A lot of people like to bet on sports. Whether it’s football, baseball, or basketball, people love to put their money on the outcome of a game. But what does the word ‘betting’ actually mean?
It could be that you’re familiar with the concept but not sure how it works. Maybe you’ve watched a game and have seen the lines moving around, but you’re not sure whether you should be betting on that game or not.
If you’re looking to get into sports betting, this article will tell you all you need to know about betting, starting from the very basics up until the nitty-gritty of sports betting strategies. Let’s get into it.
The 4 Types of Bets
If you’re new to betting, it’s important to understand what type of betting you’re doing. There are four main kinds of bets that you can make:
Straight Up Betting
This is the most basic type of bet you can make and can be found everywhere, on every sportsbook. With straight up betting, you’re simply placing a bet on the outcome of an event. The amount you’re willing to wager is generally based on how much you have on stake. If you’re new to betting, you should start with very small stakes just to ensure you have a good experience.
For example, a straight up bet on the Super Bowl could be placed at +100 for the New York Giants. The cost of this bet – in this case, $100 – would be taken out of your account before you can withdraw any winnings. So, in this particular example, you would win $100 if the New York Giants win the Super Bowl. The payout for this bet would be 95%, meaning you would lose $5 on a $100 investment.
As a beginner, it’s best to find a bookmaker that offers good value for money and has a good reputation. Also, make sure the site you choose is legal and licensed in your area.
Exacta Betting
With exacta betting, you’re simply placing a bet on the combination of two or more events that will take place simultaneously. The bet must be placed before the start of each event, so you won’t be able to make an exacta bet on a game that has not yet begun. For example, you could make an exacta bet on the Super Bowl this year. The cost for this bet is $100, and you’re placing a $100 bet on the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl and on Tom Brady to throw a touchdown pass in the game. If both of those things happen, you’ll win $100. But if either one or both of those things don’t happen, you’ll lose your $100 bet.
It’s usually best to use online betting calculators when you’re placing bets like this to ensure you don’t lose more money than you can afford to. Having said that, as a beginner, this is the type of bet you can make without risking too much money. So if you’re looking to make a quick buck, exacta betting might be the way to go. But eventually, you’ll need to develop a better understanding of odds and probability to make the right choice for your future bets.
Split Betting
Like exacta betting, split betting is when you’re placing a bet on the combination of two or more events that will take place simultaneously. The difference is that with split betting, you’re getting a share of the action. For example, let’s say you place an exacta bet on the Super Bowl this year. In this particular case, you’re getting 20% of the total action, or $100 out of a total $150 that can be won from the bet. If the New York Giants win the Super Bowl and Brady throws a touchdown pass in the game, you’ll win $100. But if the Patriots win the Super Bowl and Brady throws a TD pass, you’ll win only $75, as the other $75 will go to the bookmaker.
Even though you’re sharing the action, the money you put in on split betting must be staked on each event separately. This means that if either one of the events is cancelled or postponed, you’ll lose the entire stake for that event. For example, let’s say the Patriots win the Super Bowl and Brady does NOT throw a TD pass in the game. In this case, you’ll lose your $100 that you placed on the exacta bet. You’ll also lose the $100 that you staked on the split bet, as the event is now technically over and the money is returned.
This is another good option for beginners as it gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with losing, which is essential to have if you want to become a successful betting individual. But like exacta betting, it’s also good for someone who simply wants to make a quick buck. Even though you know there’s no way you can win the $100 that you placed on the bet, you keep playing because the odds are in your favour.
Accumulator Betting
An accumulator bet is when you’re placing a bet on the cumulative outcome of a number of events. In this instance, you’re making a bet on a team to win a certain number of games, to score a certain amount of points, or to achieve a certain amount of money in winnings. These types of bets are commonly found on the trivia side of bookmakers’ websites. For example, you can make an accumulator bet on the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl this year. In this case, you’re getting a shot at winning $100,000. If the Eagles win the Super Bowl this year and you’re also correct in placing bets on them to win the rest of the games during the season, you’ll win the $100,000 you bet. If the Eagles win the Super Bowl and you’re wrong about at least one of the games you bet on, you’ll only win $75,000. The reason why there’s a huge difference in this example is that you’re getting 11 outcomes in one bet, with each outcome having a different payoff. So, the more you play, the better your odds of hitting a winning combination.
Accumulator betting is usually done on events that are very predictable, such as the Super Bowl or the NCAA tournament. These types of bets allow someone who knows a lot about a particular sport to make money from gambling. However, if you’re looking for a quick buck, you might want to look into daily fantasy sports sites, as these platforms allow anyone to compete and win against professional gamers and coaches. The downside is that these types of bets are very high-risk, as you’re basically putting all your money on the outcome of a few games or events. So, if you want to take that risk, you might want to try to find an experienced sports gambler to take the other side of your bets. This is particularly useful for people who want to bet on certain underdogs that they believe in, as the professional gambler can use their knowledge and experience to back the right ones. In this case, you might want to try to find odds or statistics regarding injuries in the game, as these can vary from week to week and could alter the final result of the game.
Why Should You Avoid Sportsbook Bets?
As a beginner, it’s important to remember that not all types of betting are created equal. There are certain types of bets that you should avoid and certain types of betting that you should look into. Here are a few reasons why you might want to avoid sportsbook bets:
High Risk
One of the biggest reasons to avoid sportsbook bets is because of the high risk involved. As we’ve established, this is a very high-risk type of betting. It’s also one of the more expensive types of bets there is. While you might be tempted to try your luck at a casino or poker room, the truth is those places are very high-risk too. However, sportsbooks have higher thresholds for risk tolerance, especially because they want to keep their customers and ensure they have enough money to payout. If you’re looking for a low-risk option, the best way to play is at an online casino that offers poker, as these types of places allow you to play in a more relaxed and safe environment. Additionally, at an online casino, you’ll be able to enjoy all the perks that come with being a member, such as being able to play in tournaments and get exclusive bonuses. Finally, online casinos that offer poker have the advantage of being able to teach you the game, which is a good thing, because with most types of betting, you’ll be flying solo.