Sports betting isn’t as easy to learn as you might think. While it’s not as complicated as some of the other betting options available, like horse racing or car racing, there are still plenty of terms and conditions that can trip up even the most experienced sports bettor.
Here are some of the basics you need to know to get started betting on sports:
Where Can I Bet?
While horse racing and car racing take place at fixed venues like race tracks and automobile races, respectively, most other sports—like American football, basketball, and baseball—are played at venues that can change from game to game. This means that you can’t physically go to the location and place your wager, as in other cases, like with football on a television, you may not be able to watch the game anyway because it’s being played live somewhere else.
This aspect makes sports betting slightly more complicated than other options like betting on the ponies or the lottery, though there are still ways to make things simple.
If you are looking for a way to bet without having to do any research, the easiest option is to go through a sports book. These are places that specialize in taking bets on sports, and they will research the odds for you and place your wagers for you. In most cases, this is all you need to do to get started.
What Is The Difference Between Sports, Sportsbook, and Bookmaker?
While “bookmaker” may not seem like the most exciting or sophisticated of terms when it comes to betting on sports, it’s actually the most recognized and the one that you’ll probably hear most when it comes to betting discussions. A “bookmaker” is simply a place that collects wagers from bettors and then pays out winnings to them. They generally don’t offer any kind of advanced services and may not even have a mobile app, so, if you want to place a bet on the go, you may have to resort to some other options.
If you are trying to place a bet on a specific event, like the Super Bowl or the World Cup, you may have to go through several bookmakers until you find one that accepts your wager. Alternatively, you could try making a “wish list” of the different sports you like to bet on and see if any books come up with a matching schedule you can use.
“Sportsbook” is the general term used when referring to the places where you place your wager, whether it’s physically at the venue or online. For instance, if you are watching the New England Patriots play the Los Angeles Rams, you might go to places like Bovada or William Hill to make your wager. The term “sportsbook” is generally preferred to “bookmaker” because it makes no pretense at being anything other than a place to make wagers on sports.
What Is The Most Popular Sport To Bet On?
According to the most recent data, American football is the most popular sport to bet on, with 14.1 million people having sports betts, followed by basketball (9.3 million), baseball (8.2 million), and hockey (7.9 million).
In terms of revenue, football is also the biggest sport, generating $24.6 billion, while basketball is second with $14.5 billion, baseball is third with $11.3 billion, and ice hockey is fifth with $4.6 billion. The numbers don’t stop there, either. According to the International Federation of Sports Federations (IFTF), sports betting will generate $44.2 billion in 2022.
How Do I Bet On American Football?
There are three ways to bet on American football, and they can all be found easily through online guides or digital assistants like Google or Apple’s App Store. The first way is to simply buy a ticket to a game or go to one of the bars and restaurants that follow the league and place a bet on the winning team. The second way is to create an account with a bookmaker and make wagers via their mobile app or online dashboard.
The third way is to become a member of a fantasy football league and draft your own team of players to compete against other users’ teams. Win or lose, you’ll get credit for the game according to how well you did against the fantasy football odds in your league.
Choosing which option is right for you depends on your needs and how experienced you are with sports betting. If you’re just getting started and want to place bets at a sportsbook, you may find that the easiest option is to sign up with a reputable sportsbook, make some deposits, and then make use of their free bets to gain experience.