The sport of sports betting can be a confusing activity for newcomers. It is necessary to know some basic terms and understand the payouts before placing a bet. This article covers the basics of sports betting: choosing a team to bet on, calculating payouts before placing a bet, and placing a parlay bet.
Becoming a responsible sports bettor
As a sports bettor, you need to follow a few guidelines. First, you must avoid gambling under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. You should also avoid gambling too much or for the wrong reasons. The goal is to stay as responsible as possible while enjoying the thrill of sports betting.
Calculating payouts before placing a bet
Calculating payouts is an important part of the betting process. Without them, you cannot make any profit from your wagers. Therefore, you need to understand sports betting payouts and how to calculate them before placing your bets. You can either use decimal odds, also known as European or continental odds, or digital odds. Decimal odds are the easiest to read and calculate.
Placement of a parlay bet
Parlay bets are an excellent way to increase your chances of winning because you can place bets on multiple events. Unlike standard bets, you are able to place several bets in a single game and win a larger prize. The bets you place must be correct in order for you to win, and the payouts can be very large if all the legs are right. Parlay bets can consist of two or more moneyline bets, point spreads, totals, or even prop bets. It is not recommended to place multiple bets on the same game, as many sportsbooks will not allow it.
Over/Under bets
Over/Under bets are used to predict the final score of a game. The goal is to predict whether the total points scored will be more than or less than the total points scored by both teams. You can also place an over/under bet on individual teams. For example, you can bet on the Ravens to win by more than 27.5 points and the Bengals to win by less than 25 points. Over/Under bets require a bit of thought when you make your selections.
Moneyline bets
Moneyline bets in sports betting are a simple way to place bets on teams to win a game. You place your bets by calculating the payout odds at an online sportsbook, and if your bet is correct, you’ll make money. However, this bet has a lower payout than other types of bets. This is because the odds are higher for the underdog. For example, a $100 bet on a favorite could only result in a $100 return, while a $300 bet on an underdog team would net you $300.