Smart Sport Betting Guide. Understanding the Basics

Since ancient times, sports betting has enjoyed a steady rise in popularity. Online betting allows you to place a bet with your favourite sportsbook, or pick a team from your smartphone – all this in the comfort of home. There has never been a better way to place sports bets than this.

Sports betting can bring extreme joy and excitement to both those who are passionate about the game as well as those who want to make smarter money. It would be wise to know the basics of sports gambling before starting.

This article will cover the 8 main terms and definitions that are commonly used in sports betting.

1. Straight Bets

Straight bets tend to be the most common. This bet is only on one side and you can win. Straight bets are made using either the point spread, money line or the total to go over or below. The format of the line will differ depending on what sport you are betting.

2. Parlays

Parlay bets are made with multiple teams (events), where all the teams must win. The payout odds for multiple events increase because it is more difficult than one event to predict.

3. Teasers

A teaser, a special form of parlay in sport betting, allows you to adjust the point spread or total for each individual play. Additional points can either go to the favorite or are added to the underdog. Lower payout odds to win the teaser wagers are possible by moving the point spread (teasing).

4. Props

A prop is a bet that the sports book offers on specific and unique topics. These wagers can be made on sporting events or politics. These bets can be placed on the money-line format of pay off odds. This could include, for example, who will score the first touchdown in Super Bowl or who will win next Presidential election or whether O. J. is found guilty.

5. Futures

Futures odds for sports betting post in advance the winners (a player or a team) of major tournaments and events at the beginning of each season. The odds may change over time depending on how each team performs in the series. The odds at the time that your wager was placed will be valid.

6. Total (over/under).

To bet on totals in sports betting you must wager on the combined runs, goals and points of each team during the game. You can also bet over – Sports betting allows you to bet that the combined total points of two teams will surpass a specific total. You can also place a bet on Under – In sports betting, a bet where the bettor bets that the combined points of two teams will exceed a set number.

7. Point Spread

This is the score differential that is predicted between two teams. The odds makers set a “line”, which is the number of points that will be scored in each game. The odds makers will place a minus sign after a number on the favorite team, while a plus sign will follow a number on the underdog team. Here’s a sample NFL line:

Chicago + 7

Baltimore -7

Baltimore is the favourite and must win by at most 8 points. If they win by more than 7 points, the game will be a “push” (or tie) and you’ll get your stake back. If Baltimore wins by less than 6 points, or loses, the money will go to those who bet against Chicago.

A lot of times, you’ll see 1/2 point. Baltimore for instance is -71/2 points. This eliminates “pushes”, as a team cannot score 1/2 of a goal.

Sometimes the spread for a game is “Pick”, or “PK”. This is when the spread is “Pick” (or “PK”) and there are no points. You can just pick the winner. Point spreads bets may be “straight” (or “parlay”) bets.

8. Money Lines

They can be described as odds expressed in money. When there is a negative (-), you must place that amount to win 100 dollars. However, if there is an plus (+), you receive that amount for every 100 dollars wagered. The minus sign refers to the favorites, and the plus sign refers to the underdog.

I hope you find this article helpful and gives you some insight into the world of sports betting.