Sports betting is one of the most popular pastimes amongst people around the world. The excitement of betting on games you appreciate, such as the Masters, World Cup and Super Bowl, is what makes sports betting so appealing. Additionally, the ability to make quick cash off your sporting knowledge is also highly appealing. However, before you place your first bet, it is important to understand the odds. Calculating your odds is an important step in making educated decisions when betting on sports.
In this article, we will discuss how to calculate your odds in sports betting so that you can make the right decision about whether or not to bet on a certain team or player. We’ll also cover some tips on how to bet more effectively and increase your chances of winning.
Odds Are Key
It must be noted that odds are important no matter what kind of wager you make. Whether you are placing a bet on the outcome of a game or just betting on the favorite to win, odds will impact your final outcome. In general, the further a number is away from 1.0, the less likely the event will happen. For example, a 2-to-1 long shot is less likely to win than a 1-to-1 shot. This is because 1.0 equals certainty and 2.0 equals chance. Knowing this, you can adjust your betting strategy accordingly.
The Basics Of Calculating Your Odds
If you’ve ever gambled on a sporting event, you will have seen the odds displayed in the form of a ratio. For example, let’s say you wager $100 on the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl. The point spread for Indianapolis is -3, which means you’ll need to wager $300 to win $100. On the opposite side, the spread is +3 so you can win $600 with a $100 bet.
The ratio of -3 to +3 indicates the chances of the Colts winning. Using this knowledge, you can calculate your odds of winning $100 with this bet as follows:
- Odds of winning $100
- Odds of losing $100
- Odds of winning $200
- Odds of losing $200
- Odds of winning $300
- Odds of losing $300
- Odds of winning $400
- Odds of losing $400
- Odds of winning $500
- Odds of losing $500
While this may seem straightforward, the devil is in the details when dealing with odds. Let’s say you win and collect on your $400 wager. Would you feel like you made a good investment or a bad one?
The answer to this question depends on a number of factors. If you examine your odds of winning closely, you’ll see that you actually lost money because the Colts won the Super Bowl. The expected value (EV) of this bet was actually $600, which means you lost money. In this case, you could argue the bet was a bad investment because you won’t see your $400 anytime soon. However, if you look at the big picture and consider all the other bets you made during the same period, you may conclude it was a good investment because you increased your balance. This is important to keep in mind because regardless of whether or not you won, your overall balance increased because you made multiple wagers during the same period. Additionally, you should only bet on sports you understand thoroughly, both in and out of shape. This ensures you don’t bet on an underdog simply because they are the opposite of your chosen team or player. For example, if you bet on the Green Bay Packers and they win the game, your chances of winning do not increase just because the Atlanta Falcons are the opponents. This may sound confusing, but it is vital you understand these concepts if you want to make the right decision when betting on sports.
Adjusting Your Betting Strategy
Depending on your experience and knowledge, you may choose to adjust your betting strategy and attempt to make up for bad past performances. For example, if you’ve recently lost a large sum of money at the blackjack table and you’ve sworn off gambling for good, you may want to reconsider betting on the favorite in the next big game. In this case, you should put your money on the underdogs because you’re more likely to get your money back. As a general rule, always choose your sides carefully and make sure you have good odds in favor of your chosen team or player. With careful analysis and good luck, you may be able to overcome any odds and end up winning. However, the chances are still against you.