Futures bets in sports betting are wagers made on events that will occur in the future. They are generally settled at the end of a season, though the odds can be released before the season begins. Over time, the bookmakers can adjust the odds in response to trades, injuries and the amount of money wagered. Unlike traditional bets, futures bets are a good way to make money even if you don’t know the exact outcome of a game.

In-play betting

A study published by the Gambling Commission in 2016 found that in-play sports betting increased the likelihood of gambling problems among players. In-play sports betting allows players to make more frequent bets on a single event, and it requires rapid decisions.