Across the country, sports betting is gaining popularity and legitimacy as anti-gambling stigmas fade from American culture. New bettors are entering the market at a rapid pace. Many have never placed a bet before, and some are finding the terminology confusing. To help, we have compiled a list of 12 things that every sports bettor needs to know.
The most basic bet type is a straight bet, or moneyline. This is a bet on a team to win, lose or tie. You can place this bet at most online sportsbooks and some physical establishments.
If you bet on the Green Bay Packers to win a game and they do, you win the bet. However, if the Packers lose or tie, you lose the bet. This is why it’s important to have a good money management strategy, and not go overboard with your winning bets.
Another common type of bet is a point spread. Point spreads are designed to create profitable opportunities for bettors by making it easier to win the favorite than to beat the underdog. The spread is created by calculating the team’s Pythagorean wins, which takes into account the number of games won and lost. Different sportsbooks have different lines on the same bet, so it’s important to shop around and find the best line.
Another way to find the best sportsbook is to check out each site’s menu of available bets and their competitive odds. Also, investigate each sportsbook’s house rules and customer service reputation. This is important because a small difference in the sportsbook’s juice can add up to significant losses over time.