Sports betting is one of the fastest growing segments of legal gambling, and it’s gaining even more steam as states consider their options to expand the practice. While the industry is booming, there are a few things to keep in mind before placing your first wager.
1. Read the so-called house rules:
Whether you’re making bets on the big game or a small local contest, it is important to understand how each sportsbook operates. While the differences may seem subtle, they can have a significant impact on your experience. For example, different sportsbooks have their own rules on the minimum and maximum bets that you can place. Some also have minimum age and location requirements. These restrictions are usually clearly stated on the sportsbook’s website or app, but it’s still important to check them before you start betting.
2. Make research a priority:
It should come as no surprise that the more time you devote to researching your bets, the more likely you are to win. This can be anything from studying weather forecasts to staying current with team injuries. Even studying a team’s history against its opponents can help improve your chances of making the right bet.
3. Understand how odds work:
Unlike traditional bets, sports betting lines are often described in terms of probability. These odds are determined by the amount of money that is expected to be wagered on each outcome. They also indicate the likelihood that an event will occur.
4. Look for opportunities to exploit the lines:
A key component of becoming a profitable sports bettor is finding advantages, or places where the line a sportsbook is offering is vulnerable. Props, or proposition bets, are a great way to find these opportunities. Props can be any type of wager that is not a standard point spread, moneyline or total. They are generally higher priced than standard bets, and can include anything from player vs. player props (like Scherzer’s strikeout total against the Reds) to coaching matchups and efficiency statistics in baseball, team vs. team props in basketball and other types of bets.
5. Be disciplined:
A successful sports bettor needs to be in control of their emotions and bankroll. It is important to have a specific bank account that is used only for betting and set a maximum bet amount per game. This will prevent you from losing your money or getting caught up in bad habits that can ruin your gambling career.
6. Know the difference between straight bets, futures bets and parlays:
The most basic bet is a straight bet, which is a wager on the outcome of a single game or event. A futures bet, on the other hand, is a bet on the outcome of an entire season or competition. The advantage of a futures bet is that it can pay off well over the long term, but it comes with a definite learning curve. A parlay, on the other hand, is a combination of several bets that will pay out more than one bet would have without them.