One of the most exciting parts of sports is betting. Not only do you get the chance to wager on your favorite sports, but you also get to take a side in the great debates of life. Whether you’re a basketball, football, or hockey fan, there’s always a passionate discussion around whether or not a certain play was or was not a good call. And of course there’s always the occasional argument about whether or not a certain penalty should or should not have been assessed.
Along with the excitement of rooting for your favorite players comes the nervous tension of wondering whether or not your pick is going to win. If you’re a hardcore sports fan, you feel this tension almost every day. But for those of us who love sports and betting but don’t want to invest all of our time in one game, the question is: how do I combat these odds? How do I even have a chance of coming out on top when the betting odds are stacked against me?
Fortunately, there’s a way you can make sure your side comes out on top. It’s all about having the right information. And in order to do that, it’s important to understand a few basic terms and concepts regarding sports betting. These include:
The Basics Of Choosing A Sports Book
When you first start wagering on sports, you’ll inevitably be bombarded by seemingly endless lists of sports books you should avoid as well as those you should try and work with. Based on your experience and preferences, you’ll have to make the decision of where to place your bets. However, there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that betting on the internet is much safer and more straightforward than trying to pick a bookmaker you’ll have to track down in person. Checking sportsbooks on sites like ODDSCONNECT.COM allows for all sorts of convenient mobile betting, so you can place your bets wherever life takes you. And speaking of taking your betting outside of the house, you should also try and use an offshore bookmaker. This way, you’ll be placing your bet in a location where money is not controlled by the same people as your bank account. In the event of a problem, your money will be safer and more accessible than if you used a local bookmaker.
The Basics Of Setting Up A Bet
When you finally decide on a sports book, the next step is to set up a bet. Again, this can be a bit intimidating to someone who’s never done it before, so let’s break it down. First, you’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to wager. Setting a limit on how much you’re willing to risk is the best way to ensure you don’t lose more than you’re willing to risk. For example, if you set a limit of $100 on a $200 bet, you’ll need to win $100 in order to profit. But if you set a limit of $300, then you’ll only need to win $100 in order to profit. This avoids the possibility of you losing more than you’re comfortable with and having to request a full or partial refund from the bookmaker. In the long term, sticking to what you know will always be better than gambling on impulse.
Once you’ve set your limit, it’s time to move on to the next step. Deciding how you want to bet is a bit more complicated. You have options including:
Against The Spread
One of the most common types of bets is the against-the-spread (ATS) bet. Essentially, this is where you predict the total points of a game, rather than picking a winner. This is a popular choice among sports fans who like to keep their eye on the big picture rather than get caught up in the ups and downs of one game. For example, let’s say you’re a baseball fan and your team is competing in a game against the Chicago White Sox. You look at the betting line and notice that the White Sox are a -140 favorite (meaning they’ll win by 140 points or more). In this case, your bet would be: White Sox – 140 (hyphen, not plus sign) – Yankees. Your money (and you’ll need to set up a separate bank account for this purpose) will be on the line, and you’re risking $140. If the White Sox win this game, you’ll gain $140 and be even with your money. If the Yankees win, you’ll lose $140 but still have some money left over from the bet. So in total, you’re risking $200 but expecting to win $280. Clearly, the advantage of this type of bet is that you don’t need to commit to a single game. It’s all about having the right information and being able to place bets whenever you want. Additionally, if you’re going to be making multiple bets, it’s best to go with against-the-spread bets, as this type of bet does not require any additional actions on your part. Simply place the bet and await the results.
Total Points Bettor
Another common type of bet is the total points bettor (TOTE) bet. This is where you choose a side and put your money on the line. The advantage of this type of bet is that you do not need to be concerned with the spread, as the points will be the same for both teams. For example, let’s say you’re a football fan and your team is taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in a game that is tied score at the end of regulation. You look at the betting line and notice that the point spread is currently minus one; that is, the Chargers are the -1 favorite. But the total points are only 47 to 48, so you decide to go with the underdog and place your bet on: Los Angeles Chargers – 48 (hyphen, not plus sign) – 49 (for the points). Your money (and you’ll need to set up a separate bank account for this purpose) will be on the line, and you’re risking $100. With 4.7 seconds left in the game and the score still zero-zero, you’re desperate for a winner. You’re at the point of no return and decide to pull the trigger on your bet, hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. And if you’re going to be making multiple bets, it’s best to go with a total points bettor (TOTE) bet, as this type of bet does not require any additional actions on your part. Simply place the bet and await the results.
Over/Under
Still another popular type of bet among sports fans is the over/under. This is where you choose a side and decide whether or not the total number of points will be above or below a preset number. For example, if you’re a football fan and your team is battling for first place with the New York Giants. You look at the betting line and notice that the over/under is set at 45 points. But with your team winning by less than 45 points, you have an opportunity to win additional money. In this case, you’d put $100 on: NY Giants – 45 (hyphen, not plus sign) – 46. If the final score were 45-44, you’d win $100. But if the Giants win by more than 45 points, you’ll lose your $100 but at least have some money left over from the bet. So in the end, you risked $200 but gained $280. Clearly, the advantage of this type of bet is that you do not need to commit to a single game. It’s all about having the right information and being able to place bets whenever you want. Additionally, if you’re going to be making multiple bets, it’s best to go with over/under bets, as this type of bet does not require any additional actions on your part. Simply place the bet and await the results.