It’s no secret that sports betting is a favorite pastime for people around the world. And, while there are numerous benefits to sports betting, it’s still considered a somewhat tricky hobby to get into. That’s because of the complex odds and rules that govern most professional sports. If you’re new to sports betting, it can be difficult to know how and where to start. But, fear not! With this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about betting on sports, including how to bet on the NCAA basketball tournament.
The Basics
If you’re unfamiliar, the overall odds of winning with a given bet are called the juice. The juice of a typical NBA game is around 80-85% in favor of the home team. That means there’s a 20-25% chance you’ll lose your money on any given bet.
Most bookmakers establish those odds or percentages before a game even begins. For instance, a bookmaker might offer 3:2 odds on the New York Knicks for the majority of the season. What that means is there’s a 2% chance you’ll make $1 on a $100 bet. The only way to make $1 is if the Knicks win the game by 3 points or more. Otherwise, you’ll lose your initial $1 bet with $98 cents. Or, to put it another way, there’s a 20% chance you’ll lose your $100 bet.
As the name suggests, odds are usually displayed in a numerical form, with groups of 2’s representing pairs of teams (1-1), 3’s (1-2), 4’s (1-3), and so on. For example, a 3:2 line might mean you’ll win $3 for every $2 you bet. When a game has extremely high odds (like an Over/Under or prop bet in football), you might see some exotic animals or cartoons walking across the board. Those odds are usually established with a + or – next to them.
What If You Don’t Know the Rules?
One of the things that makes sports different from other games is that there are a ton of rules that govern each one. And, for the most part, those rules are considered fairly complex. To give you an idea of how intimidating sports can be, just look at how many rules there are in golf.
In tennis, for instance, there are rules about how the players enter the court, how they hit the ball, what kind of clothes they have to wear, how they have to behave during the game, and so on. Every sport, in other words, has its rules. And, as this article goes to show, many of those rules can be difficult to learn and apply.
Where Can I Bet?
That’s the million-dollar question. Most people interested in sports betting will tell you it’s best to bet on the Internet, since you can access information and place your bets from the convenience of your home. And that’s probably true. But it’s not always the easiest thing to do. For starters, it requires a reliable and fast Internet connection, which can be a challenge. Especially if you’re accustomed to using mobile data or streaming videos for digital chores.
And then there’s the issue of online security. The integrity of your personal information is one of the primary concerns whenever you’re online, particularly if you’re entering credit card information or other sensitive data. Naturally, you want to keep your personal information safe when betting online. There are a few trusted brands that one can turn to for secured betting sites. For example, bet365 and CrownBet are reputable companies that provide a safe and secure way to place online bets. And, at least for now, those are the only brands that provide that level of security. Others, like BetOnline, do not. So, if you’re looking for a way to bet without the worry, then those are your only options. At least for now.
How Do I Bet?
So, you found a website that allows you to place bets. Great! But, how do you actually put a bet on? It’s actually not that complicated. Once you’ve found a sportsbook that you like, all you have to do is click the tab that matches the sport you want to bet on. For example, if you really like the New York Knicks and you found a website that lets you bet on basketball, then you would click on the “NYK” tab at the top of the page to begin. Once you’re in that tab, you can click the button that looks like this:
Here, you’ll see a list of different games and matches that day. At the top, you’ll see the menu bar with the categories and sub-categories. Under that, you’ll see a long list of games and matches. You can click on any game or match to see more info, including the schedule, time, and date. Naturally, you don’t have to rush into placing a bet just because there’s a ton of information. Take your time to familiarize yourself with the basics, and then place your bet when you’re ready.
One thing that might help is going through each game or match one at a time. That way, you’ll know exactly what the odds and rules are before you place your bet. There’s no need to rush and make a decision while still trying to figure out the intricacies of a football match.
What Should I Bet On?
So, you’ve gone through all the trouble of finding a website that allows you to place bets. And now you’re wondering what to bet on? That’s a fair question. The answer, as usual, depends on how much money you have to spend. But, there’s a simpler way to figure it out. Just use our sports betting calculator. It’ll calculate all the bets you can make based on the money you have available.
To use the sports betting calculator, all you have to do is enter the scores, dates, and odds of each game or match. Then, hit the calculate button. It’ll show you all your possible betting options and the total amount you’ll need to bet to have a winning streak.
Rigging The Odds
One of the most difficult things about betting on sports is figuring out how to make the odds work in your favor. And that’s because bookmakers have their limits. For example, if a bookmaker decides that they’ll only accept bets from people in the UK, then that’s that. There’s no altering the odds once they’re set.
As a newbie, you’ll find it quite frustrating not being able to alter the odds in your desired direction. But, as long as you stay within the limits set by the bookmakers, you’re sure to have fun.
The Future Of Sports Betting
Nowadays, it’s not just about knowing how to bet on sports. It’s about being able to find an endless stream of information about any sports match or event you want to bet on. Whether you have a specific team or player you want to focus on or you just want to follow the general rule of betting on the favorites, it’s easy to follow all the relevant information online. And that, in turn, makes it much easier to get into sports betting. And, hopefully, this article has given you enough knowledge to make that a reality.