Welcome to the Investopedia Alpes League (I.A.L.), the place where you can find all your sports betting needs. Whether you are a seasoned sports bettor or a newcomer to the world of betting, you will discover everything you need to know about betting in the I.A.L.. We will introduce you to the unique world of sports betting and make you a better, smarter, and more confident bettor. Let’s get started.
The Basics Of Bets
Bets are one of the most popular gambling products, especially among Millennials. The majority of Americans reported to the American Institute of Stress that they frequently engage in sports betting, putting it at number five on their list of activities that help them relax. Sports betting is a quick, easy, and accessible form of gambling that virtually anyone can enjoy.
In general, sports betting can be placed in one of three ways: on a team (often called a parlay), against the spread, or on the moneyline. A team parlay allows you to bet on multiple teams, e.g., the New England Patriots (2 units) plus the Philadelphia Eagles (2 units) versus the Buffalo Bills (1 unit). In case you’re wondering, the Patriots win that parlay 27-20.
On the other hand, the spread bars refer to the point spread, which is the amount by which one team is favored to win the game. The plus (or minus) sign indicates whether the favored team is earning additional (or less) points than expected. For example, a +25 point spread indicates that the favorite team is expected to win the game 25 points, while a -5 point spread indicates that the underdog team is expected to win the game 5 points.
The moneyline gives you the opportunity to bet on the final score of the game. If you’re betting on a team, you’re usually betting on the over or the under. What this means is that, if you think the score of the game will be higher than the spread, you’ll need to bet on the over, and vice versa.
How Do I Place A Bet?
Placing a bet is a simple process that requires you to follow three steps: research, entry, and placement. As the name suggests, the first step is to do your research. Before placing a bet, it’s vital that you have the most recent scores and up-to-date statistics. Also, make sure that you read all the rules and regulations that apply to you as a customer. You cannot make any kind of intelligent decision if you’re not familiar with the rules and restrictions that govern betting in your state or country.
The second step is to enter the bet. You can either use a bookmaker’s website or a smartphone app to place your bets. When using a website, just follow the instructions provided by the website to place your bet. Some bookmakers may even allow you to make a deposit by card or bank transfer, which can save you a lot of time and trouble if you’re planning on placing a considerable number of bets during a given period.
Why Should I Bet On Sports?
You should bet on sports because it’s fun, easy, and accessible. In the same way that you can enjoy a friendly game of cricket or soccer, you can bet on sports. The activity helps you relax and reduce stress, which can only be beneficial.
As mentioned above, one of the reasons why people enjoy sports betting is because it’s such a quick and accessible form of gambling. With so much competition in the online betting world, parlays and teasers have become increasingly popular, making it simpler for people to place bets and win money quickly.
Another reason why people enjoy betting on sports is because the rewards usually are good. Even though most sports have fairly straightforward results, occasionally some games will have unusually large scores or result in a tie. In these cases, the reward is usually in the form of a small jackpot or complimentary drinks at the game.
The Different Types Of Bets
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of sports betting, it’s time to learn about the different types of bets you will encounter. The first and most common type of sports betting is the parlay. A parlay is simply an “all-or-nothing” wager where you bet on two or more sports. In the example below, the sportsbook will take your wager of two units on the Washington Redskins and will give you either a win or a loss depending on the score of the game:
If the score is 0-0, your two units will be refunded (provided the sportsbook follows the rules and regulations of the country or state where the bet was placed). If the score is 0-1, your two units will be credited to your account as a win. If the score is 1-0, your two units will be credited to your account as a loss. If the score is anything greater than 0-0, your two units will be credited to your account as a win.
In case you’re wondering, a typical point spread for a college football game ranges from -2 to +2 points, with -3 to +3 being the most common spreads. The moneyline for a college football game ranges from -150 to +150, with odds as low as -680 and as high as +580 being available for selection.
Parlays
The most basic form of parlay is the two-team parlay. To place a two-team parlay, you need to bet on two teams (often called the B side and the A side) that are playing against each other. For example, you might bet on the Red Raiders and Texas A&M to score the most points in the game. If your B side wins, you will win your bet. If your A side wins, you will win as well since your B side’s score will be added to the total for your A side.
It’s important to keep in mind that most bookmakers will only offer two-team parlays. If your team is not represented, you will have to settle for single-team parlays.
Field Goals And Extra Points
While most sports offer the basics of running, kicking, and tackling, others have developed games based on specific numbers. These are commonly called “point-spread” games since the point spread is determined by the number of points that will be scored in the game. An example of a point-spread game would be the Super Bowl, in which the New England Patriots are a 2.5 point favorite over the Los Angeles Rams. In the event of a tie, there is no outcome since no points are scored in that scenario.
Aside from points, some sports offer additional scoring opportunities. If you’re a fan of the Buffalo Bills, you can sometimes find tickets that will get you the right to shoot a field goal or an extra point in the game. Typically, these tickets are very expensive and can cost as much as $1000 per game.
Tails
Some sports, such as poker and craps, were designed for those who like to analyze and understand the odds of winning. In these types of sports, you will usually find a number of scenarios where an individual tail may be connected to a win, loss, or tie. For example, in a five-card poker tournament where all cards are face down, two distinct types of runs may be formed. The first run consists of four of a kind (AKA a full house) or three of a kind and a pair. In a four-player tournament where one player has a pair and the rest have three of a kind, the three of kind will “tip” the game in the other player’s favor since they will always come in the best possible combination for that card. These types of scenarios give rise to what is known as a full house run or a four-corners run in other types of card games (including blackjack).
Props
A prop is an object that is used in the game or event to aid in betting or collecting money. Common examples of props include the joker in poker, the dice in craps, and the sword in sword fighting. The use of props dates back to the 14th century; however, the practice was made official in 1880. Since then, props have been used for a variety of purposes including as a way to hide the outcome of a game from players (commonly known as “stooling”). Props are often used in combination with other types of gambling such as poker and craps to create all-propositional games, e.g., poker with a sword, craps with dice, and blackjack with a joker.