If you are new to gambling or simply want to know more about what betting is all about, then this article is for you. We will cover everything from the basics such as what W2 means in betting and the differences between poker betting and casino betting to giving you an idea of how betting works in general as well as providing some examples of betting terminology you will encounter.
What Does W2 Mean In Betting?
Before we begin, let’s clarify a few things that may be new to you. W2 is an abbreviation for ‘winnings to (your) losses’ and it is used to indicate the amount of money you win from betting minus the amount of money you lose. For example, if you wager $100 and lose $100, your W2 is $0. For the purposes of this article, we will assume all wagers are on even money bets (both sides win or lose the same amount). If this is not the case, the W2amount will be slightly different.
Winnings
Winnings are used to indicate the amount of money you bet on the winning team or the amount of money you won due to a random chance, such as a roulette or dice roll. They are usually expressed as an integer value or a decimal value; a decimal point is optional. For example, if you bet $5 on the Green Bay Packers and they win, your winnings would be $5 plus any additional winnings from other wagers on that team. In this case, your winnings would total $10. This amount is referred to as your winnings.
Losses are used to indicate the amount of money you bet on the losing team or the amount of money you lost due to a random chance, such as a roulette or dice roll. They are usually expressed as an integer value or a decimal value; a decimal point is optional. For example, if you bet $5 on the New York Jets and they lose, your losses would be $5 plus any additional losses from other wagers on that team. In this case, your losses would total $10. This amount is referred to as your losses.
W2 has two important implications for those who use it. First, you can use it in conjunction with your net worth (assets minus liabilities) to determine your current financial position. For example, if you have a net worth of $100,000 and a W2 of $10,000, you have a positive net worth and a W2 of $10,000. Second, you can use your W2 in calculating your return on investment (ROI). ROI is the profit you make from a wager divided by the amount of money you invested in that wager. For example, if you invest $100 in a poker game and you win $1000 at that particular game, your ROI would be $1000/$100=$1,000.
Roulette vs. Poker
Let’s first compare roulette to poker. Much like roulette, poker is also a ball-game style of wagering. However, while roulette is usually played with a few numbers of balls, poker is played with a hand of cards. Additionally, in poker when you win or lose you are paid according to the amount you bet, whereas in roulette when you win or lose, you are paid according to the odds of the game. Despite these differences, the fundamental concept of winning and losing continues to be the same in both games.
Poker is typically played at ‘real’ or ‘live’ casinos with professional gamblers instead of at online casinos where software manages the game for the participant. This is why roulette tends to be more common at online casinos, as there is no requirement for any physical interaction with the casino or other players. At live casinos, players can always contact a person to ask questions about the game or to report glitches in the betting system. This type of human interaction tends to make the game more exciting for the participants.
Types Of Betting
There are four basic types of betting:
- Poker
- Pro-Wager/Anti-Wager
- All-or-Nothing
- Margin
Each of these four types of betting has variations which make them more or less attractive. The most popular variations are outlined below.
Poker
Poker is one of the most popular types of betting for several reasons. First, it is relatively simple to understand and it requires very little maintenance. Second, it is easy to learn and even easier to master. Third, it can be fun to play, depending on your mood. Lastly, it can be profitable when played right. It should be noted that playing poker right is not the same as playing poker well. The latter requires experience and a bit of training.
Variations of poker include Texas Hold’em, Omaha High, Omaha Low, and Seven-Card Stud. Additionally, there are specific variations of Texas Hold’em that allow you to bet against the community or the dealer. This type of betting is known as Pro-Wager or Anti-Wager betting. In the former case, you are wagering that the dealer will not hit on a certain suite or card, whereas in the latter you are wagering that the dealer will have a particular suite or card. These types of variations can make poker highly attractive, especially if you are playing against the dealer rather than the community. For a beginner, it may be easier to learn how to play poker well than to learn all the ins and outs of a particular variation.
Pro-Wager / Anti-Wager
In the previous section, we discussed how poker can be used in a variety of ways. One of the most popular variations is Pro-Wager and Anti-Wager. In these types of wagers, you are wagering that a specific outcome will happen or that it will not happen. For instance, you might believe that Bill Clinton will win the upcoming presidential election or that the New York Yankees will beat the Houston Astros in the World Series.
In the first instance, you are wagering that Bill Clinton will win the presidential election. In the latter, you are wagering that the New York Yankees will beat the Houston Astros in the World Series. These types of wagers can be quite fun to make because you get to choose the outcome you want to bet on. Naturally, this also makes them a little more likely to occur. For this reason, they can be quite profitable if played right. However, these types of bets can also be quite dangerous, especially if you are not careful. If you are new to gambling, it is best to start out with simpler wagers and then work your way up to these types. Learning to play effectively with pro-wager or anti-wager bets is quite similar to learning to play poker. Simply put, you want to avoid raising your bet too high or placing it on too many hands, otherwise, you may end up with a huge loss.
All-or-Nothing
In certain types of poker, you are not guaranteed to win or lose anything, depending on the outcome of the hand. For example, in a game called Three-card poker, you are dealt three cards and if the total is higher than nine, you win. However, if the total is below nine, you lose whatever you bet. This makes all-or-nothing wagering highly attractive, as you either win or lose the entire wager. Naturally, this also makes it highly risky, as you may lose a lot of money if you are not careful. If you are new to gambling, it is best to start out with simpler wagers and then work your way up to these types. Learning to play effectively with all-or-nothing wagers is quite similar to learning to play poker. Simply put, you want to avoid bets that are too high or too low. Setting the right bet size is also extremely important to ensure you do not risk too much, especially if you go all the way to the bankroll.