When it comes to sports betting, everyone knows what points are and how they’re used. However, few people know how points actually work in sports betting. After all, it’s not the most obvious thing to point out that you need to win your hand to get the full value of your bet. But there’s a lot more to it than you think. In this article, we will discuss the inner workings of points in sports betting, starting from the basics. So, let’s get to it.
What Are Points In Sports Betting?
Points in sports betting are values added to a wager by the bookmaker. For example, if you wagered $100 on the Green Bay Packers and they won, you’d get $120 in points. Points are generally awarded for matches that end in a draw, while winning bets get the full amount of points regardless of the outcome. So, if you want to know how points in sports betting work, it’s essential to know what they are in the first place.
What Is The Purpose Of Points In Sports Betting?
Well, simply put, points in sports betting are used to provide more value to each wager. For instance, if you wager $100 on the New York Yankees and they win, you’d get $600 in points (100 x 2). To put that in perspective, you could hypothetically make the same wager and win only $400 in cash (since they’ve got a -100% payout). The difference is that you’ll get points for a wager of $100 that would otherwise only result in $400 cash.
How Do You Calculate The Points For A Winner?
When a team wins, the points for that winner are literally printed on the ticket or card displaying the result. The amount of points an individual team wins by is called the pointspread. For instance, a 3-point spread between the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers would mean that the Giants win the bet if the game ends 3-points, 2-points or 1-point. If the final score is 10-10, there would be no pointspread and the team that wins the coin toss would earn the full $100.
Let’s say you deposited $100 on the Packers and they won the game 29-23. Your points would be 29 x 2 = 58, meaning that you’d earn 58 points for the $100 wager. You would also earn 4 x $100 = $400 for the bet, totaling a total of 98 points. To see how points work for yourself, visit one of the many online sportsbooks and enter a small bet. You’ll see the total amount of points and whether you won or lost the bet.
Are Points Stacked Or Did You Mean To Say That Points Are Totaled?
While points are generally added to each wager individually, they’re sometimes referred to as being totaled or stacked in the case of parlays or teasers. For example, if you bet $10 on the Packers and they win, you’d earn 10 x 2 = 20 points for the parlay. Since you’re doubling down on your initial wager, you’re effectively increasing the amount of money you’re asking to wager. In this case, you’d need to win the next game 26-19 to get the full 40 points (2 x 10 = 20), as the bet is now worth $110. It’s also possible to stack points on a teaser, although this is less common.
How Do You Calculate The Points For A Loser?
When a team loses, the points for that loser are subtracted from your initial wager. Let’s say you placed a $100 wager on the Lions and they lost the game 20-23. Your points would then be deducted from the original $100, resulting in a net loss of $100 – 98 = $2. In this case, you would need to win the next game 27-21 to earn 50 points (100 – 98 = 2 x 5 = 10). As with winners, points for losers are printed on the ticket or card displaying the results of the game. Some sportsbooks will also give you the option of seeing the point totals for both teams before the game starts, in a form of what’s called a pointspread preview.
What Are Your Chances Of Winning?
One of the first things you may be asked when placing a bet is how you want to bet on the match. The answer to this question is important, because it will determine how the points are calculated for your particular wager. There are four basic ways you can wager on a sports event:
- Even Money (1.0)
- The juice is all the same here, 1 unit of wagering money – e.g., $1, $2, or $5 – will earn you $1 in winnings. A $1 wager is referred to as a “push” wager;
- A 1-unit wager on the underdogs is called a “dog leg” wager. For example, if you wager $2 on the Cleveland Browns and they win, you’d earn $2 x 2 = $4;
- As a general rule, you should always wager on the favorites, as it is generally accepted that they have the best chance of winning. However, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and you may occasionally find a savvy, seasoned sports bettor placing a few dog legs on the underdogs;
- You can also use your home computer to generate winning tickets automatically;
When it comes to sports betting, especially using a home computer, it’s wise to research the teams and picks before committing your money to a wager. This way, you’ll know how the points are likely to turn out. Some people even find it convenient to print out their own tickets, as there is very little, if any, fraud associated with printed tickets. Most importantly, use the points wisely and don’t overexpose yourself to unnecessary losses. If you follow these simple guidelines, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of points in no time.