When you place a bet on a sporting event, your money is usually placed on a selection of numbers associated with that sport. For example, if you place a £10 bet on England to score first in the next World Cup match, you are essentially backing them to win, with Scotland, France and Croatia being the other teams fighting for second, third and fourth place respectively. As a general rule, the more nationalities in an upcoming multi-national event, the more you can win, since it is more likely that all of the teams will compete willingly for the country’s glory.
Fixed Odds vs. Martingale Systems
If you have ever been to a traditional bookmaker’s, you will probably be familiar with the concept of fixed odds betting. This is where a bookie takes on all comers, laying out odds that are the same for all players. Although this may seem like the perfect system, it can also be very slow-moving, which is why many intelligent bettors shy away from it. The opposite of a fixed odds bettor is the martingale system. This is where you place a certain amount of money at the beginning of the bet session, and add to it as you go along. Essentially, the theory is that you will never lose all of your money on one bet, which in theory makes you a consistently profitable bettor.
The advantage of a martingale system is that it is quick to enter, simple to understand, and requires no special math knowledge to be profitable. Many people believe that this is the perfect way to approach sports betting, especially since it requires very little effort once you get the hang of it. Most importantly, the martingale system is entirely immune to bad beats, because you are bound to win or lose on the cumulative total of all your bets taken together. This makes it safer to use than any other betting system, because you can’t possibly lose all of your money if you are always right in the end.
Progressive Jackpots and Progressive Jackpots Only
If you are the sort of person who enjoys the thrill of riding the lucky streak, you may well be tempted by progressive jackpots. These are where a pot of money is won or lost as you bet on sporting events. Essentially, the theory is that the bigger the pot, the greater the chance of hitting a winning streak. This is mostly thanks to the law of large numbers, where the more tickets that are sold, the greater the chance of hitting the jackpot. The problem with these pots of money is that, in order to have any hope of winning, you have to put in the time and effort to study the sports trends, pick the right events and place profitable bets accordingly. This is a lot of work, and if you aren’t prepared to give it your all, it’s a guaranteed way to lose your money.
On the opposite of a progressive jackpot is a jackpot that is only ever won once the jackpot amount has been reached. When betting on sports, a jackpot of this nature is usually associated with the lotto, but it can also apply to tournaments where the prize is paid out over time. The theory behind a jackpot-only bet is that, although there is a great deal of luck involved in hitting a lucky streak, the opportunity to win is still there, as long as you stay in the game. You can’t lose your money once you’ve placed the bet, as the prize will always be there to be won.
Bermudagrass vs. American Dollars
One thing that you will encounter if you take a stroll down memory lane is the prevalence of bermudagrass. If you are unfamiliar, this refers to the grass that lines the inside of horse racetracks, used to cover the surfaces where the horses walk. This is also where you’ll find some of the most intelligent and experienced horse gamblers in the world – they are the ones who lay down the grass, which helps to keep the track tidy (and mostly free of dirt) while also assisting the betting activity. You’ll also find lots of bermudagrass in the area around the outside of the track, which is often referred to as ‘the rail’. This is where you’ll find the majority of the bookies, who lay out their odds on racing events and other sports activities. You may wonder how these folk keep their eyes open while betting – it’s all about the earrings!
No matter which sort of betting system you choose, you’ll eventually run into something that doesn’t make complete sense. The above points should have given you a good understanding of what do the various line numbers mean in relation to sports betting. If you want to be sure of securing your money and winning big, then you may well want to consider looking into the merits of various betting systems, as there is more than one way to skin a cat. However, it would be a shame to end up losing money just because you didn’t know any better. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the theory behind each type of betting system, and you should be able to find a way to play around with confidence.