Some bettors like to wager on football matches, and some prefer to bet on horse racing, but regardless of which sport you enjoy betting on the most, you have to admit that betting on sports is a whole lot of fun!
For football fans who enjoy placing bets on matches, the odds are always in their favor, and for horse racing fans who also enjoy placing wagers, the possibilities are almost endless. Betting on sports is exciting because you never know where you might land at the end of the day. It isn’t entirely uncommon for someone to walk away with a large financial gain, or to at least break even.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of wagers you can make regarding professional sports, the various restrictions that may apply, and how to read the odds correctly so you can make the most of your sports betting experience.
What Is A Quarterback Swap?
If you’re new to betting on sports or simply looking to increase your bankroll, you may be wondering what a quarterback swap is. Simply put, a quarterback swap is the act of distributing risk among several parties while retaining the rewards for oneself. In layman’s terms, you’re basically splitting the profit (or loss) of a wager with someone else. For example, if you wager $100 on the New York Giants and they win, you’ll earn $100, but if the Giants lose, your loss will be their gain. In some instances, the counterparty will even cover some of your loss, which is known as offsetting your bet. For more information on this topic, be sure to check out our articles on sports betting basics and how to read the odds correctly.
Types Of Wagers You Can Make
If you’re new to betting or simply want to increase your bankroll, you may be wondering which types of wagers you can make and which ones you can’t. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the most popular wager types and what restrictions may apply.
Over/Under
The first type of wager you’re likely to encounter when betting on sports is an over/under wager. Simply put, you’re wagering whether the total value of a particular matchup (over) will surpass a particular number (under). For example, if you think the total value of a football game will surpass $100, you might wager $110 to make the bet (110 > 100). You’re then committing to wager $110 whether the game ends up being worth $100 or more (over) or less than $100 (under).
Over/under wagers are always a fun way to gamble because you’re always playing the odds in your favor. However, keep in mind that over/under wagers are considered action sports and therefore may not be available outside of actual football or hockey games.
Point Spread
Another type of wager you’re likely to encounter when betting on sports is a point spread. Simply put, you’re wagering whether the total score of a particular matchup will be closer to one (point spread) or more than one (over/under) point. For example, if you think the New York Giants will score more points than the Philadelphia Eagles (over/under), you might wager $100 on the Giants – $100 on the Eagles (under/over).
Point spreads are another fun type of wager to lay down, but keep in mind that they’re more suitable for shorter-term bets (i.e., less than a week). If you want to make a longer-term bet on a point spread, you may have to find another type of wager.
A.B.C. Odds
Another popular way to wager on sports is through the use of alphabetical odds. Simply put, you’re wagering which team will score the most points (A), which team will win the game (B), and so on. For example, you may wager that the Cleveland Browns will score the most points (A) during a game against the Buffalo Bills (Q), or you may wager that the Cleveland Cavaliers will beat the Golden State Warriors (A) this coming season. You may also encounter other variations of odds, such as the 1.5-to-1 odds, which represent a 150% payout to the winning bettor. Keep in mind that like other types of wagers, alphabetical odds can be used for both legal and illegal sports betting. Just make sure that you’re aware of the laws in your state pertaining to parlay betting (i.e., placing bets on multiple games simultaneously). If you’re not sure what parlay betting is, it’s probably best not to do it.
Takeaway
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the basics of placing wagers on sports. Depending on your state of residence, you may be able to make different types of wagers, such as point spreads, on sports that are legally accessible in your area.