The anti-gambling stigma that once hung over sports betting has faded, and millions of Americans are now considering placing a wager on their favorite teams. But before you can do so, there are some fundamental things you should know. The more you understand about how sports betting works, and what your options are, the better chance you have of making smart bets that will increase your chances of winning.
The first thing you need to understand is the language and terminology used in sports betting. You’ll see a lot of buzzwords and jargon tossed around, and it can be easy to get lost in the sea of information. That’s why we’ve put together this quick-start guide to help you get started.
Spread betting:
The most common form of sports betting is a wager placed against the spread. The spread is a number that is assigned by the bookmaker to handicap one team over another when they compete against each other. This is done by subtracting points from the final score of the favorite, and adding them to the final score of the underdog. The spread is displayed on the odds board with a plus or minus sign in front of it, with the + sign designating the underdog and the – sign designating the favorite.
Props:
While the most popular bet types at sportsbooks tend to be on the game’s outcome, the sportsbook’s offering of hundreds of props creates an attack surface that is difficult for them to properly price. This gives you an opportunity to find underpriced markets and increase your chances of making a profit.
NBA:
The National Basketball Association may not be the most popular sport in America, but it still draws a massive amount of interest and wagers at sportsbooks. This is especially true during the playoffs and the NBA Finals, when the action heats up.
NFL:
In terms of overall volume, the National Football League is second only to the NBA in the sportsbook world. The interest in the game is at its highest on opening day, and then continues to climb throughout the season and into the playoffs until a champion is crowned.
Ohio:
After a long march, Ohio finally legalized sports betting in 2019. The first online sportsbooks to launch there included DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars. A mobile app launched in 2022, and sportsbooks are now available at more than a dozen sites. You can also place bets in person at many of the state’s casinos and racetracks. It’s important to remember, though, that gambling is a dangerous addiction, so please be sure to treat your sports betting responsibly. This includes staying within your budget and not getting too emotional about big sporting upsets that can easily lead to over-betting and bad decisions. This is especially important if you’re betting on games that are far from your home city or region. The best way to do this is by creating a budget and setting aside money specifically for sports betting.