Most people can give an informed guess at the meaning of a plus and a minus sign when it comes to sports. However, when it comes to gambling, not so much. There, I said it. I know what you’re thinking – what’s the difference between gambling and sports? Don’t worry, you’re not alone in your confusion. Here’s a breakdown of what pluses and minuses mean in betting, as well as some handy tips on how to utilize them effectively.
What Are Pluses And Minuses?
In the world of gambling, a plus or minus sign infers taking a side or giving a tip on the outcome of a certain sporting event or game. The following are some more examples of pluses and minuses in action:
- Over/under (O/U): This is one of the most popular sports betting keywords. It essentially means taking an over- or under-side on the total number of goals scored in a particular sport. For instance, do you think Brazil will score more than five goals against Colombia in the World Cup? If you answered yes, you’d bet on five or more goals scored (extending the bet to include whether or not it’ll be over or under).
- American football (AFC, NFL): This one is pretty self-explanatory. It stands for American football conference and national football league, respectively. When someone bets on American football, they usually do so because they want to know which conference the games will be played in (e.g. the NFC vs. the AFC). If you want to get technical, betting on American football involves picking either the NFC or the AFC winner. Naturally, this is an extremely popular option among sports bettors. There are always two conference championship games per year, and both are played with stakes. One winner is determined by the oddsmakers at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
- NASCAR (win or lose): This one is pretty self-explanatory. It stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. When someone bets on NASCAR, they usually do so because they want to know which driver will come out on top. The following are some of the more prominent NASCAR Cup Series:
- CART (Champagne Accord Racing Team): This one is pretty self-explanatory. It stands for Champagne Accord Racing Team. The winner of this prestigious race earns the right to display a distinctive blue and yellow flag in their honor during the next race. Naturally, this is one of the most popular options among horse racing fans. You can also find CART results online.
- Pole position betting (PPB, or Track position (T/P) betting): This one is pretty self-explanatory. It stands for pole position betting (PPB) or track position betting (T/P), depending on which organization you follow. When someone bets on pole position (PPB), they usually do so because they want to know who will lead the race at the start of the next event. It’s a popular choice among fans of motorsport because there’s always a chance that the race will be red-flagged and restarted. That means you’ll get to see one of the following:
- Starting grid (S/G): This is one of the most exciting parts of any auto race. Sure, the whole thing may seem like a blur, but when the checkered flag drops, you can bet the crowd will have plenty to say. Especially if their favorite driver managed to start at the front of the pack. That’s where the starting grid comes in. The closer you get to the front of the line, the greater your chance of winning (although it tends to be a little more complicated than that).
- First corner (F1): This is one of the most exciting parts of any auto race. Sure, the whole thing may seem like a blur, but when the checkered flag drops, you can bet the crowd will have plenty to say. Especially if their favorite driver managed to take one of the sharpest turns on the track. That’s where the first corner comes in. The closer you get to the corner, the greater your chance of winning.
How Do You Use Pluses and Minuses?
As you might expect, the way you utilize pluses and minuses varies by sports betting website. However, some common themes emerge. Here are a few tips on how to effectively use pluses and minuses: