Sports Betting Strategies
Sports betting is becoming increasingly popular thanks to an increasing acceptance of gambling, intense media coverage of sporting events and emerging technologies that make placing wagers easier. In addition to the traditional casinos, American households now have access to a variety of sports betting options such as online and mobile sites, satellite television, cable TV channels, and cellular phone services.
Choosing the right betting strategy will depend on which sport or event you want to bet on. Different sports have different rules, and there is a learning curve to understand how each bet type works. Here are some of the most popular bet types:
Straight bets.
The most basic form of a sports bet, a straight bet is a wager on a team or individual to win a game. Oddsmakers often set a point spread for straight bets, meaning that the favorite team is expected to win by more points than the underdog. This gives the underdog a chance to win, but it also reduces the sportsbookâs profits. The number of points is typically listed in increments of half a point (for example, Patriots 3.5-point favorites) to avoid pushes.
Over/Under bets.
Also referred to as totals bets, over/under bets predict the combined total of runs, goals, or points scored in a game. You can find these numbers posted by oddsmakers before every game, and they often include a half-point to avoid the possibility of a push. For example, a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks might have a total of 42.5 points.