Sports Betting for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Win Big
The point spread bet is where the art of betting truly shines. In point spreads, you’ll encounter terms like “covering the spread,” which demands a deeper understanding of the sport and the betting dynamics. But it also offers the potential for greater payouts and adds a layer of strategic depth that moneyline and over/under bets can’t match.
If you think you might be addicted to betting, or you have a friend or family member who’s a problem gambler, we urge you to make use of the following resources. Our live odds pages will automatically surface the best line for every game. Here, Scherzer’s strikeout total against the Reds is set at 7.5. But it’s more likely than not he goes under, according to FanDuel’s lines, so you have to pay a steeper price to bet the under than the over.
Common Sports Betting Mistakes to Avoid
Meanwhile, you would win $220 against each $50 you put at stake for Golden State to win. Fractional odds (aka “British” odds, “U.K.” odds, or “traditional” odds) are commonly used by British and Irish sportsbooks 22betofficial.com and bookies. Thus, we often see golf, soccer, rugby, and cricket odds listed as fractions. Fractional odds are typically featured with a slash (/) or hyphen (-), and are utilized by some of the largest international bookmakers. The higher the total payout (i.e. the higher the decimal odd), the less probable (and riskier) it is for the listed team to win. Decimal odds (aka “European” odds, “digital” odds, or “continental” odds) are more commonly used in continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
- So, anyone ‘laying the points’ (betting the favorite) went home empty-handed even if New England technically won the game.
- Choose the format of betting that feels most intuitive, and the rest of your betting math will flow naturally.
- Because the data-driven revolution in sports betting is not a futuristic concept—it’s happening now.
- Every once in a while, for one reason or another, up-and-coming drivers or lower-table drivers break through at the right time and absolutely amaze everyone.
When placing a bet on a team with American odds, the negative (-) number indicates how much you need to wager to win $100. Most importantly, always use reputable, licensed online sportsbooks when you bet on sports online. In the United States, legal sports betting is growing rapidly between the states since the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.
Odds
For example, a player must bet $11 to win $10 for a total payout of $21, or $110 to win $100. The favorite, marked with a minus (-), must win by a specified number of points. The underdog, with a plus (+), can win or lose by less than the margin and still succeed. How spread betting works is about overcoming the spread and dealing with risks like player injuries, weather changes, and poor player performance. If you want to be successful at spread betting, knowing the right terminology is vital.
Making bets
Anyone betting on Detroit needs the Lions to lose by 1-4 points or win the game. When oddsmakers release a betting line on a game or any other bet, the first thing they do is decide which team should be the favorite and which should be the underdog. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about hedging.
A steady approach helps avoid impulsive bets that often lead to losses. Staying disciplined with your bankroll will help you avoid the common mistake of overspending. You’ve chosen a sport, selected a wager, and entered your stake. Check all the details of your wager and click the ‘Place Bet’ button to confirm. Lines can vary based on the sportsbook, because different books have different clienteles. As a result, one book may post the Cavs -8 while another has -7.5.