The only thing better than watching sports is betting on it. Just ask the millions of armchair warriors that place wagers every week.
As popular as sports betting is today, there’s always more to learn and improvements to be made if you’re a bettor – even for experienced handicappers. In that sense, betting is a little like playing golf: Anyone can do it, but it takes time to truly get the hang of it.
Betting on sports requires a dedication to analyzing both the quantitative and qualitative factors that underlie the eventual outcomes for a game, event, or season. Bettors need to know which statistics matter and which ones don’t, and they need to know when to downplay the numbers completely.
Football betting is by far the most popular form of wagering for sports bettors. Both NFL and college football teams play only once a week, making it easier for bettors to make adjustments from week-to-week.
Remember that the extra time is a double-edged sword. Bettors have more time to delve through the numbers, but so do oddsmakers. Football lines are often the sharpest, making it difficult for even professional bettors to stay ahead of sportsbooks.
Basketball betting also attracts plenty of attention from casual bettors and pro cappers alike. The NBA and college basketball seasons are much longer and the games more frequent than in football, so bettors have to stay tuned to remain profitable.
MLB betting is a staple during the summer months, and it’s on the moneyline where bettors focus most of their attention – in contrast to the pointspread betting prevalent in football and basketball. Baseball teams often play six times a week, making dedication the key for any successful MLB capper.
Once you’ve decided on which sport you want to bet – whether it’s the aforementioned sports or MMA, Boxing, NHL, Golf, Tennis, or NASCAR – you need to pick a sportsbook.
Long gone are the days of heading down to Moe’s Tavern and placing a wager with the local barkeep. Las Vegas is the mecca of sports betting, with a myriad of hotels, resorts, and casinos providing lines on everything under the sun.
The offshore sportsbook industry has taken off over the last 15 years with the proliferation of the Internet and mass communication technology. There are plenty of options available online; bettors are advised to be judicious in their selection of a preferred book.
Setting up an account with an online sportsbook is an easy, hassle-free experience. Sportsbooks typically require some general personal information before bettors can begin wagering.
The main question for bettors surrounds funding their wagers and withdrawing their winnings. Some bettors prefer to play on credit, but playing on deposit is a safer choice for most first-time players. Playing on deposit requires you put money up front, but at least you’re betting with money you have.
Spread and moneyline betting are the most popular forms of wagers, but there are other ways to make money. Totals – betting the OVER/UNDER on the combined number of points between two teams in a given game – is the most prevalent alternative.
Parlays, teasers, proposition bets, and futures bets are other wagers available to sports bettors.
A parlay is a one-bet ticket written with at least two wagers, and all bets must cash for the ticket to be a winner. There’s more risk involved, but a bigger potential payout.
Bettors can adjust the line to their liking, although they have to pay a price for doing so. That’s called a teaser, and it’s increasingly popular among experienced bettors.
See the New Orleans Saints as 3-point favorites for their first game of the season, but think they’ll win by a touchdown? Tease the line to Saints -6 for a bigger payday.
The role of professional handicappers is important, because they often provide the best insight in the sports betting industry. That said, it’s important to do your own legwork before making a wager. Commitment over the long haul is the only thing that’ll deliver consistent profits – whether you rely on pro cappers or not.
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