Sports Betting 101
Sports betting is placing a wager, or bet, on the outcome of a particular sporting event. It’s one of the most popular forms of gambling and dates back hundreds of years. Although there’s no guarantee you’ll win every bet, you can increase your odds of winning through careful research and discipline.
The first thing you should do before placing a bet is learn the different types of bets. Whether you’re a newbie or an expert, understanding the various bet types will help you make better choices. You’ll also want to learn about the house rules and other terms that will differ from one betting shop to another.
Straight bets
A straight bet is the simplest type of bet and involves wagering on a single event. In order to win a straight bet, you must predict the outcome of the event correctly. You’ll lose the amount of money you staked if you guess wrong. The best way to understand this type of bet is to read a betting guide for the specific sport you’re interested in.
Point spreads
Point spread betting, which is available for many sports, aims to level the playing field between two teams. This can be accomplished by offering higher than normal odds on certain teams or by increasing the odds of other outcomes. Point spreads can be a great tool to use when handicapping, but it’s important to remember that they are not a guaranteed method of making money.
Totals
Unlike point spreads, totals bets focus on the total combined score of a game rather than who will win. They’re known by a variety of names, including over/under betting, and can vary widely in price depending on the betting action. You can bet on over/unders for both preseason and regular season games.
You can find odds for most major sports events at online sportsbooks, but you should always compare them to the lines offered by other sportsbooks. You may find that one book has a better line on a particular event, which can be a sign of inside information. It can also mean that the book is following a trend or is reacting to betting activity by adjusting its line.
It’s also worth knowing the meaning of implied probability, which is a calculation that converts American, fractional and decimal odds into a percentage. This will give you a better idea of how often a bet must hit for it to be profitable. This calculation is not hard to do, and most sportsbooks will offer tools to do it for you. You can also check out a free calculator that will do the math for you. It’s also a good idea to check out the Pythagorean wins statistic, which looks at a team’s record against its opponents. It’s an excellent way to evaluate a team’s strength and weaknesses. It also helps you avoid over-betting on underdogs.