One of the many exciting things about sports betting is the fact that the odds change as soon as the results of a game come in. It is therefore possible to make money from betting on sports even when the game is not yet over.
However, this does not mean that you will always be able to cash out. There are actually several factors that go into whether or not you will be able to win your current bet after a game has ended. The following are some of the most important factors that will affect whether or not you will likely be able to collect on your wager:
The Spread
One of the simplest indicators of whether or not you will be able to win your current bet is the spread. The spread is the difference, in point-spread, between the original asking price of a wager and the current opening price of the same game.
For example, if you wagered $100 on the Miami Heat to win the NBA title and the Heat won, you would win your bet – but you would have to pay $120 to do so ($100 + $20). If the spread is wider than 1/2 point-spread, then it is likely that you will not be able to collect on your wager. Why? Simply put, the house will probably still be made money on the wager because there is an advantage to offering odds on sports that are more profitable than expected. In such cases, the spread is typically wider than 1/2 point-spread because the house will try to maximize their revenue while minimizing their risks.
Over/Under
Another important factor to consider when trying to determine whether or not you will be able to win your current bet is whether or not the total number of points scored by both teams is going to be greater or less than the total number of points predicted by the oddsmakers. If the over/under is set at 5, for example, and the total number of points scored by both teams is 55, then you will have a winning proposition – but only if the game ends up being significantly closer than the anticipated total number of points (i.e. if it ends up being 55-45 or more).
In cases like this, it is important to keep in mind that even though you have a winning proposition, this does not mean that you will necessarily be able to collect on your bet. The reason is that the bookmaker taking your bet might not have enough cash on hand to pay you when the bet is settled. This is why it is important to check the betting site’s terms and conditions to determine whether or not they will be able to pay you when the bet is settled.
Time Remaining
Another factor that comes into play when trying to determine whether or not you will be able to win your current bet is how much time remains on the clock. In cases where there is a small amount of time left, it is usually best to walk away because there is no point in betting on a game where you know you will lose. However, in cases where there is still a good amount of time left, it might be a good idea to place the bet because there is a chance that your team could still win even though you have already lost the game. In cases like this, it is important to keep in mind that the clock tends to run more slowly in close games – which means that even though there is a lot of time left on the clock, it will feel like an eternity.
Payback
Finally, if you are hitting a losing streak and do not want to walk away from a bet without getting your money back, then consider what payback percentage you will need to get your money back. This is the sum of the money that you put in, minus the amount of money that you need to cover your expenses, divided by the amount of money that you originally bet. For example, if you bet $100 on a game with a payback percentage of 30, then you will need to put in at least $300 to get your $100 back plus your $100 winnings.
More Than Meets The Eye
It is important to keep in mind that there are several more factors that could come into play when trying to determine whether or not you will be able to win your current bet. For example, if you bet on the Miami Heat to win the NBA title and they lost, but the final score of the game was very close, it is possible that you will not be able to win your bet even though the Heat actually did win the game. This is because the line might have moved since the game ended and you did not have sufficient time to see the movement and adjust your wager accordingly.
The bottom line is this: whenever you place a bet on sports, you should do your best to find out how long the game will last. This can be easily found out by checking the time remaining on the clock and seeing how much time is left until the end of the game. If the time left is at least a little bit over what you would consider to be a reasonable time for the game to end, then it is usually a good idea to walk away from the bet. If it is less than a reasonable time, then it might be a good idea to place the bet – but only if you are feeling particularly lucky that day. It is also important to keep in mind that as soon as the game ends, the line changes and the bets are settled, so there is always the chance that you could lose your money even when the game ends up being more than you anticipated.