There are words in sports that mean a lot, and one of those words is ‘lock’. When a bookmaker offers you odds on a specified outcome of an event, you can put your trust in them. They have taken the “luck” out of gambling, so you can focus on the game.
However, the meaning of the word ‘lock’ can sometimes be a little bit confusing. When a bookmaker says that an event is ‘locked in’, they usually mean that the price is set and there is little or no movement left in the odds. On the other hand, an ‘800′ line on a football match is not quite as reliable as you would hope for. ‘800′ is used as a designation for the combined total of votes that a sports figure will receive in the upcoming year. So when someone says that a particular sporting event is ‘locked in’ at ‘800′, you know that they are trying to imply that the outcome is basically set and no one has an advantage in the game. But just because the game is ‘locked in’ at ‘800′ does not mean that it is over. There is still a lot of action to be had, and you have to be ready to bet on it. Here are some more things that you should know about -800 lines and betting in general:
First-Person Accounts
When you place a bet on a sporting event, the bookmaker will usually ask you for some personal information. This could include your name, address, email, or even your phone number. In some cases, the bookmaker may ask for your bank information as well. They will use that to verify your account. Once they have verified that you are a registered customer, they will give you access to the funds in your account. So in these instances, you will need to provide a credit card or debit card to be able to make a bet. As a general rule, you should not need to do this. However, if you are placing a bet on a card game and your card issuer does not allow sports betting, you will have to find another method of payment.
Bet Types and Limits
When you put down a wager on a sporting event, there are three types of bets that you can make: win, place, or show. A ‘win’ bet is the simplest to understand. You are simply picking a winner (or team) and the money will be refunded if your pick loses. A ‘place’ bet is a little more complicated because you are not simply picking a winner; you are also predicting whether the game will be played in another city (‘over’ or ‘under’) or if the score will be a specified margin of victory (‘points’ or ‘doubles’). A show bet is the most complicated because you are not only choosing a winner but you are also indicating whether you are predicting that a certain player will ‘show’ (i.e., perform well) or ‘hide’ (i.e., perform poorly) in relation to the odds offered for that player. You are ‘showing’ a player when you bet on him to perform well, and you are ‘hiding’ a player when you bet on him to perform poorly. You are not necessarily choosing to show or hide a player; you are just placing a bet on whether he will perform well or poorly. There is also a combination of show and place bets known as a ‘punt’. For example, if you think that a certain player will perform well and you also think that the game will be played in another city, you could place a ‘punt’ on that player. Punt betting is also known as a ‘field goal’ bet because you are essentially placing a bet on a football field goal. This is also true of bets involving basketball, hockey, or other outdoor sporting events. When it comes to showing or hiding a player based on the team he is on, you will typically have to make a ‘show’ or ‘hide’ bet for each individual player that you are betting on. So if you are betting on the Miami Heat and you want to show LeBron James, you will have to make separate ‘show’ or ‘hide’ bets for James and the Heat. You cannot combine the two types of bets as far as the Heat are concerned. You can, however, combine them for individual players. So if you want to show James and want to place a win bet on the Heat, you can do that, but you cannot combine the two types of bets when it comes to the Heat. In some instances, you may have to choose whether to show or hide individual players based on whether or not they have injured others this season (in reference to the present season), their postseason performance, or their upcoming schedule. For example, if you think that a certain player will be suspended for the beginning of the next season, you may have to ‘hide’ him this year so that you can show him in the future.
Black vs. White, Odds vs. Evens, and More
When you put down a wager on a sporting event, there are two types of options that you will have to choose from: ‘Odds’ or ‘Evens’. Odds are the bookmaker’s estimate of the winning chances of the chosen team or player. Evens are the odds of the opposite team or player. So if you are betting on the San Francisco 49ers and they are 2-point underdogs, the odds are 2 to 1 that they will win the game. If you are not sure what odds are available for a particular event, ask the bookmaker. Evens can be a little bit more difficult to calculate because you have to determine whether or not to include the money that you would win on a loss in your calculations. For example, if you bet $100 on the 49ers and they win the game, you will get $100 back plus $35 in winnings. In this case, the evens are 35 to 1 because you won $35 on a $100 wager. In most places, odds are only available for select sports books or betting sites. If you are looking to place bets on golf or other non-basketball events at a reputable bookmaker, you will need to look for an online bookmaker that offers evens.
Game Ends, But the Fun Does Not
Just because the game is ‘locked in’ at ‘800′ for football or another sports game does not mean that it is over. Anytime that the referee blows the whistle and signals the end of the game, the bets will be settled (i.e., the winning bets will be paid out and the losing bets will be refunded). But as long as there is action (i.e., bets) being placed on the game, it is considered ‘live’ and the fun (for those participating) continues.
Although the outcome of some sports games is usually determined by the time that the game ends and the bets are settled, there is still a lot of action that goes on before the final whistle. If you are watching a game and see a player or coach receive a technical foul, that is often the signal for a flurry of activity. Before you know it, the ball will be in the air and another play will be under way. There are a number of sports that are mostly decided by the action that goes on during the game itself. For example, a touchdown pass or a basket made in the last second are usually the difference in these games. But it is the action that happens in between the plays that makes or breaks your betting experience. If you cannot keep up with the action, you will not be able to maintain interest in the game and ultimately it will be the action that brings down the value of your wager.
Even when a game is ‘locked in’ at ‘800′ and there is no more action, you have the option of waiting until the next day to see if the price moves or if anyone else places a bet on the game. In these situations, it is often better to wait a day or two because there is still some action even after the game has ended. Just be sure to check the rules and regulations of the bookmaker before you start betting because night action (i.e., close to midnight) is typically banned in most places. If you are not sure about this, ask the bookmaker. In some instances, waiting a day or two after the event is over can mean the difference between winning and losing.