If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that racing is one of your passions. Perhaps you attend a track meet weekly, or maybe you even have a favorite team. Either way, it would be fair to say that you’re passionate about sports in some form or fashion.
Whether you’re a seasoned sports enthusiast or you’re just getting into the hobby, there’s a lot to learn. One of the more prominent aspects of any sport is the betting market. Whether you place bets on your favorite teams or individual athletes, there’s a lot more going on than you’d think. The jargon surrounding sports betting can be a bit complex, but fear not – we’re here to break down the terms for you.
Horse Racing: The Basics
For those of you reading this, you’re probably already aware that horse racing is one of the most popular sports to bet on. The simple reason for this is that it’s easy to follow. Simply choose which horse you think will win, and the rest is pretty much history. Sure, there’s a bit of skill involved in picking winning horses – but for the most part, it’s pretty straightforward. If you’re a newbie, getting started in horse racing betting is a great place to begin. You can bet on either the winners or the seconds (also known as the pacers) in most racing heats, and there’s plenty of information online to guide you. Plus, you can place your bets at reputable bookmakers, like bet365, which is one of the largest betting companies in the world. You can put together a solid base of knowledge in a short amount of time and make some decent money in the process.
Full To The Brim: What Is It?
If you follow sports at all, you’ll hear the term “full to the brim” thrown around quite frequently. Essentially, when a pitcher throws a perfect game, he receives full credit, and his team is said to have thrown a perfect game as well. In layman’s terms, a pitcher who throws a no-hitter receives full credit and his team is said to have thrown a perfect game. However, things aren’t that simple. For instance, a pitcher who throws a shutout game but allows nine hits receives half credit and his team is credited with only a perfect game.
There’s also the matter of walks. No matter what, a team still has to pitch. Therefore, they’re going to take some walks. Some pitchers like to keep the ball on the ground, limiting the number of free passes their opponents get. Others like to challenge hitters and give them something to think about. When a pitcher lets his team’s pitching coach choose the game plan, what does that tell you about how much confidence he has in himself? Is he going to choose something challenging for his opponents or something easy? That’s a decision only he can make.
Over / Under: Which Is It?
This is one of the more complicated terms when it comes to sports betting. Essentially, when you bet on a sporting event, you’re usually choosing between an “over” or an “under.” An over is when you think the total number of points scored by all the teams is going to be higher than the number of points scored. An under is when you think the total number of points scored will be fewer than the number of points scored. For example, if you think the total number of points scored in the NBA during a particular season is going to be around 100, and you place a $100 wager on the under, you would lose your $100 because the total number of points scored that season was, in fact, only 89.
In the NFL, the over/under is usually the point spread. In other words, if you think the spread is going to be, say, 3 points, and you bet over, you’re going to win your bet because the spread is usually a little bit less than the amount you bet on. If you bet under, you’re going to lose your bet because the spread is usually more than what you betted on.
Market Value: What Is It?
This term can be a little tricky to grasp when first entering the betting world. Essentially, when a professional athlete throws a ball through a hoop, it often sparks the interest of casual fans who may follow the sport. Naturally, these fans want to know what all the hub-bub is about – so they look into the betting market and see that there’s interest in seeing this player beat his opponent. In this case, the market value of this particular athlete goes up because there’s interest in seeing him play (and winning).
When the value of an athlete goes up, so does the price of that athlete’s jersey or cap. For example, let’s say an NBA player named Kevin Durant has a market value of $20,000,000 and he wears the Chicago Bulls jersey. Then, let’s say a fan bets $10,000 that Kevin Durant will score 20 points in a game against the Orlando Magic. In this case, that fan is effectively betting $20,000 that Durant will score 20 points in the game. In other words, the price of that jersey will go up because there’s interest in seeing this player perform (and winning).
Expert: What Is It?
This is one of the more complicated terms as well when it comes to sports betting. Essentially, when you place a wager on a sporting event and decide to take that bet seriously, you’re considered an expert. In other words, if you decide to follow sports closely and place wagers on a regular basis, you’re considered an expert in those sports. For example, if you follow the NFL and you regularly place wagers on the games, you’re considered an expert. Why? There’s a lot of money to be made in the betting world, and a lot of people want to follow your lead. As a result, the word “expert” gets thrown around a lot.
Win / Place: What Is It?
This is another one of the more complicated terms when it comes to sports betting. Essentially, when you place a wager on a sporting event and decide to follow the outcome, you’re saying you’re going to place a bet on that event and follow the results. In other words, you’re going to win or place your wager according to the outcome of the game. For example, if you think the Chicago Cubs are going to beat the St. Louis Cardinals and you bet on the Cubs, you’re essentially saying you think they’re going to win the game (and you’re going to place your bet accordingly). If you think the Cardinals are going to beat the Cubs and you place your wager on the Cardinals, you’re basically saying you think they’re going to win the game (and you’re going to follow the results).
Straight Up: What Is It?
This is one of the easier terms to grasp when first entering the betting world. Essentially, when you bet on a sporting event and decide to bet according to the result of the game, you’re saying you want to bet a straight up proposition – which is what this term is. In other words, you’re going to place your wager on the betting line and not do any calculations or research to determine the winner. Naturally, this can be a bit risky business because there’s a chance you could lose your money even when you follow the outcome of the game. However, if you’re just getting started in the world of sports betting, going straight up is a great place to start. You’ll quickly learn what terms like over/under and market value mean and you’ll have the opportunity to try out a variety of betting strategies without risking your money. Plus, since this is such a simple term, it’s easier for novices to get a feel for how the whole thing works. Ultimately, nothing stops you from becoming the next big star in the sports betting world – you just have to try hard enough and play responsibly. Once you’ve mastered the basics, move onto more complex sports like pool and become a full-fledged professional. It’s all about following your passion and using this information to help you make the right decision. Good luck out there.